Homemade tractor?

[KTurner]

I was traveling back home from a family reunion today. I stopped at a gas station just off I64, west of Richmond, VA, to get a drink. I had heard a tractor somewhere, and as I was getting ready to leave, it pulled into the gas station. It looks very purpose-specific (no FEL, no 3PH, no PTO, high clearance, etc). I had my camera with me and took a couple (real quick) pics. I'm somewhat curious about this. Anyone know what it may be used for, or any other comments?

Keith

 

[Johndeere3720]

Wow that one interesting tractor. I too am curious what it is used for.

 

[aczlan]

If it had a wide front end I would say row crop cultivation for sure, but being as it doesn't I would guess that it is used to lift something up under the tractor and move it around. The problem with my idea is that the tires are pretty skinny to be lifting something and moving it around off road.

Aaron Z

 

[Tig]

I've seen tractors with that sort of set up. I always tell my wife I'm going to drive under them. I think they are used for spraying crops.
Edit; I just noticed that it only has three wheels. I wouldn't try to drive under that.

 

[kebo]

Now that's an odd looking machine there! The way he used a rearend to transfer power via chains down to the rear wheels is sort of ingenious. I don't think it's used for lifting or carrying anything undernneath it though, there doesn't seem to be any lifting points that I can see. Maybe there are some, just can't tell by these two pic's. Since it is so tall, I would guess its used to drive over some row crops but for what purpose I don't have any idea?? There doesn't look to be any attachment points or hitches on the rear of it so it doesn't seem to be used for pulling anything. Maybe he just uses it make people like us wonder what the heck it's for!!!!

 

[Bedlam]

""Maybe he just uses it make people like us wonder what the heck it's for!!!!
"""

Maybe He is a She?

 

[radioman]

Are you sure about not pulling anything ? there seems to be a short chain dangling there in the middle of the rear axel. Perhaps to pull logs in hilly area or be able to go over brush without getting hung up? the tractor has old syle front axel for tighter turns in the woods ?

 

[flusher]

Are you sure about not pulling anything ? there seems to be a short chain dangling there in the middle of the rear axel. Perhaps to pull logs in hilly area or be able to go over brush without getting hung up? the tractor has old syle front axel for tighter turns in the woods ?

Yah, I think you're correct. It's vaguely similar to some of that tricycle-wheeled equipment you see on those testosterone-loaded logging shows on cable.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Are you sure about not pulling anything ? there seems to be a short chain dangling there in the middle of the rear axel. Perhaps to pull logs in hilly area or be able to go over brush without getting hung up? the tractor has old syle front axel for tighter turns in the woods ?

I noticed the chain to. But to be honest, from the looks of the size of the chain, I wouldn't want to be pulling to much with it.
The tractor looks to me to be Very homemade. There may well be a specific purpose or use for it but I think it is just a creation made for the he11 of it and because the person who made it, Could.
There used to be a man here in my home town who used to make things similar because he had all the parts and the tools and the know how, to do it. He even made a remote control backhoe once. He used to sit back in his lawn chair with his remote and operate his hoe. One very smart and creative man.

 

[kebo]

Are you sure about not pulling anything ? there seems to be a short chain dangling there in the middle of the rear axel. Perhaps to pull logs in hilly area or be able to go over brush without getting hung up? the tractor has old syle front axel for tighter turns in the woods ?

You're right, there is a chain hanging from the rear of it but I wouldn't think that would be used for serious pulling like skidding logs. If it were, I would think there would be some sort of hitch for it. As it is, a chain would be sliding back & forth across the top of the tube frame which is not a good idea imo. For skidding, etc, I would expect to see some sort of attachment point that was a bit lower than the top of that tube. But that's jmho....

 

[Tig]

Interesting how he braced the rear rim. Maybe that's a clue.

 

[valley]

When I was a kid, mom and I were in our model A coup [I have it in garage]. As we came up on a lumber hauling machine, it was high off the ground with a wide space under it. Mom held her hand over my eyes and said " lets drive through it" For years I though we had driven through it. Well! I was reminded of that. Back to today: Looks this one could drag logs, on flat ground.

 

[valley]

Hay Guys, Look at the first picture. There is a Tank that could have just been moved by this machine. I'll put my money on that is what its there for ether to pick up or deliver that tank. Looks like it is driven by a single sprocket and chain on the rear right side of the contraption. I just read the post by Kebo, he listed most of what I posted. Richard

 

[KTurner]

Hay Guys, Look at the first picture. There is a Tank that could have just been moved by this machine. I'll put my money on that is what its there for ether to pick up or deliver that tank. Richard

You can't see it very well in the pictures, but he was actually re-fueling the tractor from the pump he was parked beside - I believe it was unleaded. He definitely was not moving anything when he pulled into the gas station.

Keith

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Hay Guys, Look at the first picture. There is a Tank that could have just been moved by this machine. I'll put my money on that is what its there for ether to pick up or deliver that tank. Looks like it is driven by a single sprocket and chain on the rear right side of the contraption. I just read the post by Kebo, he listed most of what I posted. Richard

If you actually look carefully you will come to the realization that the tank you can see was there and has been there long before the tractor arrived and while your eyes are focusing on things also see that the rear wheels are chain driven from both sides of the tractor.

I can't believe that this trctor is used to haul logs (maybe I'm wrong) but anybody who is going to pull logs with that size chain, from that height and angle is crazy. If it is used to haul, say logs. How does he lift the butt ends ?

 

[J_J]

I believe it is a swamp buggy look-a-like. It could be used to pull hunting shacks way back in the woods. They hold the swamp buggy races down around Naples. FL, and you can see all kinds of machines.

Why didn't you go up and ask him what it was used for.

 

[Tig]

I don't know the Richmond area at all but I think JJ is on the right track when he describes a vehicle used to navigate a swamp or shallow water.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

""Maybe he just uses it make people like us wonder what the heck it's for!!!!
"""

Maybe He is a She?

It looks like a high crop tractor.... Would be great for crossing high water

But it may just be a giant tricycle

 

[MarkV]

I was thinking the same as JJ, just didn't think there were many swamps in that area.

MarkV

 

[Eagle Dude]

I grew up around the swamps in Florida and we had simular tractors for use during hunting season and off season for catching wild hoggs. This was when the buggies were functional, long before they started racing swampers down in Naples. We had one with a Model "A" four cylinder and two 3 speed transmissions in-line. In double low you could almost leave it in gear running while you went in for lunch and it would still be close when you came out.