Not sure about which farm machine to add to your lineup, but your decision has come down to a UTV vs. ATV? What is a UTV, and what can it do for your farm? What can an ATV bring to your homestead?
You’ve decided to take the plunge and increase your rolling stock remuda by adding a nimble, light, utilitarian vehicle to help with daily chores, but you aren’t certain whether you should spend your hard-earned cash on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or a utility vehicle (UTV). The decision isn’t really that difficult if you park your emotions and systematically consider how you’ll make use of the machine.
The ATV is generally a single-person, four-wheeled, cycle-like vehicle that the operator straddles and steers with handlebars. The UTV is a four- or six-wheeled vehicle that’s like a small truck. Both ATVs and UTVs can save you time, money, and future medical bills by reducing physical labor and stress. While many experts suggest UTVs are the wiser investment, they’re typically more expensive, and in some cases, an ATV makes more sense.
Sturdy UTVs
UTVs are more versatile than ATVs in many ways, but they’re less nimble and less fuel-efficient, and they require somewhat wider and more developed trails. UTVs are also more stable and can carry up to 5 passengers (in addition to the operator). Plus, UTVs have a higher cargo capacity with a dedicated bed and a higher towing capacity than ATVs.
UTVs are great for getting the fencing crew and all the supplies out to the build site, and they’re great for hauling moderate amounts of feed, bedding, garden produce — you name it. We use our UTV to haul water to remote paddocks, haul firewood, tow our mobile shepherd’s hut, and set up and tear down large stretches of temporary fencing. In a pinch, we’ll use the UTV as backup when moving a few hundred sheep down the road to a remote pasture and hauling mineral and salt to the active paddocks.
Agile ATVs
The ATV is a perfect workhorse on livestock farms and sprawling ranches, where trails are narrow, the landscape is rough, and the fences are long. ATVs require more care and skill to safely operate, and they leave a light footprint with minimal compaction, except in wet soils.
For fixing fences, checking cows, catching calves, and even bringing in the flock, an ATV is an excellent choice. Like a horse, the ATV has a relatively light cargo capacity compared with a pickup truck, but it can also tow a small trailer if you need to haul a few fence posts to that remote breach.
The ATV is also the most nimble of the four-wheeled workhorses. We use ours to round up our cattle and sheep, check miles of fence, spot-spray remote weedy patches with molasses to encourage grazing, and take an occasional trip down the lane to get the mail.
UTV vs. ATV
Both the ATV and the UTV have significant recreational value in addition to the more utilitarian advantages. If you want to get away by yourself, choose an ATV. If you’re going on a picnic with your sweetie by the eagle nest in the back corner of the pasture, take a UTV.
In any case, be sure to choose the ATV or UTV that’s suited for the work you’ll need to accomplish. Many are now designed with rip-it-up recreation in mind, and while they might deliver maximum adrenaline, they’ll also deliver minimum utility. Read more machinery articles for help choosing appropriate machinery.
Purchasing an UTV or ATV for Your Farm
Once you’ve settled on what to purchase, the next step is finding a quality piece of equipment. You can often find good deals on used ATVs or UTVs if you’re willing to have a bit of patience. Check locally to see if anyone is selling one in good condition. Online marketplaces, such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, are good places to look. Ask lots of questions before purchasing anything, and don’t buy anything you haven’t seen in person. Thoroughly inspect the machine and ask to test-drive it before committing to a purchase.
If you’re in the market for a new ATV or UTV, contact a local dealer to see what’s available. Just like when buying a used machine, you’ll want to go see the equipment in person before purchasing. Test-drive it, and ask the dealer plenty of questions. You’ll be spending hard-earned money, so make sure you get exactly what you want. Many dealerships also sell used equipment. Here are a few reputable brands to check. Contact the companies to find dealers near you.
- American Landmaster 800-643-7332
- Arctic Cat 800-279-2281
- Bobcat 800-743-4340
- Can-Am 888-272-9222
- CFMOTO 763-398-2690
- Cub Cadet 877-428-2349
- Gravely 877-904-4069
- Hisun Motors 972-446-0760
- Honda Powersports 866-784-1870
- Intimidator UTV 855-307-0933
- John Deere 866-993-3373
- Kawasaki 866-802-9381
- Kioti 877-465-4684
- Kubota 888-458-2682
- KYMCO 864-327-4744
- Mahindra 877-449-7771
- Polaris 888-704-5290
- SSR Motorsports 562-926-2888
- Suzuki 714-572-1490
- Yamaha 800-962-7926
- Yanmar 770-824-9486
Oscar H. Will III raises hair sheep, heritage cattle, and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Joanna, on their rural Osage County, Kansas, farm.
Originally published as “ATV or UTV? Deciding on a Farm Vehicle” in the May/June 2023 issue of Grit magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
