Using Your ATV To Prep Your Farm

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ATVs are a popular choice for thrill-seekers riding off-road, and sportspeople who use their vehicle for hunting and fishing. However, quads are also a valuable tool for people like farmers who have a lot of land—some with rough terrain—and plenty of chores to be done.

ATV Trader took a closer look at these amazingly versatile machines to see how valuable they can be used in a farm setting to maximize productivity and minimize labor. Farming is tough work (even if it’s only a hobby), so why not heed the old adage and “work smarter, not harder?” Here’s how to lighten your load and get the most out of your off-road machine.

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The Right Tool For The Job

If you already have an ATV, you can use the tips below to assist with your farming efforts. If you don’t have an ATV yet and are curious what would be the best solution for your needs, the experts we spoke with about farming needs recommended searching for an ATV with a coil spring shock absorber system and a differential with a locking mechanism.

A differential allows the outside wheels to rotate faster than the inside wheels, which enables smoother turns. A differential locking system will force all of the wheels to spin at the same speed, regardless of traction. This is important in rough terrain because you’ll always have full power to all four wheels, even if one or more of them leaves the ground, providing you with better traction and pulling power.

The people we talked to also said that an automatic clutch with a reverse gear is beneficial in farming applications. Manual transmissions are fun for sport use so you can maximize acceleration and braking, but on the farm, adrenaline and speed aren’t as important as safety and versatility.

Accessorizing

So, other than being able to get you from fence to fence on your property, how can your ATV help out on the farm? Even without adding anything to it, your ATV can be used for dragging brush, hauling tools, and wrangling livestock. However, there are a number of racks, accessories, and/or attachments you can couple with your all-terrain workhorse to make it even more effective as a farming tool.

First and foremost, if your ATV doesn’t have a winch, you’ll definitely benefit from having one. If nothing else, it will help you get loose in the event that your ATV should get stuck in mud, sand, or water. A winch can also be beneficial in pulling stumps or large rocks from your field or add tension to a rope or chain to guide the path of a falling tree if you’re doing some forestry work. And speaking of forestry work, your ATV can be fitted with a universal lifting fork that can be used for loading anything from cut timber to hay bales.

If your ATV doesn’t already have a hitch, adding one will allow you to tow a variety of equipment to help with your efforts, including a number of different trailers and attachments that can be used for hauling debris from one area to another, moving a sick or injured animal for medical attention, taking grain or hay out to remote feeding areas, harrowing or plowing fields, raking leaves, mowing grass, and spreading seed, rock, salt, or fertilizer.

Need to haul liquids? Most ATVs can be fitted with as much as a 25-gallon tank that can be used for spreading weed killer or taking water out to remote watering tanks for livestock. Is snow an issue? You can attach a plow blade to the front of your ATV for snow removal on your driveway, sidewalks, and even out in the fields to allow your grazing animal access to the nutrients below. Need a place to rest for a few moments after several hours of hard labor or to escape the heat of the day? There are popup trailers specifically designed to be towed by ATVs that you can leave on-site on one end of your property, or you can pull it along with you as you work the land.

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Get Your Work On

When it comes to helping out on the farm, an ATV can provide almost infinite assistance solutions based on how you outfit it. When you’re ready to get started, ATVTrader.com offers the biggest selection of online options, including new and used vehicles offered by dealerships and private sellers. We can also help you sell your current ATV if you’re ready to trade up to something newer or more powerful when you visit ATVTrader.com/Sell.

Barrett Baker

Barrett Baker is a freelance writer with more than 40 years of writing experience. He has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and a variety of advertising and marketing firms throughout his career. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, cooking, and working with animal rescues.

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