using a lawn mower for younger kids to drive around the farm....ideas?

[brownbr]

My family and I live on a cattle farm in Texas. I have 4 younger children ages 7-4. I was thinking about how I would start teaching them driving skills, and enable them better mobility over the farm. A relative gave them a power wheel electric tractor a while back. They have mastered that, but it can't really get far from the house or tackle any type of obstacle.

My current equipment situation is only a big Husqvarna garden tractor mower. I'm completely dependent on this so I can't let the kids on this. I don't have anything we could drive together yet, waiting on finances to purchase equipment like a tractor, old truck, or maybe UTV. Since the wait could be years I am thinking about a plan B. I would like to avoid a go kart or anything fast.

What are people's thoughts about taking a riding lawn mower, removing the mowing deck, and turning it into a low speed farm scooter? Has anyone done something like this? Seems like way cheaper than many other possible solutions.

What would be a good cost effective mower to purchase specifically for the purpose of off road driving over the farm?

Any ideas or suggestions for such a project?

thanks

 

[oosik]

I think it would be a fantastic idea - as long as the children are under direct supervision 100% of the time. When I was a kid, there was a sheep farmer up the valley that bought an old military jeep for the same purpose. After his 9 year old son finished playing "bumper car" with his brand new Chrysler - the Chrysler was barely recognizable. My father didn't even have to explain why I couldn't have something like that also.

 

[Jstpssng]

My family and I live on a cattle farm in Texas. I have 4 younger children ages 7-4. I was thinking about how I would start teaching them driving skills, and enable them better mobility over the farm. A relative gave them a power wheel electric tractor a while back. They have mastered that, but it can't really get far from the house or tackle any type of obstacle.

My current equipment situation is only a big Husqvarna garden tractor mower. I'm completely dependent on this so I can't let the kids on this. I don't have anything we could drive together yet, waiting on finances to purchase equipment like a tractor, old truck, or maybe UTV. Since the wait could be years I am thinking about a plan B. I would like to avoid a go kart or anything fast.

What are people's thoughts about taking a riding lawn mower, removing the mowing deck, and turning it into a low speed farm scooter? Has anyone done something like this? Seems like way cheaper than many other possible solutions.

What would be a good cost effective mower to purchase specifically for the purpose of off road driving over the farm?

Any ideas or suggestions for such a project?

thanks

We had a two-wheeled garden tractor, which pulled a trailer that my father had made; the driver sat on a seat on front, while the rest of us piled in the back... in the winter we had snowmobiles.
Of course when I wasn't much older than that my main transportation source was a bicycle.

 

[Jstpssng]

My family and I live on a cattle farm in Texas. I have 4 younger children ages 7-4. I was thinking about how I would start teaching them driving skills, and enable them better mobility over the farm. A relative gave them a power wheel electric tractor a while back. They have mastered that, but it can't really get far from the house or tackle any type of obstacle.

My current equipment situation is only a big Husqvarna garden tractor mower. I'm completely dependent on this so I can't let the kids on this. I don't have anything we could drive together yet, waiting on finances to purchase equipment like a tractor, old truck, or maybe UTV. Since the wait could be years I am thinking about a plan B. I would like to avoid a go kart or anything fast.

What are people's thoughts about taking a riding lawn mower, removing the mowing deck, and turning it into a low speed farm scooter? Has anyone done something like this? Seems like way cheaper than many other possible solutions.

What would be a good cost effective mower to purchase specifically for the purpose of off road driving over the farm?

Any ideas or suggestions for such a project?

thanks

We had a two-wheeled garden tractor, which pulled a trailer that my father had made; the driver sat on a seat on front, while the rest of us piled in the back... in the winter we had snowmobiles.
Of course when I wasn't much older than that my main transportation source was a bicycle.

 

[Pete Judd]

When my two boys were young, I picked up a used lawn tractor with a rusted out deck at a yard sale for 50 bucks. It taught them how to back a trailer, and basic driving skills. As well the art of changing oil, and putting air in tires.

 

[boggen]

riding lawn mower....

things to watch out for....
someone standing on a rear hitch or like. and trying to do wheelies

given the engine all she has, and letting clutch out to try and do a wheelie

turning it as fast as possible to try and do donuts.

trying to leave skid marks in yard/mud/driveway.

how steep of a hill they can climb / crawl up...

finding a steep hill. pushing the clutch in, and free wheeling it down the hill.

trying to get the lawn mower on 2 wheels (left or right side) with or without ramps.

hooking up trailer, and putting way to much weight on rear of trailer so, rear tires of mower come off the ground. more likely folks jumping on back of trailer for a seat.

hmmmsss what else don't i remember of what i tried or friend tried?

=============
100% supervision is correct! and every child is different.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Mountain bikes. They get exercise. A 4 yr old doesnt need to drive. 7 yr old maybe drive your current mower once in awhile.

 

[Fluid]

My family and I live on a cattle farm in Texas. I have 4 younger children ages 7-4. I was thinking about how I would start teaching them driving skills, and enable them better mobility over the farm. A relative gave them a power wheel electric tractor a while back. They have mastered that, but it can't really get far from the house or tackle any type of obstacle.

My current equipment situation is only a big Husqvarna garden tractor mower. I'm completely dependent on this so I can't let the kids on this. I don't have anything we could drive together yet, waiting on finances to purchase equipment like a tractor, old truck, or maybe UTV. Since the wait could be years I am thinking about a plan B. I would like to avoid a go kart or anything fast.

What are people's thoughts about taking a riding lawn mower, removing the mowing deck, and turning it into a low speed farm scooter? Has anyone done something like this? Seems like way cheaper than many other possible solutions.

What would be a good cost effective mower to purchase specifically for the purpose of off road driving over the farm?

Any ideas or suggestions for such a project?

thanks

I got a Cheap garden tractor for the grandkids to drive around the farm, I'm with them all the time to show them how to run a machine right. I have a little trailer for the back and every time they are here they can't wait to drive it. We go around the farm and (Do work) we pick up tree limbs off the grass, haul fire wood, pull the roller. When the hay is baled they pull a hay wagon to the barn and I pay them for their time. The oldest boy, he's 8, he can now back up a trailer with the garden tractor. (His dad can't even do that). I think it's a good idea to teach them young so when they get older they are way ahead of the other kid's that didn't have the chance. It was the best money I spent on something I don't use.

 

[aczlan]

If you are going to use something like this, I would add a remote kill switch (ie: Amazon.com : iMBAPrice® 12V, 15 Amps, Heavy Duty Boat and Car Universal Remote Control Kit : Car Electronics ) wired into the kill wire so that the supervising adult could shut the tractor off remotely if need be.

Aaron Z

 

[DennisArrow]

Double check the brakes and make sure they hold the machine and or lock the wheels up.......too many of the older units have worn out brakes and are a true hazard if you liver or work on a hill...........I got some ATV ag type treads for my rear tires and that thing will go just about anywhere. The problem is though that they will tear up the soil/grass/sod but are fantastic for hills, gravel, snow, and poor traction that the normal small worn out tires just cannot handle............God bless.....Dennis