I'm interested in buying a UTV of some type for the following activities on a 100 acre woodlot in NH. Many of the logging roads on the property are too rocky and rutted to allow me to use my 6x4 Gator as it gets hung up on the pan. The 6x4 also is useless in any snow what so ever even with chains. Here is what I'm looking to do.
1. During spring, summer and fall: haul my hand held saw mill and guide beams into the woods to turn smaller logs into lumber. The mill and beams fit easily in my current Gator bed so something about 4' x 4' is acceptable.
2. Occasionally use a winch to move logs and other heavy materials around. I have a Warn hitch on the 6x4 that works okay but I'll equip the new one with one of larger capacity.
3. Do any of the current UTVs work adequately in snow that is more than 6 inches deep? I have a JD garden tractor with a 4' two-stage snow thrower but I'm getting tired of freezing you know what off during storms. I need either the snow thrower or a blade to clear about 150' of drive and parking area (gravel). I don't need a plow truck (been there - done that) as the drive is too narrow and I need to push things back and up high. I have a NH 1710 with a plow blade to use in real emergencies. I know the UTVs don't have a PTO to run a snow thrower but I could probably get by with a blade for much of the winter.
4. General hauling of firewood, gardening things, brush, etc.
I've been looking at the JD XUV as a replacement but I'm confused at the differences between it and the HPX (is it just the rear suspension? - I haven't been to my local dealer yet - tending a sick wife). I've also thought about buying a used ATV and equipping it with some kind of cargo box but I never have good luck with used equipment like that so I'm thinking new. The RTV sounds nice but I'm not sure I want to deal with the problems I see reported. I looked at the Kawasaki Mule once and was not impressed and didn't like the dealer either. The JD dealer is okay - I've purchased from them before. Any other recommendations out there would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
1. During spring, summer and fall: haul my hand held saw mill and guide beams into the woods to turn smaller logs into lumber. The mill and beams fit easily in my current Gator bed so something about 4' x 4' is acceptable.
2. Occasionally use a winch to move logs and other heavy materials around. I have a Warn hitch on the 6x4 that works okay but I'll equip the new one with one of larger capacity.
3. Do any of the current UTVs work adequately in snow that is more than 6 inches deep? I have a JD garden tractor with a 4' two-stage snow thrower but I'm getting tired of freezing you know what off during storms. I need either the snow thrower or a blade to clear about 150' of drive and parking area (gravel). I don't need a plow truck (been there - done that) as the drive is too narrow and I need to push things back and up high. I have a NH 1710 with a plow blade to use in real emergencies. I know the UTVs don't have a PTO to run a snow thrower but I could probably get by with a blade for much of the winter.
4. General hauling of firewood, gardening things, brush, etc.
I've been looking at the JD XUV as a replacement but I'm confused at the differences between it and the HPX (is it just the rear suspension? - I haven't been to my local dealer yet - tending a sick wife). I've also thought about buying a used ATV and equipping it with some kind of cargo box but I never have good luck with used equipment like that so I'm thinking new. The RTV sounds nice but I'm not sure I want to deal with the problems I see reported. I looked at the Kawasaki Mule once and was not impressed and didn't like the dealer either. The JD dealer is okay - I've purchased from them before. Any other recommendations out there would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
