"It goes right through mud that would stop a tractor-pulled spreader in its tracks," says Kent Keller, Kinderhook, N.Y., who equipped a 10-ton tandem axle Army truck with a 5,000-gal. liquid manure tank. The truck rides on tires that stand more than 4 ft. high.

Keller farms in partnership with his father Bob and brother Paul. The "Moo Poo Express", as they call the big truck spreader, has attracted a lot of local attention.

Keller bought the truck from George Moore Truck & Equipment of Keeseville, N.Y. It was originally used as an Army tank recovery vehicle and came equipped with a fifth wheel plate and a pto-driven, 50,000-lb. winch mounted behind the cab. It's powered by a 300 hp Cummins diesel connected to a 5-speed transmission with a high-low transfer case. Keller removed both the fifth wheel plate and winch and mounted a custom built tank -- from Diller Equipment of Chambersburg, Penn. -- on the frame.

The pto shaft that originally drove the winch operates a manure pump that mounts behind the tank. Diller Equipment installed a driveshaft that runs along the bottom of the tank to the pump.

"It rides like a Cadillac and steers with ease," says Keller. "The Cummins engine had only 831 hours on it when I bought the truck. I paid for the tank and was told I would have to spend quite a bit of money on hydraulics to drive the manure pump. However, my pto-driven pump system ended up costing me very little so my total cost was comparable to the cost of a commercial pull-type spreader of that size, but my self-propelled rig has a lot more traction in muddy or hilly conditions. Both rear axles are equipped with differential brakes which helps steer and keep you from getting stuck. The large 14.00 by 24 tires with military tread require only 55 psi of air, compared to 90 to 100 psi for conventional truck tires, which really makes a big difference.

"While spreading in the field, I usually run the truck in second gear at 2,500 rpm's while traveling at 4 to 5.8 mph. I can also run in third gear with the engine running at 1,500 to 1,600 rpm's. It spreads about 1,250 gal. per minute. The tank is equipped with an air cylinder that operates a valve on the discharge pipe. The valve can be turned on and off with the pto running."

Keller had to modify the driver's side of the cab to make room for taller operators. This included cutting down the kick plate in the doorway, moving the seat back, and shifting some of the controls.

A variety of Army trucks are available from George Moore Truck & Equipment Corp. Diller Equipment custom builds hydraulic-driven liquid manure tanks from 5,000 to 7,000 gal. Diller's 5th wheel spreaders can be equipped with big 28L by 26 flotation tires, steel fenders, large lid-type hoppers, and epoxy coatings inside and outside the tank.