kevinfreel 215 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Thinking about buying a garden tractor and make it a "off roader". Anybody else here done this? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Buy an ATV or a tractor. A garden tractor won't hold up for off-road use. I have small 4WD Ford diesel tractor that is great for working in the woods and garden, and a Polaris Sportsman for recreational use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
breid1970 327 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Most garden tractors eat through fuel at an insane rate. They have a poor engine to drive wheel power ratio.. Just buy an ATV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevinfreel 215 Posted April 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 It won't be anything serious. Mostly just running up and down my street. And not gonna really off road it just like the look. Would really rather fuck around with a car but have neither space or funds for that right now, and I got a slight scolding for buying more ammo, so gotta find something else to occupy myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevinfreel 215 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Well a buddy of mine e wants to get in on this too, and after some discussion we may stretch the frame and widen the front stance and build a rat rod tractor. Black red and chrome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 You have to make a fuel tank from a propane cylinder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 neat idea for a cool shits and grins project. interesting project cheap enough to do and plus have a toy to play with when done. I'm looking at getting an ATV and add a pull behind mower for mowing the yard and having something to play with other wise. My little plot of dirt eats lawn tractors pretty fast. Also figure at the times when the clay road is washed out all the way I can still get to the paved road with the ATV. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevinfreel 215 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Yeah we don't have and dirt roads around here, but I'm gonna need to brushing up on my welding for this. I see mods in my future. Found a craftsman lt400 with a 14hp Kohler for $150 bucks. Gonna go grab it on Saturday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevinfreel 215 Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Picked up a tractor today. It was 150. Has a minor oil leak and needs a trans axle bracket and the steering bushings, but runs well and no rot at all Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Picked up a tractor today. It was 150. Has a minor oil leak and needs a trans axle bracket and the steering bushings, but runs well and no rot at all Buy MANY replacement wheel bearings and steering bushings. These parts are weak and are not suitable for road use, much less off roading. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ruffian72 548 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Well depends on budget. Saw recently a guy with much money have a snow mobile made into a warm weather gun platform. A ATV would have been more practical and a heck of a lot cheaper. Was entertaining though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 86 I like the look of that lawnmower. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevinfreel 215 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 My grandfather is gonna turn some brash bushings down on his lathe for spindles which will tighten the steering up some, and in think I can find some hinge pin bushings that will work on the draglink as well. The front wheels are gonna get replaced with wire spoke wells so I'm going to find a way of tightening those up as well. Maybe a sleeve and some washer/thrust bearings and a real axle nut instead of a c-clip Oh and a buddy of mine gave me some hi/low beam rally style lights as well. I have an old metal toolbox that will be bolted to the rear of the frame to be used as a battery box. Pretty sure I can cram a group 35 battery in it to run some real lights. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Long Shot 1,287 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 They do an annual tractor pull/truck pull at a local track near where I live. One of the side shows is lawn tractors. Usually kids but Some of these guys go all out. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevinfreel 215 Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 I'm thinking something similar to this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwelhse 1,285 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 If you actually want to get some work out of it... ...70's Cub Cadet... /thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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