A new project concept

skyhighZJ

skyhighZJ

Gov retirement < needs to live
Joined
May 31, 2012
Location
Aberdeen, NC.
I’m thinking of building this for my wife. I think it’s a great concept to move feed or squares around our small farm and keep her from having to lift heavy stuff when I’m not there.


On this note I’m in the market for a riding mower to rob drivetrain parts off of. Looking at only needing a running motor and hydro trans. Also a poly tub dump cart/trailer.
 
Do you have to steer it manually? Looks like it could really wear your arms out, and be extremely difficult to maneuver if a front tire is in a hole or against a rock or something.
 
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skyhighZJ said:
On this note I’m in the market for a riding mower to rob drivetrain parts off of. Looking at only needing a running motor and hydro trans. Also a poly tub dump cart/trailer.
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I must be something obvious here, what advantage does it have over putting the "donor" cart behind the "donor" mower.
 
Way easier to get the load where you want it to go. Most people can’t back a trailer. And this can fit into a much tighter space.
 
83oldyoda4x4 said:
I would try and find a JD Gator on the cheap that needs a new engine or rebuild.
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You'd think they would be out there... the UTV with pooched motor... until you try to find them!
I suspect folks (cottage industry, ATV/Motorcycle wrenchers, etc.) are snagging them for pennies, rebuilding/parting them, and putting them back into the flow at normal pricing?

I asked a couple folks that were "parting out" SxS/UTV's if they had any with bad engines, needing work, etc. (I'm not above slapping on a HorribleFreight engine where applicable)... resounding "NO, we only part them out" = we can make more supplying used parts than fixing/selling?

@skyhighZJ For your application, I can see that being a HUGE time/work saver...
What about a small to mid-sized zero-turn with roached deck and adding the box there? (thinking economics & availability with the huge population turnover in your AO)
Except mine will get stuck in wet grass, so you may need 4x4?
 
Why not get a zero-turn (rear mount engine already) and weld a longer front frame to mount the poly bin and the front casters, or to overhang the poly bucket in front of the casters? There are already various ways to mount the big leaf blowers on the front of zero turns during leaf season, without actually modifying anything. Some are like a sled with an extra set of caster wheels, so they just pivot with the mower frame.

Having the drive wheels behind the center pivot, and having the front wheels stationary on a fixed axle, is the best way I can think of to make something really hard to drive.
 
Fabrik8 said:
I'm slightly shocked that you posted a reply to this thread without suggesting that buying a Bobcat is the answer. :D
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Well, the answer is a Polaris Ranger EV for this situation, since they are about 1/4 the price of used Bobcat. :D
 
jeepinmatt said:
Do you have to steer it manually? Looks like it could really wear your arms out, and be extremely difficult to maneuver if a front tire is in a hole or against a rock or something.
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RenegadeT said:
Why reinvent the wheel, how about just using a riding mower with a poly tub dump cart/trailer?
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I saw it and thought it looked cool while serving a purpose on the farm. Manual steering, yes. Reinventing the wheel possibly. Giving me a project to see if I could make it work, also yes. Who knows, but I want to try to take it and make it a going project that will help the wife do the fame chores here at AK47farms.


Ps. And she hates backing up the mower and lawn cart we already have.
 
Got a tractor with FEL? Got forks?

Just saw this on FB MP: Facebook Marketplace: Toro Z5000 Zero Turn 50" Deck - Garden Items - Denton, North Carolina

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And I am following this build:


 
I wonder how heavy the front end is unloaded. Looks awfully light. I'd think that going uphill if you had to steer it would be very unstable under understeer badly just skipping over stuff, and as mentioned if it were rocky or rooty ground would work your arm bad.
 
Put chains on a zero turn. Will help traction problems a lot. Just don't go where you don't want to tear up the ground.

Sent from my SM-J737A using Tapatalk
 
How about a regular rear engine mower.
Extend the frame a bit, add the tub and rework the steering just enough to get around the tub.
Be a heckuva lot easier to steer and more stable.
 
S after all the comments I’m thinking something in the zero turn flavor would work best. All the other prebuilt/ manufactured type things are exactly the reason I want to “reinvent” the wheel: they’re expensive. I’m cheap, and I like a challenge so this is where I’m coming from wanting to build my own.
 
skyhighZJ said:
S after all the comments I’m thinking something in the zero turn flavor would work best. All the other prebuilt/ manufactured type things are exactly the reason I want to “reinvent” the wheel: they’re expensive. I’m cheap, and I like a challenge so this is where I’m coming from wanting to build my own.
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I would just say, if planning to use a ztr, plan to run V-tread tires, as they get stuck more often than traditional tractor.

I plan to build something similar to this, esp for hauling firewood.

Here is another interesting one:
 
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