UPDATE – This unique 3-wheeled tractor is one of my favorites in the oddball vintage tractor series. I’ve never been to a vintage garden tractor/mower show, but I’m assuming there are such things. If you’ve been to a vintage show focused on mowers and garden tractors, please let us know where it was held. This could be a star at any vintage tractor event with how the seat spins around 180 degrees so you can drive this tractor forward or backward. The seller has it listed for sale again here on Facebook Marketplace in State College, Pennsylvania. The seller has lowered their asking price to $1,000: will it sell this time? Here is the original listing, and thanks to Gary for the updated tip!
I broke my no TikTok rule because this is literally the only thing I can find on the internet about these tractors: a video on TikTok. The links in the original article are gone; they were vintage magazine ads showing these tractors and explaining what the name means.
FROM 5/26/2026 – One of the coolest vintage lawn tractors I’ve seen, this Steiner 3-Wheeler may just look like a regular lawn tractor, but one with a single wheel on the front. That isn’t the case; this one has a swivel seat that can turn 180 degrees so you can use it facing “forward or backward,” depending on your task. This rare 1980s Steiner 3-Wheeler can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in State College, Pennsylvania, and they’re asking $1,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Gary for the tri-tire tip!
I wish the seller had unlocked the seat and turned it around so you could see what I’m referring to. I can’t think of another 1980s lawn and garden tractor with three wheels, but I’m sure there were a few. The majority seem to have four wheels, but this is really unique. I believe the rear (or front, depending on whether you’re facing forward or backward) tires would have been big turf tires with a flatter profile and less aggressive tractor-like tread. From what I’ve found, and there isn’t much info on these things, this is a TWT-20: a three-wheel tractor with a 20hp engine.
This is the photo where I really wish the seller had turned the seat around. Here’s an old ad showing one in action. And an ad showing some info and specs. Is that not cool and unique? Steiner reportedly made this 3-wheeler between 1983 and 1986, and you could connect a snowblower, lawnmower deck, rotary broom, dozer, snowplow blade, etc. When the seat is facing forward, you can pull a rotor-tiller or other gardening implements. It only takes a minute to change attachments. It’s all operated by an Eaton hydrostatic drive, a Peerless two-speed transaxle, and foot controls. This example is so rare that I’m not sure where you could get parts, but maybe some are interchangeable with other makes.
Starting in Ohio in the 1940s, Steiner began making lawn tractors in the 1970s, and the company was sold to Ransomes (tractors) in 1988. Textron bought the company in the 1990s and moved it to Wisconsin. Since 2019, Doosan/Bobcat has owned the company, but reportedly shut it down in 2025. This one should be powered by a 20-hp Onan opposed-twin. You can see the unique chain steering mechanism in the photo above. This would be a fan favorite at almost any vintage tractor shows that feature lawn equipment. Is there such a thing as a show with vintage lawn equipment? If not, there should be. I want to go to one! Have any of you seen a tractor like this Steiner TWT-20?
Very unique tractor. It’s not light either at 850 pounds. I’ve never seen a reversible tractor before. I have to say, it’s a pretty good idea. Mower deck in front you can see what your running over. And all those different attachments too, including a sweeper. That could come in handy. Onan engines I think were very well built too. This was definitely designed to be around for a while. But like Scotty already pointed out, parts, whats still available?
yeah there’s nothing like seeing the mower spit out shredded baby birds or segmented garter snakes that you’ve accidentally run over while cutting the grass. Too bad my folks didn’t have something like this, or any lawn tractor.. We had a big lawn and it took two days using a push mower..
HA! Reminds me of a time, I had a big rural yard, and my Simple-City[sic] Landlord did a great job. The mower drive belt was this funky “dual” one piece thing, wasn’t cheap. So one particularly wet spring, had a river nearby, and snakes were prevalent. So I’m cutting away in tall grass, YOINK,,,what the heck was that, and out the grass chute, something goes flying, 1st thing I thought, oh great, another belt, but the mower was still cutting fine. Turns out it was a snake, all chewed up, and my kids stood in frozen shock looking at it.
We a Garden Mark (Montgomery Wards special) self powered walk behind. It was a brute! It most likely weighed close to 200 pounds. I had 3 acres to mow. And a lot of trees to mow around. I never encountered a snake while mowing. But since I had so much to mow, it was usually one yard per day and sometimes it was weeks at a time between mowing. So one day I ran over a bees nest. I was wearing shorts and yelled loud enough that my parents came running and I let the mower wonder off into the creek. My Dad met me halfway to the house and started swatting bees. My legs were covered. At the hospital they stopped counting at 100 stings on one leg. About a week later when cutting another yard the mower found a chunk of wood. (about 1 1/2″ inch square that shot out the back of the mower. (Height was set at the highest level to clear tree roots) In direct path of the wood was my shin. 3 stitches later, Mom put a stop to the walk behind and we ended up with a used Cadett. Which made it fast enough to do all yards in the same day.
This site, I tell ya'( oh here it comes), scrolling down,, let’s see,hmm hmm,,RR, nah, Maserati, nah, Rover,,,maybe, and then along comes Scotty,,,ahhh, always refreshing to see. Releases endorphins, it does.
So,,,I never heard of this particular piece, but nothing surprises me in the lawn maintenance dept. Think about it,,,rural living had taken hold, “Pressboard Estates” were popping up all over, all with hundreds of houses, and all had a lawn and all had to be cut, according to the neighborhood assn. rules. The market was wide open, and everybody jumped on the bandwagon, not unlike snowmobiles. This is a novel idea, but a “mans creation”, and I don’t know how many women would change a greasy steering mechanism, I still don’t see how that works, okay, maybe our own Ms. Rand, and clumsy attachment mounting, surely some swear words were spoken doing such. My Landlord had several attachments too, but a PITA to change them. Something like this doesn’t need a dealer, you should have plenty of spare parts that will work in the junk pile,,,WHAT? No junk pile? Tsk, tsk, can’t help you then. Great find.
Howard +🐍 = ⚰️
The first time you have to mow the side of a hill, you’ll discover what a terrible design this is.
even that reverse wont help in a cross traverse. Hafta go in reverse UP the hill to get some wrk done round here (specially w/implements on back….
Kouwell find tho->
It’s going to be very difficult to steer while your facing backwards!
You’re probably right, Rob, but as with all vehicles, there is no 100% perfect, use-everywhere lawnmower or really anything. We even have two different TV remotes; one doesn’t work for everything. This tractor isn’t for every single use on the planet, just like a Honda 50 isn’t for freeway travel. It was just to show the unusual ideas that were around a few decades ago.
I would bet that it would get many looks at the Picket Steam and Gas Engine Club Garden Tractor show on the last weekend of August each year at Pickett, Wisconsin.
The town name is perfect for a tractor show.
That would have a crowd around it at Rough & Tumble in Kinzers PA in August. There’s always really weird equipment on display and in the flea market ( Where we start at when we get there)
Steiner equipment i remember being overbuilt, heavy, and expensive. Municipalities and golf courses were their best customers in the Carolinas atleast.
I still have mine. It’s actually my favorite mower to cut with.
Be it known, I get no satisfaction questioning the author, but my “sources”, ( hey, I spent $200 bucks, I’m going to use it), tells me “TWT” stands for “Turf Walker Tractor”,,20 hp. Never really heard of Steiner, apparently, from Ohio, more of a regional make, “Marv” had the market cornered with custom small tractors. In the 70s and 80s, things got complicated, sold a couple times, ended up part of Textron and Jacobson, then Ransomes( Bobcat) and made in Johnson Creek, Wis. until the end in 2025. 20hp. seems like a lot of power here, I bet does wicked wheelies! Yeah, as a kid, I would have tried, today, not so much. Still a great find.
H-man, this is what I found:
“In Steiner turf equipment nomenclature, TWT stands for Three Wheel Turf (or Three Wheel Tractor), designating specialized front-mount mower models equipped with a three-wheel configuration designed for enhanced hillside stability and tight maneuverability.”
Stands for Three Wheeled Tractor
I remember looking at a 3 wheel tractor that had a chain drive for the front wheel. Did not look under it to see if the rear axle was driven or not. I am thinking it was a ford and it was blue and white. Thats all I remember cause it was over 40 years ago
Here is a Facebook link with some information and photos,
Did you dig up some info, FrankMor? You didn’t post a link but I’d love to see it!
Bubba, heh Pa what ya think about this here new tractor I bought? Pa, why you nimble minded moron that’s not a tractor, that there’s for your sister to ride down yonder to fetch the mail and kill a few snake along the way. Bubba, yeah, I recon you right Pa. One wheel on the front, maybe she’ll turn the dern thing over and get herself bit by one of them there snakes, heh, heh, heh. Pa, get your butt back out in the field boy before I hafta whip on ya some. Bubba, okay Pa.
God Bless America
Scotty
Your comment re: the lack of a picture w/ the seat swiveled got me thinking… then AI and I got talking and Google Gemini couldn’t find a picture like that either, even in the patent databases. It did tell me this and sorry if this is TMI:
“Searching the patent databases helps solve the mystery of why this image orientation doesn’t exist online. Because the Steiner brothers (Marvin, Glen, and the family) operated primarily as custom fabricators and local manufacturers in Orrville, Ohio during the 1970s and early 1980s, the Steiner 3-Wheeler was built and sold directly to the market without a dedicated U.S. design or utility patent ever being filed for its swiveling seat mechanism.
The family didn’t secure broad mechanical patents on their chassis configurations until they refined their famous 4-wheel drive articulated steering system. Because of this, there are no public blueprint schematics or government patent drawings of the 3-wheeler in the Google Patents Archive to reference for the discussion page.”
So, unless one of our readers has such a picture (or we want to get ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot involved) we may never see the Steiner TWT-20 facing what would seem like the wrong direction. :)
Good job, Scotty, as usual.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8tTgRbS/
Nice video Luke.
Luke, did you see that I posted a link to this video in the second paragraph of the top “update” section?
I still have mine. I’ve never used it the way it’s pictured here so to me this picture is backwards. My seat and steering wheel face the mower deck with the motor behind me. This thread will not let me post a picture though
There are two dead links in the article (top of the 5th paragraph) that worked back in May but now they don’t go anywhere. I’m kicking myself for not saving those images rather than relying on links to someone else’s page. They were on a Facebook page about Steiner Tractors, and someone posted a comment with photos of an old ad. It’s hard to believe that on the entire internet there isn’t any info at all about this tractor now?! Mind. Blown.
I did not see where you posted that no. . I was looking for another link that used to exist that evidently does not any more… anyhow. I’ve had my twt since the late 80s. People can down it and make fun of it all they want, it’s the perfect set up for cutting grass and after all theses years is still my favorite for that purpose. I also have my FWT also that was their next model following the TWT.
The heck with world peace, I want to see those old ads of this tractor again! ARGH! I’m obsessed. I’ve been searching the internet so much to try to find those two old Steiner TWT-20 black-and-white ads showing one of these tractors, along with specs, that I linked to in the original article. As Lothar said, any info on this tractor may be gone forever, unless Luke or any other owners have any literature.
We a Garden Mark (Montgomery Wards special) self powered walk behind. It was a brute! It most likely weighed close to 200 pounds. I had 3 acres to mow. And a lot of trees to mow around. I never encountered a snake while mowing. But since I had so much to mow, it was usually one yard oer day and sometimes it was weeks at a time between mowing. So one day I ran over a bees nest. I was wearing shorts and yelled loud enough that my parents came running and I let the mower wonder off into the creek. My Dad met me halfway to the house and started swatting bees. My legs were covered. At the hospital they stopped counting at 100 stings on one leg. About a week later when cutting another yard the mower found a chunk of wood. (about 1 1/2″ inch square that shot out the back of the mower. (Height was set atcthe highest level to clear tree roots) In direct path of the wood was my shin. 3 stitches later, Mom put a stop to the walk behind and we ended up with a used Cadett. Which made it fast enough to do all yards in the same day.
Steiner Mower with 60” Deck | GovDeals https://share.google/e59ISNZlGkVETnjsj
This is an old ad,, but it does have the picture of it facing the correct way with a deck
WOW!! Thanks for finding that, Luke! I can sleep tonight; that is so great, thanks much! I shouldn’t be this excited about an old tractor, but I’m so bummed that I didn’t copy those black-and-white ads that it’s caused all of my hair to turn gray (hey, wait a minute). Thanks again, sir!
I’m gonna go thru my old files and see if i can find my old service Manuel for it
I have to say this tractor has generated the longest list of comments I’ve seen since I’ve been chiming in myself.
Scotty, other than the two shows in Wis. & Pa. mentioned, your best shot for a tractor show is probably Machinery Hill at our state fair. There’s always a collection of antiques put-putting away there including John Deeres with that big wheel on the side to start them and some with steel wheels.
Or some county fairs, like the Dakota County fair, second largest in the state.
These tractor posts bring back memories of summers helping my uncle make hay.
You didn’t switch mention what state, county, or town.
Mn. State Fair, St. Paul, Mn., Dakota County in the Twin Cities south metro with Farmington being the town where the county fairgrounds is.
Jon, we used to go to “Rollag” in NW MN every Labor Day weekend, or the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The Western MN Steam Threshers Reunion. If you haven’t been, it’s a must. It’s huge, one of the biggest in the country, with hundreds of old tractors, maybe thousands.
https://rollag.com/
https://rollag.com/about/attractions/
Hmm. I’m always in Bovey, Mn. for the Labor Day parade and visiting with cousins, etc.
I hope the link shows up this time!
https://www.facebook.com/barnfinds/posts/this-rare-1980s-steiner-has-a-pivoting-seat-so-you-can-drive-this-thing-in-eithe/1402927935208654/