Just finished reading the posts on ATV's. has anybody used or are using a gator? My dad has one at his farm, 4x4, 4 wheel. it has a lot of torque, but does tear up the ground, it has knobby tires. seems like it would be pretty good for tree work, with different tires, can also get 6 wheeler, carries #1000 in bed on 4 wheel, don't know about towing trailers though.

Reply to post by Todd Patten, on March 14, 1999 at 18:55:09:

I don't have a Gator. I do have a Kawasaki Mule though. I use it on campus for a variety of jobs. It works pretty good for some tree work. I can haul some small loads of logs and brush. It works real well for young tree care. As far as tearing up the turf it usually depends upon the operator. I would be interested in knowing more about the types of applications you will be using the Gator. You may have an idea I haven't considered.

Reply to post by Gerald Landby, on March 14, 1999 at 18:55:09:

I don't have one yet,my dad uses his for hauling firewood and what not around the farm. Somone posted about using ATV's, Just thought this might work a little better, cost about 6,500, not bad compared to a full size 4x4 ATV. just weighing my options right now.

Reply to post by Todd Patten, on March 14, 1999 at 18:55:09:

Just saw the 6x6 Gator at a nursery yesterday. A couple of things impressed me. 1) it's a big, wide beast; it's not going through any garden gates, would take a wide trailer or truck body to transport; 2) the load bed seemed small for the size of the overall machine; 3)it's appearance seems to be that the main intent is comfortable & reliable transport over rough or wet terrain rather than large/heavy load handling (fuel to the pump house, hay bales to the snowed in cows, two hunters guns ammo and lunch to the duck blind, etc.).

I guess it would be a good investment around a fixed base like a farmyard or nursery at 1/4 the cost of an over the road vehicle. But for a business that goes from place to place maybe contributing 1/4 to the cost of a new truck or a more necessary tool like a chipper is a better investment. You'd want to run the numbers against the actual work it can do and money/work it can save. Just make sure it makes sense.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on March 14, 1999 at 18:55:09:

I looked at one too, I think the only thing I'ld want it for is spraying large properties that we could not get tankers into.