I know this isn't the best idea, but how would it be to take a cheap used ride on mower and prep it for light trail use. I'm thinking pull the mowing deck, swap out the turf savers for knobies, and maybe weld up the diff. I'm sure this has been done before.
How hard can it be?
Is this just a "dare to be different" kind of thing?
I've found some pretty decent deals on ATVs locally on CL and our local classified rags, maybe that's worth pursuing.
I seem to remember a recent GRM article where they turned old mowers into off-road go-karts. I believe some gearing changes had to be made.
They don't go fast and the handling is atrocious.
Sure, it can be done. But the worthiness of the results are highly questionable.
Luke wrote: I seem to remember a recent GRM article where they turned old mowers into off-road go-karts. I believe some gearing changes had to be made.
That would be fine for hooning around on a relatively flat feild, but "trail work" to me means bumps... and lawn tractors have basically no suspension. The original death-trap 3-wheelers w/ baloon tires come to mind... watching them land off small jumps and bounce all over the place...
At our hunting camp, dad used to take the mower deck off our mower and we would spend hours driving trails around the property. (ATV's hadn't been invented yet) We loved it!
Put a 600cc bike engine in it and race it
hahah. nice.
foxtrapper wrote: They don't go fast and the handling is atrocious. Sure, it can be done. But the worthiness of the results are highly questionable.
They have no suspension. One draw back.
problem: no suspension.
solution: build a suspension.
Problem: it's a lawnmower.
Solution: build a tube frame & suspension new, and use some bits from the mower. Maybe.
Better solution... buy an ATV and cut the grass with it.
For the speeds one would be going with on a converted riding mower, I don't think lack of suspension will be a problem.
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