 | Home > Off Topic > ATV alternative to a quad |
 
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| simonpuma90 Member Since: 16 Nov 2008 Location: south wales Posts: 472   
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I have just ordered a Polaris Ranger 900 xp had some really good reviews about 600 kg payload and 900 towing
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12th Dec 2012 10:19pm |
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| boode Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: Devon Posts: 428  
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A horse
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12th Dec 2012 10:27pm |
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| Green Machine Member Since: 19 Nov 2010 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1226 
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What size quad bike have used previously? Our family farm runs down off the North Yorks Moors down to the coast, so is pretty hilly! We have had Honda quads for years and use them for pretty much everything. The quad can go just about anywhere compared to the Land Rover, tractors etc. also use it to bring wood out of the woodlands dotted around the place. We currently have a Honda Foreman, and have had several Foremans before, along with various other Honda quads. The great thing about the quad is that the centre of gravity is relatively low and it's also light. Always amazes me just how much weight it can shift over bad going for such a small vehicle. I would have thought that a mule (with roll bar, tipping loadbed etc) is actually more likely to roll than a quad bike, because that added weight higher up raises the centre of gravity. Another consideration is that if a quad bike starts rolling, just jump off it and leave it to go. Not as easy when your actually 'in' a vehicle (probably not advised best practice, but ultimately it's what happens).
In the many years of using quads we've had one roll-over incident, which was caused by a combination of very wet slippy ground and a steep drop-off to the side of a steep track. The quad slipped to far towards the edge, and over it went. Driver jumped off the top side as it started to go, it barrel-rolled its way down the slope, landed on its wheels at the bottom and was driven home for a bit of hammer-based re-adjustment. All I'm trying to say is that, in my personal experience, quad bikes are actually pretty stable (especially the wider 'utility' type quads). I don't have any first hand experience of mules, but I can't see how they are significantly better from a stability point of view, apart from the fact that some do have roll bars. OK, they're generally a bit wider but they're also heavier and taller. Just my 2p worth! 2005 Td5 | 90 Station Wagon | Tonga Green |
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12th Dec 2012 10:54pm |
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| appaloosadude Member Since: 17 Oct 2012 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 630 
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There are some 6 wheeled atv things with a tippy bed, or a JD Gator....
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12th Dec 2012 11:00pm |
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| boode Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: Devon Posts: 428
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I would agree with Green Machine - we use Honda 500cc Foreman Quads on the farm and they are more stable on slopes than the mules. We have rolled our quad when spraying nettles on some very steep fields - the sprayer raises the center of gravity - but again as Green Machine says its easy to simple jump off and let the quad roll away. If your land is too steep for a quad bike then you will need something tracked - or a horse.
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12th Dec 2012 11:04pm |
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| christyler Member Since: 10 Dec 2010 Location: Cork, Ireland Posts: 67 |
you should check out the Argo, www.argoatv.ie
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13th Dec 2012 12:21am |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856 
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The Argo is the best off road by far but for carrying a Polaris or Mule would be better. I'm not a big fan of the Polaris after seeing a few accidents with them. Some of the John Deere ATV can be found cheap.
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13th Dec 2012 12:36am |
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| JeremyJ Member Since: 16 Nov 2011 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 1758
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Are you looking new or used? We used to Mules but they all have problems with the four wheel drive system. Now running a Kubota RTV, great vehicle. Quieter and better to drive than the Mules with no transmission issues
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13th Dec 2012 6:50am |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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I agree entirely with Green Machine.
I've owned quads for years and often traversed side slopes in recreational situations and find them very stable or at least being able to make them stable by hanging off the high side. However, how much timber are we talking about, quads aren't cheap and it's all very well traversing a side slope in a quad but what about the trailer loaded with wood that you are hauling ? That is going to have a high centre of gravity and is just as likely to drag whichever mode of transport you are in / on down anyway I would have thought. |
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13th Dec 2012 7:17am |
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| big steve Member Since: 24 Dec 2009 Location: hertfordshire Posts: 2456 
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argocat will go pretty much anywhere and floats
steve 2015 2.2 tdci hardtop xs 3.2 conversion DONE 238bhp and 707nm torque and thats just the start ;-P hybrid turbo in build -done ready to fit ashcroft atb in transfer box 6 speed auto in build |
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13th Dec 2012 7:35am |
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| walfy Member Since: 29 Aug 2007 Location: Frome Posts: 2658 
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Remember you can get wheel spacers for quads. So increase the track width to help with stability. A lot of US based quad rider run anything from 1-2" spacers on the CanAms' I'm sure spacers are available for other makes..
I have a Grizzly 700. I am astounded the side slopes it crosses without tipping. In fact I have stepped off in preparation of a roll but the quad just sat there making me look a bit daft. 110 D250 SE HT 110 USW SOLD RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD |
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13th Dec 2012 12:30pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1777  
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I had a Honda 350 4x4 foreman for a few years pulling timber out of our fairly steep wood - I was always astounded at the weight of timber it would drag out, and when I got our first Freelander 1 well and truly stuck on tree roots and mud, it pulled it out with ease.
Honda quad all the way! Keith |
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13th Dec 2012 4:52pm |
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328
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Quad def better than a Mule
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13th Dec 2012 4:53pm |
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| willyj Member Since: 23 Oct 2009 Location: Carmarthenshire Posts: 189 
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Weve got a kawasaki 650, it likes jerry... The can! We did have the older type diesel mule and that was v useful but as was mentioned before, the 4wd is pathetic and we had loads of problems! Argo cats ive used on occasion and are really useful, amphibious too i think!?
Scott track is where the business is at! Pto 3 point linkage, tipper beds hiabs etc. fully tracked vehicle unlike the argos. All depends on price! And im not anything to do with scott track btw! Just seen one on demo! Good luck finding something!
Wil |
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13th Dec 2012 5:02pm |
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