ATV, UTV, compact tractor, WTF?

[cspot]

Ideally you find someone's garage queen but those are tough to come by in the ATV world. Craigslist and Facebook marketplace are likely the easiest resources to keep your eyes on for deals. Or a local consignment auction if you have any of those nearby. If I were looking for a used quad I think I'd pay particular attention to the exterior... A lot of scratches and dings are a good indicator that someone used it as a beater or potentially rolled it. A brand new 500+ cc quad is going to run you 8-11k... So I think if I were you I'd consider whether I wanted to gamble on a used one, or save a bit longer and go brand new with warranty. I got a great deal on a new one with winch and plow. It was a prior year's model and they were trying to move stagnant inventory.

Yes I would be hesitant to buy used unless I knew the buyer. In addition to rolling them over, some people basically never change the oil and service them either. If you can financially swing a new one, I think I would be looking to go that route. Well maintained it will last a long time.

 

[cspot]

That's what happens on some of the properties I hunt, the one farmer will bail it and get the hay for cutting it for them. Not a whole lot of bails but neighbors helping neighbors...

Yes the ground is pretty poor for growing stuff where the cabin is. The neighbor gets 1 whole round bale off it per year. LOL. Last year he hit a rock while mowing that went thru the glass on the cab. That 1 bale was pretty expensive.

 

["J"]

Yes the ground is pretty poor for growing stuff where the cabin is. The neighbor gets 1 whole round bale off it per year. LOL. Last year he hit a rock while mowing that went thru the glass on the cab. That 1 bale was pretty expensive.

lol... Damn, so much for good things happen too good people...

 

[hickslawns]

I have had 400-450cc quads and they have been adequate for my needs. Mine have all been utility quads. Honda can't be beat. I'd shy away from Polaris or Arctic Cat. Honda quads are generally Stout utility quads and dependable. I personally would not be afraid to buy used. Have never owned a new one. BUT they were all low miles, clean machines.

I would NOT buy a 6 wheel utility vehicle. They don't maneuver well. Middle axle tends to drag when turning. In tight quarters or uneven ground this is problematic. If all I did was putt around on flat ground hauling around the barns it would be fine. On trails it would not be ideal. I have seriously considered selling my Club Car UTV to buy an entry level Kawasaki Mule. 4x4, manual dump bed, roughly $8k. I'd do that before I spent $8-11k on a quad.

If a pull behind mower doesn't seem like a fit. . . .and you don't want to tear up your mower, I'd likely buy a $500 Craigslist special and designate it for the farm.

 

[Quantum673]

Great advice all around.

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[xbowguy]

Jamie, I took my time and found a 420 Honda Rancher with 150 miles on it. All 4 corners were scratched but no cracks....(he rolled it down a good hill at side-cut park) But I have less than 3,500. in it and it has custom wheels on it. Good used ones are out there if you take your time. The Honda dealer in Toledo sells new cheaper than anyone around. My buddy saved over 1,000 by driving a little. Good Luck!

 

[Jamie]

appreciate all the replies, gents. thanks. keep them coming!

 

[5Cent]

As a current Polaris owner, I will refute Philbert's claim based on personal experience with their snowmobiles and quads for close to two decades. I have owned Honda's, Suzuki's and Polaris in quads and Yamaha for 2 dirt bikes. All have their pros and cons, Honda and Yamaha have the reputation for reliability given their time in the industry and proven solid axle and direct drive designs. These are what you are looking for in a quad that is going to be used to pull, plow, tug. But if comfort, rider position, ground clearance, accessories options, etc., then I recommend you at least take an 08+ Polaris for a spin. No doubt there were some issues with their CVT clutch design in the late 90's/early 2000's but they have been resolved. DirtTrax TV has done some great comparisons between Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Polaris, check them out on YouTube. I love my Sportsman 570, 44hp and does everything I have asked it to do, all at a price that can't be beat (same motor used in the smaller Razor). I use it to mow 7acres with a pull behind 60" rough cut mower, pull logs and deer out of the woods (see avatar) and beat on the trail.

All personal preference for what's available within the budget you want to keep. Happy shopping!

 

[bowhunter1023]

Tons of great advice. IMO, no matter what you purchase, it won't "do it all". As a property owner, I think you need a 500cc quad and a 20-35hp compact tractor. I've had Honda quads my whole life and will never consider any other brand. We have a Kubota 900RTV on the farm, diesel with a hydraulic dump bed. It's a workhorse and will last forever. We have 3 tractors between dad and I, all with their own application. My opinion is if you like to wrench on things, a nice late model tractor with brush jog and pig picker would make the best tool for property maintenance and a good Honda or Yamaha quad for mobility. The pull behind mowers for quads are pricey and not as handy as a brushhog IMO.

 

[Buckmaster]

As a property owner, I think you need a 500cc quad and a 20-35hp compact tractor.

Long term this plus a shed/barn to keep your locked implements in.

 

[BlueSpruceOutfitters]

My main farm is 160+ acres and we manage a little over 1000. In my opinion, I agree a quad and a 30-40 hp tractor is a must for anyone who owns property. We have a small army of tractors, a quad and UTV and we use the 500cc Yamaha quad and 30 horse John Deere for basically everything. They're easy to get everywhere, powerdul enough to get any job done and easy to fix when things go awry, which they will. We invested in a 5' PTO tiller a couple years back, what a game changer for plots. With the tiller hooked up to the Deere and my double pull behind disc (double gang disc with single gang attached to it) we can prep plots from unbroken field to plantable in two passes! Insanity. Anyways. Sorry for the tangent.

 

[Buckmaster]

We invested in a 5' PTO tiller a couple years back, what a game changer for plots.

We treated our Deere to a 5 foot tiller too. Game changer!

In time...Jamie will be there. I once started out small too but over 20 years we've grown up a bit equipment wise.

I have a buddy just beginning....he bought a groundhog max tiller for the rear of his ATV for his first footplot installation.
I told him he'd get 3 years out it before he buys his first compact tractor with a tiller....next comes the barn for the tractor, etc. etc...….

 

[giles]

Power steering, that’s all I have to add. Seems everything else has been covered.

 

[Bigslam51]

Power steering, that’s all I have to add. Seems everything else has been covered.

On a quad or utv? I don't think it's really a necessity.

 

[giles]

On a quad or utv? I don't think it's really a necessity.

Quad

 

[jagermeister]

Power steering, that’s all I have to add. Seems everything else has been covered.

On a quad or utv? I don't think it's really a necessity.

Having driven both types of machines, both with and without power steering, many many hours and miles... My opinion is power steering is a necessity for a UTV and is a convenient option on a ATV but not totally necessary. In a UTV with power steering, you can literally spin the steering wheel with 1 finger. Having a free hand is very nice when you're spraying with a wand or switching a boom on and off. Power steering is also much safer for going down the road or an open trail at high speed.

 

[cspot]

My 6 wheeler has no problems with uneven ground or hilly ground. That thing will go about anywhere. The nice thing with the 6 wheeler is it doesn't tear up the ground like a quad or 4 wheel utv. It has very light ground pressure. They don't turn the tighest, but they are made for work and not really for pleasure. Power steering really isn't needed on them, but I agree with the above that most UTV's power steering is a really nice option.

 

[jagermeister]

I like a 6x4 for added traction and "float" factor, when in areas that are soft/muddy. They generally carry a payload better too. Downside is they are less usually less maneuverable than a 4x4 and they eat up tires faster.

 

[cspot]

I like a 6x4 for added traction and "float" factor, when in areas that are soft/muddy. They generally carry a payload better too. Downside is they are less usually less maneuverable than a 4x4 and they eat up tires faster.

I agree. Tires aren't an issue if you are running mainly on dirt. I still have my original tires on my gator, but the only pavement it sees is when I cross the road to go to the other side of the farm. If you are running on mostly pavement then a 6x4 is not a desirable option as you will eat up tires.

The bed height is really a big issue for me. I have looked at alot of UTV's as I have thought of upgrading, but the bed height is considerablly higher which is a big deal when loading firewood and other stuff like deer.

 

[switchhitter]

Jamie
I went to buy an ATV but as you know I ended up with a UTV
You also know I have a tractor and by far the tractor is the most useful of them all
I looked for a used ATV for months but they don’t seem to lose their value so I went to buy a 570 Polaris ATV they where on sale for 6300.00. Tow capacity was 1500 pounds

Anyway I ended up with the side by side same tow capacity but you get seat belts and a cage
Turning radius sucks but safety is much better

Any time you need to bush hog or bring out logs for the sawmill we can always take the tractor over and get it done

Otherwise get an ATV they are easier to handle in the woods but again I had a hard time finding a decent used one on Craig’s list or eBay



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