ATV vs UTV for Vineyards

[Robert_in_NY]

Thought about a Ranger with an aftermarket cab?

By the time you buy a Ranger and after market cab or even the Polaris cabs they offer and a few other options you start getting to the same price as the RTV1100. At that point it comes down to the Ranger having the speed and ride advantage but the RTV having a much nicer cab. I'm leaning towards the diesel option in all of them anyway so the speed advantage isn't that great.

If I go with a Ranger or XUV it will just be a roof and windshield and just make due with it. That will cut a lot of the wind down. I'm in no real hurry at this point since I'm just about at all tractor work now but I am going to start talking to the dealers and see what the prices and financing looks like as well as see if there are any good used units around here worth considering.

 

[2fast2]

Robert, I strongly suggest you consider roof, windshield, and rear "windshield" as well. It makes the XUV we have much nicer than when we just had the roof and front windshield (whether it was opened or closed.)
It blocks a lot more weather, makes it a little quieter, gives better ventilation when the front windshield is opened by blocking the back pressure, and it blocks the exhaust from coming into the cab when driving without the front windshield opened.
I could also buy the doors and have an enclosed cab, but I have no interest in that for my personal use. What I have now is great, and keeps me fairly dry in rain, too. (Depending on how heavy, crosswind, etc.)

BTW, I'm originally from Angola. Still have family there.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Robert, I strongly suggest you consider roof, windshield, and rear "windshield" as well. It makes the XUV we have much nicer than when we just had the roof and front windshield (whether it was opened or closed.)
It blocks a lot more weather, makes it a little quieter, gives better ventilation when the front windshield is opened by blocking the back pressure, and it blocks the exhaust from coming into the cab when driving without the front windshield opened.
I could also buy the doors and have an enclosed cab, but I have no interest in that for my personal use. What I have now is great, and keeps me fairly dry in rain, too. (Depending on how heavy, crosswind, etc.)

BTW, I'm originally from Angola. Still have family there.

Im going add alittle about the front windshield,my in-laws have the fixed windshield on there ranger and it gets hot setting in seat,look for the ones that you can fold down without having to just un-bolt the whole thing and take it off.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert, I strongly suggest you consider roof, windshield, and rear "windshield" as well. It makes the XUV we have much nicer than when we just had the roof and front windshield (whether it was opened or closed.)
It blocks a lot more weather, makes it a little quieter, gives better ventilation when the front windshield is opened by blocking the back pressure, and it blocks the exhaust from coming into the cab when driving without the front windshield opened.
I could also buy the doors and have an enclosed cab, but I have no interest in that for my personal use. What I have now is great, and keeps me fairly dry in rain, too. (Depending on how heavy, crosswind, etc.)

BTW, I'm originally from Angola. Still have family there.

I have been considering the rear glass also. Of course I also started weighing out if I wanted to buy the UTV before or after I purchase the mini excavator. I guess its going to come down to which ever deal comes up first as I am leaning towards used so its a case of watching for a great deal on a well cared for machine.

I can get a very low houred RTV1100 for the price of a Ranger or XUV with front windshield and roof and a couple other small options to bring it to where I need it so thats where I am sitting right now, I can't justify new price on the 1100 but if I can get one with only a couple hundred easy hours on it for the price of a new Ranger or XUV then I am leaning towards the 1100. So its just going to come down to which ever unit shows up first that I like on the used market will most likely be added to my farm:laughing:

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Im going add alittle about the front windshield,my in-laws have the fixed windshield on there ranger and it gets hot setting in seat,look for the ones that you can fold down without having to just un-bolt the whole thing and take it off.

I was looking at the front window options for the Ranger and they have the split windows for ventilation. What I have actually been looking for though was actual glass and not a plastic based window. Running in the vineyards where the vines will be hitting the front window is what concerns me. I can see glass handling the abuse a lot better then any plastic on the market currently.

 

[cdaigle430]

Looking for something a little faster than the BX2660 to do vineyard irritation/ fruit inspections and trellis maintenance, as well as help with harvest, when we'd need 4WD to haul bin trailers.

Have 6 vineyards in a 5 mile radius, so "slow ag vehicle" on road is a possibility, but more likely trailered between. All current vineyards are flat, but bid on a hillside and likely to get them later.

I'm 55, 5'10, 240lbs, wife a bit older, shorter and lighter.

Currently leaning towards the Deere XUV 625i for 1000lbs hauling (full pick bin of grapes) while towing 1500 lbs (trailer with another full pick bin).

UTV Alternatives are:
Kubota RTV 900XXT for Diesel and Hydro with Hydraulic opt
Club Car XRT1550

ATV alternatives are Honda Rancher/Foreman series

Anybody using these in similar terrain/work load?

If you decide on the ATV, my recommendation would be the Honda Rubicon-excellent choice as a work horse and fun to play with as well.

 

[LightheartCellars]

the RTV 900 gets delivered Thursday, with the Turn & Hazards and Hydraulic dump bed.

What are the "must have" accessories for using as described above?

thinking we need to figure out sun/rain protection, which can be fabric/plastic/metal top, and probably some sort of windshield as well. See a lot of choices, but no clear idea of what would be best.

Some type of toolbox for small hand tools, perhaps under front hood and gear grippers for Weedwhacker etc, which may be best mounted on front hood rack.

Will put on work lights when we figure out windshield/top for night operations in vineyard including picking and getting on/off trailer.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I would want a glass front window and if your going to use it in your vineyard I am afraid the vines will scratch up any poly based window.

If I was to buy an RTV 900 I would just buy it with the roof and window direct from Kubota. Storage is one thing I would definitely want lots of, I think Kubota had a storage compartment you can buy to put in under the hood to make it into a useable storage spot. There are also small tool boxes for the beds like you would put in a regular truck if you have a lot of small tools you plan to carry often.

What I do is use a small grape box and keep tools in them for particular tasks. That way if I need to fix wires I have everything in one box, to put up posted signs are in another box and so on so forth. This way if I am using my truck, tractor or even a future utility vehicle I can just load what I need very easily. As far as in the machine I would have a few staples, fence pliers, tie string and good gloves.

 

[LightheartCellars]

Wow...

Wife has really taken to the RTV900, I may never get to drive it again

Thinking I'll fabricate a Pressure Treated Plywood bed insert that has front/side extensions to enable more lightweight stuff to be piled in bed, with a dump gate so we can move stems and pomace (residual grapes after pressing) out to the vineyard for re-incorporation.

Looking at where to mount an inverter to provide < 10A 110V power for occasional usage (rather not have one sliding around on seat) enabling use of "real" tools rather than cordless on bigger jobs.

 

[dfkrug]

the RTV 900 gets delivered Thursday, with the Turn & Hazards and Hydraulic dump bed.

Good luck with the new Kubota, Sheldon. Everyone seems to like the
hydraulic dump bed. Kubota also now has a CVT for the RTV.

As you may already know, most of the grape harvesting in the Bay Area
is done with tractors (mostly Kubotas) pulling trailers. Many utilize the
harvest rental programs where they use new machines and return them
to the dealers after harvest.

Recently, I repaired an ATV for a company that manages small vinyards
in the Saratoga & Los Gatos area of the Santa Cruz Mtn foothills, and
I was surprised by their use of a mid-size 4x4 280cc Suzuki King Quad.
They said that the narrow vine spacing and hillsides made it a better
tool than a tractor. It had super-low ranges and switchable 4x4.