ATV Recommendations

[solodan]

Johncinquo,
At least I know I am not alone, I have the same nutty idea.
I  have been thinking of the same sort of idea with a 92 samurai. If I were to put in the 1.9 turbo diesel ( over 140 ft. lbs of torque) and the 8:1 transfer case gears(260% reduction in low range!) it would still be chaeper than an ATV, and capable  of pulling anything anywhere. barely bigger than an atv and a whole lot more manuverable than the F-350 LB I could tow it with. check out http://www.rocky-road.com/index2.html lots of good stuff for the tracker here as well.

[whitey]

  I have a 4x4  atv and it don't work skidding logs where i go. I it just burns the tranny.. I pull my log trailer with a dodge 3\4 ton 4x4 and use it and 250ft of steel cable and snach blocks I can pull every thing right to the trailer ready to load . 600lb atvs don't pull much in steep rocky country.     Whitey

[crtreedude]

I would think that a small SUV wouldn't be able to get through mud as well as an ATV - I know that our ATV can do just fine when we have had a lot of rain - but there is no way for the Montero to make it to the top of the hill without destroying the road.

The ATV just rides on top and pounds down the road a little better.

We don't haul anything with the ATV - just seedlings, water, etc. Any tree we cut is really big, they would just sit there and laugh at the ATV.

[Faron]

We have an Arctic Cat 500cc.  We use it to spray on the farm, and haul our saws to the woods, but I wouldn't want to skid logs with it, given what we cut and the terrain.  A Polaris Ranger or similiar utility vehicle might work a little better, but I would really recommend a tractor.  I'd add a good loader to it while I was at it if I could.

[SwampDonkey]

They use ATV's here, but only in pulpwood removal in thinnings. The wood isn't great big stuff as you can imagine. I've seen trailors with loaders for ATV's used too, but the size of the stuff it's been demonstrated with would make me just want to forget the laoder and load by hand with a pulp hook. It would be 10 times faster. ;D

[catvet]

Here is another alternative.  Though not cheap.  The Rangerunner.  Looks really cool and probably could go just about anywhere.  Don't know how it would do pulling but should have the power.

RangeRunner Info http://www.terratrack.com/

[DragonsBane]

 I'd buy a small 4x4 tractor like a Kubota. Older tractors can be had for reasonable prices at equipment auctions.

[Ironwood]

I have used most of the above mentioned items. As for indispensable equipment my Gator HPX is near the top. I could skid logs but why torture it when an old 8N is just sitting there waiting to be used. I also favor my rough terrain forklift. The gator cant be beat for shrinking jobs and run around time on acreage. Yes, it has limitations but is a far better investment for me than an ATV (had one, or old off road beater truck, had one)


                              REID

[Modat22]

I have used most of the above mentioned items. As for indispensable equipment my Gator HPX is near the top. I could skid logs but why torture it when an old 8N is just sitting there waiting to be used. I also favor my rough terrain forklift. The gator cant be beat for shrinking jobs and run around time on acreage. Yes, it has limitations but is a far better investment for me than an ATV (had one, or old off road beater truck, had one)


                              REID

I love mine.