As a child growing up in Houston, Robbie Smith had a strong interest in becoming a firefighter. Now a resident of Shannon County, Smith has experienced a lengthy and diverse career in the firefighting industry that is taking a unique twist.
He has begun fulfilling a longtime dream of building small – but lifelike – replicas of fire trucks. The twist? They’re also golf carts.
“My mom has pictures of me when I was two years old in my pedal fire truck, and she says I drove the wheels off of it,” Smith said. “Since I started as a junior firefighter with the City of Houston, it’s always been my dream to have a miniature truck. I finally have accomplished it, and what better way than on a golf cart?”
The path to the mini-truck becoming a reality began in earnest in 2003 when James Holloway, the owner of South Central Golf Equipment in West Plains, donated a Cushman golf cart to the cause. During the lengthy one-man construction process, many other people and businesses donated materials and provided advice to help Smith reach his goal of building every bit of the pint-sized vehicle himself (“from the ground up”).
After about 3,500 hours of work, Smith earlier this year completed his first finished product. The gas-fueled unit is an amazingly detailed copy of a ladder truck, complete with a flawless paint job and perfectly scaled equipment, gauges and compartments.
Of course, it’s also a golf cart, so the back end has space and straps for two golf bags, and the cab’s dash is equipped with a spot to store balls and tees.
“I started with the Cushman, stretched the frame about three feet in the center, and then started fabricating it with some one-inch square tubing and sheet metal,” Smith said. “It took a long time and a lot of effort, but I’m pleased with the outcome.”
At the age of 16, Smith began his career in firefighting in 1992 with the City of Houston Fire Department under Fire Chief Don Rust, who still holds the position.
After also working with the Texas County Sheriff’s Department, Smith later became an officer with the West Plains Police Department, and then worked as a full-time engineer with the West Plains Fire Department. He also spent years working for Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc., designing and selling real life custom built fire trucks. During that stint, he designed and sold 22 trucks, including the ladder truck currently owned and operated by the City of Houston.
Calling his business Shannon County Customs, Smith plans to build and market fire truck golf carts of several designs (like top and side mount pumpers, single and double axle ladders, and others including aircraft rescue vehicles and ambulances). In April, he took his debut creation to the annual Fire Department International Conference in Indianapolis – the largest fire fighting apparatus convention in the world – that was attended this year by more than 30,000 people from 55 countries. Smith and his golf cart garnered plenty of attention.
“There were guys wearing suits from Qatar looking at it, and guys from Australia,” Smith said. “I’ve had some calls and people who are interested asking questions, but nothing that’s led to fabrication yet.”
The fire truck golf cart’s black-over-red exterior is designed to honor the memory of firefighters killed in the line of duty.
“Everywhere I travel, I can help remind citizens about our brothers and sisters who have laid down their lives for them,” Smith said.
Smith’s next creation will be a tiller truck, with a compartment for a driver in front and in back.
“I have the design done, and we’re getting ready to begin fabrication,” Smith said.
A story about Smith’s first fire truck golf cart is to be featured in an upcoming issue of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine. He said his long-term goals include taking his creations to shows and events where kids will see them.
“It’s all about getting the kids excited and involved in fire departments at an early age,” Smith said. “I want them to know that firefighting is an amazing career.”
Smith said that no matter where his new line of work takes him, he won’t loose sight of his roots.
“Houston is my hometown and I’ll never forget that,” he said. “If Chief Rust calls, I’ll be there.”
*EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a detailed account written by Robbie Smith of the making of his first-ever fire truck golf cart. He gives recognition to the numerous people who helped, and provides insight into many aspects of the vehicle’s creation.
In early 2003, I approached James Holloway owner of South Central Golf Equipment in West Plains, MO., about donating a used golf cart. I had explained to him what my visions were that I wanted to build. James was on board immediately and said he would call me as soon as he had one. In the meantime, I started drawing my visions of a real proportion fire engine golf cart. It was a short time later that James called me and said he had a golf cart for me, to come by and pick it up when I had time. After picking up the Cushman, I took it to my house and started disassembling it all the way down to the frame. I completed my drawing after seeing what I had for a frame to work with.
I called a good friend of mine, Jason Russell and showed him my design and that I had a golf cart already from James. Jason wanted to help out with fabrication.
First the frame rails were cut in half and three feet of two and a half inch square tubing was added to stretch the wheelbase length. It came with a electric motor but I took that out and James had a gas motor to replace it with for more torc. The front suspension has rotors with disc brakes, leaf springs, shocks, twelve inch wheels and street legal tires. The rear suspension has leaf spring and air ride. The gas motor is located right in front of the rear axle, just like a standard golf cart. Then I purchased one inch square tube and used it to construct the structure of the body first and then the cab. There was numerous times that I had to cut the same piece two or three times to make the proportion correct! The cab and body structure was then wrapped with sheet metal as well as the interior of all seven compartments.
It was then on to the difficult part, the body shop. Todd and Brandi Gobel owners of Gobel Collision in West Plains Mo talked with Dupont and was able to get all the materials and paint donated that would be needed. Todd didn’t stop there, he also allowed me to bring my golf cart in to due all the body work. I had never done body work before so he had to teach me everything. When I didn’t meet his approval, I had to undue it and start over. After a lengthy period of time making sure that everything was straight and Todd approved, the first coat of primer was applied.
Then it was back to sanding again!
When it came time to roll into the paint booth Todd asked me if I would like to paint it. I quickly denied and said “I sure don’t want to mess this up now”. So I stood back and watched him do his magic. I did have the privilege also of wet sanding the clear coats with a block! I am extremely pleased with the black over red finish and it’s because of Todd.
After pulling the golf cart out of the body shop, I was in contact with Cindy Preston at R.O.M Corporation in Belton Mo. R.O.M provided seven roll-up doors for the compartments. The compartment depths are not your average size so Engineer Terry Bay designed new Pennant Plates to make the doors fully functional. President Jeff Hupke then sent Terry down to install all the doors and make sure that everything fit and operated. Terry Bay is extremely knowledgeable with his work and has great people skills.
I was then put in contact with Brad Turk with Rosenbauer America. I asked Brad if Rosenbauer would make me a front grill. I received a phone call from Bob Carlson at the plant in South Dakota immediately. He had asked for me to send him all the measurements of the front grill area and emergency light locations. Bob did a amazing job with design and craftsmanship. Rosenbauer proved that even though this is a small project they wanted to due what they could to help out.
Ken Menke owner of PowerArc in Shrewsbury, Mo., provided all the clear lens LED emergency lights. The lightbar has five oscillating lights, one white in center, two solid red and two solid blue. The two lower front are P14SM, both are half red and half blue. The four lower side are P14NT, all half red and half blue. The two upper rear are P14EP oscillating lights, one solid red and one solid blue. These lights all run off one large golf cart battery that I installed under the cab directly behind the driver seat.
In the interior of the cab, I finished it with red vinyl. I bought automobile insulation and upholstery board from a local shop, cut the board down to each size needed, then attached the padding and glued vinyl to them. Then, in the dash, is where you’ll find the golf balls and tees on the left hand side. The Code 3 siren and light control box is located on the right hand side and the instrument panel in the center.
For the final finish work, Jennifer Hollis with Hansen provided six LED handrails, Dave owner of D&S Custom Covers provided the hosebed, speedlays and compartment protectors. Leo owner of Leo Gold Lion Products provided all the amazing decals. Karen Mellette with Alco-Lite provided the Aluminum attic extension ladder. Collin with Kussmaul provided the battery charging system. Eric Pitchford at Innovative Controls provided all the controls, gauges, labels and valves. Linda Jesko at Turtle Plastics provided flooring for all seven compartments. Southeast Apparatus provided aluminum shelves in four of the compartments. Richard Fix at FRC provided a throttle, two fire flies and two LED scene lights. Tammy Laridaen at Seats Incorporated provided the 911 driver seat. Kelly Selander at Orafol provided the Daybright Chevron.
This golf cart would not have been so in depth if it had not been for all the companies listed above.