docrocky
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2011
- Messages
- 207
- Location
- NW Ohio and SE Michigan
- Tractor
- Oliver 880, Ford 8N, Ford 9N, Farmall Super C, MF 205, Ford 4400 FEL, Ford 4500 FEL/BH, Cat D-6 Dozer(1957)
Realizing this is a farm/tractor community, let me explain my motive. I am 75yo, retired, Viet Nam Vet, Army combat surgeon,(I think I sniffed Agent Orange) who would rather garden then walk a stupid golf course at 50 bucks a throw to smack that little white ball. I plant about 2 acres of almost all the vegetables and take the weekly pickings to 2 church kitchens, 1 convent, and 1 to 2 food banks to feed the needy. Of course my wife and I have to sample some of the produce for quality control. I did about 125 tomato plants this year and they did just great. I got a bad start this spring because the hydraulic pump in my Ford 8N went kaput and I spent a lot of time transferring the pump out of my burned out 9N. I also got great advice on repairing a Mott cutter-flailer, took almost forever when I wasn't hand watering because of a dry summer up here in Northern Ohio..
My dilemma is this. I live in town about 10 miles from my daughter's where I have the acreage and poll barn to work with. This is a 20 mile round trip six days a week from early April to last picking in mid October. My 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 is averaging about 12-to 15 MPG, since I do mostly back roads and drive with about 25 to 40 MPH max with few stop lights. Trying to improve my fuel consumption, I started trying to resurrect an old 1975 Triumph TR6 I bought 10 years ago at a junk auction, thinking this small 2 seater with a small 6 cylinder would do just fine when I didn't need the truck.. I just learned that it does no better than 14MPG from a knowledgeable source.
Years and years back (1982) I ran across an article in Mechanix Illustrated on "5 Reasons to Build URBA Centurion, one of which was "Gets up to 128 MPG on Diesel Fuel".
My challenge to you who farm and garden as I do a few miles daily away from home, is there a small road vehicle that a very small fuel efficient engine can be installed. Many suggest a motorcycle or moped but I need a 4 wheel vehicle and one that has a weather cover. Also has to be street legal for license. I was thinking of a YUGO (size) chassis or an old VW Rabbitt? Anyone have suggestions? What vehicles are readily available in the junk yards (salvage, if you please) that can be easily converted?
Thank You
My dilemma is this. I live in town about 10 miles from my daughter's where I have the acreage and poll barn to work with. This is a 20 mile round trip six days a week from early April to last picking in mid October. My 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 is averaging about 12-to 15 MPG, since I do mostly back roads and drive with about 25 to 40 MPH max with few stop lights. Trying to improve my fuel consumption, I started trying to resurrect an old 1975 Triumph TR6 I bought 10 years ago at a junk auction, thinking this small 2 seater with a small 6 cylinder would do just fine when I didn't need the truck.. I just learned that it does no better than 14MPG from a knowledgeable source.
Years and years back (1982) I ran across an article in Mechanix Illustrated on "5 Reasons to Build URBA Centurion, one of which was "Gets up to 128 MPG on Diesel Fuel".
My challenge to you who farm and garden as I do a few miles daily away from home, is there a small road vehicle that a very small fuel efficient engine can be installed. Many suggest a motorcycle or moped but I need a 4 wheel vehicle and one that has a weather cover. Also has to be street legal for license. I was thinking of a YUGO (size) chassis or an old VW Rabbitt? Anyone have suggestions? What vehicles are readily available in the junk yards (salvage, if you please) that can be easily converted?
Thank You