Side by Side or ATV for field work and why?

Side by Side?

Side by side would be my preference. Have used both, the "regular" 4 wheeler is great for recon, but I have issues with having to strap everything down when moving a setup. Hence, I'll usually have a trailer hooked up. The side by side eliminates that issue, and they get around ALMOST as well as an ATV.
-JD-

I started with a four wheeler, then got a side by side.

My preference is the side by side. The bed is very handy and can carry everything I need pretty easily.

I would recommend looking at the smaller side by sides as a means of being able to access some of the areas that a four wheeler would allow you to get to.

I always thought the 4 seat mule would be handy, but I expect the size would eliminate access to some areas that you can go in the smaller side by sides.

Side by Side is more useful and efficient getting things around. They are also much easier to get into and out of many times a day. You said fields, the air cleaners are down in the dirt. I changed to a heavy duty one and still had to get a pre-cleaner that gets it's air up near the top of the roll cage. A small tractor type pre-cleaner will work and not hard to plumb in, do it yourself or take it to a shop if you don't have the tools. Mine, for last few months has been hauling more hay, rated for 900 Lbs in the box, than surveying equipment. Don't get the 4 seat version, you will high center the thing in rough going.
jud

I use a Arctic Cat 250, and I am solo. I've been able to unstick it a couple of times in remote locations by gunning, shoving, and grunting. Small has it's advantages, less cost, gas, maintenance, and headaches. You can navigate between trees and other obstacles, but just can't haul as much. That is what the truck is for. Depends on your needs, not necessarily your wants. Although with winter coming, a cab sounds great!

I have an RTV 900 Kubota diesel. Carries everything, loaded with torque and top speed is 28 so my son won't scare his mom to death when they take a joyride. I think this thing is gonna outlive me.

Foot.

This is the same answer I gave the Kabota National representative and his newly appointed Sales agent from China as we shared adjoining seats on a flight into LAX just before the launch of their diesel side by sides. Target price $13,500

I told him that for the money and dependable engines, Honda was my choice and most people want to have their own ATV to drive for recreation without passengers and I could buy 3 Recons for that price. The side by side will be a good commercial vehicle and most companies would be on board for an upgrade to what they are using now.

The side by sides are when you need to get more gear and workers around on the job and when you need the extra power to haul the load.

There are some great golf carts out there that will work in the same places an ATV will.

I have a Honda Rancher and it has done me well and cost half of a side by side. There is a large PLANO box for the rear rack, a smaller for the front rack, a3ft long 6in PVC for lath and machetes and several sets of gun racks for poles and tripods. It just got a new set of Reptiles.

The JD 2X4 is easy to trailer, and a comfortable ride. It has a governor that limits the speed to about 15 mph so the crews are not out joy riding.

In these parts, NE Texas, no need for 4 wheel drive, tires have enough floatation to get thru most bogs. Having a manual dump bed makes it an all round ATV for farm/ranch and surveying.

I have a Yamaha 450 cc Rhino, and it is ideal for me. It hauls me and my helper comfortably plus all my gear. It is also fantastic for construction staking, hauling stakes, etc. The only thing I've done besides tires, brakes, batteries, boots, bearings and other expendables is a fuel pump, and I broke an axle. I've had it for about seven years, and it's the best survey investment that I've made with the exception of dual frequency/ dual constellation rtk gps receivers. I got a winch, also, which we've used maybe a half dozen times, but would have been in a real jam without it. It is difficult to get stuck, but when stuck it is REALLY stuck. I used a honda recon before I got the rhino, and the only advantages that I see for a conventional four wheeler is side clearance and maneuverability. It's also easier to mount my gps pole on, too. Only thing I would do different is sometimes it would be beneficial to have a little more power for climbing a steep hill. They've got a 660 and 750 now. I bought the 450 because it was almost $1k cheaper, and I thought the 450 was sufficient, and it has been for the most part.

I had a Honda Foreman 500CC and it was great. Insurance co. for my client wouldn't allow me to use it on a job in ND, so I went with the Yamaha Rhino 700cc. It is a great machine and hauls all the extra survey gear without strapping it down or using boxes. I wouldn't have anything else now. You can also carry along another crew member with no problem and it works great for construction staking roads etc. Real tough areas I'll take my Yamaha 250 trail bike in and it works well with a back pack, gps receiver and repeater radio for working in canyons.
B-)
Pablo

I would be tempted to get e Jeep Wrangler with a winch. Then you can drive it on the highway.

We have an ATV but I can see the advantages of a side by side. It still fits on the trailer and you can carry a passenger.

We have found that the ATV will fit under most pipe gates which saves time.

Everyone I've ever met loved their
Rhinos.

We have a Kawasaki Teryx 750. I like it, but prefer the Polaris Ranger, because the bench seat is quicker/easier to get in and out of. Seems like any side-by-side is the way to go.

Honda Foreman Rubicon 500 for me. I am solo, and it fits in the back of my pickup. I do not have a GPS pole mount for it yet. I have to strap everything else down with rubber bungee cords. Have to watch out going between trees, though. It is heavy, and I can go almost anywhere, even bulldoze down small trees. I like the automatic transmission - no shifting. And the tires give something for the boy dogs to wizz on instead of my bipod legs!:-/

Doesn't anybody walk anymore?

I know it depends on the kind of work one is doing, but back in the day when I worked for a big company with all the "toys", it seemed we spent more time messing around with hauling, loading, gasing, and repairing then we ever saved. But it was fun!

Doesn't anybody walk anymore?

I can count the number of jobs on two hands in the past 12 years that we've completed where we really needed a 4 wheeler. The main problem around here is fences.

I have a Yamaha Rhino 450cc. It is one of the best investments we have made. After looking at ATV's, we decided on the Rhino due to it having greater usability. We bought used and saved quite a bit. Two people can right along with a bed full of equipment, and it will go anywhere an ATV will.

Here is a previous post of mine showing some rod mounts I made for the side of the vehicle (pictures are towards the bottom of the page).

[msg=127741]Rhino Mounts[/msg]

we have a 2006 Polaris Ranger 700 we use for field surveys. not many golf carts can go where this can in 4wd low - pretty amazing capability. for access where a 4wd truck just can't go, and for mass mapping purposes such as landfill quantities, it's a great choice. we have also used it to map primitive roads in continuous topo mode, one job even set to a 3' distance interval to really pick up the breaks and drainage crossing the "road". we mount a short range pole in the dump bed stake hole, and have a data collector bracket mounted to the roll cage where we can see it and navigate as we drive to a search coordinate. we'll drive roads locating each edge or a centerline, whichever is needed. ours is registered and insured for street legal purposes. there are times it's the perfect tool, but not always.

I have, and use, both, depending on the job.

My ATV is a 2003 Yamaha Big Bear 400 4x4. My UTV is a (2010?) American Sportworks Bulldog 700 4x4. I bought the ATV new in 2003. I bought the UTV refurbished from Home Depot in March of this year. I got a heck of a deal on it.

Each one has it's use and purpose and advantages and disadvantages.

The ATV is more nimble, rides better, and can handle tighter spaces. The disadvantages are that everything has to be strapped down, and not as much cargo room. I do have a small box attached to the front rack that keeps things out of the weather, and works great as a work space.

The UTV can handle more equipment, is easier to get in and out of, and you can carry two people. I really like having the UTV parked beside the instrument when running a two man crew for a work space for prints, instrument case is not on the ground, etc. The disadvantages are the rougher ride (for my particular model), not as nimble as the ATV, and the 700 really likes the gas.

Hope this helps.