20 Mule Team Borax Wagon Construction

[GCroyle]

Guys,

The YouTube rabbit hole hit me again, this time its all mule powered. Remember Geno's sticker, Load the wagon, don't worry 'bout the Mule. These guys built the new wagons.

Well, this company Engels Coach Shop built replica wagons and water wagon and this is the final rigging, test drive and parade.

But dive into their channel and you find a series of videos and the one that caught my eye was building the 1,080 lb rear wheels from massive oak chunks to mounting the "tires".



Amazing, this is one of 37 videos about building them.

OK Big, been to Bishop CA?

 

[Wayne M.]

So interesting to this city boy. A whole different culture and it was refreshing to watch to a point that I’d like to ram that team of mules right up a bike path in Manhattan!
Also interesting is the overwhelming choice of pickup truck there.

 

[GCroyle]

Wayne,

I started watching the series of how they built the wagons. The wheel hub started as a 300# solid oak log. All of the steel work was hand forged and hammer welded at their shop. The front axle assy is a massive collection of steel around wooden parts.

Also really makes you wonder how they did this the first time.

If you watch when the wagon makes a turn down a road a pair in front of the hitch tongue jumps the pull chain to steer the tongue and keep the wagon from being pulled off course. All wrong terms so watch how they steer it. Also explained on the display signs in the museum.

Gary

 

[Wayne M.]

I only saw the above video so far. When I went to Williamsburg about 12 years ago, there was an authentic wheelwright/ wagon shop, and a cooper (guy who makes wood barrels) in the village. There was also a wagon maker in craftsman’s valley in Dollywood. Great stuff!

 

[jhenderson]

Big says mules are smart. You’d play hell trying to get a horse to jump the trace without getting hung up.