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194 comments on DrumBeat: December 12, 2008

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airdale on December 12, 2008 - 1:30pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

There is a small revolution occurring in my area of the flyover outback.

More and LOTS more folks are buying and driving the vehicles which started as the John Deere Gator,but now Polaris is making them and a whole lot more.

So instead of so many 4 wheel ATVs I am seeing these fourwheel contraptions driving all over the place.

None are truly licensed but they run to the mailbox,go to the back 40,even drive into town sometimes and in general make plenty of the short trips on and off the farm that used to be done with pickups and sometimes ATVs. The ATVs are a different thing. Usually kids do them. With these its a lot of more senior folks. Past their 20s, so to speak.

Yes a lot of hunters are using them, laziness I guess. But I see a brisk market developing here for them. Seem now each farm has one or two.

Don't know what kind of mileage they get but they are very simple to operate. Have a roof but usually open sides. Has a bed in back for carrying cargo. Two seats in front.

Can't compete on the highways but can run up to 40-50 mph. Don't usually go on 2 lane state highways except for short forays. Used mostly on county back roads but they are becoming very prevalent.

Perhaps pouring gas in fuel inefficient pickups is costing too much.

Seems pretty nice way to motor into the woods to pick up some deadfall or sawed up tree trunks.

Airdale

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WNC Observer on December 12, 2008 - 2:40pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

They look to be a step up from golf carts - much more sturdy and durable, probably less likely to roll over unless you do something stupid.

If an NEV like a GEM is street legal, I don't see why one of these shouldn't be. Not for highway use, though.

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moabite on December 12, 2008 - 3:25pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Side by side ATV's (and even regular 4 wheeled ATV's) are now street legal in Utah:

http://www.epicmotors.com/ATVs%20Now%20legal%20in%20Utah.html

The reality of ATV's is similar to the reality of most large motorcycles. They don't get great gas mileage. 20-30mpg is the usual. Of course, when you ride an ATV you normally are not driving it like you are in the Mobil Mileage Rally.

I talked to a guy in Moab who was out driving his Polaris Ranger. He said since the law was passed, he hardly ever drove his truck. Of course, Moab, Utah is pretty much the perfect environment for an open ATV. I doubt you would see a lot of people driving one of these in Dallas in August, or Chicago in January.

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doug fir on December 12, 2008 - 3:38pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I get sticker shock. And I wonder about durability. Will they get 200K, or the hours of a tractor?

Right now I see them mostly as status, highly visible signs of affluence. Last winter you could hardly keep them in the showroom, wonder what goes on this winter.

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194 comments on DrumBeat: December 12, 2008

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