Hi all

I have acre and a half, maybe a bit more, of a very rough terrain. It's poorly graded, then water runs between grass roots made mini ditches, then tons of mole mounds. Basically, it's as bumpy as it goes.
It's yet a lawn. Sort of, some call it meadow. In addition, it is wetland with puddled areas, so in many parts of it I can't get my mower through until it's bone dry. June. While grass does not care and keeps growing, then I have to inch through grass, quarter deck each pass, or it will choke mower.
Or, I have to hire a guy with tractor and field mower and pay him about hundred cash once a month to come do it.

I have very good ZTR. 60 inch deck. It is kidney dropping liver punching back breaking slow creeping through that 1.5 acre even on a previously mowed grass, as it is so bumpy. Now, that it's wetland, you can't grade it. let it be - looks like - yes. Like jungle.

So I got my sights on 46 inch heavy duty trail cutter. Weighs 650 lb. Dirty Hands Tool mower. Price wise fits the bill and looks like it'll do the job. Tractor with field mower likely leaves worse looking swath anyway.

That said, I know nothing about ATVs to pull it with. That mower appears to be well centered on two wheels, so I do not anticipate major tongue load on ATV ball.
What would you recommend to look for on craigslist or offerup as an ATV for this job? Of course, as we own 6 acres, it will find some fun stuff to do and pull small trailer.

What I am looking for is this: - comfort riding over bumpy ground; - ability to pull 650 lb; - good 4x4 so not to get stuck in mud; - reliability. That's about it.

Thank you

 

I looked at the Dirty Hand Tools' website and that's a good looking mower. Or mowers. It shows a sold out Tow Behind Brush Mower with a 20 HP Loncin engine, and a Tow Behind Rough Cut Mower with a 19 HP Kohler engine for the same price. Maybe they just replaced Chongqing, China company's engine with the Kohler, Wisconsin company's.

For ground that bumpy IRS is a must in my opinion. If any ATV has a more comfortable ride than a Polaris Sportsman I haven't heard about it. It's more like sitting on a couch than riding a tractor. Some people say Polaris ATVs aren't reliable, while other people don't have any problems with them. I think any of the major brands are good but none are perfect. Anyone can make a lemon.

I was going to say almost any 4x4 should be able to pull 650 pounds, but some are only rated to tow 800-900 pounds, if the company even lists the rating. They would work but something rated higher would be better if you use it a lot. The highest tow ratings on ATVs I know of are 1,500 pounds. Some of the smaller UTVs aren't rated that high. But you don't need the power of those big bore ATVs.

 

Most any ATV of at least 400cc should be fine, but with the slow going your going to be doing you will need a liquid cooled engine not an air cooled engine as you wont be going fast enough to cool an air cooled engine. You might also consider a machine that has a low range if you get an automatic as this will cool the engine even better and not allow it to lug down and overheat. Most any utility 4x4 atv will ride much softer than your lawn mower.

 

Definitely want a 4x4 auto with low range. Pulling this much weight you need to use low range or you'd fry the belt. If its a semi-auto foot shift, you'd just put it in 1st gear. It would basically go about the speed of a lawn tractor in 1st gear but you'd have much more pulling power with the added weight and more powerful engine. Something that is rated for at least 1000 lbs towing I would recommend. That would be pretty much any of the 400-500cc class machines other than Honda, which has a lower tow rating because their engines of that size just don't have as much power. Polaris Sportsman 500 would probably be the best value as there are so many of them in the used market, easy to find and price is reasonable. The 500 has plenty of power to do the job as as Frank said, ride is very comfortable. You're going to be spending hours doing this, might as well have a comfortable ride.

 

I can't believe I didn't mention low range. D'oh!

The heaviest thing I ever pulled with a Sportsman 500 had to be a tree about the size of a telephone pole (just the above ground part of a pole). I hooked on to the heavy end of the tree, put in 4x4 Low and dragged it off the trail, onto the side of a small hill. I wouldn't recommend pulling anything that heavy with an ATV but it's nice to know you can do it if you have to.

 

Thank you for very helpful posts. I was aiming at 700-800 anyway.
Ok, this helped a lot.
1. Prolly go with 700 or more
2. Liquid cooled
3. Low gear range
4. Driveshaft, no chain.

One more question. How does a tow hitch connect to ATV? As it does not sound like I want to have it connected to the seat area (frame?)? So that it does not sag down. I simply don't know how hitch connects but I saw some for sale with it already installed.

 

Mine has a 1&1/4" receiver built in and I believe some Arctic Cats have a 2" receiver. If you get an ATV with a receiver like either of those you can buy a draw-bar and ball anyplace that sells trailer hitches, etc. They make bolt-on receivers for other ATVs too. Mine can handle about 125 pounds of tongue weight IIRC.

P.S. As far as I know all ATVs with IRS are shaft drive.

 

I see. Now I get it, how it connects:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Komodo-ATV-Accessories-ATV-3-Way-Receiver-Hitch-1-7-8-Hitch-Ball-Included/10727796?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&ad id=22222222227008843607&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40838 455592&wl4=pla-56288577527&wl5=9033304&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl1 0=112562587&wl11=online&wl12=10727796&wl13=&veh=se m
https://www.denniskirk.com/518654.sku?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&gclid= Cj0KCQiA2Y_UBRCGARIsALglqQ265M2oEg5OFz4nBeMs5OEmOp hiik4VXORjWxO3Znz1L1HPIHa4cuoaAgX_EALw_wcB&ad=4676 6398717
So there should be existing place for pin tow bar connection that can have draw bar installed. Or, it mounts onto existing bolts. Thank you.

 

The receiver on the back of my ATV is just like one on a car or truck. The draw bar/ball mount slides in, you put the pin in, clip in the hitch pin, and you're done. Most utility ATVs have a receiver like that.

I'm not sure what brand my hitch is but it looks just like this Kolpin brand, so I think that's what I have. They make the same exact thing for 1 1/4" and 2" receivers. https://www.kolpin.com/3-way-hitch-1-1-4

The very back hole is for a hitch that just has a pin through it, like this one for towing a sled behind a snowmobile. I think some farm implements for ATVs have that kind of hitch too. https://www.otteroutdoors.com/product/sled-tow-hitch-2/

The hole in front of that is for whatever size ball you need, probably 2", with a 3/4" diameter shank. If you pull a trailer with safety chains they hook into the loops on the side of the hitch. There are several different brands with different features, and some on amazon.com or ebay cost less.

 

Bought 2002 Honda Foreman yesterday. Has all the recommendations and it's a Honda.
Already has ball installed, though I may redo it so that I can tow my small trailer. Ball is very low, will tilt trailer forward and increase tongue load. I'll get something to keep it more level.
Took her for a spin yesterday through my muds and puddles. Goes like they are not even there.
Now need to find manual and repair guide. Will be this Sunday morning project.

Btw, is there any trick to throttle lever? It's rather awkward to fine operate it with thumb, I figure, there should be some sort of well suited hand position, like they have for handgun?