atv and utv year-around use (and in snow)

[deserteagle71]

A full cord of some of the better hardwood firewood species I regularly haul can easily exceed 5000 lbs (some will sometimes exceed 6000 lbs). You're towing that, plus a trailer heavy enough to carry that load with an ATV rated for 1300 lbs?

No wonder you burned out a belt. I hope you were at least operating on flat ground.

Cord of juniper wood around here weighs ~ 2700 lbs. Yes, on flat ground. But I actually burned the belt when trying to back the loaded trailer under a roof the John Deere wouldn't fit under. Reverse was geared way too high for that. Pulling forward using Lo Range was no problem.

 

[jjeff]

A hitch off the front would be handy in my experience. A front hitch definitely was one of the best things I hacked together.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Well my redneck sxs is not only hauling logs, trailers, plowing, tool caddy(ing), gas runs, running buzz saw or post hole digger it is now a temporary residence.

Glad to see I'm not the only one using a Jeep for what they were originally made for.

Okay, mine wasn't, but after converting it to 4WD it does quite good.

 

[ArlyA]

Our ATV again at work today.

 

[John_Mc]

Cord of juniper wood around here weighs ~ 2700 lbs. Yes, on flat ground. But I actually burned the belt when trying to back the loaded trailer under a roof the John Deere wouldn't fit under. Reverse was geared way too high for that. Pulling forward using Lo Range was no problem.

At 2700 lbs, I'm guessing that cord of Juniper must have already been dry? When green, it ought to be around ~4800 lbs.

 

[deserteagle71]

At 2700 lbs, I'm guessing that cord of Juniper must have already been dry? When green, it ought to be around ~4800 lbs.

Dry and scorched...by a wildfire. In Nevada generally the only permit to cut firewood you can get is for areas that wildfire has burned. Love the stuff...burns really hot and the smell (juniper is a variety of cedar) is wonderful.

Unfortunately even permits for dead and down are now difficult to get so I've gone to a pellet stove.

 

[ArlyA]

Exactly. Pulling ground engagement stuff has got to be hard on the drivetrain. Don't think they are engineered to handle that much constant strain. I burned out a belt on my Kodiak by pulling a full cord of wood on a trailer.

I assume you used low range? We used Grizzly's and Kodiak's for years and with pretty good luck... Note, these machines have CVT belt that are tensioned at all times because it also has a wet clutch. Most atv's and utv's use this setup todat. We replaced belts yearly.

 

[deserteagle71]

I assume you used low range? We used Grizzly's and Kodiak's for years and with pretty good luck.

Yes. There was no problem pulling the trailer going forward in Lo Range. It's when I began pushing the trailer backwards with the transmission in Reverse that I could smell the belt burning. Reverse is geared a lot higher than Lo Range.

Which is engineering I just don't understand. Who needs a Reverse gear that will allow you to go 20 mph or more backwards? Who needs that? Reverse should be a creeper gear!

My Jeep (6 speed manual) has the same problem. Reverse is so high geared that I either have to shift into Lo range or slip the clutch.

 

[Eagle1]

Yes. There was no problem pulling the trailer going forward in Lo Range. It's when I began pushing the trailer backwards with the transmission in Reverse that I could smell the belt burning. Reverse is geared a lot higher than Lo Range.

Which is engineering I just don't understand. Who needs a Reverse gear that will allow you to go 20 mph or more backwards? Who needs that? Reverse should be a creeper gear!

My Jeep (6 speed manual) has the same problem. Reverse is so high geared that I either have to shift into Lo range or slip the clutch.

Sometimes you have to cut off a cow in reverse..... then it ain't geared high enough....
I did like the system that kept it slow unless you held the override button for full power.