What gear for Hay Wagon Ride

[ShawnAgne]

Bringing my 300 into school Friday to pull a Hay Wagon for our Fall festival. What gear should I pull with was guessing 2nd or 3rd?

[MiCarl]

It really depends on the terrain, condition of the wagon and whether the riders will be looking at sights.

My H lives at an educational farm where it's primary use is pulling tour wagons. The wagons have an enclosed railing and seats along the sides that face inward. The "trail" is a pretty decent gravel single lane driveway that is fairly flat. We use 4th gear at full throttle which gives us about 5 mph although I do back off the throttle a bit over a couple rough patches. I can tell you that a wagon moving that speed on gravel with 20 passengers is right at the limit of what can be stopped quickly with an H. Any faster would start to impact passenger comfort.

3rd gear on your 300 should give you a similar speed. Unless you're going to be on some steep hills it's going to have no problem pulling 20 people in that gear. I'd start out using 3rd and use engine speed to control ground speed. Do your route slow at first and maybe speed up if conditions are favorable.

[Gary Dotson]

It also depends on whether you’ll be driving out in the open or a congested area with people around you. Basically, go with your gut feeling, erring toward caution.

[SamsFarm]

No one here can tell you the correct answer to that question. There are just too many variables that none of us have a clue what you'll be up against!

Good luck and be safe!

[muleboss]

[quote="MiCarl"]It really depends on the terrain, condition of the wagon and whether the riders will be looking at sights.

My H lives at an educational farm where it's primary use is pulling tour wagons. The wagons have an enclosed railing and seats along the sides that face inward. The "trail" is a pretty decent gravel single lane driveway that is fairly flat.

Just a question. If it is a tour wagon why do the seats face inward? I would think they would face outward so folks could see the tour things. I have never had a tour wagon, so that is why I am asking. Maybe the reasoning is something I have never thought about. Not complaining, just asking.
Bob

[MiCarl]

Just a question. If it is a tour wagon why do the seats face inward? I would think they would face outward so folks could see the tour things. I have never had a tour wagon, so that is why I am asking. Maybe the reasoning is something I have never thought about. Not complaining, just asking.
Bob

I don't know for sure. The wagons (3 of them) were there when I started helping out. I "engineered" the rebuild of two of them and kept the same layout so I have an opinion. By putting the seats along the sides the build is simpler and the wagon sides serve as back rests. Two of the wagons are a bit wider and also have a center bench which lets us pack more people on. If we had to allow for an aisle we'd actually seat fewer people.

Those wagons are used to transport people to / from the corn maze. Last weekend was busy enough we had trouble keeping up with the demand running all 3 wagons so we needed every seat.

[ShawnAgne]

Went with 3rd and throttle about 1/2 ground was pretty flat except one area. Kids had a great time I had fun also.