I am considering buying an ATV, or four wheeler, for light logging, and general transportation to and from work in my very hilly woodlot.
My experience is limited to about ten rides on a motorcycle-type ATV, but I see a lot of advantages to the side-by -side, gator type, to take two of us .
I am looking for some discussion of the pros and con´s for the two types. Especially the roll over , and climbing ability issues. and wold like to know where I can find used ones on sale , possibly on the net.
I have used a Honda atv, Skidoo snowmobile and have finally settled on an Argo aatv because I needed the extra weight to skid logs in wet terrain and tow the sawmill.
The Argo has the power to pull if you can get the traction.
It is low impact, seats four and has plenty of room for my lunch box. ;D
http://www.argoatv.com/
I like the Argos but have uses Gators and Mules and a few cushmans. Kubota are even making a new models, everyone has jumped into the ring.
They are very stable but it is hard to get used to wearing a seat belt. It is easy to get thrown out of the taller 4 wheel ones if you try to drive it as fast a a fourwheeler. They are a bit tippy when fully loaded too, mostly because they can carry so much more than a 4wheeler.
The argos are low and stable and I think have one of the higher payloads they will also go through a lot more stuff than an atv based model. You can't drive them as fast though.
For light logging, watch out for rubber boots on CV's. The slash tends to rip these open all the time and ruin them when they get wet. The argos don't have much to get ruined by sticks.
Kevin,
Did you mean to say "seats four OR has plenty of room for my lunchbox"? :D :D :D
If you've got the money to buy a nice one I'd suggest getting the Yamaha Grizzly 600, its great, it has an independent suspension all the way around which give you more clkearence, it was 42hp and about 45ft lbs/torque. can do 65-68 mphs "not like you need to go that fast" and tow alot of weight, its rated for 1ton / 2000lbs, but i've pulled 2 tons with it in low and it did that easily :), good in the mud with stock tires, but even better with soem outlaws and a bit of a lift. if you want anymore info about the grizzly or some other utility atvs lemme know :)
Viking, i think your refering to the new 660 grizzley, the 600 has a solid rear axle and is more of a low teck machine. The Grizz 660 is my favorite bike but for forest work i'd go for an argo. the grizz only weighs 600 pounds which isn't great for towing. The argo has more wight, more room and those neat tracks for mud and snow. The fact that they float just makes them that much better. Most people i know mount their winches on the front of their machines. I really like the warn dual mount system wich lets you move the winch from front to back, it really helps for skidding logs.
just buy a dodge 4by4...
Polaris Ranger I believe has the highest ground clearance and Independant suspension front and back. The trailer hitch attaches to the frame not the axle/differential has a higher top end.
It's very stable and available in several drive train configurations.
I've ridden on and talk to several owners all were quite enthusiastic.
C
I started my business with a yamaha 225 moto4. Now I'm running the 350 grizzily 4x4. It works well skidding one log or two small logs, but is easily tiped over. Its not good pulling a forestry trailer w/ cherrypicker. Not enough weight.
Ed
I like the Mules two people can ride and it will haul all you can pile in the dump bed , six loads if fire wood is a cord . ;D
Yo Bro;
You're disappointing me again.
When nobody wanted to be your friend here I fought my way to the front of the crowd with outstretched arms to greet you.
When nobody would make the effort to talk to you, it was me that broke the silence to converse with you.
When Jeff was tormenting you to no end I was always there to intercede ... and this his how you repay my kindness?
;D :D
Kevin I've got an extra box of kleenex hear I'll sent it out to you...
If you are in hills don't go with the four weeler , go with the argo . the 8 wheel model has the best traction . I had the 6 wheel back in the late 70's we where working in james bay slashing for the hydro lines and used the argo to haul our equipment in and out of our cutting area , hills gullys, samps and water no mater what you came across it would generaly pull through. We never upset it where I have upset the 4 wheelers more times then I care to remember.
Dad and Mom bought a 6 wheel JD Gator this fall. It's pretty neat haven't used it a lot but it seems like it'll go where you need to. Only the back four tires drive and can be locked with a differential lock. I've got a little Honda 250 Recon that I'm pretty impressed with. I would have liked something bigger and 4X4 but the deal couldn't be beat. It'll go just about anywhere and is really handy for quick trips around the farm, checking fences etc.
I wish I had the eight wheel at times but I'm glad I have the six wheel for tight turning between the sticks.
Kevin,
That would be real handy for you 8)
Then you could carry three friends AND your lunchbox :D :D :D
IF you had three friends :o :-X-------- ;)
Hey Bro, when can you come to Canada?
We need somebody to test the ice. :D :D :D
I have tow Gators, 4 x 2 s. One for the wife and one for me. They have been the best investments I have made for my Tree farm and for consluting work that I do from time to time. There is not a place on this farm I cannot go, year round. Some of my ground is up to 60% grade. On my unit I have the electric hoist. 8) I would not be without such an add on. The turning radius is much tighter than the 4 x 6 Gator. Ido not try to do any log yard or such with either unit. Just travel and equipment hauling and a little wood for the Taylor stoves from time to time.
QuoteViking, i think your refering to the new 660 grizzley, the 600 has a solid rear axle and is more of a low teck machine. The Grizz 660 is my favorite bike but for forest work i'd go for an argo. the grizz only weighs 600 pounds which isn't great for towing. The argo has more wight, more room and those neat tracks for mud and snow. The fact that they float just makes them that much better. Most people i know mount their winches on the front of their machines. I really like the warn dual mount system wich lets you move the winch from front to back, it really helps for skidding logs.
oops yup, your right haha, i pressed the 6 one time to less and the 0 one time to many.
QuotePolaris Ranger I believe has the highest ground clearance and Independant suspension front and back. The trailer hitch attaches to the frame not the axle/differential has a higher top end.
It's very stable and available in several drive train configurations.
I've ridden on and talk to several owners all were quite enthusiastic.
C
nope, thats out of date "your info", the Yamaha Rhino 660 has higher clearence, 13" all around.
QuoteI started my business with a yamaha 225 moto4. Now I'm running the 350 grizzily 4x4. It works well skidding one log or two small logs, but is easily tiped over. Its not good pulling a forestry trailer w/ cherrypicker. Not enough weight.
Ed
do you mean the big bear 350 ? yamaha dosent make a grizzly as small as the 350, they started out the with the 600.
Hi Jim,
I bought a suzuki kingquad 300(atv) in the fall of 2002 for working in my woods. Its only 276cc's but has an extra low gear range and has a front differential lock(really helps in mud or snow or pulling in reverse). In 1st gear in super low you can walk faster than it can go revved out. This means the clutch engages very easily and there is no jerking or lurching when you're doing something tricky on a side slope. Also this engine braking is very nice on tricky downslopes when the trailer has 1200lbs of wood in it! It's 600lbs and loaded up with me and girlfriend and gear we probably tip the scales at 1000lbs and can pull quite a bit with it. For utility I'd stay away from belt drive models(some lack good engine braking).
I've also got 2000lbs superwinch on the front with 50' of cable, some atv winchs only have 25'
The main advantages of an atv over the gator type vehicles is less width, means your trails can be narrower and also your trails can be rougher, less chance of hanging up. Also if you get stuck you can manhandle the atv more. Without a load the atv is quicker through the woods as well.
If your forest has a smooth floor and you don't mind making slightly wider trails probably the gator is better. I can imagine the 4x6 ones would really pull with 500lbs of wood in the bed, don't know if they'd turn though... I'd guess that an atv with a log arch would outperform any gator type machine that's just dragging logs on the ground in the woods though.
For firewood I bought a tilt trailer with a 4'x7'x1' box that has the wheel underneath the box so its basically as wide as the atv. I still had to take a few more trees out to get the trailer through but even 4" more on each side would make me take out several more trees.
Basically when I was looking it came down to the kingquad or one of the honda's with the hydraulic torque converter automatics for pure work machines. I choose the kingquad because it was 40% cheaper and I like the fully manual everything. I can pick 2wd, 4wd, or 4wd diflock in high or low or super low range with 5 forward speeds to suit what I'm doing at the moment. Also the reverse ratio changes with the range as well, some machines only have 1 ratio for reverse which usually is too fast for woods work.
If your woods has lots of long slopes that you can pull loads fast on you might be happier with a more powerful machine as the kingquad doesn't have much hp at all. But I find in most situations I'd rather have the gears to use the hp its got safely and slowly than to throw dirt in the air.
Hope this ramble helps you decide! ;D
Ian
IndyIan, yeah those king quads a great for climbing, just pop it into low 4 and off you go :) same with the big bear 350's excellent manual machines :)
We have a pair of Polaris Sportsman 500's. They are tough for what we have put them through. They are a good machine for all around. And as far as using an ATV in the woods you can jump clear of them if they start to tip not sure about the Argo the Sportsmans are a very stable machine. Jeff has only tipped the machines over twice once while what we call here drifting (going down the road and driving into a snowdrift and watching the snow fly) it sucked him into the drift and tipped him over he had a soft landing that time. We have had the quads for about 5 years and have had basically no problems with either machine just regular maintenance.
You can get a ROPS for the Argo, I opted for a canoe rack.
I have been working on this same decision for a while. I think it comes down to how many people will be riding in or on it at a time. If its just you maybe a single seat atv will do. I have been trying to convince the wife we need a Gator or Polaris Ranger so she can ride around the farm with me. Wasn't going to well with the priorities. So ended up with a used 4X4 Honda Foreman. I am so amazed at how strong this thing is. I have been skidding small logs to the bandmill and hauling all my firewood with a trailer behind it.Probably if $$$$$$ money has anything to do with it an ATV will probably do what you need.
"do you mean the big bear 350 ? yamaha dosent make a grizzly as small as the 350, they started out the with the 600."
Your right, must of been a laps in memory :-[. Its getting to cold to be out one now ;D.
Ed
When you are talking atv and aatv, they are two different animals with separate purposes.
For comfort and speed on good ground I would opt for an atv.
For heavy hauling in rough terrain the argo suits me better but it's slow and without suspension.
I like the idea I don't need mandatory insurance like the atv's..
Here I am back again. Lots of questions now. Thanks for helping me think more clearly about this.
Some referred to the difference between an atv and an aatv; what is the difference?
Are Argos available in the US? And what are the disadvantages and advantages of these in contrast to the side-by-side utility vehicles like the Mule or the Gator. Just price? What is the price?
Can any give me an idea of what kind of price we are talking about? Is there a used market? On the net? Is there good value for the money in Gator/mule types?
My main beef with the motorcycle-type ATV is that I don´t want to climb on that thing fifty times a day. I don´t need speed; this is mostly for utility, tree farm work, light logging.
I do have serious hills; sometimes the trails are eroded so that the wheels on one side are so much lower than on the other side that I think I´ll turn over. Would this be any better on a side by sider?
By the way, how can I refer to these two different types of vehicles? Is" ATV" and" utility ATV" clear enough?
will all of the attachments/accessories:disks, trailors, cones, aches etc made of ATV´s also work with "Mule/gator types?
Here's a toy. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2577036277&category=50910&rd=1
Looks like it might be kinda handy. Wonder how it'd float in snow? ???
I have a unit called a Ranger, built on Minnesota's iron range in a town called Pengilly, that has 12 inch track with about 6 feet on the ground. It doesnt have a dump box, but it will sure go on some soft ground. I intended to run it in the deep snow, but we haven't had any deep snow since I got it. I drove it across some low ground where you couldn't walk without going over your boot tops and it didn't leave a mark.
Hi Jim...
I believe that the argo would be a good choice for you .Make a Google image search for argo . I have seen a few here for sale on the used market.
Here is there web site [www.argoatv.com]
I ownned one, used it for work they are a very stable machine in all types of terrain.
Hope this can help you ...
The argo is a tub, you may not enjoy throwing your leg up and over to get in it.
The dealer where I bought mine has a new demo with 50hrs. on it including a winch for $9500 canucks.
http://www.theshopindustrial.com/dealers/usedProducts.asp?UID=17&Archive=
My next investment will be the super tracks.
(https://forestryforum.com/board/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argoatv.com%2F_Uploads%2FAccessories%2F202120supTracks2.jpg&hash=b417eb1a488b6686ddb37c02bfc51cb813c71319)
I have a 450 Honda Foreman ES that I use with a skidding arch / trailer that I made. It has a slider bar that lifts the log when going forward and lowers the log when you stop. To haul 8 to 10 lengths of firewood I remove the slider bar and add a trailer deck. I fill up the arch with the poles and lock it down with a ratchet strap. It hauls some pretty good loads. I built a rack on top of the arch to carry my saw and other necessary gear.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/loadofironwood_240.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/maplelog_240.JPG)
]
Bombardier makes their atv's in a step through design that saves some climbing. Their atv's are also the heaviest in the market I believe. I have read that their gearing is a bit high though, like most people run them in low range on the trails, but that's just what I've read. Belt drive too and I can't remember if the engine braking is any good.
Most dealer of any off road vehicle type will let you take one for a demo for a weekend. Try one of each!
Good luck,
Ian