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2011 - Volume #35, Issue #3, Page #09

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"Tractor-Buggy" Great For RV Storage Business

Hank Greschaw runs an RV storage business and he needed a quicker way to move trailers around. So, he built what he calls a "tractor buggy".
    It started life as a 1973 4-WD Chevy Blazer. It's powered by the original 350 cu. in. engine and 4-speed manual transmission with 2-speed transfer case. There are receiver hitches front and back and a fifth wheel hitch on back for use with lightweight trailers.
    "It's a cross between a tractor and a dune buggy with quick acceleration with a top speed of 60 mph," says the Webberville, Mich. man. "I use it to move RV's in and out of 6 different barns. One barn is 124 ft. long, one 160 ft., and four are 100 ft. long."
    He bought the Blazer with a badly rusted body and frame for $125. He removed the body and cut off the rusted-out frame just behind the seat, moving the rear axle forward onto a new channel iron frame. The front axle still has the original suspension.
    He used 1 1/2-in. sq. tubing to make a rollbar and added a fiberglass roof. He cut the hood down on an old Chevy pickup and used it to cover the engine, leaving the sides open.
    "It has worked well for many years. I doubt I've got much more than $1,000 invested in it," says Greschaw. "I built it because I store up to 120 RV's for customers and am constantly moving vehicles in and out. I had been using an old Ford tractor without power steering to back rigs in, but I needed something better. With my buggy, I can see where I'm going at all times.
    Greschaw also built another heavy-duty rig for backing in trailers. He started with the frame off a 1970's Chevy 3/4-ton 4-WD pickup, then mounted the body, cab, fenders, and grill off a 1962 Chevy pickup on it. There's a homemade flatbed on back, and a fifth wheel hitch and receiver hitches on front and back.
    It has solid rear suspension with dual wheels on back. The front suspension is original to the pickup. A 1984 Chevy 350 cu. in. engine equipped with a turbo 400 transmission and 2-speed transfer case provides power.
    "I use it to haul anything I want, including big 36-ft. fifth wheel RV trailers," says Greschaw. "I used channel iron and diamond plate steel to weld together a bumper and grill guard on front. I like to back trailers in from the front because it's easier to see where I'm going than backing up.
    "There's a 12-volt electrical plug both on front and back, which comes in handy when handling trailers equipped with electric jacks. I used angle iron and diamond plate steel to make the flatbed."
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Hank Greschaw, 1075 N. M-52, Webberville, Mich. 48892 (ph 517 521-4388; patches_floyd@yahoo.com).

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Tractor-Buggy Great For RV Storage Business SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services Hank Greschaw runs an RV storage business and he needed a quicker way to move trailers around So he built what he calls a tractor buggy It started life as a 1973 4-WD Chevy Blazer It s powered by the original 350 cu in engine and 4-speed manual transmission with 2-speed transfer case There are receiver hitches front and back and a fifth wheel hitch on back for use with lightweight trailers It s a cross between a tractor and a dune buggy with quick acceleration with a top speed of 60 mph says the Webberville Mich man I use it to move RV s in and out of 6 different barns One barn is 124 ft long one 160 ft and four are 100 ft long He bought the Blazer with a badly rusted body and frame for $125 He removed the body and cut off the rusted-out frame just behind the seat moving the rear axle forward onto a new channel iron frame The front axle still has the original suspension He used 1 1/2-in sq tubing to make a rollbar and added a fiberglass roof He cut the hood down on an old Chevy pickup and used it to cover the engine leaving the sides open It has worked well for many years I doubt I ve got much more than $1 000 invested in it says Greschaw I built it because I store up to 120 RV s for customers and am constantly moving vehicles in and out I had been using an old Ford tractor without power steering to back rigs in but I needed something better With my buggy I can see where I m going at all times Greschaw also built another heavy-duty rig for backing in trailers He started with the frame off a 1970 s Chevy 3/4-ton 4-WD pickup then mounted the body cab fenders and grill off a 1962 Chevy pickup on it There s a homemade flatbed on back and a fifth wheel hitch and receiver hitches on front and back It has solid rear suspension with dual wheels on back The front suspension is original to the pickup A 1984 Chevy 350 cu in engine equipped with a turbo 400 transmission and 2-speed transfer case provides power I use it to haul anything I want including big 36-ft fifth wheel RV trailers says Greschaw I used channel iron and diamond plate steel to weld together a bumper and grill guard on front I like to back trailers in from the front because it s easier to see where I m going than backing up There s a 12-volt electrical plug both on front and back which comes in handy when handling trailers equipped with electric jacks I used angle iron and diamond plate steel to make the flatbed Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Hank Greschaw 1075 N M-52 Webberville Mich 48892 ph 517 521-4388; patches_floyd@yahoo com

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