Fertilizer Spreader Built From Old Fire Truck

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #3, Page #25

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“I looked for an old fire truck for quite a few years because I knew it would make a real nice running gear for a fertilizer spreader,” says Michigan farmer Chuck Timm. “I finally found an old pumper truck on a 500 Ford chassis.”
    Timm brought the truck back to his shop and spent about two months creating his one-of-a-kind fertilizer rig. First he removed the pumping equipment and sold it to a neighbor for $500. Then he dismantled the drive train, suspension and wheels to accommodate flotation tires. “I built rear wheels for the extra large Terra tires that I acquired from an old 3-wheel self-propelled fertilizer spreader,” says Timm. “Then I re-built the drive train and suspension to mount the over-sized wheels.” On the front he added 7-in. blocks to level the frame, and built new wheels for the high floatation 385/65R22.5 steering tires.
    Timm bought a stainless steel 3-ton fertilizer box from an old pull-type spreader, scrapped out the running gear, and mounted the box on the truck chassis. Fertilizer is metered out by the truck pto and a ground drive wheel that he raises and lowers with a hydraulic cylinder. The spinner is driven by a 5 hp. Honda motor.
    “The spinner is set up to give me a 60-ft. swath,” says Timm, “and I use GPS in the cab to show me the right amount of overlap. I can travel 10 to 11 mph with a full load, which is a decent speed if fields aren’t entirely smooth.”
    Timm says the 500 Ford has a 330 cu. in. engine with a large manifold for extra cooling. “It’s a little underpowered for the size tank we have, but we’re not out to set speed records. We can cover a good 40 acres an hour, and with the large tires and just a 3-ton tank, we’re not compacting the soil, which is important.”
    Timm says he spent about $5,000 in out-of-pocket costs for the spreader, which included buying the truck, fertilizer tank, 4 tires and the GPS. “Even with two months of labor on top of those costs, I’ve got way less into this than buying a truck-mounted commercial spreader,” says Timm.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Chuck Timm, 6690 Nicholson Hill Rd., Hubbard Lake, Mich. 49747 (ph 989 727-3676).

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Fertilizer Spreader Built From Old Fire Truck FERTILIZER APPLICATION “I looked for an old fire truck for quite a few years because I knew it would make a real nice running gear for a fertilizer spreader ” says Michigan farmer Chuck Timm “I finally found an old pumper truck on a 500 Ford chassis ” Timm brought the truck back to his shop and spent about two months creating his one-of-a-kind fertilizer rig First he removed the pumping equipment and sold it to a neighbor for $500 Then he dismantled the drive train suspension and wheels to accommodate flotation tires “I built rear wheels for the extra large Terra tires that I acquired from an old 3-wheel self-propelled fertilizer spreader ” says Timm “Then I re-built the drive train and suspension to mount the over-sized wheels ” On the front he added 7-in blocks to level the frame and built new wheels for the high floatation 385/65R22 5 steering tires Timm bought a stainless steel 3-ton fertilizer box from an old pull-type spreader scrapped out the running gear and mounted the box on the truck chassis Fertilizer is metered out by the truck pto and a ground drive wheel that he raises and lowers with a hydraulic cylinder The spinner is driven by a 5 hp Honda motor “The spinner is set up to give me a 60-ft swath ” says Timm “and I use GPS in the cab to show me the right amount of overlap I can travel 10 to 11 mph with a full load which is a decent speed if fields aren’t entirely smooth ” Timm says the 500 Ford has a 330 cu in engine with a large manifold for extra cooling “It’s a little underpowered for the size tank we have but we’re not out to set speed records We can cover a good 40 acres an hour and with the large tires and just a 3-ton tank we’re not compacting the soil which is important ” Timm says he spent about $5 000 in out-of-pocket costs for the spreader which included buying the truck fertilizer tank 4 tires and the GPS “Even with two months of labor on top of those costs I’ve got way less into this than buying a truck-mounted commercial spreader ” says Timm Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Chuck Timm 6690 Nicholson Hill Rd Hubbard Lake Mich 49747 ph 989 727-3676

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