It might be called a crossbred, the combination of an all-terrain vehicle and a tractor. Some may even call it a golf-cart spin-off. However it came to be, the utility vehicle-or UV-is definitely a big hit for small horse farms.
UVs are easy to drive, maneuverable and peppier than a golf cart. Most have loads of options and accessories that make them capable of most farm tasks. They're versatile and affordable, starting at about one-third the cost of most compact tractors. On many farms, they operate as the "transport" vehicle, while on others they're the centerpiece. It all depends upon what you need this handy little worker to do.
Right-Size Your Farm Vehicle
• Take stock of what jobs you need a farm vehicle to do before deciding on a utility vehicle.
• Gas-powered UVs are simple to operate and less expensive, but consider diesel if you will often work at maximum capacity.
• You can't have too much horsepower, so get the most you can afford.
• Four-wheel drive is handy for going over fields and staying out of ruts.
• Look for a 1,200-pound minimum payload capacity, which includes what you're towing, what you're hauling on the vehicle, and passenger weight.
Job Description
Be sure you know what you need your UV to do before you buy one. A UV is easy to drive, especially over rougher terrain and in smaller areas. While all UVs are built to give you optimal traction, the Polaris Ranger and the Toro Twister seem to have superior suspension systems to help give you a more comfortable ride and keep all four wheels safely on the ground. While UVs will take up less room in your storage building, you do give up the awesome power of a full-size tractor and its seemingly unending list of available implements.
Unfortunately, no matter which way you look at it, UVs don't have the work capacity of an actual farm tractor. They are not meant to be the main workhorse on a large horse farm. You can't easily pull that 20-foot batwing brush cutter you need to mow your 100-acre pasture with a UV. And, while a UV will operate a small 20-cubic-foot manure spreader, you'll want a tractor if your spreader capacity is 50 cubic feet or more-this means 10-plus horses.
The UV seems to have been made for the smaller, hobby-horse farm. It can go just about anywhere an ATV can go, and it'll come close to an ATV's zip. It also out-hauls an ATV, with a load capacity of 900 pounds or more and a larger cargo. In addition, most UVs carry two people safely. (Some models are made to carry four people, but it reduces your load capacity.)
