Anybody know of any plans that exist for building an ATV of sorts? My 84 year old dad is still going strong, but has reached the point where just the energy to get to the fence he needs to fix, to the shop to work on a project, etc is tiring for him (he lives at 9000' up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere). He was looking to purchase an ATV or Gator of some sort, but was shocked at the prices these days. I think he'd actually enjoy a new project of building his own "ATV" if there's some examples out there he could look at. Ideas? It needs to be pretty rugged to deal with running around the side of a mountain, but he's a function over beauty guy.
DIY ATV Build
- Thread starter skelrad
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ericm
Well-known member
There's some info out there. Some of them are high end builds, some are budget. But unless you have a stash of parts, even a budget one won't be all that cheap if it's very capable.
We finally bought one seven years ago. It's a game changer as far as getting yourself and your equipment to a work site on rural property.
We got a year old Honda Pioneer 700. That's on the cheaper end of things and was a bit of a discount being old stock. I put power steering and a canopy on it and put it to work.
We finally bought one seven years ago. It's a game changer as far as getting yourself and your equipment to a work site on rural property.
We got a year old Honda Pioneer 700. That's on the cheaper end of things and was a bit of a discount being old stock. I put power steering and a canopy on it and put it to work.
yhprum
Well-known member
Something along these lines may be an affordable option.
Made from lawn mower tractors.
Made from lawn mower tractors.
A fun project would be upgrading a used golf cart with a lift kit, off road tires, etc. I bought a 1990 club cart last year for $500 that needed some work and it was a lot of fun. I didn’t get too deep into it since we keep it in Florida and I don’t have a lot of tools down there but, it would be a neat project. I have a kubota RTV at home and love it.
djbmw
Well-known member
Around here you can get a 1980's fourtrax or similar for $500 canadian. You could easily build from that...
Or... an early 2000's Yamaha Kodiak or similar for $1500 to $2,000.
They're almost the price of a McDonalds meal now! Crazy how stuff has skyrocketed
Or... an early 2000's Yamaha Kodiak or similar for $1500 to $2,000.
They're almost the price of a McDonalds meal now! Crazy how stuff has skyrocketed
iagsxr
Well-known member
Just throw this out there...
When I was looking for a four-wheeler one that I looked at had been traded in by an old farmer for a side by side because he couldn't get on the four-wheeler anymore.
I'd go the SXS-style route right off the bat due to your dad's age and how much more useful a SXS is.
When I was looking for a four-wheeler one that I looked at had been traded in by an old farmer for a side by side because he couldn't get on the four-wheeler anymore.
I'd go the SXS-style route right off the bat due to your dad's age and how much more useful a SXS is.
cody1325
Well-known member
Seem to recall an article in Farm Show about the same thing.
Been looking at some sizeable Gravely garden tractors my Stihl dealer has out back in the boneyard, and have been thinking about seeing if they'll sell me one for exactly that. I plan to stick a loader on it as well, and mostly use it for small tasks around the yard/garden.
CraigStu
Well-known member
I am with no704. The main problem I see is you need a suspension system w/ lot's of travel and that isn't any small tractor I am familiar with. They are a solid bolted to the frame rear and a limited travel rocker type front axle. I'd rather figure a way to replace an engine than a way to build a real suspension.
Lots of ATVs, Gators, Argos, etc., back in the day didn’t have any suspension at all. It’s very nice to have, but not necessary for an 84 y/o to just putt around on.
shoot summ
Well-known member
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I "built" one 30 years ago, picked up a roller Suzuki LT 230, found a cheap Suzuki ALT185 3 wheeler, auto clutch and reverse. Combined the 2 and picked up some used plastic and other parts. The Wife rode it for a couple of years, we called it the tractor, damn thing always ran, and pulled a lot of us out of being stuck.
A build from scratch is going to be time consuming and costly, I would start with a roller ATV at a minimum.
A build from scratch is going to be time consuming and costly, I would start with a roller ATV at a minimum.
alfadan
Well-known member
I see those little jeep toys at TSC and think, if they made those the size of a SxS, I'd buy one!
I think a golf cart with some decent tires would be just the ticket for an older fellow. Hell, that's who drives them around all the time anyway.
I think a golf cart with some decent tires would be just the ticket for an older fellow. Hell, that's who drives them around all the time anyway.
logical
Well-known member
A used gas golf cart is the clear choice. Every decent size metro area has a place or two that buys up fleets of them after a few years of service at a golf course and either rebuilds or just resells them.
cody1325
Well-known member
They technically do, and it's got more Jeep DNA than those over-glorified Power Wheels do. It's called the Mahindra Roxor.
Mahindra started making the Roxor as a rebadged Indian-market Thar, which was largely a modern body on Jeep CJ-3 running gear and a diesel. They ended up in a massive lawsuit with Chrysler over the grille, which at the time was almost a dead-ringer for a Jeep.
ROXOR Offroad USA | The World's Toughest Side-by-Side UTV
Discover ROXOR Offroad, the ultimate side-by-side vehicle engineered for extreme conditions. Featuring a boxed steel frame, an all-steel body, and a 55-hp Turbo Diesel engine. Find models, specs, special offers, and a USA dealer near you.
roxoroffroad.com
Old grille for comparison. This is the one the got sued over. A guy around here bought one as a daily driver (on farm plates), and at certain angles, it's almost indistinguishable from a Jeep.
Photo lifted from Wikipedia.
Honestly, I think they'd be a great daily driver in places where they allow UTVs/ATVs on public roads. They do on the secondary roads around here.
If he doesn't have the energy to get to the stuff that needs fixing, what makes you think he'll have the energy to build something ?
Buy him something so he can use it now, while he can get around.
Buy him something so he can use it now, while he can get around.
CraigStu
Well-known member
That depends on the ground he is running on. I know that running my lawn tractor a little into the woods at the edge of our lawn can get it stuck. When one of the rear wheels loses traction and spins, you stop. This is why I specifically bought one w/ a switch that locks the rear diff.
dfiler2
Well-known member
I got my dad an ezgo gas golf cart and put a lift kit, rear box and high torq clutch for less than $4000. He has used it for years and works great for him, not very fast but he is ok with that.
Michigan Mike
Well-known member
I am the proud owner of a Roxor. Michigan has some hoops you can jump through to make it street legal. I love it. It gets me around town and out to my deer hunting property. If you can make it street legal where you are it can be the best of two worlds road capable and utv on the farm
dcg9381
Well-known member
Shop used. Up north I notice quite a few "summer only" UTVs with 1-2k miles for 50% or less of what they cost originally. Get an EFI one. These are my "go to" tool if you have a shop that is detached. I've owned Yamaha and Polaris, both have been great. Over 14 years or so, a few CV axles and one fuel pump are the only things I've done. Both had lockers, they'd handle anything you would want to throw at them as a sane person and have a bed to carry your ****.
I found that the diesel versions were "undesirable" due to their relatively low acceleration and lack of top end speed (<40mph). But down south, the diesels really sell off the market cliff (price) in the used space.... The polaris I bought (900XP) I picked up at a farm/equipment auction.
UTVs drive much better than a golf cart and are built a lot better suspension wise. Some can tow a 1-3k lbs.
But yea, the new Polaris crew 1500 is like $40k+. Nuts. Just nuts.
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logical
Well-known member
I watched their rise and fall with the Roxor and half hearted attempt to enter the USPS next generation delivery vehicle competition from my office in the same general area as their facility. They would run around the area testing and eventually producing (assembling at least) production vehicles...until suddenly it all stopped. They still use the facility but I am not sure for what.They technically do, and it's got more Jeep DNA than those over-glorified Power Wheels do. It's called the Mahindra Roxor.
Mahindra started making the Roxor as a rebadged Indian-market Thar, which was largely a modern body on Jeep CJ-3 running gear and a diesel. They ended up in a massive lawsuit with Chrysler over the grille, which at the time was almost a dead-ringer for a Jeep.
ROXOR Offroad USA | The World's Toughest Side-by-Side UTV
Discover ROXOR Offroad, the ultimate side-by-side vehicle engineered for extreme conditions. Featuring a boxed steel frame, an all-steel body, and a 55-hp Turbo Diesel engine. Find models, specs, special offers, and a USA dealer near you.roxoroffroad.com
Old grille for comparison. This is the one the got sued over. A guy around here bought one as a daily driver (on farm plates), and at certain angles, it's almost indistinguishable from a Jeep.
Photo lifted from Wikipedia.
Honestly, I think they'd be a great daily driver in places where they allow UTVs/ATVs on public roads. They do on the secondary roads around here.
ATVs are so very different than your little riding mower. Not even the same class. A 200cc Honda Big Red can billy-goat its way up the side of a mountain.