plowing with an atv/utv

[txcwgrlmom]

I saw a plow for the utv that had decent reviews for about $250. I was thinking this would be nice for a garden and tilling up a couple of acres for rye grass. Has anyone used one? Comments and suggestions welcome.by the way I am using my kubota rtv 500. Thank you.

 

[RickB]

Sounds like a prime way to trash a UTV driveline.
Just because it seemed like a good idea to build and sell such an item doesn't mean it is a good idea to buy it and use it.

 

[Martian]

I've never heard of something like that. Heard of snow plowing, but not garden plowing with a UTV. Do you have a link or pictures? Not sure I would try it, but if a UTV is all you got, then it might be worth a shot. If you have a tractor, they are definitely a better option.

 

[KentT]

There's no way that I would ever try to use a garden plow with my UTV. It is simply geared too high, even in Low Range, to pull hard at low speeds....

I even question how well the food plot discs would work, without running over it a dozen times (packing it back down on each pass) because of the higher ground speed....

 

[txcwgrlmom]

Go to amazon.com and type in tiller to see different models for utv,s and atv's.
. How will this trash a drive line if the utv will pull a 1,000 lb pay load? I am just trying to figure this out. Thank you.

 

[timswi]

Go to amazon.com and type in tiller to see different models for utv,s and atv's.
. How will this trash a drive line if the utv will pull a 1,000 lb pay load? I am just trying to figure this out. Thank you.

Pulling a tiller doesn't really stress the machine beyond what it was designed for....Some non-powered impliments certainly will depending on the UTV..An RTV500 is a very good machine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to beat it senseless.

I used a plow on an RTV500 to move snow (excellent) and some loose material but not for ground work. Wouldn't try that with my RTV1100 either...We're just giving the warnings.

 

[RickB]

Go to amazon.com and type in tiller to see different models for utv,s and atv's.
. How will this trash a drive line if the utv will pull a 1,000 lb pay load? I am just trying to figure this out. Thank you.

The question was about a plow, not a tiller. UTV's aren't designed for high draft loads, and probably won't stand up to the demands of a moldboard plow. Not quite like pulling a half ton on a cart.

 

[KentT]

ATVs/UTVs are simply not designed to pull hard for extended periods of time, at 1-2 MPH, which is the speed you need to be working at when pulling EITHER a plow or a tiller...

They'll pull hard at 5-10 MPH, for long periods of time, perhaps, but not at 1-2 MPH...

They'd likely overheat, and it certainly can't be good for their transmissions, regardless of what type of transmission they have. ATVs and UTVs have high-RPM engines, in comparison to tractors. They like to run at 3500-4000 RPM or higher, not work all day at 1600-2000 RPM...

 

[timswi]

ATVs/UTVs are simply not designed to pull hard for extended periods of time, at 1-2 MPH, which is the speed you need to be working at when pulling EITHER a plow or a tiller...

They'll pull hard at 5-10 MPH, for long periods of time, perhaps, but not at 1-2 MPH...

They'd likely overheat, and it certainly can't be good for their transmissions, regardless of what type of transmission they have. ATVs and UTVs have high-RPM engines, in comparison to tractors. They like to run at 3500-4000 RPM or higher, not work all day at 1600-2000 RPM...

I was thinking under an hour with a tiller..Your right, an extended run woud be tough on the machine...A run of the mill garden or a small lawn repair would be OK...not 10 acres of tilling with a UTV.

 

[Alan L.]

I saw a plow for the utv that had decent reviews for about $250. I was thinking this would be nice for a garden and tilling up a couple of acres for rye grass. Has anyone used one? Comments and suggestions welcome.by the way I am using my kubota rtv 500. Thank you.

I'm sure there are stronger UTVs out there but our little Mule 550 won't pull my drag, no way it would pull a plow.

 

[MHarryE]

Not sure about your RTV 500 but I wouldn't be afraid to do some limited work with my RTV 900. My former Polaris- forget it. It was a light duty hauler, not a farm workhorse.

 

[KentT]

Not sure about your RTV 500 but I wouldn't be afraid to do some limited work with my RTV 900. My former Polaris- forget it. It was a light duty hauler, not a farm workhorse.

Similarly, I am not familiar with the Kubota RTV's, but there's no way I'd try it with my Rhino 450 (which is geared lower than the 660 or 700).

My experience is from growing up on a farm long ago, and from using garden tractors. For example, until Gravely came out with the Swiftomatic 2-speed gearbox, they offered speed reduction hubs to slow a "mowing tractor" down enough to use ground engaging attachments. Similarly Simplicity/Allis-Chalmers offered speed reduction pulleys for the transmissions, until they started offering variable speeds (i.e. sheaves) and hydrostat transmissions. Most mowing with tractors is done at about 3MPH (plus or minus), while most ground engaging work is done at about 1 MPH (plus or minus). Only ZTRs and professional landscape mowers (with faster legal blade speeds, BTW), get that mowing speed up over 5 MPH...

Ground engaging work is done quite slowly... and IMO, utility vehicles simply aren't designed to work at that speed, even if they are the pure utility type (governed to 25 MPH or less, like Mules, RTVs, etc.), or the utility/recreation type (like the Rhino or Polaris) that may not be governed so slow...

 

[plumbstraight]

While out in the boondocks of Alaska there was a moose hunting party that had some atv's and a utv. They had a tandem axle trailer in tow behind the utv. I admit, some of that country is hard pulling a trailer, but the forward rear axle takes the torque of the rear most axle too as the drive shaft is common to both.

Bottom line, the forward axle was ripped right out of the frame. I was surprised at how thin the metal was in the frame. These are just made for light pulling at best or hauling a light load.

Being broken down 20mi from nowhere is not a good feeling.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Only ZTRs and professional landscape mowers (with faster legal blade speeds, BTW), get that mowing speed up over 5 MPH...

I would not be too sure of that...

 

[jeff9366]

I pull a 4'6" wide ABI Gravel Rascal behind my RTV500 (LOW range/4-WD engaged) quite often, maintaining trails and firebreaks, with no problems. I live in Florida so I am pulling over flat ground, in sandy-loam with NO rocks. RTV500 pulls the Rascal, cousin to a chisel plow with the tines down and rake up, fine. I credit the hydrostatic transmission plus 4-wheel drive. Rarely lever-lock the differential.

ATV Driveway Graders - Gravel Rascalｮ - ABI Attachments

 

[MHarryE]

Similarly, I am not familiar with the Kubota RTV's, but there's no way I'd try it with my Rhino 450 (which is geared lower than the 660 or 700).

My experience is from growing up on a farm long ago, and from using garden tractors. For example, until Gravely came out with the Swiftomatic 2-speed gearbox, they offered speed reduction hubs to slow a "mowing tractor" down enough to use ground engaging attachments. Similarly Simplicity/Allis-Chalmers offered speed reduction pulleys for the transmissions, until they started offering variable speeds (i.e. sheaves) and hydrostat transmissions. Most mowing with tractors is done at about 3MPH (plus or minus), while most ground engaging work is done at about 1 MPH (plus or minus). Only ZTRs and professional landscape mowers (with faster legal blade speeds, BTW), get that mowing speed up over 5 MPH...

Ground engaging work is done quite slowly... and IMO, utility vehicles simply aren't designed to work at that speed, even if they are the pure utility type (governed to 25 MPH or less, like Mules, RTVs, etc.), or the utility/recreation type (like the Rhino or Polaris) that may not be governed so slow...

I must be doing something way wrong because I plow at 5 - 7 mph with our JD 7730. Sure the RTV isn't going to pull a load like that but she is talking about a small plow made for light use in this class machine.

 

[KentT]

I must be doing something way wrong because I plow at 5 - 7 mph with our JD 7730. Sure the RTV isn't going to pull a load like that but she is talking about a small plow made for light use in this class machine.

Using a machine designed for plowing, that weights many, many, many times as much and has many, many, many times as much HP ... just like a commercial ZTR is designed for mowing at high speeds...

I'm talking about my experience pulling a single 8" or 10" turning plow using machines with similar HP of her RTV that were designed to pull such a plow...

I simply stated my opinion, making my recommendation (and trying to explain why) owning a different UTV. She can choose to do whatever she'd like -- I just hope it doesn't damage her RTV, nor invalidate the warranty should she have problems.

 

[j250trxr]

Just a small area but my 800 pulles a 14" single pretty good!