Cal
Well-known member
My advice is to buy a big ATV with independant rear suspension. Most of the small ones ride like hell, and the shorter and narrower wheel base will wreck you much easier. We've had many of them, but my favorite now is the Suzuki 700s. Rides really nice, goes down the road well as fast as you want. The place we buy them also has a welding shop that builds a good square tubing gaurd that goes all the way around them to protect the fenders and front end, for about another $400. Should be able to get into one of these for cash, no trade, in the mid 7's. Remember that they'll hold onto their value pretty fair if you can keep them from getting beat up, and that's what the steel tubing gaurd will do.
Put plenty of sealant in the tires, change the oil and clean air filter regularly-use the right kind of oil compatible with the transmission, tie on to the rear end when you rope something (you have to rope "Marlin Perkins" style- run rope inside of pvc pipe and use black tape to hold the loops in place so nothing gets tangled up, and the tape breaks away when you catch), and you may end up sending the horses to the salebarn-freeing up another breeding pasture, and will darn sure decrease your labor expense/requirements. Keep an ATV in 4wd mode when you're going a little too fast across the pasture so you'll be more likely to keep right side up if you hit a big rut or something.
Put plenty of sealant in the tires, change the oil and clean air filter regularly-use the right kind of oil compatible with the transmission, tie on to the rear end when you rope something (you have to rope "Marlin Perkins" style- run rope inside of pvc pipe and use black tape to hold the loops in place so nothing gets tangled up, and the tape breaks away when you catch), and you may end up sending the horses to the salebarn-freeing up another breeding pasture, and will darn sure decrease your labor expense/requirements. Keep an ATV in 4wd mode when you're going a little too fast across the pasture so you'll be more likely to keep right side up if you hit a big rut or something.
