Deere "Jeep" Built From Chevy Pickup

Deere "Jeep" Built From Chevy Pickup PICKUPS Modifications 21-5-19 An Illinois farmer turned an old Chevy Luv 1/2-ton pickup into a Deere "Jeep" that he uses for spot spraying and light towing jobs. It's equipped with an air compressor on back for filling tires, operating air wrenches, etc. B.L. Uhnken, of Jacksonville, bought the pickup, which had a rusted-out frame, for $100. He stripped it to the frame and shortened it by 5 ft., keeping the original 4-cyl. gas engine and 4-speed transmission as well as the steering wheel. He made a new grille and fiberglass hood for the engine and made a separate housing to protect the electrical wiring on the steering column. He equipped it with a new Deere seat, complete with folding arm rest, and used 2-in. dia. steel pipe to make a rollbar behind the seat. He made new front and rear bumpers and drilled holes in the rear bumper for towing implements. He also mounted a 20-gal. spray tank and the compressor off a car air conditioner on back. The entire rig is painted Deere green and yellow. "I use it to spray weeds around poles, culverts and fence posts," says Uhnken. "The transmission has high and low range so it'll go faster than I want to ride it. I've had it up to 35 mph. However, I'm not completely satisfied with this machine. It rides rough. I mounted shock absorbers and springs off an old truck on the frame next to the wheels but they're too stiff. I need to try something else." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, B.L. Uhnken, 25 Westfair, Jacksonville, Ill. 62650 (ph 217 245-4359).

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