Anyone know a lot about ATVs and riding mowers?

[poppo]

Here is the deal. I live on 50 acres and I currently have 2 riding mowers. One is 18HP and the other is 20HP. Both have hydrostatic transmissions. The 18HP one is older and I've used and abused it for the last 6 years. I'm surprised the transmission has not burned out sooner. I use it a lot to pull a grader and to also pull a trailer with logs, rocks, etc. But the transmission is finally giving out and it costs just about as much to have it repaired or replaced as to buy a new mower. The newer 20HP mower I have, I try to use only for mowing. But despite being a higher HP, it has a hard time pulling anything. So I don't want to risk ruining it, and will keep using it just as a mower.

Now, I have been thinking about getting an ATV to use for pulling the grader, trailer etc. And of course also for fun. Now what I am unsure of is what size do I need to accomplish the mission of grading and hauling stuff? I have tried to find a cross reference of the CCs to HP, but that seems to vary. Mainly what I need is something with a lot of torque to pull the heavy loads. I was thinking that something in the 400cc range should be sufficient, but I was hoping someone here may have an ATV they use for stuff like this and can offer their opinion on the size that would work. I am also assuming that an ATV is also geared better to begin with to have more torque than a riding mower. I don't want to go overboard, as $$ is an issue. And the work aspect is more important than the fun part.

[FORDSBS]

The bigger the more work you can do with it.

[poppo]

The bigger the more work you can do with it.

Well, I know that. 

Mainly I want to know what would be the MINIMUM that would equate to what I had that worked.

[FORDSBS]

What kind of grader are you using? If it's just a small one then a 400 should be big enough. If it's large & hard pulling I would go bigger.

[poppo]

It's a small grader. Again I had used my 18HP riding mower for years with it without any real problems.

Yeah, I was thinking something in the 400-450 range would work.

I just found this while Googling

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.

http://www.winebusiness.com/wbm/?go=getArticle&dataId=43169

[FORDSBS]

If you did it with 18HP mower then a 400 or 450 should do a better job then lawn mower.

[Ron (r273)]

HP in a small mowers are over rated. I have a Cub Cadet with a Koliler  22 HP engine and hydro-static transmission. It works good for me to mow a couple of acres
that is very hilly and ruff.  I later was in a law suit about the over rated HP on this mower and was awarded a small sum of money with 1000's others.

25 CC is equal to about 1 HP.

My 650CC UTV is equal to about 26 HP. I use my 4 wheel drive UTV (utility vehicle) and winch to pull out dead stumps and large tree limbs that I can't
pick up. The 350 ATV I  had  the power but not the traction. Mainly because it did not weigh enough. My UTV weights in at 1000 lbs.

Hope this helps.

Ron (r273)


    

[poppo]

I later was in a law suit about the over rated HP on this mower and was awarded a small sum of money with 1000's others.    

Yeah, I got in on that. I ended up with about $59 (and an extended warranty). That was for the two riding mowers and one push mower. It was supposed to be 'up to' $75 for each riding mower, but so many people got in on it that it ended up quite a bit less. But I'm sure the lawyers got their full cut.

As for traction, my mower used to be able to spin the tires if the grader got stuck. Now it just stops.

[channelmaniac]

If you're mowing *that* much you should buy a small tractor with PTO and a brush hog.

Just remember to pull stumps BACKWARDS with the tractor to avoid tipping over and getting crushed under it.

The tractor can handle all kinds of different attachments for plowing, grading, seeding, etc.

[stayouttadabunker]

I live on 98-1/2 acres but mow...well, I'm guessing about maybe no more than 4-1/2 acres of grass or so ?...
that's more than sufficient for the neighbors to think I'm actually doing some sort of upkeep with the yardwork....
See my mowing area below...I hate it! Takes me about 3 hours to cut!!!!

I actually don't care about the grass being cut right now because of the ridiculous price of gasoline.
I long for the days when it cost like $5 to fill up my gas can instead of $20.

As far as pulling out stumps...size matters.  
There's no way I will try to pull out a 80-100 year old maple stump but as far as let's say 5 -10 year old tree stumps...
that's no problem with an old 1988 Honda TRX250 ATV 4 wheeler (250cc motor) and a good piece of chain.
You have to let release the throttle when the stump starts coming out though...that way they don't hit you in the head...

Paid around $2000 oh about 23 years ago....worth about $230.00 nowadays...lol
Still runs great and starts up 1st time EVERY time!
Click on any photo to enlarge if desired...>>>

[StatFreak]

What grass, Bunker? It looks like dead ground that you colored green.   

[stayouttadabunker]

lol  It's the GIS mapping service...poor satellite shots from space...
I don't have that many red trees either...lol

[dale]

I have a Kodiak 450 and two 700 kingquads. A 450 should be fine and there are many accessories available to handle most of your yardwork.