Self-Propelled Sprayer Built From Old Army Ambulance

Self-Propelled Sprayer Built From Old Army Ambulance SPRAYING New Sprayers 23-4-30 The chassis of a military ambulance provided the foundation for this self-propelled sprayer built by David Lashmett, Winchester, Ill. "Our county health services didn't need it anymore so they gave it to me as junk just to get it out of their way," says Lashmett. "I turned it into a valuable piece of equipment at almost no cost to myself other than labor." He wanted a sprayer rig that he could drive on the highway since the ground he farms is widely scattered, with some of it 20 miles from home. The ambulance sprayer can cruise at highway speeds of up to 65 mph. Lashmett stripped the ambulance down to the chassis, which was built by Dodge. It was equipped for 6-WD and had a Dodge 1-ton transfer case. He removed one axle and then made new driveshafts for the two remaining axles, remounting the axles on the frame at the same time. He fitted the chassis with a cab off an 915 IHC combine. He also used the power steering off the combine. The sprayer is fittted with a 60-ft. boom and 500-gal. spray tank off an Ag-Chem sprayer. He can spray at speeds up to 18 mph in the field, depending on conditions. Of course, he's usually operating at much lower speeds. He fitted the sprayer with a bicycle speedometer. "I used the bike speedometer because it's much more accurate at low speeds than a car speedometer. Works great." Lashmett recently found another military ambulance that he's going to turn into a second self-propelled sprayer. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, David Lashmett, 905 Crabtree Lane, Winchester, Ill. 62694 (ph 217 742-3227).

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