I once co-managed a polo club in a resort community that enjoyed an inexhaustible supply of used golf carts. The grooms and exercise riders came up with some inventive modifications for those light-duty vehicles.
They converted them to flatbeds, fed the horses off of them, installed electrical plugs for running herbicide sprayers and clippers, mounted spindles on the back for stretching wire and even used them for leading strings of polo ponies back and forth from the barns to the paddocks.
Little did I know that those souped-up golf carts were the forerunners of the modern day farm utility vehicle.
Utility Vehicle Benefits
Depending on the make, model and options, utility vehicles combine the versatility of a small tractor, the maneuverability of an ATV and the utility of a Jeep.
They can reach speeds of up to 25 mph, roll over muddy stream banks or wet grass without leaving a track, and take the place of a pack string on a weekend camping trip.
At the risk of invoking images of late night TV commercials advertising blenders that double as helicopters, it is entirely possible to purchase a utility vehicle that mows grass, plows snow, hauls up to a ton of feed or material, dumps dirt, scrapes snow, tows, accommodates spray attachments and negotiates 4-wheel-drive terrain all with same driver comfort as a small pickup truck.
Hard to believe? Utility vehicles have caught the attention of fire crews, search-and-rescue teams, municipalities and the National Park Service. Hunters who haven’t got the patience to wrangle livestock appreciate the ease with which they can pack in their gear and pack out an elk without ever having to throw a diamond hitch.
Diverse Uses on Small Farms
The needs of small-scale farmers and ranchers are as diverse as their operations. Tractors can perform a variety of functions, but they are big and slow, and thus overkill for many jobs.
“This includes grounds maintenance, mowing, snow removal, ground leveling, lifting pallets, planting trees and shrubs as well as fencing and decorative landscaping. The customers were also looking for a machine that had 4-wheel drive and could travel quickly from jobsite to jobsite, with the ability to carry supplies and a co-worker.”
UTEs are Comfortable
In addition to its capacity for work, utes are almost as comfortable to drive and ride as a traditional automobile. Independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering provide a remarkably driver-friendly feel.
For those that offer more than just “forward and back” options, hydrostatic transmissions allow for shifting on the fly. The meatier models can hit speeds of up to 25 mph, making the addition of a windshield or a full cab a welcome option.
Manual or hydraulic dump beds are standard on most models, and tow hitches can be added for greater versatility.
In fact, there are so many accessory opportunities, the greatest challenge in customizing a utility vehicle may be narrowing your choices to the features you really need.
But before adding the bells and whistles, buyers would be wise to make more basic choices about the vehicle itself, like the size and type of engine, payload capacity, and whether 4-wheel drive is a necessity.
Engines
Electric:
One of the latest innovations in utility vehicles is the advent of the electric engine. Long popular in golf carts for their quietness, electric engines also have other advantages, such as increased responsiveness and zero emissions. Plus, as long as you have access to a power outlet, they never run out of fuel. Properly charged and maintained (you will need to check the water level in the batteries regularly), an electric vehicle should be able to run for a full day. Drive Train.
6 Wheels:
Six-wheel vehicles have the best traction of all, with 4-wheel drive and two extra wheels to distribute the weight. They can handle the biggest payload, up to a ton in some models, and are the vehicle of choice for farmers who work in vineyards and orchards, or ranchers who carry lots of gear and materials. Because the weight is distributed over six tires, they leave almost no trace of their passage, making them popular vehicles for golf courses and estate landscape maintenance. Of course, with six tires, you have a 50 percent higher chance of getting a flat tire, and two extra tires to replace when they go bald.
Optional Accessories
Once you’ve decided on the basics, it’s time to customize your ute. This is where the fun begins. It’s easy to get carried away with the extras, but the reality is you’ll probably use every feature you pick over the life of the vehicle.
Of course not all models offer all options, so you may have to decide between brand, and bells and whistles. Selecting your options can feel a little like a trip to the power-tool buffet.
Dump Bed:
Manual or hydraulic, dump beds come in handy for cleaning stalls, hauling dirt, bedding and mulch, and a variety of landscape and small construction projects.
Windshield:
It won’t keep you dry in the rain, but it will keep your hat from blowing off at 25 mph, and improve your visibility in thick fog or light rain.
Cab:
Hard side or soft side, a cab adds comfort and protection from sun, wind, rain and snow. If you intend to use your ute year-round, a cab will pay for itself in a single season.
Snow Blade:
An obvious improvement over a snow shovel, with less investment than a full-size snowplow. A blade can do double duty pushing dirt or leveling driveways in the dry season.
Vacuum Cleaner:
This attachment doubles as a street sweeper, and is a useful choice for estates or livestock facilities that must keep their public or work areas spotless.
Ball Field Finisher:
Schools, golf courses and athletic fields have a need to groom their turf surfaces to a high gloss. The rubber nubbed fingers “comb” the grass to uniform perfection.
Rumble Seat:
A new accessory not yet widely available in the industry, a detachable backseat can increase seating capacity to a total of five.
Tow Ball:
Welded to the frame, a tow ball gives you the ability to tow a small flatbed trailer, chipper, splitter, arena drag or other implement weighing up to 1,200 lbs.
Utility vehicles will never replace full-size tractors or pickup trucks on the homestead, but they can provide transportation options for farmers, ranchers, commercial growers and landscapers.
Their application to a wide range of farm tasks, not to mention their ability to get off the farm and out into the woods, make them an attractive choice for those who are looking for the quickest way to get a job done.
Fast without being dangerous, strong without being overpowering, the new generation of work vehicles has an established place in the well-equipped agricultural operation for a wide variety of light, medium and heavy-duty assignments.
Post time: Oct-18-2023