When a Wild Idea Meets a Welder: The Birth of a Three-Wheeled Diesel Beast

A group of American mechanics has pulled off something truly outlandish: a three-wheeled monster where the driver literally sits inside a tractor wheel. This isn’t just another backyard build—it is a rolling oddity that already drives under its own power.

The creators, Idaho-based outfit Grind Hard Plumbing Co, are known for out-there engineering stunts, but this project pushes the envelope even further. Their latest machine is a diesel-powered trike whose pilot occupies the hollowed-out hub of a massive tractor front wheel. To make space for the cockpit, the builders stripped the wheel of all its internal components and re-engineered it to serve as the command center.

The chassis is a hand-welded tubular frame, built to take punishment. All three wheels—two at the rear and the giant front—are driven, giving the contraption an unlikely but serious dose of traction. Steering is managed through an intricate linkage system, where a conventional wheel connects to custom joints mounted to the frame.

As with many one-off builds, the team scavenged components from existing vehicles. The rear section of the frame comes courtesy of a military-spec Humvee, while power is supplied by a tried-and-true four-cylinder turbo-diesel from Volkswagen. The machine already runs under its own power, though final fabrication and tuning are still ongoing.

It is, in essence, equal parts engineering experiment, art installation and mechanical dare. And if there’s one thing the crew behind it has proven, it’s that sometimes the strangest ideas really can be coaxed to life with enough welds, torque and stubborn imagination.