Repairing farm equipment in the field is a pain even when the ground is dry and a good service truck is within a reasonable driving distance.
The situation gets worse when the service truck is 45 kilometres away, the closest electrical service is 10 kilometres away and it’s so wet the service truck can’t get into the field and sits on the road 300 metres away from the implement that needs repair.
Those are conditions only a tractor can handle, which is what Brazil’s Bambozzi company had in mind when it developed a portable farm workshop that mounts to a tractor three-point hitch and is powered by the tractor’s power take-off.
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Brazilian farms are often remote, with fields spread far apart. Power lines don’t exist in many areas, so a farmer’s first priority is self-sufficiency.
Dwayne Bulizuik of Gaber Industries in Roblin, Man., recently added the Bambozzi MDC 305 ED portable farm shop to his lineup.
“Think of this as a one stop portable workbench,” Bulizuik said.
“You hook up to the three-point hitch and drive your tractor right to the spot where it’s needed. The p.t.o. runs the welder and generator so you have all the electricity you need.”
The Bambozzi includes an air compressor, drill press, vice, grinder, workbench space and storage for hand tools.
A good service truck can cost $20,000 to $40,000, but annual maintenance, insurance and licence costs add to the annual bill.
A service truck may be essential to large farms, but Bulizuik said small to medium sized farmers might consider a tractor-mounted portable shop, as well as those planning to buy a second service truck.
“Another thing to consider is that your service truck sits in the yard most of the year, and all that expensive equipment just sits,” Bulizuik said.
“With a portable unit like this, you simply drive it into your shop, drop it to the floor and you have a complete workbench set up and ready to use all through the rest of the year.”
The three-point hitch model sells in Canada for $9,200, and the trailer mounted model sells for $12,500.
For more information, contact Dwayne Bulizuik at 204-937-4321 or visit www.garber.com.
Specifications
- Self regulated, single phase alternator produces 12.5 kVA (12.5 kW)
- Two circuits with breakers for power tools and lights
- 250 amp AC/DC welder is TIG capable and has 25 percent duty cycle
- Air compressor is 1.5 hp
- Drill press has 5/8 inch mandrel
- Weight is 1,270 pounds
