Low-Cost Cattle Hauler

Low-Cost Cattle Hauler LIVESTOCK Beef 13-4-6 Jim Schlaefli, Downs, Kan., converted an old 60-passenger school bus into a "cattle bus" which he uses to haul cows and yearling heifers from one pasture to another and to market. "It handles like a truck and is a lot cheaper than a $4,000 stock trailer," says Schlaefli, who operates a 170 head cow-calf operation. "I got tired of having to convert my grain truck to haul cattle. It took two hours to switch endgates and install stock racks, and after I finished hauling cattle I always had to clean out the truck so I could haul grain. My 'cattle bus' can haul 15 cows or 23 yearling heifers, which is a good load for the 350 cu. in. Chevrolet engine. The bus is equipped with a 4-speed transmission and a 2-speed rear end." Schlaefli removed the seats and closed the front of the bus off with a sheet metal wall braced by angle iron which he bolted to both sides of the bus. He removed the rear door, cut out the opening to the top of the bus, and installed a home-built tailgate. A sliding steel grate covers the rear opening in transport. An unloading ramp, made out of square tubing and tread plate, stores between the bumper and frame during transport. Schlaefli replaced the glass windows with steel bars made from 1¢-in. sq. tubing and painted the bus white with black stripes. Total cost for miscellaneous parts, and including $750 for the used bus, was $1,300. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Schlaefli, 1305 Prentiss, RR 2, Box 42, Downs, Kan. 67437 (ph 913 454-3883).

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