Well after four years of using a side by side for farm chores I finally had a lapse in judgment a couple weeks ago and had a (minor) accident. Never get in a hurry...as that's usually when bad things happen... No big damage to the side by side that I can see, and I wasn't hurt, but I got lucky... It took me 2 hours to undig the vehicle from the woodpile and fence.
This in mind, I was thinking about it a couple years ago and am thinking again about it now...the costs of having a side by side, along with the hazards of operation, are seeming to make it less attractive to own one. In my case, the dealer's an hour away, I don't own a trailer, and annual maintenance results in a $1000 expense, minimum, due to transit and maintenance on the machine. I could buy a 30 year old Ford Ranger that has a radio, heat, A/C, and is enclosed and only have to worry about oil changes. I'm not sure the hassle, cost, and effort of having this kind of vehicle are worthwhile and am starting to consider options.
We actually have people killed every now and again on the national forest due to side by side accidents.
Interested in other people's thoughts. There are a very limited number of instances when a side by side is really necessary here AS LONG AS a compact pickup wouldn't tear up my pasture. Not sure if there are tires that would help protect turf. I'm out there every day feeding and watering livestock, so there'd be daily driving on the pasture in all kinds of weather from rain/standing water to snow.
This in mind, I was thinking about it a couple years ago and am thinking again about it now...the costs of having a side by side, along with the hazards of operation, are seeming to make it less attractive to own one. In my case, the dealer's an hour away, I don't own a trailer, and annual maintenance results in a $1000 expense, minimum, due to transit and maintenance on the machine. I could buy a 30 year old Ford Ranger that has a radio, heat, A/C, and is enclosed and only have to worry about oil changes. I'm not sure the hassle, cost, and effort of having this kind of vehicle are worthwhile and am starting to consider options.
We actually have people killed every now and again on the national forest due to side by side accidents.
Interested in other people's thoughts. There are a very limited number of instances when a side by side is really necessary here AS LONG AS a compact pickup wouldn't tear up my pasture. Not sure if there are tires that would help protect turf. I'm out there every day feeding and watering livestock, so there'd be daily driving on the pasture in all kinds of weather from rain/standing water to snow.
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