"When asked what products had the greatest impact on their farming operations since 1967, the readers of Farm Industry News ranked the Honda ATV right up there with Dekalb Biotype E Sorghum, A3127 Hybrid Soybeans and the Miller Electric Mig Welder as a landmark product of the last 25 years. That's high praise from one of the most brutally sensible groups of people on the planet," says hondanews.com.
Since Honda's introduction of the three-wheel All Terrain Cycle (ATC), All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) have become ubiquitous on American farms. In some ways they have replaced the horse where the motorcycle and pickup truck could not.
Why use an ATV?
Many vineyards own both ATVs and UTVs (Utility Vehicles). While there can be some overlap in the use of ATVs and UTVs, any such overlap is not complete, and the two vehicle types generally are put to different uses. Usually this has meant that when a vineyard owns both types of vehicles, UTVs tend to be used in situations where their wider stance isn't a problem and their higher carrying capacity is needed. However, some vineyard owners noted that they don't use any ATVs but rather use UTVs. Current UTV models tend to have plenty of traction and power, but they also tend to have a wider wheelbase and turning radius and a higher ground pressure that makes them less maneuverable and more likely to bog down in soft or muddy conditions. Where UTVs are used for spraying, they tend to be six-wheeled models.
Although ATVs can be put to a variety of uses, according to Philip Coturri of Enterprise Vineyards in Sonoma, California, ATVs have three main roles in the vineyard: (1) monitoring, (2) maintenance and (3) strip-spraying. Other tasks for which ATVs are used mostly take advantage of the ATV as a tow vehicle for some sort of trailer-mounted implement, ranging from simple utility trailers to spreaders to tillers to weed-flamers.
1. Vineyard Monitoring: Most ATVs appear to have been bought in order to be used as a runabout for monitoring the vineyard. Vineyard monitoring includes visually checking vine growth and condition as well as making sure that the irrigation system is functioning properly. In this role, according to Mark Greenspan, a consultant with Advanced Viticulture in Santa Rosa, California, smaller is really better "to get into narrow rows and to fit in my truck bed." Raw speed isn't as important.
With the current emphasis on precision farming, we are finding that more ATVs are being outfitted with Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Several manufacturers are making GPS a standard option on their larger ATV models. However, one should keep in mind that the pre-installed systems are primarily designed for hunters and ranchers and, while sufficient for finding a particular vineyard block, may not be quite as accurate on a vine-by-vine basis as the systems used for georeferencing.
2. Vineyard Maintenance: Bill den Hoed of Vigneron Management in Grandville, Washington, uses ATVs for vineyard maintenance. "They are just as important as a tractor to us. We do use them for spraying and pulling wire, and pulling the 'crew' trailers so the toilet and drinking water is only a few steps away from the workers." Many other vineyard owners and managers cite a similar range of maintenance activities.
3. Vineyard Spraying: ATVs are frequently used to carry or tow weed sprayers. Ned Hill, of Durell Ranch and Parmelee-Hill Vineyards, Sonoma, uses his ATVs for winter spraying. "We have dual tires we put on the back of our two [Honda Foreman] 400s for better floatation to weed spray in the winter. We put a 20-gallon tank on them and go. Most of the use for our bikes is winter weed spraying and summer irrigation. It's the only way for us to get around in the winter as we don't allow any driving of pickups in wet fields."
The size of the vineyard is an important factor in determining if you need an ATV and, if so, what size and how many you need:
Vineyards smaller than five acres: An ATV is more of a luxury than a necessity for vineyards smaller than five acres. A five-acre vineyard usually can be monitored on foot. Vineyard operations and maintenance may not be made easier by a vehicle more sophisticated than a wheelbarrow. Of course, if the vineyard is part of a larger ranch, orchard or farm, there is no reason why an ATV couldn't be purchased for the combined operation and used in the vineyard when needed.
Vineyards from five to 20 acres: Vineyards ranging between five and 20 acres in size represent a bit of a gray area. Twenty acres is not too large to manage on foot, but it is large enough that the time required to walk from one end of the vineyard to the other starts to take a significant chunk of the workday. Vineyards of this size may consider investing in one of the smaller ATVs for vineyard monitoring and maintenance.
Vineyards larger than 20 acres: Pretty much any vineyard larger than 20 acres needs some means of transport for vine and irrigation monitoring. Again, it's not that one can't cover these distances on foot, it's just that the time required to do so becomes significant once the vineyard tops 20 acres. Depending upon how many people the vineyard employs, any vineyard larger than 20 acres probably should have both a smaller (200cc to 300cc) ATV for vineyard monitoring and a larger (350cc to 400cc) ATV for vineyard maintenance and strip-spraying.
Terminology
The terminology relating to ATVs and related vehicles tends to be somewhat vaguely applied. The term is sometimes used to describe all vehicles with a sufficiently high horsepower-to-weight ratio for the "all terrain" moniker to be appropriate. In other instances the term is use to describe only those four-wheeled vehicles where the rider sits astride in a manner similar to a motorcycle. For the purposes of this article we will differentiate between ATCs (All Terrain Cycles), ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) and UTVs (Utility Vehicles).
ATC: All Terrain Cycles, or ATCs, are motorized tricycles with low-pressure balloon tires, a design that dates back to the late 1960s. The official Honda story credits one of their engineers, Osamu Takeuchi, with designing the first ATC. Reportedly, Takeuchi was inspired by the 6x6 Amphicat's use of 20-inch diameter, low-pressure tires (the Amphicat was a little amphibian most notably seen on American Saturday morning television as part of Hanna Barbera's "Banana Splits") to use 22-inch balloon tires, inflated to just 2.2 psi, on his ATC. During the 1980s, much publicized solo accidents involving ATCs led to their removal from the U.S. market. Many U.S. states either outlaw the sale of new ATCs or ban their sale entirely. The Honda "Big Red" was the stereotype of an ATC.
ATV: All Terrain Vehicles are the four-wheel successor to the ATC. The additional front wheel adds stability to the design and allows for the possibility of four-wheel drive designs as well as higher carrying and towing capacities. There are many ATVs on the market, but the Honda FourTrax series is the archetypal ATV. The ATV category is further split into sport and utility ATVs. Sport ATVs are designed for racing and dune-running and as such tend to be more lightly built. They also tend to lack the towing and carrying capabilities of utility ATVs. (For the purposes of this article we will focus on utility ATVs.)
UTVs: Utility Vehicles differ from ATVs in that the driver sits on a more conventional bench or bucket seat rather than sitting astride like on a motorcycle. UTVs tend to be wider, heavier and less maneuverable than ATVs. The John Deere Gator and the Rhino from Yamaha are typical UTVs. Polaris also has a 4x6 UTV on the market that is being used as a sprayer by at least one vineyard. wbm
ATV features
When shopping for an ATV, you'll want to consider how important the vehicle's different features are to the type of work you do on a regular basis and the size of your vineyard. Features include: size, transmission size and 4WD capability, whether or not you want a hitch, carrying capacity and onboard power source.
Size: The optimal size of an ATV depends a great deal on the role it is destined to fulfill in the vineyard. The smaller ATVs, with engine displacements between 200cc and 300cc, tend to be the best for vineyard monitoring. Vineyard maintenance, however, tends to require larger towing and carrying capacities. This means that larger ATVs with engine displacements between 350cc and 500cc are preferred in this role.
"The biggest bike we have is the Honda Foreman 450, but we actually prefer the 400. Too big a bike and it's too cumbersome; and if you get it stuck, how do you get it out?" noted Ned Hill. For this reason, the very largest ATVs on the market, with engine displacements reaching up to 800cc, are not widely used in vineyards.
Transmissions and 4WD: In general, ATVs below 350cc are equipped with 2WD while those above 350cc either have 4WD standard or as an option. As an option, 4WD adds about $800 to $1,000 to the price of an ATV. Normally, 2WD is sufficient for vineyard monitoring, but the extra traction provided by 4WD is sometimes useful when pulling a load, especially on hills. Several of the vineyard maintenance companies opt for full-time 4WD due to its mechanical simplicity relative to 2WD/4WD or on-demand 4WD shifting. "One drawback to the Honda is with fulltime 4WD you can go through more tires, but I think it's better than any lever or auto stuff," said Hill.
Similarly, those vineyards and management companies that own, and therefore maintain, several ATVs tend to prefer the mechanical simplicity of manual transmissions over automatic transmissions. However, it should be noted that many people find it easier to tow trailers on hillside vineyards if the ATV is equipped with an automatic transmission.
Hitch: Any ATV used in the vineyard should probably have a hitch for towing a trailer or for pulling wire. Since most "utility" ATVs are equipped with hitches, this requirement mainly just eliminates the "sport" type ATVs from consideration.
Capacities: Contrary to popular belief, an ATV with a larger-displacement engine does not necessarily have a larger carrying or towing capacity. Pretty much all ATVs larger than 350cc can carry 100 pounds on their rear racks and tow about 1,000 pounds. These capacities increase only very slightly for the very largest ATVs. This is because the capacity ratings have as much to do with the stability of the ATV as they do with the brute force of its engine.
DC Outlet: Since current ATVs do not have PTOs (Power Take Off: a gearbox for directly linking a tractor drive train to towed or mounted auxiliary equipment), any towed or carried equipment used with an ATV needs to use a 12V electrical power or be self-powered. If the ATV is being used to provide power to auxiliary equipment, a hitch-mounted DC outlet is normally required. This is a fairly simple after-market modification but, if needed, the additional cost will have to be factored into the total cost of the ATV.
Other Considerations
In addition to ATV features, you'll want to research the vehicle's reliability, maintenance and safety.
Reliability & Maintenance: The Honda ATVs appear to have a reputation for the best reliability. "I don't need power, just reliability," said Greenspan. The vineyard management companies appear to buy Honda ATVs exclusively. Philip Coturri, of Enterprise Vineyards, noted that, "The Hondas have been trouble-free, and I would recommend them highly." When asked why he buys Honda ATVs for his business, Bill den Hoed replied, "In a single word, reliability." Ned Hill expanded upon this point, "We had a couple of Yamahas in the past, and they couldn't keep up with the Honda reliability. We basically change the oil and clean the air filters every three months, change the differential oil and replace the plugs every year, and we're good to go." A similar story was told by Becky Jenkins of Madrone Vineyard Management in Glen Ellen, California. "We started with Hondas, then went to Yamahas and now we are back to Hondas. The Yamaha's are not as durable and needed constant repairs and maintenance; Honda engines are the best."
However, despite the preponderance in favor of Honda for reliability, it should be noted that the owners of John Deere ATVs were almost as vocal in their praise. All the Deere ATV owners contacted for this story affirmed that they would buy another Deere when they needed another ATV. Although Deere Gator UTVs are ubiquitous, Deere only entered the ATV market a few years ago with a line of rebadged Bombardier ATVs. Last year, Deere switched to selling a line of ATVs that they build themselves. These new Deere ATVs have a couple of reliability-oriented features, such as rear-facing fans for the engine, that none of their competitors has yet incorporated into their designs.
Outsourcing: One of the great advantages of using a vineyard maintenance company is that they bring their own equipment. This allows the actual vineyard owner to forego investing in multiple ATVs. Such vineyards still may decide that they need an ATV for vineyard monitoring and light maintenance. Schug Vineyards went this route. According to Schug owner and winemaster Walter Schug, "We have an ATV [a Polaris Magnum 400] that we use as a runabout. We also use a vineyard management company. They bring in any equipment they need, like ATVs with sprayers."
Safety: While versatile, ATVs can pose a safety hazard if they are not operated properly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there were 125,000 ATV injuries nationwide in 2003 and almost 6,000 deaths since 1982. Protective gear, vehicle maintenance and rider training reduce ATV hazards for agricultural workers.
The best general ATV-related advice was given by Becky Jenkins of Madrone Vineyard Management: "Get the training for the 4WD vehicles. They can be deadly if not operated safely."
If you own or operate an ATV for agricultural work, your state department of motor vehicles may require that it be registered. Helmets certified for ATV use provide protection and are estimated to cut death risk by half. A helmet face shield, goggles or glasses can provide eye protection from flying dirt, rocks, insects or vegetation. Gloves and boots protect hands and feet, and allow the rider to maintain a firm grip and control over the ATV.
Choosing the Right ATV
When choosing which ATV to purchase, it is critical to match the size and options of the ATV with your individual needs. ATV motorsports have become so popular that ATV dealerships are fairly easily found. Readers can find their local dealer by going to the manufacturers' websites or their local Yellow Pages.
ATV Manufacturers
| Company | Location | Phone | Website |
| Arctic Cat | Thief River Falls, MN | 281-681-8558 | www.arctic-cat.com |
| Bombardier | Valcourt, Quebec, Canada | 877-469-7433 | www.bombardier-atv.com |
| Bush Hog | Selma, AL | 334-874-2700 | www.bushhog.com |
| Honda | Torrance, CA | 310-532-9811 | www.powersports.honda.com |
| John Deere | Moline, IL | 309-765-8000 | www.deere.com |
| Kawasaki | Santa Ana, CA | 949-460-5688 | www.kawasaki.com |
| Polaris | Medina, MN | 763-417-8650 | www.polarisindustries.com |
| Suzuki | Brea, CA | 714-572-1490 | www.suzukicycles.com |
| Tomberlin | Augusta, GA | 706-860-8880 | www.tomberlin.net |
| Yamaha | Cypress, CA | 800-962-7926 | www.yamaha-motor.com |
The following examples show how different circumstances may require a different configuration of ATVs.
10-acre hillside vineyard: Ordinarily, a 10-acre vineyard would be a marginal case for ATV ownership. However, a case can be made that using an ATV to move tools and equipment up and down the hill would cause fewer erosion problems than using a tractor which has a higher ground pressure. In this case, the appropriate ATV might be a model that has an engine displacement between 350cc and 400cc, and is equipped with a hitch to tow a utility trailer for vineyard maintenance tools and supplies, a hitch-mounted DC outlet to power a strip-sprayer, 4WD for traction on the hillside and an automatic transmission which, although optional, makes it easier to move a trailer in hilly terrain.
80-acre valley-floor vineyard with outsourced vineyard maintenance: Despite this vineyard's size, only one small 200cc ATV is needed. The ATV would be used for vineyard and irrigation monitoring only since any heavier work is done by the vineyard management company. The ATV can tow a small trailer but is seldom needed to carry anything larger than a coil of irrigation tubing.
200-acre valley-floor vineyard: As the vineyard size increases, the number rather than the size of the ATVs needed increases. A vineyard of this size might own a 400cc ATV for vineyard maintenance and winter spraying. This ATV should be outfitted with a hitch and DC power outlet for towing trailers and strip-sprayers, and a manual transmission since this vineyard doesn't have steep slopes. For this reason, the vineyard could also opt for a 2WD ATV. The vineyards might also need two 200cc ATVs with 2WD and no other extras for vineyard monitoring and worker transportation.
These examples are meant to be instructional. The important point is to choose the proper ATV to match the particular circumstance of your vineyard.
As we can see, there is a distinct sweet spot for ATVs with engine displacements between 350cc and 400cc in the vineyard. These ATVs are small enough to easily drive down the vineyard rows yet large enough to tow a sprayer or a trailer. This is also the smallest size range, where the towing capacities reach 1,000 pounds and where 4WD is a commonly available option. However, if the ATV is the second or third purchased or is only used for vineyard monitoring, a 2WD model with an engine displacement under 200cc should be adequate. wbm
