Bush Hog ATV

[SKOALMAN]

Hi All,
When tractor shopping I noticed that one of the New Holland Dealers had a "Bush Hog" ATV sitting on the Show Room Floor. I ended up buying a Bush Hog Front End Loader and really like it, made tough etc.... I sat down on the Adult Version that I think was the 175cc Model. I am NOT an ATV expert by no means and wondered if anyone knew anything about them and if they were well made. I did a Search and found NOTHING on Bush Hog ATV's. So would really appreciate any and all comments as I know nothing about them. Was looking for something low powered to help in Fencing, Checking on Cows, Go to the Mail Box and low powered fun in snows. The secondary mission is for my Daughters to Ride and learn and maybe in a couple of years something more powerful.

They have the Spec's for them on the www.bushhog.com web site. But have not heard or seen anyone else buying or riding one of them. They may be good and just new to the market! I do wonder if a Tractor Dealership is qualified to work on one if it tears up. But just gathering ideas at the time.

Appreciate any and all comments! Thanks!

 

[bczoom]

Scoalman,

I'm not familiar with the Bush Hog.
For the purchase of any UTV, the best advice I could offer, regardless of manufacturer is to have a demo brought to your place so you could try/use it in your environment.

 

[SKOALMAN]

Thanks bczoom!

Not sure if the dealership would let a small ATV out the door. When I did the "Search", I found Bush Hog UTV but what I saw was a small 4 wheeler just like the Polaris/Honda/yamaha etc.... I rode a 125 Kawasaki Trail Bike when I was a High Schooler and that Bike had enough Power to get me killed then and probably now. So, thought that the 175cc would be big enough for the chores I would like for it to do. Just never heard or seen anyone riding a Bush Hog Brand of ATV.

No comments then maybe I need to keep looking! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Panache]

They are brand new. The first 200 were to be hand assembled in Selma Alabama, then a production line set up someplace else.

 

[Tractors4u]

A 175cc ATV would probably fill a niche in the ATV market. My first ATV was a Honda ATC70, then we moved up to an ATC110. We considered it "full size". At that time if you had a Honda Big Red, you had the biggest one made. It seems like today with the major brands that you jump from 90cc to 250cc with nothing in between. I see people buying their 8 or 9 year olds 250cc machines and it just seems crazy. Then you have people letting their 12 year olds on Foreman 450's or Sportsman 500's.

 

[Tractors4u]

I just went back and looked at the specs for the 175 and it has a 2 stroke engine. That is the one thing I would be leery about. I had a 1995 Polaris 400 with a 2 stroke engine. Although it ran great, it ran better wide open than slow putt around farm type work. That is just the nature of the 2 stroke with one of the auto type transmissions.

 

[SKOALMAN]

You Know After reading you rcomments I remember that I had to run my Trail Bike pretty much Mid to Wide to keep from Fouling the Plugs. I also remember carrying a spare plug in my tool kit, so that I would not get stranded out in the boonies. The two stroke was bad to foul if puttering along. Thanks for reminding me, as I had forgot that. For what I am wanting I need the putter for the Farm Tasks. I do have some steep portions on the place that I WOULD NOT feel comfortable on a UTV, but an ATV might be a little different.

Thanks for the reminder! I just bought my tractor so will NOT buy an ATV today, but starting to look. I did notice that there is NOTHING in between the Polaris 90cc and the 250cc. I thought that it was just a Polaris thing. The 175cc I was basing off my Motorcycle memories and thought that might be the right balance. I remember the old 185 Suzuki Trail Bike (Never Owned One, but had a Friend) and it seemed like the perfect balance between power and finesse. Of course that was 25 years ago too. Will keep looking, and open to any suggestions.

 

[rdln]

I think we had this coversation b4, but that is exactly what my dad bought for my brothers except the second was an atc90, I've been meaning to scan our old photos and I think we have one with both. When it came time for me to have one of those "three wheels have to be safer than two" machines my dad was on an anti-jap kick and bought "Kit by Heald"
american made with a lawn mower engine.

Incidentally, a local consignment bike shop recently had a 1985 Big Red out in front, boy did look small.

 

[Tractors4u]

Take a look at the Honda Rancher. 229cc 2 wheel drive machine. MSRP is $3699. It's hard to beat a Honda for reliability.

 

[mark1720]

Greetings. The August 2004 issue of ATV Illustrated has a five page article on the Bush Hog ATV. The specs show it to have a 20 hp 614cc Honda engine. Good Luck in your search.
Mark Lewis Ford 1720, Kubota L35 TLB, Kubota RTV 900

 

[SKOALMAN]

Been Out of Town on Business,

Thanks All for the Replies. I will do some more research. That Honda Rancher may be just the trick. Of course I should go down and test ride some of them to see if the 400 and bigger just sound BIG or IF they might fit the billet. I know that I would much rather RIDE than walk my fence lines. At least in the areas the tractor wouldn't go.

I am sure that I will be back with MORE QUESTIONS. I really love these forums. Can gain so much INFO and INSIGHT! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifThanks Again to all that Replied!

 

[MarkStewart]

Look at the Yamaha Beartracker. I had one for a few years and was very reliable. Probably not as nice or refined as the honda ,but rode well and had decent power. I paid 3200 for mine. I'm sure most 4stroke quads above 200cc's would be adequate for what you describe.

 

[Keith_B]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks All for the Replies. I will do some more research. That Honda Rancher may be just the trick. Of course I should go down and test ride some of them to see if the 400 and bigger just sound BIG or IF they might fit the billet. I know that I would much rather RIDE than walk my fence lines. At least in the areas the tractor wouldn't go. )</font>

I wouldn't advise anyone who plans to work an ATV to go anything smaller than a 400 class 4WD. We have a Honda Rubicon (500cc) and a Bombardier Outlander (400cc) that we use mainly on the farm. We also have an older Honda Fourtrax 300 2wd and an even older Honda Fourtrax 200sx 2wd. There is a huge difference in the capabilities of the 400 and 500cc machines, especially when it comes to safely ascending and descending some of the steeper areas when we check our fence.

The 400 and 500 class of machines also have a tremendous advantage when it comes to working them pulling fence posts out of the woods, pulling small trees, towing a 4X8 trailer loaded full with bales of hay, manure or dirt, etc. These machines are also big enough to have no trouble pulling an empty hay wagon and other wheeled equipment into the barn for storage.

You can get bigger ATVs than the 400 and 500 class machines, but for all around use I think they are the perfect size.

 

[SKOALMAN]

Been Out of Town Again This Week!

Keith B you know you hit on some thoughts that I had NOT thought through. Moving an empty wagon, pulling a small trailer. I had thought of more like a small lawn mower type of wagon to put fencing stuff, Wire Strechers(SP?) Rolls of Wire, steeples, posts etc. Of course you really can't haul too much and frankly some of the places on my place are reallllly steep. I would NOT want to take a tractor into. But thinking about a bigger trailer with wider tires for stability might just be the trick. Then the garden stuff that can always get you in trouble. Never fails that you get to the garden and wish you had another hoe, mattock etc.... With a fairly good sized wagon could be a big help. Of course weighing out Pick-Up versus ATV Wagon may be a tough choice for gardening stuff, but a bigger ATV gives the option. May have to think this through some more.

Guys Thanks for ALL the Input! Great Ideas! Many more Uses than I had thought of orignally. Think getting the use down may be as important as which one to buy. I had always thought of a 4-Wheeler ATV type for the Farm, guess there is more to it.

I know the Ranger Battalion at Fort Benning had 4 Wheelers for the Scouts and them guys rode them to death. Maybe I need to check and find out "What" they rode. Tough machines! They would strap everything on the front,sides and backs of them machines. They rode them just about everyday and I know the Special Forces (Green Berets) in Afghanistan were riding some too. With limited maintenance and parts available would be good to find out what works life/death and research them. Don't know the type as they were all camoflauge! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But if they were tough enough to stand up to JOE every day they had to be good machines. I know the 101st used John Deere Gators and the rocks cut the tires and they ran them on the rims! Tough machines that were always overloaded with Water/Food/Ammo/Casualties.

Keep the Farm ideas coming, this is Great! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Lot of uses that I had not thought of (Never had one!) and obviously you guys are using them for multiple tasks. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Nasty135]

Skoalman, Keithb has a good point, Originally I was after a tractor to plow my driveway in the winter snow, It was going to replace an older tractor, But I had found a nice used 4wheeler for my boys to ride a 90cc that would haul me around quite well.
So I could ride with my boys I started looking for one a little bigger than theirs ,but couldn't find anything a little bigger. When I went to look at 4wheelers at the dealer I thought they looked Huge too big for me! I got to thinking because I rarely do anything with-out pausing to think it through a little(lesson learned well)
Instead of using big tractor to plow snow why not get 4wd 4wheeler and blade for it. Much more manueverable, pulls 16ft full diamond plate car trailer, 4x8' yard wagon loaded with firewood, heavy duty winch on the front .... argh argh argh.... Nuff said /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Fits the bill nicely

Its better to have more than you need at the time for a few extra dollars, than to not have enough when you could use it..

I ended up with a polaris 500 sportsman HO ,and it doesn't seam too big anymore

Oh just read your bio, Those MF135's are tough too beat.I still have mine,perkins ,I like it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif