Buying an ATV. Need advice

I'm looking for an ATV to use for plowing my drive and hauling firewood (with a small trailer) in my yard. I don't know much about these things so does anyone know if this is a good deal? Most of the 4 wheelers I've found don't come with a plow, this one does saving me some money and hassle tracking one down. Comes with a title and the owner is a older gentleman that used it for hunting. The price he is asking is at the very top of what I want to spend.

http://youngstown.craigslist.org/snw/4548173361.html

I almost bought an ATV "to plow", mainly as an an excuse to buy an ATV.

But here's the deal: unless you're doing a ton of sidewalks, ATVs make E36 M3ty plows. You need to get off and pivot it manually. They use a winch with a belt to raise and lower the plow and it's a very slow process. If you've ever plowed before, you know that you are constantly raising, lowering and pivoting the plow.

Buy a Jeep Wrangler and get a lightweight plastic plow. You'll be able to move more snow in less time, you'll have better lights, along with the added bonus of a roof and heater. Plus, you get to own a Jeep.

I spent 25 years plowing with my dad's tractor. Then I bought a Jeep with a plow. I'm never going back.

Woody wrote: I *almost* bought an ATV "to plow", mainly as an an excuse to buy an ATV. But here's the deal: unless you're doing a ton of sidewalks, ATVs make E36 M3ty plows. You need to get off and pivot it manually. They use a winch with a belt to raise and lower the plow and it's a very slow process. If you've ever plowed before, you know that you are constantly raising, lowering and pivoting the plow. Buy a Jeep Wrangler and get a lightweight plastic plow. You'll be able to move more snow in less time, you'll have better lights, along with the added bonus of a roof and heater. Plus, you get to own a Jeep. I spent 25 years plowing with my dad's tractor. Then I bought a Jeep with a plow. I'm never going back.

A wrangler would tear up the yard hauling firewood. I am using my lawn tractor for plowing and hauling now which is going to send the tranny to an early grave. When it's time to replace the lawn tractor, a zero turn mower will replace it which can only be used for cutting the lawn. I rarely pivot my plow. Down one side up the other plow in same direction.

You need a 70's-80's Kubota..

turf tires.. Get chains for the snow belly mower, back blade, and FEL.

Nice ATV, some friends have that one.

They don't have enough weight to push a plow against much snow. You just spin your tires, or slip and burn the belt.

If you think a jeep can tear up a yard, wait until you see what a 4 wheeler can do to it.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: You need a 70's-80's Kubota.. turf tires.. Get chains for the snow belly mower, back blade, and FEL.

Too bad that's at least 4x the budget, and maybe 5x depending on hours. Great piece of equipment, though.

Sounds like you just want to buy an ATV, regardless of its utility.

Duke wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: You need a 70's-80's Kubota.. turf tires.. Get chains for the snow belly mower, back blade, and FEL.

Too bad that's at least 4x the budget, and maybe 5x depending on hours. Great piece of equipment, though.

If you look around, you might be surprised. Might not be orange, but it'll work. Grey Market, Jinma.. always something that will fit the bill. The 70's and 80's stuff is cheap.

For example: http://youngstown.craigslist.org/grd/4544845669.html

Or go to a local auction. Jeez you can grab some deals there.

OK, but that's not what you were talking about, or posted...

Duke wrote: OK, but that's not what you were talking about, or posted...

It's what I meant.. The Green and Orange paint are expensive.. Maybe you just want to argue with me...

So will an ATV with CVT plow very well at all? I don't know so am curious. I thought there would be issues with the belt. If so, I'd look at a Foreman with the non CVT. I push and pull cars around with mine all the time and it takes it like a champ.

Cotton wrote: So will an ATV with CVT plow very well at all? I don't know so am curious. I thought there would be issues with the belt. If so, I'd look at a Foreman with the non CVT. I push and pull cars around with mine all the time and it takes it like a champ.

I'd be worried about the belt as well. Our Mini Baja car use a polaris CVT and would smoke belts regularly after tow tests.

Check out the latest Top Gear USA for some plowing advice.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

I'm not trying to be argumentative but that's a completely different tractor than you originally posted - about half the horsepower, smaller frame, much less equipment, and a Brand X nameplate on it. OF COURSE it's going to be cheaper. I stand by my assessment that the tractor in your original post is a $12k-$15k investment in decent used condition. I know it is, because I've been shopping them this spring.

Duke wrote: In reply to Fueled by Caffeine: I'm not trying to be argumentative but that's a completely different tractor than you originally posted - about half the horsepower, smaller frame, much less equipment, and a Brand X nameplate on it. OF COURSE it's going to be cheaper. I stand by my assessment that the tractor in your original post is a $12k-$15k investment in decent used condition. I *know* it is, because I've been shopping them this spring.

I'll admit its a bad picture.. but if you read my words I said 70's or 80's kubota.. Picture is of 2000's kubota.. It's what I coudl find quick. I was thinking an old L model.. you know.. twin cylinder 18hp ish.. Small...

Also your frame of reference on price is east coast.. I've found once, I moved off the east coast the prices eased a great deal.

Nephew-in-law has an ATV with a plow to do his large driveway and my SIL's driveway. Works fine when it is just light snow. If we get snow then rain that freezes over the top the plow just skims over the top of the ice. All of the ATV plows I have seen have some mechanism to raise the blade but nothing that will hold it down, unlike regular plows that use hydraulics to raise and lower the plow.

Save yourself the dough and buy a good self-propelled snow blower and hook the trailer to your lawnmower. I plowed the driveways growing up with tractors. Bought a snow blower 2 years ago and I will never be without one again.

I should have explained a little better. For the last 10 years I've been using a 20hp Scotts riding mower for plowing my drive and in that time I've had to call my neighbor to plow my driveway with his truck 4 times. I think that's pretty good considering what it is, a slow lawn mower. I also use the tractor to transport my splitter and firewood and it's used for this purpose considerably more than plowing. I thought about using a snow blower but that won't help with the wood. Of course now I can use the tractor but when it blows up I'm buying a zero turn and they can't haul anything. I know expensive commercial models can, but I'm not spending that kind of cash to cut grass. So, that is why I'm looking at ATVs. Will a ATV plow better than my Scotts tractor? The Scotts won't even go up a hill with the plow raised if the snow is too deep. It does haul the splitter and the trailer around nicely if there's no snow but how much longer will the hydro tranny last with 600 hrs on it now and the abuse I'm putting it through? suggestions??

Left field suggestion..

A powerking tractor.

http://youngstown.craigslist.org/grd/4507177470.html

They have three point hitches, Dana rear ends, heavy duty transmissions and usually twin cylinder kohlers. You can get a ton of accessories for them and they have 3pt's with PTO's....

Just buy the ATV.. We'll lead you astray.

There's only 3 types of ATV worth buying- Honda, Honda, and Honda

I'm going to look at the artic cat after work tomorrow. I'll see if it looks as good as he says.

I just came back from looking at this ATV. It is very well cared for. I tried to get him to budge on price but he is firm on 3K. I know the NADA book has it listed at about $2500 but I don't know if that is relevant since the hours are so low and he has several options (fender extensions, wind screen, storage box, gun case and plow). Also someone mentioned that this model has a belt drive but all I could see was drive shafts running front and rear. Is there a internal belt in the tranny?? Don't want any buyers remorse.

Yes that model has a belt. It should be on the right hand side of the machine.

Use oem belts and they should last a while but get them wet and they won't last long.

Unless he has proof the belt was changed recently with an oem grade belt. Tell him to knock off. $200.

The belt change should be easy. I've only worked on Polaris machines, but don't see why it should be difficult. The belts are $50ish and 5 minutes to change?

Driving a belt drive atv is super easy, I like them.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

What does the belt do?