Zero Turn Mower Turned Into A Handy “Workhorse”
“I’m at the age where I can’t carry things around like I used to, so I converted my 1999 Exmark Lazer zero turn riding mower into a true workhorse by adding a hinged plywood platform on front and ball hitches at both ends of the machine,” says Donald Putteet, Middleburg, Fla.
He used 1/2-in. thick steel to build a support bar that clamps onto the mower’s frame with 2 U-bolts just above the front caster wheels. The bar, which is fitted with a center-mounted ball hitch, supports a fold-up plywood platform that’s 30 in. wide by 34 in. long. The back side of the platform hinges on 2 homemade H-clamps that fasten to the mower’s frame. Both sides of the platform are bolted to 1 3/4-in. sq. wooden arms that pin onto the H-clamps. When not in use, the platform rests against a lever that’s used to raise or lower the mower’s 52-in. deck.
“It’s super handy,” says Putteet. “I came up with the idea because I got tired of having to carry stuff around by hand. I already had added the support bar and ball hitch so I could back trailers into tight areas more easily.
“I’ve used it to carry everything from a big, heavy old TV that a neighbor wanted hauled away to several 50-lb. bags of mulch, a washing machine, and several stacked-together sheets of plywood. When the platform is down, the ball hitch fits up through a hole in the platform and sets flush with it.
“I can remove the platform by pulling 2 pins. However, most of the time I leave it on while mowing because it doesn’t interfere much with visibility.”
Putteet says the mower’s rear-mounted ball hitch comes in handy to move everything from boats to pull-type campers. To add it, he bolted 2 pieces of flat steel to the mower’s rear bumper and then bolted on a wedge-shaped piece of steel that supports the ball.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Donald Putteet, 1764 St. Ives Drive, Middleburg, Fla. 32068 (ph 904 406-2328; donaldputteet@bellsouth.net).
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Zero Turn Mower Turned Into A Handy “Workhorse” FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 “I’m at the age where I can’t carry things around like I used to so I converted my 1999 Exmark Lazer zero turn riding mower into a true workhorse by adding a hinged plywood platform on front and ball hitches at both ends of the machine ” says Donald Putteet Middleburg Fla He used 1/2-in thick steel to build a support bar that clamps onto the mower’s frame with 2 U-bolts just above the front caster wheels The bar which is fitted with a center-mounted ball hitch supports a fold-up plywood platform that’s 30 in wide by 34 in long The back side of the platform hinges on 2 homemade H-clamps that fasten to the mower’s frame Both sides of the platform are bolted to 1 3/4-in sq wooden arms that pin onto the H-clamps When not in use the platform rests against a lever that’s used to raise or lower the mower’s 52-in deck “It’s super handy ” says Putteet “I came up with the idea because I got tired of having to carry stuff around by hand I already had added the support bar and ball hitch so I could back trailers into tight areas more easily “I’ve used it to carry everything from a big heavy old TV that a neighbor wanted hauled away to several 50-lb bags of mulch a washing machine and several stacked-together sheets of plywood When the platform is down the ball hitch fits up through a hole in the platform and sets flush with it “I can remove the platform by pulling 2 pins However most of the time I leave it on while mowing because it doesn’t interfere much with visibility ” Putteet says the mower’s rear-mounted ball hitch comes in handy to move everything from boats to pull-type campers To add it he bolted 2 pieces of flat steel to the mower’s rear bumper and then bolted on a wedge-shaped piece of steel that supports the ball Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Donald Putteet 1764 St Ives Drive Middleburg Fla 32068 ph 904 406-2328; donaldputteet@bellsouth net
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