Bench Seat on a Modern Rake?

[Does’ Leap]

Has anyone affixed a bench seat to a modern side delivery rake? I am thinking along these lines – a project which would include attaching a pole with hammer strap etc. so that the horses could drive it directly with out hooking it to a forecart. My John Deere rake has one wheel up front and two in back. I thinking better visibility and easier backing with such a system. Any pictures? Opinions?

Thanks.

George

[ngcmcn]

george, i believe in the book “Haying with Horses” by Lynn Miller, there’s a pic of Bulldog Fraiser on a rake as you describe. I have always wanted to set one up as such but I’m still using old horse rakes which originally had a pole and seat on them but would like to get a modern rake together at some point. The rake in Lynn’s book bascially had a triangle of plywood with a bus seat on it right on top of the frame. I’d add a guard rail and maybe a step.

I usually hook to a forecart to do hay because i can switch implements quickly but it limits your turning radius.

Good luck

Neal Maine

[goodcompanion]

I use an older rake (case) that had been adapted from horsedrawn to tractor use. I re-adapted it to use a pole and seat, and then adapted back again to a forecart/tractor-type short pole.

There is a lot of torque turning a big rake on a dime–my methods of bracing and attaching the long pole kept breaking.

[Donn Hewes]

I have the luxury of having an old bus seat on one of my fore carts. I all ways look forward to raking hay from there. never had much trouble with seeing where I was going or turning radius. I wish I had an umbrella!

[OldKat]

@Donn Hewes 9094 wrote:

I have the luxury of having an old bus seat on one of my fore carts. I all ways look forward to raking hay from there. never had much trouble with seeing where I was going or turning radius. I wish I had an umbrella!

We are just about to sell the Ford Expedition that my wife drives. It has a removable third row seat that has essentially never been used. Since we are going to be practically giving the car away anyway, I made an executive decision that the forecart I am going to build is going to have a nice car seat on it. 🙂

[Does’ Leap]

Joel:

I like it! What did you use for a deck and how did you fasten it to the rake?

George

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