Anyone use a RTV around the homestead? By this I mean the machines like the John Deere Gator, Kawasaki Mule, or Kubota 900. I like the hydraulic options available on the Kubota and it would be cheaper than buying a tractor with those same options (auger, fence post hammer).
But the cost for these things is pretty high. Almost buy a new small pickup for the same price. But the gas mileage should be substantially better. As well as no cost for registration or insurance.
I have no experience with RTV's, but I do use an ATV daily for work. I use a Kunz Acrease mower (www.kunzeng.com) to bush hog in places that a tractor can't reach. I also bushhog small open tracts of land that tractors are traditionally used for up to 15-20 acres. The ATV I use is a Bombardier traxter, which is the same model as a John Deere Buck. It's a handy machine- and I can reach places no truck can access(and most RTV's can't since its a tad smaller). The truck has its advantages for highway travel- picking up supplies, etc.
I've seen some japanese cab over mini trucks, Mitsubishi I think? They are not much larger than a golf cart but are rated for a good deal of weight. They look almost identical to an Isuzu NPR commercial truck, but much smaller. Pinzgauers are a similar truck, more like a unimog but I believe to be smaller in size. There are a lot of options out there.
I ran across a local dealer recently who sells an all electric RTV. This thing has an unbelievable amount of torque for its size but is limited in range due to battery size. I can't recall the name of the manufacturer.
While we are talking about ATVs, has anyone used one to skid logs? I was looking at something like the "Mini Skidder" at Baileys, http://store.baileys-online.com/cgi-bin/baileys/1654?mv_session_id=MAuw5BA4&product_sku=2001RT. However, it seems pretty pricy and I think I would like to weld up my own instead of forking out $1200. Anyone have some good ideas on this? ... or bad ideas...
Greg
Hello 10acres&aATV,
That is an interesting question about the log hauling.
The mini skidder is cool but it doesnât look very heavy duty and the price is a little over the top for such a device I think.
I use, what I call, âMy Log Haulerâ, I made it by welding up some steel plate and square tube, with some hardware and wheels that I got on line. And it was under $250 for all the parts.
Below is a link to a slide show of my home made blocks and âMy Log Haulerâ,
I live on a very hilly parcel on top of a mountain, so even with âMy Log Haulerâ, (which only picks up one end of the log), my quad, a Polaris Sportsman 400, which is a beast by the way.
It would not haul my green (white pine and red pine) heavier logs up my driveway. But It would make it up the hill with the dry logs from last years logs.
So there is a significant differents in weight, between dry and green logs.
So, I am going to make a caboose to lift the back end of the log off the ground.
Then I will just have a very long âLog Wagonâ completely off the ground.
The caboose will look something like this link below.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f95/ribbonevt/hammer/Low20res20Log20hauler-5.jpg
The one that I am going to build is going to look more like this link, and the price to biuld it will be somewhere aroung $300.00.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f95/ribbonevt/hammer/caboosedrawing.jpg
Hope that was helpful,
Chris,
Hi Chris,
I like your home engineered stuff. It looks pretty stout. I'm thinking those logs loose a lot of water when they season. I've also been told that if you leave the crown on for a few days after you fell the tree the crown helps draw water out. I see Polaris claims the 450 will tow 1225 lbs so you know those logs are pretty heavy.
I also found two other solutions out there. This one from Norwood looks like your caboose idea sort of.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200325611_200325611
I like how they put the choker on a slide rail so it lifts the end of the log when you go forward. I guess you can lower it by putting your ATV into reverse. They want about $600 clams and another $148 to ship it.
This one:
http://www.futureforestry.com/forestry/products/atv/images.html
looks to be stout and they even have a little caboose job too. However, at $1540 it is the pricy-est one I've seen yet. I guess I should CAD something up and get out the welder.
Cheers,
Greg
Here is another option. My father is just finishing up building it for me. I'm into for about $350 in materials, but that includes an independent 2 wheeled dolley I can set the back end of the log on and chain down. I need the rear dolley because I'll be peeling my logs about 500 yards down the road on one of my neighbors unused lots an then transporting them to my building site. The gravel road would do to much damage if I were to skid them.
Joined: 2007-02-16