"World's First" Self-Propelled Horse Trailer

"World's First" Self-Propelled Horse Trailer LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules 23-4-9 Thousands of showgoers at the recent Farm Progress Show in Regina, Sask., did a double take as they walked by what looked like a conventional horse trailer. On second glance, they would notice the see-through windows on front, the headlights, license plate, extra axle. A close-up examination revealed that this was not just a horse trailer. It was the world's first self-propelled horse trailer. The first-of-its-kind vehicle was built by Bergen Industries in honor of Frank Flaman, a Canadian farm equipment manufacturer. The company recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and the self-propelled horse trailer was a gift. It was built by stripping a 1978 Chevrolet van down to the chassis, lengthening the frame, and adding an extra tag axle on back to handle the weight. Then one of Bergen's standard horsetrailer bodies was simply mounted on the chassis. Windows were cut into the curved front of the trailer and lights were fitted to the trailer to make it road legal. Inside there's a bed up over the front cab, a dining table, and a pair of bench seats that turn into a bed. The unusual vehicle, with a 305 Chevy engine, will cruise at highway speeds of 65 mph but has been clocked at speeds up to 90 mph. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bergen Industries, Inc., Box 133, Drake, Sask. S0K1H0 Canada (ph 800-463-2131 or 306 363-2131).

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