Quad or Mule?

HarryB97

Member
Mixed Farmer
We have had quads for decades and bought a Polaris Ranger Diesel a few years ago. With in 6 months both quads were gone and we are now on our second Ranger I would never go back. Apart from routine servicing which includes some new wheel bearings they have been bomb proof. Used everyday on a mixed beef, sheep and arable farm for all jobs imaginable.
 

Drillman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Is it abused? We have had a couple of problems in 2 years starter motor fuse, foot pedal switch, handbrake worn, anti roll bar but that’s is and over 2000 hrs
No far from it owner operators, who look after stuff, and is mostly used for personal transport for checking cattle in summer and rarely used in winter.
 

Stw88

Member
Location
Northumberland
Couldnt be without my polaris. Would get rid of the quad if 1 had to go. Struggle for traction with snacker full with quad bike on bank sides, polaris is far safer.
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snacker full, 7 bales of hay and 250kg in bags in the back/ footwell. And thats the 2nd load 🙈.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
2 quads and a UTV that arrived a few months back. I take the quad out first and then jobs like fencing or checking stock I take the UTV but it is a luxury. Mainly bought for taking kids with me on the roads or in bad weather. I could’ve bought 2 new quads for the price of 1 UTV. So far it’s good but can’t be a quad for moving stock and get in and go, I think sheep would beat the UTV at most gateways too by the time you go in and out of the doors.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Which UTVs are good? First Mule we had was good. The next one was a pup. Had 2 Polaris diesels but they hardly had a day when there wasn’t something wrong with at least one of them. When I left that estate the gamekeepers (this might partly explain why they kept falling apart - always going and always abused) were leasing Can Ams and a Gator. Kubotas needed pushing up hills.
 

Wombat

Member
BASIS
Location
East yorks
We have a utv and would have another tomorrow.

A pickup would be stuck every 2mins in years like the last 2 here and trash all the grass margins and I have no interest in one of those Suzuki conversions or a quad as it would get nicked
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
If you have a pickup/landrover buy a quad, if you don’t have a pickup/landrover buy a quad and a cheaper pickup

Not just me that can't see the point in a mule thingy then.
What's wrong with a pick up. just stick decent tyres on it. If grounds too wet for that use your tractor or bring stock in (thought everyone did anyway)
Looking at the price of them, there must be some money in the job.
 

tr250

Member
Location
Northants
Not just me that can't see the point in a mule thingy then.
What's wrong with a pick up. just stick decent tyres on it. If grounds too wet for that use your tractor or bring stock in (thought everyone did anyway)
Looking at the price of them, there must be some money in the job.
No a pickup makes a terrible mess especially the modern Chelsea tractor type. Even a Suzuki Jimny weight 400kg more than a gator and the wheels are designed to dig in and rut to get traction a buggy will make quarter of the mess of a pickup and double of a quad
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
No a pickup makes a terrible mess especially the modern Chelsea tractor type. Even a Suzuki Jimny weight 400kg more than a gator and the wheels are designed to dig in and rut to get traction a buggy will make quarter of the mess of a pickup and double of a quad

Fair enough, like I said it seems a hell of a lot of money especially if you already own a ute and a tractor but if you can make it pay, go for it.
Round here it seems to be, two wheeler for moving stock on a dairy farm, with a quad or old 4wd for bigger jobs. Tractors for feeding out and utes for checking stock etc. Quads are getting harder to justify on H&S grounds so perhaps more will buy side by sides.
 

tr250

Member
Location
Northants
Fair enough, like I said it seems a hell of a lot of money especially if you already own a ute and a tractor but if you can make it pay, go for it.
Round here it seems to be, two wheeler for moving stock on a dairy farm, with a quad or old 4wd for bigger jobs. Tractors for feeding out and utes for checking stock etc. Quads are getting harder to justify on H&S grounds so perhaps more will buy side by sides.
to be fair it’s my 79 year old dad that insists on having it because it enables him to go where younger people would park and walk etc also it’s easier to get in and out and is rev and go and they are extremely fuel efficient but yes still expensive for what they are.
 

Fendt516profi

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Yorkshire
2 quads and a UTV that arrived a few months back. I take the quad out first and then jobs like fencing or checking stock I take the UTV but it is a luxury. Mainly bought for taking kids with me on the roads or in bad weather. I could’ve bought 2 new quads for the price of 1 UTV. So far it’s good but can’t be a quad for moving stock and get in and go, I think sheep would beat the UTV at most gateways too by the time you go in and out of the doors.
Both your points is exactly what a dog is for, unless you mean trailering sheep out from the pens
 

Stw88

Member
Location
Northumberland
6 year old petrol wngine
Them pre 2015 ones were rubbish, my first one once it was 2 years old had something fall off every week. Last one and current one have been loads better, odd wheel bearing, suspension bushes and throttle cables have a habit of snapping but thats all. New one should be here in couple of weeks which have prity good reviews so far. As for expensive, yes they but once you’ve bought the first 1 there not too bad in my opinion. Current one is just over 7k to change at 28mth old. Will save over 2k on fuel compared to the quad, I’m warm and dry and the dogs are safe on the road when in the box on the back.
 

exmoor dave

Member
Location
exmoor, uk
Fair enough, like I said it seems a hell of a lot of money especially if you already own a ute and a tractor but if you can make it pay, go for it.
Round here it seems to be, two wheeler for moving stock on a dairy farm, with a quad or old 4wd for bigger jobs. Tractors for feeding out and utes for checking stock etc. Quads are getting harder to justify on H&S grounds so perhaps more will buy side by sides.

Watching NZ farming programs, side by sides seem even more popular in NZ then here already,
Guessing petrol ones rather than diesels though
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Watching NZ farming programs, side by sides seem even more popular in NZ then here already,
Guessing petrol ones rather than diesels though

Could be. I know the H&S lot are getting quite upset about quads.
The was a trend for dairy farms round here to run old 4wd's like Jimny's and fourtraks but they might have exhausted supply by now.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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