"Monster Wagon" Gets Attention At Farm Shows

"Monster Wagon" Gets Attention At Farm Shows FARM HOME recreation 31-6-4 Bill Cates of Enon, Ohio, pulled his two kids in this home-built "monster wagon" at the recent Ohio Farm Science Review Show near London, Ohio. Bill made the sporty wagon out of truck and golf car parts. The wagon has a 4-ft. long by 2-ft. wide box that sets about 4 ft. off the ground and rides on 12-in. high golf car wheels. It's fitted with air bags off a semi tractor, and a homemade, 4-link suspension system. An air tank off a semi tractor mounts under the wagon. Cates can adjust the pressure in the air bags by flipping an air-operated switch. "Reducing air pressure lowers the box and results in a softer ride. Increasing the air pressure raises the box and increases the load capacity," says Cates. There's a drawing of a semi truck on both sides of the stainless steel wagon box, which has cup holders at each corner. "I take it often to car and truck shows and also truck pulls. It draws a lot of attention," says Cates. "I use a stainless steel T-handle to pull it. However, at shows people often ask me where the motor is located. They think something this big and heavy has to be self-powered. Pulling the wagon from a dead stop is a little rough, but once the wheels get rolling it pulls fairly easily," says Cates, noting that at a recent 4-WD truck show he took first place in a home-built wagon contest. He gives special thanks to friends Mike Culberston and Steven Cole and to others who contributed. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bill Cates, Mike's Trucking, 6569 Sterling Drive, Enon, Ohio 45323 (ph 937 864-2737 or 614 332-0036; fax 614 879-7667; www. mikes trucking.com).

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