[Equipment ideas] Travels with Terry

Towing made easy
Transporting a Toro HydroJect water-injection aerifier between greens or to far ends of a golf course can be much easier and quicker using a custom-built tow trailer. Originally, the tow trailer was designed and built by Mike Lukz, equipment manager at Boca Grove Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla., in 1993 while he was employed at another club in Orlando, Fla. Lukz first considered using a wide variety of scrap material found around the maintenance building. Then he chose standard stock steel and other readily available parts from Northern Tool & Equipment (www.northerntool.com). The parts description and numbers are listed at the right. Diagrams of how to put together the trailer are below.

Description, Northern Tool & Equipment part number

Stub axles (pair) 12461W
Hub assemblies (pair) 124
Tie strap 1935

Tire assembly (2 each) 12112

Steel material, Length (in feet)

2-inch-by-2¼-inch wall box tubing 14
3-inch-by-½-inch flat bar 3
¾-inch rod 2

1-inch-by-¼-inch wall tubing 1

Lukz says the trailer tongue must be long enough to clear the HydroJect handlebars and the tow vehicle. The ramp must be long enough to reach the ground with the tire height (diameter) used.  The lower the height, the better. The ramp pivot point must sit at least two inches behind center to keep the HydroJect from rolling off the trailer.

The axle must be wide enough to clear the HydroJect’s drive motor once it’s placed on the ramp. If standard cart tires are used, about 5 inches should be added to the axle length for clearance. Built the axle first, then install the hubs, wheels and tires. Clearances need to be checked as well.

Tack welds should be used to test-fit the HydroJect and tow vehicle to the trailer before performing a final weld up. GCN