John Deere Baby Stroller

JOHN DEERE BABY STROLLER FARM HOME Miscellaneous 18-1-23 Baby strollers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors but this one - modeled after a Deere 4230 tractor - may be the most unusual one you'll ever see. The stroller was designed and built by Tim Vanden Hoek and his father, Vernon, last summer for Tim's 6-month-old daughter Kelsi. It's 54 in. long, 29 in. wide at the back, and 44 in. high. The cab is hinged at the bottom and tips backward to provide easy access to the seat, which is secured to the carpeted floor. Head lights and tail lights are built into the fenders. An automobile tailpipe was used for the exhaust stack, and the tires were taken from a riding lawn mower. The oscillating front wheels float over uneven terrain just like a real tractor. There's even a car radio (powered by a moped battery) built into the dash. A push handle mounts on back. "People are amazed when they first see it," says Vernon. "Tim took it to our state fair last summer and could hardly get any-where, especially after he turned on the lights, because so many people wanted to see it. I got the idea when I saw a stroller on TV equipped with large wheels to make it more maneuverable. It's much safer than a conventional baby stroller because it's not as likely to tip over and because the cab serves as a roll cage. The big tires make it fairly easy to push. The seat is a car-type safety seat. "We spent 60 to 70 hours building it, but we could probably build another one in only one third as much time. First we made a cardboard model, then we bent the sheet metal and assembled it. The welding was done in town. It was a very rewarding experience, but it was a challenge getting every-thing to look right and took a lot of patience to build. I think Kelsi will probably enjoy it even more next summer when she's older and can play with the knobs and buttons on the radio." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Vernon Vanden Hoek, Rt. 1, Box 132B, Lynnville, Iowa 50153 (ph 515 594-3714).

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