Ready to Roll: Discover the Perfect UTV for Your Large Property
Utility vehicles (or UTVs for short) were made for large properties. These small, but hard-working vehicles are designed to provide enough power and payload for traversing tough terrain. They can also tackle your to-do list — even if that includes a little fun. So, whether your day calls for moving gravel, clearing snow or hauling your buddies to the fishing hole, rest assured a UTV can get you (and whatever else you need) there.
“UTVs are purpose-built to handle most terrains that would be encountered by large property owners,” says Steven Benedict, turf care product manager for Kioti. “Compared to the alternative of a stock truck, the UTV tends to be narrower, and has higher ground clearance and a larger approach angle to help navigate difficult terrains. These features make the UTV an ideal choice for comfortably getting people and things from Point A to Point B.”
Selecting a UTV
Anyone interested in a UTV for their acreage has a diverse range of products to choose from, fortunately. To help refine the search, it’s important to identify what you plan to do with the UTV. That way you can be sure you have the right vehicle for your needs.
“When looking to purchase a UTV for a large property, customers should consider the ways they plan to utilize their UTV, as well as how fast they want to go, how much they want haul and what kind of terrain they want to use the vehicle through,” says Justin VanderHeyden, product business manager for Gator UTVs at John Deere. “By identifying these basic qualities, a customer can more easily narrow down their purchase, as well as consult with their local dealer to review recommendations or even test a UTV before purchasing.”
Key considerations in choosing a UTV include the vehicle’s payload and towing capacities, ground clearance, cargo bed size and material. Don’t forget comfort, seating and speed. Working with a reputable dealer and company that offers a good warranty is a plus.
“Durability is key in helping to prevent UTV breakdowns, while driving productivity and profitability,” says Brady Lafrinere, product manager, Polaris Commercial. “Look for UTVs purposely built to withstand tough environments. For example, Pro XD UTVs are made with heavy-duty, nondirectional tires that are designed for long-life on hard-packed gravel and rugged surfaces. Additionally, it features Kevlar backed vinyl seats that resist punctures and tears often sustained from jobsite abuse. Its heavy-duty suspension makes for easy handling on rough terrain. The heavy-duty sealed driveline components increase vehicle life expectancy in caustic environments.”
Do You Have a Need for Speed? Know Your Limits.
Speed is an important consideration when selecting a UTV. Most jobsites limit speed to 25 mph for UTVs, but large property owners often want to go fast. Manufacturers offer their own speeds and limits depending on particular models. For example, John Deere sells utility vehicles with top speeds that range anywhere from 15 to 50 mph. It also offers kits on some models that can limit the top speed of the vehicle with a speed key.
Gravely’s ATLAS JSV models have a top speed of 35 mph. The Pro XD line from Polaris has a speed limiting menu — with speeds ranging from 5 to 40 mph. It allows operators to adjust their vehicle’s top speed with a PIN. Bobcat product manager Colin Tsolis says all of Bobcat’s UTV models can reach a maximum travel speed of 35 mph. However, the company does offer a speed kit for its gas variants, increasing the UTV’s top speed to 40 mph.
As for comfort, buyers need to consider if they want an enclosed cab (which is great for colder months). A multi-row UTV is a great option if more seating is needed to haul your whole crew.
“Multi-row UTVs are typically purchased by customers who need to transport multiple people around their property,” says VanderHeyden. “We see this often in commercial applications, such as jobsites, but is also beneficial for larger properties where customers want to bring their crew for recreational activities such as trail riding, hunting, fishing and sightseeing. John Deere multi-row utility vehicles also offer added cargo versatility with lay flat seats in the second row, or a flip-down cargo rack that can be used to store additional cargo when the second row isn’t being used for occupants.”
Making It Your Own
One of the best parts of buying a UTV is customizing it to meet your needs. You can maximize a UTV’s potential with the huge amount of accessory and attachment options out there. Popular accessories for UTVs include LED work lights, winches, cargo box dividers, canopies and windshields.
“Winches are essential for getting unstuck from tough situations and moving large objects like fallen trees,” says Angie Ansorge, Gravely channel marketing manager. “Also think about additional lighting. As we know, work doesn’t happen on a schedule, and additional lighting can turn night into day and extend your utility past dusk. For my own property, I use an angle plow for pushing snow or other material, a 4,500-lb winch, additional lighting, mounts to secure my chainsaw and other tools when I drive to a work area, as well as a headache rack to help protect the rear window against impact from my cargo.”
Lafrinere recommends mud guards to protect the UTV’s driveline and engine bay from mud, dirt and debris. He adds that mud guards are designed to decrease maintenance time in cleaning those tough-to-reach areas.
Attachments
As for attachments, UTVs can be equipped with a variety of tools to help accomplish certain jobs. These can include everything from spreaders to snowblowers and brooms.
“Attachments are a great way to further enhance the productivity of the utility vehicle, depending on the types of jobs or tasks the customer plans on utilizing their UTV for,” says VanderHeyden. “In addition, many of the jobs around large properties include the need for maintenance, such as spraying, landscaping, clearing brush/debris, hauling firewood and snow/ice removal. For these tasks, attachments can be easily implemented to help increase productivity.”
Bobcat offers two types of attachments for UTVs — a spreader and snow blades. Colin Tsolis, product manager for Bobcat, says the company’s sand and salt spreader is perfect for operators working in snowy climates. They are great for keeping walkways, driveways, parking lots and paths cleared and salted. Bobcat’s snow blades come in four different options. They include a heavy-duty V blade, heavy-duty straight blade, mid-duty straight blade and a light-duty poly straight blade.
“The spreader attachment features a stainless-steel hopper that resists corrosion. It has a consistent spread pattern and a dash-mounted spreader control. This allows operators to easily adjust the auger and spinner speed to change the spread pattern without ever having to leave the cab,” he says. “For property owners that need to clear parking lots and driveways, the snow blade is perfect to push and plow through deep drifts. Height adjustments and blade rotations can also be controlled from inside the cab. So, operators can stay warm inside the cab during the winter season.”
Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.
