Somebody please tell me why...

[deaconjim]

I've seen these things on some of the local farms and thought having one might be quite useful. I've done a little checking, and these things sell for nearly $10k.

I'm just wondering why anyone would spend that kind of money on one of these things when you can buy a pretty decent pickup with an enclosed cab, heat and air conditioning, and a fairly decent radio for less than half that amount. The pickup will haul the Mule and everything you can put in it at the same time.

Am I missing something?

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by deaconjim

Am I missing something?

Only that some folks have more money than sense.

[Alice In TX/MO]

We have one because my elderly friend wanted one. It's a MUCH less expensive model from Tractor Supply.

Honestly, I don't like it much. I'm short, and getting a sack of goat feed UP in the bed of it is difficult. It won't hold more than three sacks.

The transmission already had to be repaired.

It rides rough.

It's noisy.

I liked the used golf cart we had before MUCH better.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

We have one because my elderly friend wanted one. It's a MUCH less expensive model from Tractor Supply.

Honestly, I don't like it much. I'm short, and getting a sack of goat feed UP in the bed of it is difficult. It won't old more than three sacks.

The transmission already had to be repaired.

It rides rough.

It's noisy.

I liked the used golf cart we had before MUCH better.

Thanks for reminding me, a pickup rides better too.

[beaglebiz]

Shucks DJ, thats for the old folks!!
just buy yourself a nice new wheelbarrow

[Kris in MI]

Originally Posted by tinknal

Only that some folks have more money than sense.

I'm with tinknal and deaconjim--my dh, on the other hand thinks they are the coolest thing and bugs me about every six months to 'let' him buy a used one.

Nope. We have a small tractor that hauls deer and firewood out of the woods and plows the driveway in the winter just fine, dh does not need one of those things too.

[Allen W]

I don't know, but my bil sells them like hotcakes. His buyers trade them regularly too.

[MO_cows]

My uncle had one and used it all the time at their place down in the Ozarks. It was awd and could go places his golf cart could not. It was lighter, shorter wheelbase and narrower than a pickup so it could go places a truck wouldn't, either. They weren't as expensive when they first came out, price seems to have gone up with popularity.

[Annsni]

I'll bet they use significantly less gas than a regular car.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by beaglebiz

Shucks DJ, thats for the old folks!!
just buy yourself a nice new wheelbarrow

I am one of the old folks, but a new wheelbarrow would be welcome too.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by Annsni

I'll bet they use significantly less gas than a regular car.

I'll bet they're significantly colder when the winter wind is blowing too.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Kris in MI

I'm with tinknal and deaconjim--my dh, on the other hand thinks they are the coolest thing and bugs me about every six months to 'let' him buy a used one.

Nope. We have a small tractor that hauls deer and firewood out of the woods and plows the driveway in the winter just fine, dh does not need one of those things too.

Oh, don't get me wrong. They look like a fun little toy, just not for 10 grand. If I could find one in decent shape for $500 I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I like wheelbarrows, too. Good exercise.

[time]

My neibor has the polaris version.

They are great for full time farm and ranch. Definatly not a must have but usefull.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by time

My neibor has the polaris version.

They are great for full time farm and ranch. Definatly not a must have but usefull.

I can see where they can be useful, but what can it do that a pickup can't do better?

[Annsni]

Originally Posted by deaconjim

I can see where they can be useful, but what can it do that a pickup can't do better?

See, we use them at a girl's sleep-away camp. It's a great way to buzz from one side of the camp to the other - and has much less risk of running over someone because you can basically see everywhere. They use it to go up the smaller walking trails to carry equipment, taking the few very older staff to get around and for bringing campers' duffles and stuff to the cabins. So for camp, these and golf carts work really well.

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by deaconjim

I can see where they can be useful, but what can it do that a pickup can't do better?

I don't have one, but a friend uses two of them on a large estate, where he is groundskeeper.

They are handy to shuttle a few items back and forth. They are awesome for retrieving a shot deer from a remote location, especially when you are old and/or out of shape.

You will not drive a pickup over soft muddy ground or steep/narrow terrain, without tearing something up (either the P/U or the terrain). These vehicles handle the soft ground much better and are pretty good in woods, or hilly terrain.

They are cheaply made for what they cost, but It's a tax write off anyway for wealthy farmers, so what the hey.

It's only 10 grand.

[Ravenlost]

Hubby wants one, but I told him his riding mower can do the same exact thing since we have a cart for it. Of course, the riding mower is slower, but I don't reckon we're ever in any big hurry.

[Ross]

I bought a jeep yj to do the job. $600

[nobrabbit]

We currently have a 4 wheeler but a something like a gator would be so much more handy. In this hilly country fixing fences down in the hollers can be a royal pain. You can't get a truck to them and even with our 4 wheeler we have to make multiple trips hauling supplies. We are always on the look out for a good used one in our price range.