I am bidding on a couple thousand acre boundary deep in the Appalachian mountains that apparently has a bit of a trail system through it already.?ÿ My current capabilities are a little 2 wheel drive Honda four wheeler that I have literally lifted into the back of my truck before (but generally use ramps) and an older John Deere Gator side by side.?ÿ I have been stuck in both of them before and am looking for the very best tool that I can find for this project.?ÿ I've used Polaris side by sides before and they seem to be tanks, going over nearly everything.?ÿ The 4-seaters take a country mile to turn around which can be a huge problem in the mountains and I have no interest in something of that size.
?ÿ
My four wheeler is small, lightweight, and agile and can go most places though not a convenient way to pack stuff around.?ÿ I've gone in with stuff strapped across the front and back and wearing an S-6 on my back and that part is not ideal.?ÿ The best part is no trailer is needed.?ÿ If I stay in the four wheeler category, a 4 wheel drive model is probably in my future.
?ÿ
Most of the surveys I do are so thick or there are so many fences that any motorized transport is out of the question.?ÿ On occasion though, it is so handy to not have to carry 40 lbs of gear miles through rough country.?ÿ I think a semi-permanent chainsaw mount is in order for trail clearing and of course a couple of 5/8" mount points.?ÿ There have been lots of threads on truck boxes over the years.?ÿ Any pictures of a side by side setup would be great.
?ÿ
Any suggestions from you veteran off road surveyors?
This veteran off road surveyor highly recommends polaris side by sides. If you can afford the purchase, they are great. The other brands, JD excepted, are all good too. In fact for the last 3 years, I don't use my truck for anything but towing a polaris to the job site. I use an enclosed trailer so my gear can stay in the utv. Do not buy any crew cab utv. They will high center on any branch over the trail. You can climb a 1:1 slope without losing any gear in the back. You have a nice spot to eat your lunch, and even a good tool to plow your office parking lot.?ÿ
I am also interested in opinions of gas vs diesel in the side by sides.?ÿ I can also use this for my farm but really can't see a need for diesel but I know they sell a lot of them.?ÿ Kubota diesel tanks were V shaped with the pickup in the bottom and they had issues getting clogged up on a regular basis.
I have used polaris now for yrs.?ÿ
Polaris sportsman 500 1997
Polaris sportsman 800 2005
I'm looking at polaris 850 or 1000 with power steering.
The sportsman is 48" wide. The ranger is wider.
Right now, prices are inflated, b/c new units are hard to get. Maybe it'll come down a little.?ÿ
Nate
?ÿ
There are so many choices. I use a small 4x4 Yahama cause it fits into the back of my work truck.
I don't want anything to do with a trailer where I go. But, if that's not a consideration I might think about a side by side.
However, if you need to get around and haul a bit of gear, but not a second person a Can AM Outlander is hard to beat. They go anywhere and are very stable.?ÿ
Sometimes the side by sides are a pain to work out of simply cause it's difficult to enter and exit some of them. Great if you have to ride 10 miles up a mountain, but sucks when you need to go a few hundred feet, get out, work, get in, go a few hundred feet, get out. The type you almost lay down in don't work for work very well.?ÿ
I love my little Honda Pioneer 500.?ÿ It is 48" wide so it fit anywhere an ATV fits.?ÿ I really like that fact that it has a real transmission.?ÿ I've held belt driven rigs before (Tyrex 750) and this beats them hands down.
This photo is from its first day.?ÿ Since then I have added a canvas roof and full windscreen.?ÿ
Mighty Moe above is 100% right. Plan to in / out 50 times a day. I probably do regularly.?ÿ
Those fancy ones that don't allow easy entry exit are not a tool of choice.?ÿ
N
An?ÿ Argo with tracks will go where the others do not, but they are not built for the mature gentleman. They will beat you to death and require more effort to get in and out of.
Two seater side by sides by the three majors have proven to be good vehicles that survive most of what crews do to them. A skilled opperator can get them to really perform, but the new person has tipped them over within 10 minutes. Modded units with better suspension and running gear will run places that should make safety officers quit.
The four seaters seem to becoming favorites to the companies we work for over the last couple years, and tracks on all four will take you places that makes you regret being a passenger.
We work in a lot of wind and rain. Over the years the most important item has been a GOOD windshield. Canvas tops and sides with zippers seem to have a short life with crews. Hard tops with framed canvas doors do well, but you need someone who knows how to "adjust" doors.
If I had to buy for non-crew use it would be a two seater 4x4 with low range and diff lock, with glass windshield, hard top,?ÿ bed, and upgraded suspension and running gear. I've been seeing hunters moving up to the $40,000 rigs and they are impressive.
Polaris ranger 1000 eps
Enough room for 3 men and all gear. Chainsaw mount on bed and GPS mount on side. I was worried it??d be too big, but sure don??t miss strapping everything to racks.
I love my new John Deere Gator 4-seater. ?ÿI chose 4-seats over power steering. ?ÿWish I had both.
I've got a Polaris RZR 1000 and it's a tank. Got a magnetic mount for the GPS on the roof and a gun rack to hold the rod. A fixture on the dash to hold the DC. A two seater is sur hand to take a client around to show him the corners or even a hired hand.
I crossed the Dearborn river and plowed through the willow. The client with me was so impressed he traded his ATV in for one.
A new one is expensive, but there are thousand of used ones on the internet. A decent one will cost a minimum of $8500.
Con is you have to haul them with a trailer. I tried hauling mine in the back of my pickup and it destroyed my tail gate.
Get one with a winch. If it gets stuck you are going to push it out.
I haul my tools and a gas powered jack hammer in the back and just strap them in with bungee cords.
I like the size of that thing and being able to get it in the bed of my truck but would miss the bed for putting tools in.
?ÿ
Razors and Argos seem to be difficult to get in and out of.?ÿ Your suggestions have kept me very busy on many websites and still am hung on the big question of side by side vs 4 wheeler.
When i go off road, I go off road.?ÿ Any side by side seems too wide and tall for me to crawl through the woods with.?ÿ I much prefer an ATV for maneuverability.?ÿ You may have a good trail to use it on for this job, I always seem to be making my own trail.?ÿ Heavy front bumper, racks and winch are essential.?ÿ Next one will be efi, and power steering.
what ever you get make sure you get a winch, especially if you are working by yourself.?ÿ ?ÿI have a Honda rancher 420 and a max 6x6 with tracks (similar to argo).?ÿ
When I was doing Gravity and Mag work, we used the Honda Rancher 400s.
Not too heavy a couple of guys or one big guy could wrestle it into a truck without ramps, and fits almost anywhere.
I was younger and more immortal, and took that thing places people wouldnt consider hiking.
Nowadays I'd still use it but not like I used to.
We had a diesel mule and it was okay for wide open areas, but again in tight quarters, useless.
had to google it,?ÿ lol.?ÿ I must be carefully next time tell my wife I bought an atv accessory.?ÿ
what ever you get make sure you get a winch, especially if you are working by yourself.
Not a lot to offer for the ATV recommendation, but having spend some time surveying off the beaten track, a good winch is the difference between inconvenience and a wasted day. And, it is always faster (and cheaper) to walk if you have any doubt at all.