Kit Turns Garden Tractor Into Mini John Deere
Taylor Hartman figured out a way to recreate the tractors he admired on his grandfathers’ farms. The tractors just happen to be a little smaller since he builds them by modifying garden tractors. With the help of his business partner and father, Steve Hartman, who has tool and die experience, Hartman sells kits and custom-builds tractors for other wannabe tractor owners.
The Hartmans’ first mini tractor was an International Harvester 856 made from a Wheel Horse garden tractor. After about a year’s work they sold it at a farm tractor auction.
“I got the bug to do another one,” Hartman says. “I bought a John Deere 110 garden tractor to make into a John Deere 4020 mini farm tractor.”
By 2018, the bug turned into Midwest Mini Tractor Company out of Goshen, Ind. In addition to building custom tractors for customers, the Hartmans sell a kit for DIYers to turn a John Deere 110 garden tractor into a JD 5020 ($1,000) or 4020 ($1,250).
It’s the first of many kits Hartman plans to offer. Each takes time and trial and error to design every part to get the right proportion and appearance of the full size tractor.
“The fender is critical,” Hartman says, and the attention to detail and getting that right sets his tractors apart from other mini tractor builders. Parts are made at a local shop with CNC milling machines and laser cutters, then powder-coated.
The Hartmans assemble the parts with stainless steel hardware.
“We make the kits as easy to install as we can,” Hartman says. “We make the parts bolt-on. There are just some holes to drill, but there is no welding or cutting.”
When they customize a tractor, they tear down the “donor” tractor to the bare frame, sandblast it, and go through all the mechanical and electrical parts before transforming it into a replica of a regular size tractor. The only notable difference on the JD 4020 minis is the lights. Hartman uses four small LED lights instead of two regular lights to get the right fender proportions.
“One garden tractor I worked on recently was rusty and torn apart. I like to see them get repurposed,” Hartman says. “They are functional to pull a wagon or attachment. A lot of people buy them for their grandkids. Others have them for show and parade pieces.”
The Hartmans have had requests for kits and builds for other models of tractors including International Harvester, Case, Minneapolis Moline, Oliver and a variety of John Deere tractors. They plan to offer more tractor models in the future.
Call Hartman for a price quote on specific parts or for a custom tractor.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Taylor Hartman, Midwest Mini Tractor Company, 57271 Clydesdale Dr., Goshen, Ind. 46528 (ph 574 312-4349; Facebook: Midwestminitractorcompany;
midwestmini@comcast.net).
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Kit Turns Garden Tractor Into Mini John Deere TRACTORS Conversions Taylor Hartman figured out a way to recreate the tractors he admired on his grandfathers’ farms The tractors just happen to be a little smaller since he builds them by modifying garden tractors With the help of his business partner and father Steve Hartman who has tool and die experience Hartman sells kits and custom-builds tractors for other wannabe tractor owners The Hartmans’ first mini tractor was an International Harvester 856 made from a Wheel Horse garden tractor After about a year’s work they sold it at a farm tractor auction “I got the bug to do another one ” Hartman says “I bought a John Deere 110 garden tractor to make into a John Deere 4020 mini farm tractor ” By 2018 the bug turned into Midwest Mini Tractor Company out of Goshen Ind In addition to building custom tractors for customers the Hartmans sell a kit for DIYers to turn a John Deere 110 garden tractor into a JD 5020 $1 000 or 4020 $1 250 It’s the first of many kits Hartman plans to offer Each takes time and trial and error to design every part to get the right proportion and appearance of the full size tractor “The fender is critical ” Hartman says and the attention to detail and getting that right sets his tractors apart from other mini tractor builders Parts are made at a local shop with CNC milling machines and laser cutters then powder-coated The Hartmans assemble the parts with stainless steel hardware “We make the kits as easy to install as we can ” Hartman says “We make the parts bolt-on There are just some holes to drill but there is no welding or cutting ” When they customize a tractor they tear down the “donor” tractor to the bare frame sandblast it and go through all the mechanical and electrical parts before transforming it into a replica of a regular size tractor The only notable difference on the JD 4020 minis is the lights Hartman uses four small LED lights instead of two regular lights to get the right fender proportions “One garden tractor I worked on recently was rusty and torn apart I like to see them get repurposed ” Hartman says “They are functional to pull a wagon or attachment A lot of people buy them for their grandkids Others have them for show and parade pieces ” The Hartmans have had requests for kits and builds for other models of tractors including International Harvester Case Minneapolis Moline Oliver and a variety of John Deere tractors They plan to offer more tractor models in the future Call Hartman for a price quote on specific parts or for a custom tractor Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Taylor Hartman Midwest Mini Tractor Company 57271 Clydesdale Dr Goshen Ind 46528 ph 574 312-4349; Facebook: Midwestminitractorcompany; midwestmini@comcast net
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