Self-Propelled Deere BBQ Grill!

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #3, Page #03

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When the mower deck and spindles wore out on his 1989 Deere LT 133 garden tractor, Mark Thomas of Jennings, Fla., converted it into a portable grill that runs under its own power.
    The tractor’s fiberglass hood was broken so he replaced it with one he made out of galvanized sheet metal, pop riveting the hood to the tractor’s frame. Then he converted a 60-gal. air compressor tank into a grill and mounted it on top of the hood. A propane bottle mounts on back of the tractor and is attached by a 3/8-in. dia. hose to the grill.
    He cut a hinged door into the compressor tank and added an exhaust stack on top that he made out of the driveshaft off a semi truck. A 4-in. length of pipe sticks out one end of the tank and is covered by a bolt-on flapper plate, which is used to adjust the grill’s air intake.
    There’s storage space under the hood. Access is provided by removing a pin on front and pulling down a hinged door. “I use the space to store lighter fluid, tongs, wood chips, and various other grill items,” says Thomas.
    A 4-ft. long, 18-in. wide oak shelf attaches on front of the tank to an angle iron frame that bolts onto the tractor’s hood.
    “I built it because I wanted something a little bigger than the gas and charcoal grills I already had,” says Thomas. “I also use coals with it. For example, when cooking Boston butts I start by using coals for 10 to 11 hours and then when the coals start to die down I switch over to the gas burner. I’ve had a lot of offers to buy it but it’s not for sale.
    “I keep the grill in my barn, but when I have friends over for a cookout I fire up the tractor and drive closer to my house where I can watch it better. The only limitation is that it’s hard to see over the big 60-gal. tank. I have to look around the sides of it to see anything in front of me that’s less than 5 ft. tall.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mark Thomas, 4585 N.W. 63rd Ave., Jennings, Fla. 32053 (ph 386 466-4297; mark77thomas@gmail.com).

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Self-Propelled Deere BBQ Grill! FARM HOME Food When the mower deck and spindles wore out on his 1989 Deere LT 133 garden tractor Mark Thomas of Jennings Fla converted it into a portable grill that runs under its own power The tractor’s fiberglass hood was broken so he replaced it with one he made out of galvanized sheet metal pop riveting the hood to the tractor’s frame Then he converted a 60-gal air compressor tank into a grill and mounted it on top of the hood A propane bottle mounts on back of the tractor and is attached by a 3/8-in dia hose to the grill He cut a hinged door into the compressor tank and added an exhaust stack on top that he made out of the driveshaft off a semi truck A 4-in length of pipe sticks out one end of the tank and is covered by a bolt-on flapper plate which is used to adjust the grill’s air intake There’s storage space under the hood Access is provided by removing a pin on front and pulling down a hinged door “I use the space to store lighter fluid tongs wood chips and various other grill items ” says Thomas A 4-ft long 18-in wide oak shelf attaches on front of the tank to an angle iron frame that bolts onto the tractor’s hood “I built it because I wanted something a little bigger than the gas and charcoal grills I already had ” says Thomas “I also use coals with it For example when cooking Boston butts I start by using coals for 10 to 11 hours and then when the coals start to die down I switch over to the gas burner I’ve had a lot of offers to buy it but it’s not for sale “I keep the grill in my barn but when I have friends over for a cookout I fire up the tractor and drive closer to my house where I can watch it better The only limitation is that it’s hard to see over the big 60-gal tank I have to look around the sides of it to see anything in front of me that’s less than 5 ft tall ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mark Thomas 4585 N W 63rd Ave Jennings Fla 32053 ph 386 466-4297; mark77thomas@gmail com