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Poor Man's "Mule"
"It has a lot more capacity than a Mule or Gator-type utility vehicle but cost far less to build," says Dale McPeake, Scotts Hill, Tenn., who converted a 1997 GMC Sonoma 4-WD pickup into a utility vehicle equipped with a hydraulic-operated dump box.
The pickup had been badly damaged in a roll-over accident but
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Poor Man's "Mule" TRUCKS Conversions 27-6-19 "It has a lot more capacity than a Mule or Gator-type utility vehicle but cost far less to build," says Dale McPeake, Scotts Hill, Tenn., who converted a 1997 GMC Sonoma 4-WD pickup into a utility vehicle equipped with a hydraulic-operated dump box.
The pickup had been badly damaged in a roll-over accident but had just 40,000 miles on it when McPeake bought it. It's equipped with a 4.3-liter, V-6 gas engine and a 5-speed transmission. He removed both doors and cut off the top of the cab, then used 1 1/2-in. dia. exhaust pipe to make a frame that supports a red vinyl canopy with a Lexan plastic windshield on front. He also installed a new grill, hood, and fenders, which he lengthened by 4 in. in order to cover the door hinges.
He hired a machine shop to build a 6-ft. long, 5 1/2-ft. wide metal bed equipped with 1-ft. wooden siderails. The box is raised or lowered by an electric/hydraulic system powered by the pickup's battery. A handheld remote control is used to raise and lower the box.
He added new 15-in. high tires all the way around and mounted a stainless steel wind scoop on top of the canopy for looks. The cab is painted white.
"I call it my poor man's Mule. It's a nice little rig," says McPeake. "I paid $1,000 for the pickup and spent a total of about $5,500 to build it. A new Kawasaki Mule costs up to $10,000.
"I use it around my farm to haul gravel, dirt, and sand. I also use it for yard work, landscaping, and gardening. A big advantage of my rig compared to a Mule or a Gator is that it can haul a lot more - 3,000 to 4,000 lbs with no problems. The cab still has the original bench seats so it's really comfortable to drive. Also, I can move at highway speeds. It has a very comfortable ride. I even installed a cup drink holder on each side of the cab."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dale McPeake, Box 185, Scotts Hill, Tenn. 38374 (ph 731 549-9712).
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