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atv question?

P

philcase

Member
Just thinking more about buying an atv. I've always said I don't need one. I have enough tractors and mowers and other things with motors to maintain and use. But as I get a little older and limpier it might be nice to have something I could jump on to check irrigation lines or bring in a few vegetables or put a small spot sprayer on or any number of other chores. I don't like them because people misuse them on other people's private property but it could be handier than using a tractor or having to walk. What are your ideas? I haven't even looked at any so I need recomendations as to size, brand, price, etc. And how to convince my wife it would be a good idea.
Phil
 
Since you're obviously mot going "four wheeling",think about a "side by side".Rhino;Mule,etc.Several of those are around here,Handier than a shirt pocket...
 
Looked at a lot of atvs and decided on a JD Gator instead. Can do much more with a Gator, like carrying tools to work on stuff around the farm, etc. It's also easier for us old farts to get in and out of rather than on and off of. Just my opinion.
 
We have several and none the same. JD Gator, Kubota RVT900, Polaris Ranger, Honda Rancher, Each has its own job. Checking Irrigation ditches I use the Honda, but the RVT900 has a cab and a bench seat.
 
I bought a crew cab S10 for $3000 with high miles. I bought it to be a farm truck. I have put 30,000 miles on in 2 years. I use it for everything. Weatherproof storage in the backseat and still goes down the highway. In my opinion a 4 wheeler is a replacement for a horse. You straddle it like a horse and it hauls as much cargo as a horse.
 
Such machines have thier place but..............once you quit walking long distances, you will loose strength and endurance to walk short distances.
 
You did not say where you are located,but Abernathycycles.com in Union City Tennessee has good prices on Honda, Yamaha, and Polaris. For example you can get a Honda Rancher 420 4x4 for $5094. You can get two of those for the price of a gator with money left over. They don't have any belts either as they are all gear drive.
Just my opinion, Joe
 
Ive used both atv's and utv's.in my opinion a utv is easier to get on and off and better around a farm,unless your trying to herd cattle or something. Personaly ,im looking for one of those little mini trucks. Having heat and often ac is getting more important these days for some reason.and they are lagal to drive on the road here except for interstate hyways,so if you need something out in the field somewhere you dont have to run all the way back to your other vehicle to go to town. Lots of the ranchers around here are using them now.You have to tag fourwheelers here anyway so if figure i may as well have one i can legaly drive down the road if needed.And the fact that the sides fold down makes loading heavy stuff easier,and they have bigger beds.
 
I use my wife's JD 4010 tractor for that kind of stuff (no, not "that" 4010- this is an 18.5 HP compact utility tractor). Loader bucket is great for hauling fenceposts and wire, tools, etc.- and you can park it crossways and use it an an anchor to stretch the fence.

Barn is several hundred feet from the shop, and the trips back and forth add up, when working on something in the barn. My knee ain't what it used to be, so I can last longer on projects if I limit my steps. The 4010 fills the bill- hydrostatic, easy to get on and off.
 
They are junk, and built on the cheap.
Get a lawn tractor or a Deere Gator. $5,000 for a ATV is a rip off.
 
I have an extremely low opinion of MOST atv riders, not all, but most. I just want that out in the open and to acknowledge it colors my opinion. Were it me. I'd look for an older Suzuki Samurai or Geo Tracker or a Jeep. You'll be in for a lot less money, have a roof over your head, have more capability and have something that's likely less expensive to fix. My 59 Willys is a bear, so were my Toyota field trucks. That's another option.
 
I use garden tractors around the farm You can buy a top quality used garden tractor like a John Deere 430 diesel that will do numerous chores including mow your grass for less than half what a cheapie 4 Wheeler will cost you.I have a Simplicity 20HP Sunstar with ATV tires differential lock and Power steering that I have about $1200 invested in thats a real workhorse and its easy to get on and off of too.
 
A lot of folks buy a used golf cart for that use- easy to get in, hauls a bit of cargo. Elec or gas power.
 
Got a couple of small tractors, JD 430 and MH 81, but still thought an ATV would be nice to have around. Bought a good used 2WD Honda for less than $800, a 25 gallon rack sprayer, and a trailer from Harbor Freight on sale for about $100. The sprayer at times has been a pain, cheap plastic fittings have broke and the while spraying the really cheap wand just bent! Bought it thru the neignbor/tenant that also sells sprayer stuff and can't get him to give me a bill, so actual value is pretty good. Replaced the fittings and wand with upgrades from Farm & Fleet for about $20. If doing it again I would buy a better sprayer and not have the problems. Overall the whole package has been a great purchase. Honda's apparently will run forever and the whole family, particularily the better half, uses it to run around, most often to transport stuff. Have one building approx 1/4 mile away and occasionally use it as transportation. Could substitute a small tractor and/or truck for just about anything we do with it so can't justify a new $5000 machine, but with such a limited investment I certainly would do it again.
 
For what it's worth I'd vote with the golf cart or side by side UTV's. I'm 6'5" and have bad knees and finally VA has said I can get some new ones sometime in the near future. Getting in and out of a small truck is difficult at best. Having to clime on and off an ATV can be painful. THe side by sides are easy to get in and out of but are expensive. I got a gas golf cart last fall to see if that would fit the bill on our farm. Don't use it much but when I do it's great. Goes places I didn't think it would, is easy on gas and allowes me to carry some small stuff.

Rick
 
A lawn or garden tractor and pickup all have there place on the farm but neither will do the job you can do with an atv. I can strap my fencing tools on, carry feed in a basket that I strap on the front or do a lot of spot spraying in a hurry. Much more manuverable than a pickup and more nimble than a small tractor not to mention quicker. Can straddle the row checking crops and get into spots in the pasture you never thought of going in the pickup. Mine is an indespensable tool. That said stay away from bomdardier...poor parts support in my exprience the next one I own will be a honda. The guys who bash them have never owned one.
 
I have a 2004 Kawasaki Bayou 250 2wd that I bought in late 2003. It was about as cheap a unit ($2800) as you could buy then and I wouldn"t be without it during irrigation season.
 
i vote for the golf cart too. i have several atvs at the farm, and also a 2002 yamaha gas golf cart. the cart has a conversion on the back, a flip down seat that turns in to a flatbed. has a fold down windshield, and knobby rear tires. suprising how much stuff that critter will go thru. also mounted a hitch on the back to pull a lawn cart, tow behind sprayer and a portable generator. really comfortable and easy to operate.
 
side by side UTV such as 4x4 gator or Polaris ranger would be just the ticket . You'll kick yourself for not getting one sooner
 
What ever you do forget the golf cart if you have very much to do. Have someone try and trade me in one ever day. Four whleers or common ATVs are also about a thing of the past. As the other poster say the sid by side RTV is what everone likes. I sell the KUBOTAs, but JD and several other are out there. Think about get one with hydraulic dump bed , then you can just go on like 4 wheel drive, power steering disel ..I have two and could not run the farm without them.
 
I have a 04 Honda 450 Foreman FM I bought new in 04. If it burned to the ground today I'd buy one just like it. Other than one mishap that was all my fault (blew a seal early in the day in really hot weater, didn't notice it, run her dry, not good) I have done nothing to her other than a few sets of tires. I use her every day. Got a wooden frame on the back rack, carry feed to the hog pen. I check fences and cows on her. Put a reese style reciever on the back and makes it much easier to pull empty tobacco wagons. I have a truck bet trailer that I keep all my fencing supplies in, when I have a fence chore I just hook and go. Use a spot sprayer, very handy for get'n in tight places between the crops and fence rows.

Needless to say, I am huge fan.

Only advice I would give is buy something name brand so you can find parts 5 years from now if you need them and if you can I think it's worth the money to buy new. As you said alot of folks don't know how to use them and even if you know the guy you are buy'n from you don't know his grand kids that rode it some on the weekends,,,,

Dave
 
By all means get a atv or utv. In my younger days I used a trail bike to irrigate and check cows and a horse when needed.
Now we have 3 Atv's and a Rhino utv, use atv to irriagte,move cows and spot spray,Rhino is used to check cows in calving season and spray in summer. Jeeps and small pickup can't access the area's that we go with the others.
 
I have a Honda 4 wheeler and I thought it was the greatest thing, but then I got a Kawasaki Mule and found its much handier than a four wheeler. It has a bed to carry things when needed and can pull more than a four wheeler.

It also came in handy when teaching the grand kids to drive, saved wear and tear on my old pick up.

Lastly it is much safer than a four wheeler, easy to get in and out of
 

There is such a thing as overkill........... Neighbor kid had a new 400cc 4wd atv with winch and racks.. Real nice... His dad used it the most (late 60's at the time)... He thought a UTV would be better so sold the quad and bought the UTV.... Old man used it a few months and bought his own quad.... UTV went on ebay....
I have a 250cc 2wd that does everything I want... Harrows pastures, have a 4x6' trailer that I can stack full of hay or whatever... I taught all the horses to lead from it so I can move them between pastures quick or just exercise them when they are in the stall.... Makes the chore loop go a lot quicker too...
Look at something with a shaft instead of chain drive.... Maybe get you something used or maybe borrow one to see if you like it...

Have fun..
 
Side by side is the cats patooty.Of all the equipment that's ever been bought It's the handiest yet.We have a Kubota 500. Not the biggest but right for what we do.It will make you lazy.We bought the smaller one so if we want to ride regulated trails it meets the width rule.Good Luck with your decision.
 
My Yamaha Rhino 450 can go places that no other large 4X4 can go and never get stuck. It have 2 or4 wheel drive and locking differentials. With a push of a button on the dash. It rides like a car on the freeway over rough land. Will go though a large dip without knowing it. Can carry a lot in the bed and two people side by side up front, also you can get two seats for the bed. It has full roll cage in case you do dump it and seat belts to boot. I would go down and look at all of them to see what you like and take them for a good test ride in rough country. Don't go by what I or someone else has told you make up your mind by testing them out.
Walt
 
If it can't be plated for the highway or driven legally on the road with a slow moving farm vehicle sign. I can't get enthused.
 
If it can't be plated for the highway or driven legally on the road with a slow moving farm vehicle sign. I can't get enthused.
 
I always kinda laughed when someone would tell me that I needed an ATV around here. I've been a walker all my life. Last winter my son found an old Honda three wheeler in nearly new condition. I'm the third old man who's owned it. First guy used it to go back and forth to the mailbox. Second guy kept it in the garage. I use it every day. I feel like I'm on the cutting edge of technology with that thing. Or at least as close as I want to be to the cutting edge. . .

Paul
 
(quoted from post at 14:12:47 06/26/12) I always kinda laughed when someone would tell me that I needed an ATV around here. I've been a walker all my life. Last winter my son found an old Honda three wheeler in nearly new condition. I'm the third old man who's owned it. First guy used it to go back and forth to the mailbox. Second guy kept it in the garage. I use it every day. I feel like I'm on the cutting edge of technology with that thing. Or at least as close as I want to be to the cutting edge. . .

Paul
Click to expand...

I picked up a 20 buck moped off ebay the first year we ghot the place... Replaced it with a 50cc scooter... Both would go about a month on a tank of gas... Then got the quad mainly for harrowing (fits under and around the trees much better...)....
There's always the "HOWEVER" tho...... Wind, rain, and cold sure is more bareable in the car with a heater on :roll: I just have to get in the habit of keeping mine cleaned out... Wife calls it the dumpster.....
 
I have a golf cart and to me beats a four wheeler, unless you need to go 50mph. Rides two people up front just like a side-by-side. Has a big box I built on back for fence posts, mulch etc. Carries 30 gallons of water no problem. Biggest thing is its a HUGE time saver when digging trees or fertilizing. It will pull a small trailer too. Mine is used until the snow is too deep.

I believe the newer UTVs are better. But I dont think you can touch the price of a decent UTV for what you can pick up a 2007-2009 golf cart.

If you have to road between properties, then a four wheeler or UTV has the speed that a golf cart dont.

Rick
 
I took a picture of a golf cart used at northern resort with Chevron Tires and chains for the ice and snow.
Wish I could find the image of the housekeeping staff ploughing through the snow drifts in the parking lot.
 
I have had three JD gators and now have an XUV. I would not have anything but a side by side seating type of vehicle. They are safer and you can haul things safer too. They are much easier to get on and off of too. Plus not mud/manure on the seat every time you get on or off.
 
Definitely the side by side. I have 3 four hweelers amongst my toys and I am thinking about getting rid of a couple to by a side by side. As I get older and the desire to go fast goes away. The thought of having the little truck bed to haul and to put my daughter by my side to ride along. Just bigger and take up more space.
 
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