Docsknotinn
Veteran Member
Try putting up a high voltage fence with a sign that clearly says "Dont touch this " /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Dave
Problems with 4 wheelers.....
- Thread starter Junkman
- Start date
- Views: 3162
We have a cabin in the mountains of NC in an old development with private roads. Many of the lots are unbuildable, and since the 1972 development date, ours is the only cabin on a loop road about 1/2 mile long. Our cabin is in the middle. The former owners maintained only one end for access (and we continue to do so), but when we purchased the cabin about 16 years ago, the other end was still passable.
We had lots of traffic (well, by relative standards - sometimes as much as 2 vehicles per day!) and problems with 4 wheelers. Over time, the "other" half of the road started to decline. As it did, traffic slowed to a trickle (2 vehicles per week /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).
Then, we got a motor home, and there is no room at our cabin to make a 3 point turn with a large vehicle and go back by the entrance road. I wanted to bring the "other" end of the road back up to some semblance of maintenance so we could go straight through, but the CFO vetoed the idea by pointing out how much nicer it was that we had less traffic. So, in the rare instances when we take the RV to the cabin (it doesn't make much sense to drive a house to a house; this situation only comes up if we are "passing through"), we either park it at the top of the hill and walk in, or drive the "dingy" if we have one with us.
Since then, the road has washed out with deep ruts, there are a couple of fallen trees, and traffic is non-existent. It's great. The road is passable on foot, so it has become part of our regular "nature walk". There are miles of such roads in this development, which was orginally platted for almost 1,000 lots but only has about 150 cabins.
Anyway, the point is, nature can be your friend. Some of the fallen trees on that road had a little help (OK, maybe all of them... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif ). Something, maybe a large flat rock, seems to be blocking a culvert under the road, also, causing the washout ruts... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
We had lots of traffic (well, by relative standards - sometimes as much as 2 vehicles per day!) and problems with 4 wheelers. Over time, the "other" half of the road started to decline. As it did, traffic slowed to a trickle (2 vehicles per week /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).
Then, we got a motor home, and there is no room at our cabin to make a 3 point turn with a large vehicle and go back by the entrance road. I wanted to bring the "other" end of the road back up to some semblance of maintenance so we could go straight through, but the CFO vetoed the idea by pointing out how much nicer it was that we had less traffic. So, in the rare instances when we take the RV to the cabin (it doesn't make much sense to drive a house to a house; this situation only comes up if we are "passing through"), we either park it at the top of the hill and walk in, or drive the "dingy" if we have one with us.
Since then, the road has washed out with deep ruts, there are a couple of fallen trees, and traffic is non-existent. It's great. The road is passable on foot, so it has become part of our regular "nature walk". There are miles of such roads in this development, which was orginally platted for almost 1,000 lots but only has about 150 cabins.
Anyway, the point is, nature can be your friend. Some of the fallen trees on that road had a little help (OK, maybe all of them... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif ). Something, maybe a large flat rock, seems to be blocking a culvert under the road, also, causing the washout ruts... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Attachments
Junkman,
I had problem with 4 wheelers on a trail that cuts through my small property. Over the years I have been carting brush to close it off. Now that I have a tractor it is quite a big brush pile.
In NH if some one is trespassing on your property and gets hurt they can sue you. Great legal system we have. If you sign on with state and give 4 wheelers and snowmobiles permission the state will give you 1 million liability insurance. Certainly an incentive though it seems bass-ackwards. I opted out after a year. Snowmobilers were nice and respectful. 4 wheelers seemed bent on causing environmental damage.
Anyway the big brush pile helps a lot.
Good luck.
I had problem with 4 wheelers on a trail that cuts through my small property. Over the years I have been carting brush to close it off. Now that I have a tractor it is quite a big brush pile.
In NH if some one is trespassing on your property and gets hurt they can sue you. Great legal system we have. If you sign on with state and give 4 wheelers and snowmobiles permission the state will give you 1 million liability insurance. Certainly an incentive though it seems bass-ackwards. I opted out after a year. Snowmobilers were nice and respectful. 4 wheelers seemed bent on causing environmental damage.
Anyway the big brush pile helps a lot.
Good luck.
Docsknotinn
Veteran Member
Good Grief that is totally Bass ackwards ! Cant you even limit your liability by posting your property ? A million dollar umbrella policy here is about $150 a year and we have very high insurance costs. I have heard of similar type suits here but I honestly have no idea if they are urban myth or not. Especially the one about the bow hunter that was tresspassing on well posted proprty, fell out his tree stand and sued /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Dave
Dave
Dave,
I was approached by the local snowmobile club when I brought this place. They asked permission to use the trail and showed me the form and the insurance rider. The emphasis was on how this was a win/win for me and the state. I get the insurance and the state gets to keep open trails. Snowmobilers bring big money into the state. I signed for one year as a trial. I posted the land but had given written permission to the snowmobile club so they were allowed on the trail
The suing a property owner was mentioned by the snow mobile club but there was nothing negative like that in the paperwork.
The snowmobilers were great. I never had any trouble with any of them. It was the 4 wheelers and their antics that led me to shut down the trail. I felt bad for the snowmobilers when I did but they accepted it - especially when I told them why. Seems they hear a lot of that.
Phil
I was approached by the local snowmobile club when I brought this place. They asked permission to use the trail and showed me the form and the insurance rider. The emphasis was on how this was a win/win for me and the state. I get the insurance and the state gets to keep open trails. Snowmobilers bring big money into the state. I signed for one year as a trial. I posted the land but had given written permission to the snowmobile club so they were allowed on the trail
The suing a property owner was mentioned by the snow mobile club but there was nothing negative like that in the paperwork.
The snowmobilers were great. I never had any trouble with any of them. It was the 4 wheelers and their antics that led me to shut down the trail. I felt bad for the snowmobilers when I did but they accepted it - especially when I told them why. Seems they hear a lot of that.
Phil
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Junkman,
I''ll ad my list of things to try.
Get the owners of the other parcels to agree to a gate across
the road. You can get combination locks that allow you to set
the numbers. Make it easy so everyone can remember the
combination.
For the logging trails. Put up brush and timber to block access.
I always have brush and timber. I saw two more big trees
down this weekend. I don't remember us getting a storm that
could have brought down those trees but they are on the
ground. I always have brush and timber to use.
Check out your state laws. In NC a citizen can get a warrent
for misdemeanor offenses. If you can do this in your state
and find out who is trespassing then its warrent time.
Post your land. At least in NC it limits liability.
DONT put up cables that would hurt the riders. We had a case
a year or so ago where a landowner had ATVers tresspassing
his land. He put up a cable with a no trespass sign. The riders
did not see it at dusk and one of them was killed. No criminal
charges where filed and I never did hear of a civil suit which
really suprised me.
I had one ATVer trespass after a snow strom one year. I had
gone out to check on things and take pictures. Figured it would
make a good Xmass card. The ATVer had driver around my
gate, over some survey stakes and drove all over the place.
Ruined the picture. I was not a happy camper. From his boot
prints you could see he had gotten off the ATV, walked around,
thought about what he was doing and then decided to go
around the gate and ignore the four posted signs.
I followed his tracks home and got his parents out of bed. We
had a long, and for them, cold conversation on their front porch.
He has not been a problem since then. Thankfully.
Good luck with these people.
Dan McCarty
I''ll ad my list of things to try.
Get the owners of the other parcels to agree to a gate across
the road. You can get combination locks that allow you to set
the numbers. Make it easy so everyone can remember the
combination.
For the logging trails. Put up brush and timber to block access.
I always have brush and timber. I saw two more big trees
down this weekend. I don't remember us getting a storm that
could have brought down those trees but they are on the
ground. I always have brush and timber to use.
Check out your state laws. In NC a citizen can get a warrent
for misdemeanor offenses. If you can do this in your state
and find out who is trespassing then its warrent time.
Post your land. At least in NC it limits liability.
DONT put up cables that would hurt the riders. We had a case
a year or so ago where a landowner had ATVers tresspassing
his land. He put up a cable with a no trespass sign. The riders
did not see it at dusk and one of them was killed. No criminal
charges where filed and I never did hear of a civil suit which
really suprised me.
I had one ATVer trespass after a snow strom one year. I had
gone out to check on things and take pictures. Figured it would
make a good Xmass card. The ATVer had driver around my
gate, over some survey stakes and drove all over the place.
Ruined the picture. I was not a happy camper. From his boot
prints you could see he had gotten off the ATV, walked around,
thought about what he was doing and then decided to go
around the gate and ignore the four posted signs.
I followed his tracks home and got his parents out of bed. We
had a long, and for them, cold conversation on their front porch.
He has not been a problem since then. Thankfully.
Good luck with these people.
Dan McCarty
Thanks for the gate suggestion, but the land owner one lot up across from me is one of the problems..... he isn't a ATV rider, but he is constantly trying to improve the road even though he never does anything on his land and hasn't for the 30+ years that he has owned it. There is a bridge that crosses the stream and after it fell in, he spent a few weeks rebuilding it for no good reason. He also complains about the kids leaving beer bottles on his property, but doesn't help to keep them out. I will try the brush, but it will probably be removed by this fellow as soon as he sees it..... thanks...
rozett
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2002
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- 730
- Location
- Maine
- Tractor
- Cub Cadet 7360SS & Craftsman GT3000 23 HP w/50
As Dan has said.... learn exactly what the laws are in your state. Then use them to your advantage. Yes, it is difficult to get the authorities to respond quickly, but be persistent!
We have horses. In N.H., the law requires that they move off the trail and shut down their motors until you pass. Unfortunately, the same is not true in Maine. But in Maine, they are required to have the landowners permission to travel on private land and they are required to stop and identify themselves if requested by the landowner.
Posting of land is an option that is working to the landowner's advantage here in Maine. The ATV'ers are being excluded from more and more land. Now they are beginning to organize in an effort to self-police, that same way the snow mobilers did 10 years ago. I permit the local snow mobilers to travel 1/2 mile of trail through our land, but block it off to other motorized vehicles. I had problems with the ATVers tearing down the brush/tree barriers that I put up (especially the remote rear of the property). I finally resorted to pushing the largest boulders that my 36-hp tractor could move onto the trail. But I have to go back and remove them once the snow flies. I always nailed a POSTED sign to the barrier, knowing that it is a felony (not a measly misdemeanor) to remove those signs (and therefore the barrier they are attached to. But, you've got to catch them or their tag number...if they bothered to get one.)
Another advantage here in Maine is that as a landowner, I am not liable if they are hurt or worse. While I can not set up traps, I am not required to make it safe for them to violate my property rights.
We have horses. In N.H., the law requires that they move off the trail and shut down their motors until you pass. Unfortunately, the same is not true in Maine. But in Maine, they are required to have the landowners permission to travel on private land and they are required to stop and identify themselves if requested by the landowner.
Posting of land is an option that is working to the landowner's advantage here in Maine. The ATV'ers are being excluded from more and more land. Now they are beginning to organize in an effort to self-police, that same way the snow mobilers did 10 years ago. I permit the local snow mobilers to travel 1/2 mile of trail through our land, but block it off to other motorized vehicles. I had problems with the ATVers tearing down the brush/tree barriers that I put up (especially the remote rear of the property). I finally resorted to pushing the largest boulders that my 36-hp tractor could move onto the trail. But I have to go back and remove them once the snow flies. I always nailed a POSTED sign to the barrier, knowing that it is a felony (not a measly misdemeanor) to remove those signs (and therefore the barrier they are attached to. But, you've got to catch them or their tag number...if they bothered to get one.)
Another advantage here in Maine is that as a landowner, I am not liable if they are hurt or worse. While I can not set up traps, I am not required to make it safe for them to violate my property rights.
Docsknotinn
Veteran Member
I remember reading once how Strikeing workers would plant "tomatoe seeds " ( Long Tacks) in the road so all the scabs would get flats. Knot That I would ever suggest such a thing /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Unles you neighbor has a tractor that boulder idea sounds just about right. Dave
Taylortractornut
Elite Member
- Joined
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- 2,770
- Location
- Iuka Mississippi USA
- Tractor
- 3550 Fard Backhoe and a 1948 Farmall Cub,
If I Find an ATVer injured on the property and he mentions suing Id probably have to take him out back and bury him with the backhoe lol. I had a friend almost lose his 150 acre farm over some kids and adults that ran through a 50 year old barbed wire fence. They were there chasing his goats on atvs. When my friend wentto help they told him right up front his A$$ was sued. His insurance helped and he had to have 6 witnesses saying he had it properly posted. I think his insurance paid 1 million and he got it thrown out.
