6 Best Sawhorses For Building Chicken Tractors That Old-Timers Trust
Building a chicken tractor requires a stable foundation. We review 6 sawhorses trusted by old-timers for their durability and unwavering support.
You’re out in the pasture, balancing a long 2×4 across a five-gallon bucket and an old tree stump, trying to make a straight cut. The wood wobbles, your line drifts, and the whole setup feels one wrong move away from disaster. Building a chicken tractor is supposed to be a straightforward project, but fighting your workspace turns it into a frustrating chore. A solid set of sawhorses isn’t just a convenience; it’s the difference between a project finished in a weekend and one that drags on for weeks.
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Why a Solid Sawhorse is Your Best Friend
A good pair of sawhorses is your portable workbench. It creates a stable, level surface right where you need it, whether that’s in the barn, the driveway, or out in the field. This is non-negotiable for accuracy. A steady platform means your cuts are square and your measurements are true, which is critical for a chicken tractor frame that won’t rack or twist.
Beyond precision, it’s about safety and ergonomics. Working on the ground or hunched over a tailgate is a recipe for a sore back and a tired body. A sawhorse brings the work up to a comfortable height, reducing strain and letting you work longer and more safely. You can focus on the cut, not on keeping your balance.
Think of them as the foundation for your project before you even build the foundation of the tractor. They hold your materials securely for cutting, sanding, and painting. They also become an assembly table for putting together walls and roof frames. A reliable sawhorse is a force multiplier, saving you time, frustration, and fatigue.
ToughBuilt C700: The Heavy-Duty Workhorse
When you need a sawhorse that feels more like a permanent piece of shop equipment, the ToughBuilt C700 is the answer. Made entirely of steel, these are built for serious weight and abuse. Each horse can support over 1,300 pounds, meaning you can stack a whole project’s worth of lumber on them without a second thought.
Their standout feature is the independently adjustable legs. This is a game-changer for working on the uneven ground typical of any farm. You can easily level the work surface on a slope or in a bumpy pasture, ensuring your project stays true. The tops also feature 2×4 support arms, allowing you to quickly create a solid tabletop by simply dropping in a few boards.
The tradeoff is weight and a higher price point. These are not light, and you won’t want to carry them long distances. But if you’re building multiple tractors, sheds, or other farm structures, their stability and durability are a worthwhile investment. They are the definition of "buy once, cry once."
Bora Portamate Speedhorse for Quick Set-Up
For the hobby farmer who values efficiency above all else, the Bora Portamate Speedhorse is a revelation. Its defining feature is its rapid deployment. You press a lever, and the legs drop into place instantly; folding it up is just as fast. When you only have a few hours after your day job to get things done, saving even five minutes on setup and teardown matters.
This speed doesn’t come at the cost of strength. The Speedhorse is made from heavy-gauge steel and can handle a combined weight of 3,000 pounds. It’s more than enough for any chicken tractor build. The pre-drilled top allows you to screw on a sacrificial 2×4, protecting the metal from your saw blade and providing an easily replaceable cutting surface.
The primary consideration here is the leg design. While incredibly fast, the legs are not independently adjustable. This makes them best suited for relatively flat surfaces like a barn floor or driveway. If your primary workspace is a lumpy field, you may find yourself shimming legs to get a level surface, which defeats the purpose of the quick setup.
DeWalt DWX725: A Sturdy, Foldable Classic
The DeWalt DWX725 is the reliable standard you see on professional job sites for a reason. It strikes an excellent balance between durability, portability, and price. Made from lightweight but strong steel, a pair can hold 2,000 pounds, providing a rock-solid platform for cutting and assembly.
Its design is simple and effective. The legs fold up neatly into the body, making it compact for storage in a crowded shed or the back of a truck. Leg lock levers ensure they won’t accidentally collapse while you’re working, a crucial safety feature. It’s a no-frills workhorse that does its job exceptionally well without over-complicating things.
This sawhorse is a fantastic all-around choice. It’s not as fast to set up as the Speedhorse or as adjustable as the ToughBuilt, but it’s more portable than both. It represents a a solid, dependable middle ground that will serve any hobby farmer well for years of projects.
Stanley STST60952: Lightweight & Weatherproof
If portability and budget are your top priorities, the Stanley plastic sawhorses are a smart choice. Weighing only a few pounds each, you can carry a pair with one hand, making them easy to move around your property. Because they’re made of polypropylene, you can leave them out in the rain without worrying about rust or rot.
Despite their light weight, they are surprisingly capable, supporting up to 1,000 pounds per pair. They often include handy features like a built-in V-groove for holding pipe or dowels and a lower tray for storing tools. They are perfect for lighter-duty framing, cutting PVC for waterers, or as a painting station.
The main limitation is rigidity. Under a heavy load or aggressive sawing, you might notice more flex than with a steel horse. They are best for 1x lumber, plywood, and smaller 2×4 frames. For heavy-duty beam work or supporting a massive assembly, you’ll want to look at a metal option.
WORX WX065 Clamping Horse: Your Extra Hand
Working alone is a common reality on a small farm, and the WORX Clamping Sawhorse is designed for exactly that scenario. Its key feature is a set of integrated bar clamps that can be oriented vertically or horizontally. This allows you to firmly secure your workpiece directly to the sawhorse.
This feature is invaluable. It holds a 2×4 steady for a precise miter cut, grips a sheet of plywood while you run a circular saw, or even clamps two boards together for gluing. It effectively gives you a third hand, increasing both safety and accuracy when you don’t have a helper.
The tradeoff for this convenience is a slightly lower weight capacity (around 1,000 pounds for the pair) and a more complex design. The clamps are an extra mechanism to manage. However, for the solo builder, the ability to lock down material without fumbling for separate C-clamps is a massive advantage that can dramatically speed up the workflow.
The DIY Plywood Sawhorse: A Timeless Design
There’s a reason old-timers still build their own sawhorses from scrap plywood or 2x4s. They are incredibly strong, cheap to make, and can be customized to the perfect height for your body. A simple I-beam design made from 3/4-inch plywood is practically indestructible and can be built in an afternoon with basic tools.
Building your own means you control the design. You can make the top extra wide, add a lower shelf for tool storage, or build it to a specific height that saves your back. This is the ultimate solution for a permanent workshop setup where portability isn’t a concern. They become a familiar, trusted part of your workspace.
The obvious downside is that they are not portable. They are heavy, bulky, and don’t fold away for storage. But if you have a dedicated barn or workshop space, a pair of stout, homemade sawhorses provides an unbeatable work surface that will likely outlast any project you build on them.
Key Features for Building on Uneven Ground
Building a chicken tractor often happens out in the pasture, not in a pristine workshop. The ground is rarely level, and a wobbly work surface is both dangerous and frustrating. When choosing a sawhorse for farm use, a few features are non-negotiable.
Individually adjustable legs are the single most important feature. This allows you to shorten the uphill legs and lengthen the downhill legs to create a perfectly level and stable platform on any slope. Without this, you’ll be stuffing shims under legs, which is an unstable and temporary fix. Models like the ToughBuilt C700 excel here.
Look for other key details that make a difference on rough terrain:
- Pivoting Feet: Large, pivoting feet can conform to the angle of the ground, providing a much better grip than simple leg caps, especially on soft dirt or gravel.
- Material and Weight: Heavier steel sawhorses are inherently more stable and less likely to shift on uneven ground. Lighter plastic models can be more prone to tipping if not set up carefully.
- A Solid Top: A wide, flat top provides a better surface. The ability to add a sacrificial 2×4 top is also a huge plus, as it creates a single, unified work plane between the two horses.
Ultimately, the best sawhorse is the one that fits your workspace, your budget, and the way you build. Don’t underestimate how much a stable, comfortable work surface can improve the quality of your project and the enjoyment of the process. Invest in a good pair, and your back—and your chicken tractor—will thank you for it.
