What type of utility vehicle do you use around the place?

taylorlambert · #41 03/04/12, 03:32 AM

Ive seen several but my favorites are all home built. I have a friend that has an 88 Bronco II. The back was rusted out so we cut it off and welded in the back of a ranger cab that was in the scrap yard. beind the seats. Then we made a small steel flat bed with angle iron sides and later added a dump. Its really short. Its short enough that when loaded with dirt it wont over load. The dump is powered from a gutted AC compressor that has a pump attached to the shaft. for hydraulics just turn on the AC.

I have a friend that recently passed away that owned a chicken broiler farm nect to the landfill we run. Back in the late 90's we really got to know them well. He had one Gator that was worn out and not really suited to his chores. He tinkered alot and came up with this. He used to take Ford Festivas and cut the back of the cabs off them. He cut the backs off behind the seats and it made a short little truck. He could even drive thm in the houses. He would go to the auto auction and pich them up at 200 dollars each. He had plywood cutouts with plexi glass window. One had street tires and a little home built roll bar. That one looked like a little euro racer. The other one he mounted tall skinny 4 wheeler tires the knobby kind. We made some strut spacers to lift it 4 inches. With the front drive it would get in some bad places. When they finally clapped out they would park in the woods and keep a few more running.

Later he found some cheap Geo trackers.

A friend had one of these made by Hinomoto tractors in Japan. Its called a JF1. Its basically a tractor frame with a body on it and 2 seats on it. It had a 3 point hitch and a multi speed pto. http://www.tractorhouse.com/images/T...e/81627591.jpg
http://media.photobucket.com/image/h...eat_900005.jpg

I have a Yanmar 3000 30 hp tractor its 2wd and have a steel stack container I got from an old factory building that has an open side. I made a 3 point hitch for it to make it a transport box. It can old a few small bales or other things. It has a slot on the open side that you can insert boards or plywood for an end gate. Makes a good small animal transporter.

I also have an old 60's step side Chevy pickup trailer I pull with the tractor.

ErinP · #42 03/04/12, 10:54 AM

lol

My husband's grandpa has a 50s era Chevy pickup with the motor out that he uses for his feedwagon.
He knocked out the windshield, too, because he feeds with a team and runs his lines in through where the windshield was. He also took out the bench seat, put in a bucket for the driver's seat, and a small barrel stove where the passenger would be to keep warm.

**fordson major** · #43 03/04/12, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

lol

My husband's grandpa has a 50s era Chevy pickup with the motor out that he uses for his feedwagon.
He knocked out the windshield, too, because he feeds with a team and runs his lines in through where the windshield was. He also took out the bench seat, put in a bucket for the driver's seat, and a small barrel stove where the passenger would be to keep warm.

any pix? this is a great idea!!

Jenn · #44 03/04/12, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

My own two feet and a wheelbarrow. I don't like anything about it

I like it though it keeps my projects a bit smaller than if I used more gasoline. But for big loads (to reduce wheelbarrow work from trailer to ground) I use my van to tow the trailer wherever. If the turf isn't too wet- rear WD!

jcatblum · #45 03/04/12, 09:19 PM

ErinP- we have one of those wagons. DH replaced all the tires with bigger better ones & it is great. Wish I could find a good stronger one like it. If you pile it full of firewood the metal bows. But if it was stronger it would be too heavy to pull without the atv or mower

sammyd · #46 03/05/12, 08:29 AM

My get around the farm gear..

http://www.georgiaboot.com/products/...Toe-Work-Boot/

ErinP · #47 03/05/12, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcatblum

ErinP- we have one of those wagons. DH replaced all the tires with bigger better ones & it is great. Wish I could find a good stronger one like it. If you pile it full of firewood the metal bows. But if it was stronger it would be too heavy to pull without the atv or mower

We still have the same tires on ours, but we've changed out the wheel bearings (the ones that came with it broke within a couple of months!) I agree with the lightweight metal, though. I wish it were a bit stouter, too.

jennigrey · #48 03/05/12, 03:07 PM

Draft horse or wheelbarrow. There's a pony here for training that I'd like to fit with a pack saddle for a 3rd option.

Sweet-Pea · #49 03/05/12, 10:53 PM

Have thought about getting an ATV, UTV, etc. but I find I get the most use from this Vermont Cart, picked it up at a sale around 15 years ago for $20 and I use it to haul EVERYTHING - from firewood, to heavy stones. 400 lb. capacity and best thing about it, you don't need gas to power it.

http://youtu.be/XLfxVI7CxIM