aorund the farm transportation, that has wheels not legs...

[gwithrow]

we are looking for an 'around the farm' vehicle...one that can carry fencing equipment,a couple of people and something that can handle hills and muddy spots...though if it doesn't rain again soon, mud may not be an issue....

we have about 70 acres, not all immediately around the house...and we don't want to drive a heavy truck on any pastures if not necessary to say nothing of not using unnecessary fuel......seems a bit much to take the f250 to carry a couple of T posts out to do a fence repair....

new is great, but probably not in the budget......not probably, for sure not in the budget......so I am looking for ideas....anyone have a geo tracker for this purpose? or a gator type vehicle...though those even seem to be more costly that we want.....we have a neighbor that has a gator, seems great, but like I said to get one in good shape I think would cost more than we have to spend....so I am looking for ideas here...

[braggscowboy]

I have a Rhino, love it, use it a great deal on my place. Did this morning. Drove it to spot spray with 15 gal. tank. Works great, haul wood, fencing, and about anything that will fit in it. SIL has Gator, will not start where the Rhino goes. It does well on flat clean ground, but has limitations, such as the Rhino in the brush when turning. Love it! I am an old man and do not drive crazy like some. Does a good job and it also has a dump bed, likle the most of them. Any of the side by side would work great. 4X4, needed from time to time. Hauls deer really well also.

[Darren]

Look for an old Bronco II for around $500.

[mtnviewfarms]

We LOVE Jeeps and when I needed a newer one with lower miles for long range travel
we kept our 1992 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 to use around the farm and to get around in the
snow. You could probably pick an old one up fairly cheaply. The 'straight six' engine
in these old model Jeeps is nearly indestructable as long as the owner has kept the oil
changed regularly.

[Parttimefarmer]

We also have a Rhino. You can run through our bog, carry stuff, tow. We added a front winch & plow. It came with (from previous owner) back winch to haul deer and firewood, roof, half doors & windshield. The back is a dump bed & it has two roomy seats with belts. This makes my dad very functional, he's in his 70's with COPD and it allows him to do everything he couldn't walk to do.

It treads lightly in mud if you drive slow and act sane, but you can dig a trench in a bog if you start having too much fun.

[bja105]

I have a riding lawn mower with a 4x6 cart. The tractor doesn't get great traction with a load on steep hills or wet grass, but I do fine with it. I use it to run electric fence, haul firewood, haul kids and guests, and cut the grass. My 9 year old drives it, too.


We also have a pony that is nominally trained to drive, but he would debate that.

[salmonslayer]

We use a variety of things. The Mrs has an old Sears Suburban GT with a dump cart she uses around the barnyard, we have a gas golf cart that is pretty handy, I mostly use a Suzuki Ozark 250 4 Wheeler with front basket (and we have a trailer we tow), and we have an old Ford Explorer that cant pass inspection so we use it as a pasture bomber.

Having all of that let me say what I really want is a Rhino!!!

[Wisconsin Ann]

You can often find older riding mowers that have a hitch and can go over some rougher terrain.

An old Bronco would be excellent, I'd think, provided it had good mechanics/engine. (or YOU have good mechanical skills) or alternately, a small 4wd pickup.

Most of the farms around here have 4wheel ATVs. Those things can go anywhere and pull a trailer. pricey, but useful.

Small older tractors are my personal choice to have on any farm. They can get in and out, and if you find a 4WD you can get around through almost anything

[fantasymaker]

we had a steel pallet on a three point hitch setup great with a fast hitch on a tracor

[CesumPec]

OK, this might be a bit of thread drift, but it might help the OP. Electric, gas, or diesel, which do you prefer?

I'm looking at diesel just because I want to have all the farm equipment using the same fuel. I can set a 100 to 200 gal tank on a pallet, set it on the flat bed truck and get it filled as needed. I don't mind a noisy diesel truck and tractor at all, but the noise from cart is somewhat of a concern. I tried an electric cart out and it sure was nice and quiet for working around animals.

[rancher1913]

we bought a kubota utv for just the same stuff. goes through the wetlands and has great hauling capacity. main draw back is speed it only does maby 20 mph tops. we got it on sale new--it had been sitting on the dealers lot for over a year and they wanted it gone--ours is the 500 model and everyone wants the 1100 model. to top it off kubota had 0% financing with no down payment. so for a hundred bucks a month we have a great chore vehical.

[time]

look for one of these mini trucks.



This one is a Subaru ----- but there are different Makes and Models out there.

4X4, 5speed manual with extra low gear. Can take ATV tires for better offroad traction.

[gwithrow]

I love the mini truck....I guess I should have said that either gas or diesel will do...we have a small tractor.....but to zip over to the farthest field is about a quarter of a mile...the tractor is really slow....so maybe I don't have to 'zip', but something smaller would be nice, also weightwise, I would like to not put tire tracks on any fields...''

we have the f250, as well as a 76 chevy pickup....which is just so heavy and uses a lot of gas to just go about and check fence lines and waterers....I am thinking of selling the chevy and getting something more suited to line checking and fence repairs....most around here use a 4 wheeler, but it will only take one person....grandpa doesn't want to ride on the back!!.....

I love the rhino but I think it might be pricey for us.....the kubota would also be great, but would have tofind just the right deal....we have a riding mower but I think it would not do as well going the distances and up and down the hills....

I am watching the local ads and will see if anything turns up not too far away, I am not mechanical, so anything used should be in pretty good condition....is there anything I should really be concerned about in a used rhino or kubota?

[vallyfarm]

Old Jeep CJ's are hard to beat. Cheap to buy, parts are cheap, and can be rebuilt with a 9/16th wrench and a #2 phillips screwdriver. Mike

[Parttimefarmer]

Originally Posted by gwithrow

I love the rhino but I think it might be pricey for us.....the kubota would also be great, but would have to find just the right deal....we have a riding mower but I think it would not do as well going the distances and up and down the hills....

I am watching the local ads and will see if anything turns up not too far away, I am not mechanical, so anything used should be in pretty good condition....is there anything I should really be concerned about in a used rhino or kubota?

Our Rhino is an '06. We bought it this year with 60 hours, for about half the cost of new.

The Rhino had a recall/service order to reduce roll-over risk. If it's older, get the VIN and ask if they got it fixed. Call a dealer with the VIN if they aren't sure or you don't think you can tell.

[canfossi]

Why don't you buy a used 4 wheeler and put a small trailer behind it. You could even build a trailer. Chris

[mightybooboo]

Depending on land electric golf carts have a lot going for them price wise,can use knobby tires too.

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by vallyfarm

Old Jeep CJ's are hard to beat. Cheap to buy, parts are cheap, and can be rebuilt with a 9/16th wrench and a #2 phillips screwdriver. Mike

My vote for an old CJ too. I see old CJ-2A's in the 600-1200 dollar range that are running and driving. They are really light for a 4x4, right around 2100 pounds. I'd then put some wide low pressure off-road tires on it. It'll be road legal plus it won't be too hard on the land.

[gwithrow]

I think that the best match for our needs is a Rhino or that type of vehicle.....however, our budget is pretty modest right now and so we need to consider other things...the 4 wheeler with a cart or little trailer is a good idea...however my husband probably is not going to like sitting in the trailer.....

a golf cart may not have the oomph to go where we need it to go, but it might...what it might come down to is what we find that we can afford....that will haul a small amount of stuff, usually fencing related....and two people...we do not need another thing to maintain....but I think the benefits of this vehicle will outweigh the negatives...and it will be really easy to jump in and take care of surveying the 'back 40'......and the pastures will not be driven on daily by a heavy truck....we are open to all ideas and I appreciate all the thoughts.....

[kirkmcquest]

Quad with a bush buggy ( a large off-road dump cart ).