Mechanic Makes House Calls In Old Ambulance

1990 - Volume #14, Issue #5, Page #17

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"Customers never forget me once they've seen my truck," says Grant Hanson, a traveling farm mechanic who makes on-farm service calls with a converted medical ambulance that he says makes the perfect on-farm service vehicle.
Hanson got the idea for his traveling farm shop from a neighbor who buys and sells ambulances. The more he looked at them the more he liked the idea of using one of them for making on-farm service calls.
The ambulance has a number of features that make it an ideal service truck. It's got extra headroom in the top so he can stand up inside the van, and there are storage compartments made out of fiberglass (easy to clean) all around the inside of the van for tools, parts and miscellaneous equipment. He puts his oxygen and acetylene tanks into holders that previously held medical oxygen tanks. One of the best features are the floodlights all around the outside edge of the van which he uses, along with directional spotlights, to light up jobs at night. The ambulance is fitted with dual batteries equipped with individual shut-off switches so he can use one battery to run the lights for a couple hours and then start the engine with the other battery.
The ambulance is outfitted with a full range of hand and power tools to perform most any repair job on the farm, as well as a hydraulic press, gas and electric welders, a 5-hp. air compressor, equipment to check diesel injectors, hydraulic flow rate checkers, a parts washer, and a high-pressure washer. He also carries enough electrical wire and fittings to build an entire wiring harness for a tractor or combine, as well as rebuild kits for many parts, such as alternators.
One of the unique features of the ambulance-service truck is the 50-gal. hot water reservoir Hanson rigged up. Water in the reservoir is heated by engine coolant which circulates through copper coils inside the tank. The hot water is used to wash dirty equipment before he starts working on it. "It gives me about 20 min. of spray with my high pressure washer," says Hanson. He also has a parts washer built onto a portable bench that is the first thing he takes out of the truck to set up when he gets to a job.
During summer Hanson does almost all his service work on farms. "It's easier for me to go to the farm than it is to bring big combines and tractors into town. Many farmers have their own well-equipped shops and want to do some of the work them-selves, and then have me out to do the work they can't handle. During harvest or other busy times of the year, I work on equipment right in the field. Farmers really appreciate my on-farm calls," says Hanson.
One additional piece of equipment he takes with him is his unique home-built portable crane that he pulls on a trailer behind the ambulance. He designed it specifically for work on tractors and combines, and it's big enough to pull engines, lift off cabs, and remove dual wheels together with rear axle assembly. "All the cranes on the market are built for automotive or truck work. I designed this crane with an adjust-able base to work on small tractors right up to the biggest tractors and combines."
Another unique feature on the ambulance is Hanson's swing-out tool chest which hinges on a post just inside the side doors of the van. When he's got the door open, the chest swings out for easy access, then swings back inside again for transport.
Hanson says he feels he can handle more in-field service jobs than any other portable repair service he's heard of. There's virtu-ally nothing he can't do in the field, except for things like major engine rebuilds, when he pulls the engine with the crane and takes it back to his shop in town.
Hanson works within a 40 to 50 mile radius of Glenwood, advertising in local publications. He prides himself on teaching farmers how to do their own repair jobs when he's on their farms. Every farmer differs in his mechanical ability but he says most appreciate the advice he offers. "It's like a dentist showing people how to take of their teeth. It doesn't create more business but it's very satisfying," he says.
Contact:FARM SHOW Followup: Grant Hanson 21334 S Lakeshore Dr, Glenwood, MN 56334
www.safeloader.com/thewalkerrescuer, 320 760 1485.

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Mechanic Makes House Calls In Old Ambulance AG WORLD Ag World Customers never forget me once they ve seen my truck says Grant Hanson a traveling farm mechanic who makes on-farm service calls with a converted medical ambulance that he says makes the perfect on-farm service vehicle Hanson got the idea for his traveling farm shop from a neighbor who buys and sells ambulances The more he looked at them the more he liked the idea of using one of them for making on-farm service calls The ambulance has a number of features that make it an ideal service truck It s got extra headroom in the top so he can stand up inside the van and there are storage compartments made out of fiberglass easy to clean all around the inside of the van for tools parts and miscellaneous equipment He puts his oxygen and acetylene tanks into holders that previously held medical oxygen tanks One of the best features are the floodlights all around the outside edge of the van which he uses along with directional spotlights to light up jobs at night The ambulance is fitted with dual batteries equipped with individual shut-off switches so he can use one battery to run the lights for a couple hours and then start the engine with the other battery The ambulance is outfitted with a full range of hand and power tools to perform most any repair job on the farm as well as a hydraulic press gas and electric welders a 5-hp air compressor equipment to check diesel injectors hydraulic flow rate checkers a parts washer and a high-pressure washer He also carries enough electrical wire and fittings to build an entire wiring harness for a tractor or combine as well as rebuild kits for many parts such as alternators One of the unique features of the ambulance-service truck is the 50-gal hot water reservoir Hanson rigged up Water in the reservoir is heated by engine coolant which circulates through copper coils inside the tank The hot water is used to wash dirty equipment before he starts working on it It gives me about 20 min of spray with my high pressure washer says Hanson He also has a parts washer built onto a portable bench that is the first thing he takes out of the truck to set up when he gets to a job During summer Hanson does almost all his service work on farms It s easier for me to go to the farm than it is to bring big combines and tractors into town Many farmers have their own well-equipped shops and want to do some of the work them-selves and then have me out to do the work they can t handle During harvest or other busy times of the year I work on equipment right in the field Farmers really appreciate my on-farm calls says Hanson One additional piece of equipment he takes with him is his unique home-built portable crane that he pulls on a trailer behind the ambulance He designed it specifically for work on tractors and combines and it s big enough to pull engines lift off cabs and remove dual wheels together with rear axle assembly All the cranes on the market are built for automotive or truck work I designed this crane with an adjust-able base to work on small tractors right up to the biggest tractors and combines Another unique feature on the ambulance is Hanson s swing-out tool chest which hinges on a post just inside the side doors of the van When he s got the door open the chest swings out for easy access then swings back inside again for transport Hanson says he feels he can handle more in-field service jobs than any other portable repair service he s heard of There s virtu-ally nothing he can t do in the field except for things like major engine rebuilds when he pulls the engine with the crane and takes it back to his shop in town Hanson works within a 40 to 50 mile radius of Glenwood advertising in local publications He prides himself on teaching farmers how to do their own repair jobs when he s on their farms Every farmer differs in his mechanical ability but he says most appreciate the advice he offers It s like a dentist showing people how to take of their teeth It doesn t create more business but it s very satisfying he says Contact:FARM SHOW Followup: Grant Hanson 21334 S Lakeshore Dr Glenwood MN 56334 www safeloader com/thewalkerrescuer 320 760 1485

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