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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 10:26am
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Hello all. I use ATVs a lot in my life for recreation and work related. Since it’s a 2 mile walk to our cabin from the lake we get dropped off at via 185 Cessna bush plane on floats in the non frozen months. Having a gasoline powered mule is a necessity. Don’t see much about them as a tool for the cabin. Was wondering who all uses them at their cabins and how.
We only have remote access during frozen seasons we use snogos. And as I have wrote for hauling in freight. Such as this cabin. I’m also a softie about keeping a couple extras around so we can take the family. I’m still dreaming about having the whole family out at the cabin for Christmas. And watching them all play in the snow. And admittedly I like machines.
I’ve had snogos and wheeler’s or bikes of some sort my entire life. And have used them to enjoy many places that few have been. But I would not have been able to build our cabin without ATVs of some sort. Or even be able to access to use. I staked this land by accessing it by snogo in really deep snow and minus 25 degree weather. And I sure have been having a blast watching our grandson driving his little snogo around the yard the last month. We still have crotch deep snow here but the beautiful 45 degree days are taking that away fast.
I do practice environmentally safe riding and am careful not to rip the earth as I say.
Was just curious as what you all may use atvs for.
My cabinquad and Coleman freight sled
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Alaskajohn
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 10:45am
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I completely agree to the usefulness of ATVs as a tool in all of the seasons in Alaska. Mine are used almost exclusively for work. I have one ATV and 2 side by sides that all are used for work.
During the winter I have one side by side set up with a snow blower and the ATV and other side by side hooked up with plows. I have a hilly half mile driveway that connects with the only road in the region. I use these to keep my long driveway clear if snow.
The summer they are used to access areas for subsistence activities all throughout the summer and fall and to harvest standing deadwood for our firewood. Around the homestead they are used for a wide variety of projects.
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Houska
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 11:22am
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We're in less extreme conditions than you guys, but definitely use them at our property in Eastern Ontario.
They're convenient was all sorts of stuff on "our" several hundred acres (part genuinely ours, as well as adjacent crown land).
They're important for us to get around and in to the cabin in spring and fall. It's down a 3 km forest road that's perfectly passable by (AWD) SUV when it's dry, from July to October. But it's too wet to reliably get in with a car April-May and December, and accessible but wet enough to cause trail damage with a heavy vehicle during June and November. So our ATV/UTV at least doubles our season.
Plus, it's a good workhorse for pulling in a trailer, moving logs or earth around, etc. We did manage with a trailer on our SUV and our tractor before, but with an ATV and UTV it improves the possibilities.
(In winter, we ski in.)
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 11:33am
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I use ATVs/UTVs all the time for recreation and work. The wife likes the UTV better because we are "protected" and I installed a heater for the cold season...However if i'm just going riding for fun I like to take the ATV....
For work I use them to collect firewood with a homebuilt 4x6 trailer. Use them to tow the boats/kayaks to the lake. Patrol the property. Mulching/landscaping.
For recreation my cabin is on an ATV trail system so we ride them all the time. We take them to get dinner, to the local gas station, etc.
I like to keep a few of them around so guests/friends/kids can enjoy them with us. We live on a family farm and my wife and her sister have built homes on. We have a community firepit in the corner of our field and its always a good time to all ride them up for a good fire and cocktail hour!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 01:22pm
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I have and use one at my cabin, I used to always bring my Suzuki quad (Eiger 4WD) but sold it in favor of buying a side by side (Kawasaki Mule) The mule was better suited to haul gear with the bed. The Mule has a roof and windshield, I installed a 3500# Superwinch. I added a 50 watt 2 meter ham radio. I also added the factory tow hitch. I have used it to skid large logs and it skids them with ease. The Mule has 4WD, front diff is of the LSD type and the rear has the ability to manually lock. So its an open differential in the rear to be easy on terrain, but can lock it if needing extra traction. To this day, I have never has the need to use the rear locker let along even 4WD, its like a real mule, goes anywhere as it is.
I have a little over 40 acres and its a long walk to any point in the property. I have a little road around the cabin, but the rest is roadless wilderness with no access except foot or the Mule. I can haul all my fencing tools, ie pullers, chain saw to cut wood or trees that have fallen over the fence line, fence splicers etc and run the fence line looking for breaks and repairing them when I find it.
Haul spare saw gas, bar oil, saw sharpening tools etc. Its a tool for the property and very valuable. I did set it up for road legal use, ie added proper lighting, turn signals and horns etc. In my state, we can make these, quads, dirt bikes road legal. The quads and side my sides get a special plate for limited use, roads with speeds limited to 35MPH and under.
I bought it new in 2015, its a model 610XC SE
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 01:26pm
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More photos
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 01:30pm
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Few more.
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My other ATV
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snobdds
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 01:56pm - Edited by: snobdds
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I use mine all the time. I put a cover on it for the dogs, they love going on rides. I usually just put the small trailer on it for moving firewood and logs.
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snobdds
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 02:00pm
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I hate this forum software...
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 02:12pm
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I got my Suzuki Eiger to use as mule on my property. Plow, roller and small dump trailer have come in extremely handing for road maintenance and other projects.
This was working swimmingly well until my wife discovered it. She gets on it and is gone for hours making a pest of herself to Amish. She thinks they are waving Hello but I'm sure it's good bye
I ended up buying an identical model that was in rough shape, cheap for parts. But I ended up fixing it. This strategy got me four Saab 99's at one time. I kept buying one for parts and fixing it
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Brettny
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 02:24pm
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We have a original Polaris Rzr. It's got not much bed so I can see how a ATV with a bed would be really handly.
I plan on bringing my little 19hp 4x4 tractor with loader to our property this year. I had been holding off on anything that can be done easier with it than a shovel.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 06:25pm
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I should probably upgrade
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 09:12pm
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We mostly use our for fun and pulling the boat out of the lake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNE8RvGESXs
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darz5150
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 09:24pm
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Quoting: paulz I should probably upgrade
Looks good to me! Lol.
What upgrade? Cell phone holder?
You are one of a kind my friend.
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AK Seabee
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 10:06pm
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We originally staked our property, cleared the cabin site and built the cabin. Atv's and the snow machine were essential. Everything was brought to the site with the arctic cat wheeler and bearcat snogo.
Our cabin would be difficult to access without wheelers, side by sides or snow machines.
We also use the toys to access the remote lake with grayling, or to visit neighbors, do trail maintenance, or even projects.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 11:06pm - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: paulz I should probably upgrade
Paulz, its long overdue. Treat yourself. And wash that dang bike. I laughed when I saw your post and picture.
I do have another rig I take over to the cabin, its my rapid response rig.
This is my grandpa put put rig, sold my KLR650 and my KTM 300
Its a 2008 Yamaha XT250 (white bike)
No, they are not brand new, I am just super anal on cleanliness. (type A ultra)
Just added rear rack/rotopak tankbag
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XT at cabin
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2002 KLR650A16
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KTM 300XCW
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darz5150
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# Posted: 9 Apr 2020 11:54pm
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The good thing about paulz "Git er Done" vehicle is that if he has motor problems while gitten er done. With a Swiss Army knife or multi tool. He can probably do an emergency motor transplant, cut the tree and get back to the cabin. Lol.ðŸ‘
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paulz
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# Posted: 10 Apr 2020 11:47am - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: darz5150 The good thing about paulz "Git er Done" vehicle is that if he has motor problems while gitten er done. With a Swiss Army knife or multi tool. He can probably do an emergency motor transplant, cut the tree and get back to the cabin. Lol.
Ha, true, I think they are both 80cc. I got that mini bike back when I first got the property, for a long time it was all I had to run around the place on besides my daily driver pickup.
A few years ago I got this little pickup I use now. It's actually a bit unique, the only year Datsun sold a 4x4, next year they were Nissan. It's nice because it is small enough to get around my trees. Not street legal but it will run the 2 miles into town in a pinch.
I still use the mini bike though to run down and shut the gate or what not. Rode it yesterday. The dog loves chasing it, they are neck and neck for top speed.
TMT, nice looking bikes you have there. I was a dirt rider for most of my life. Too old to fall down anymore. Here's a shot from 1970 and 1990.
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AKfisher
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# Posted: 10 Apr 2020 12:24pm - Edited by: AKfisher
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I used to have a wheeler until the family grew, we now have a side by side. I haul firewood, kids and dogs. Go fishing and hunting with it. It sure is a nice tool to have.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 11 Apr 2020 11:22am
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Quoting: paulz TMT, nice looking bikes you have there. I was a dirt rider for most of my life. Too old to fall down anymore. Here's a shot from 1970 and 1990.
paulz, did dirt around early 70's just sold last of them last year. Wife said if I broke a hip, she was going to toss me into a nursing home.
A few more of my off highway vehicles. I have had over a dozen in the last 15 years. Many at one time.
The yellow Honda 90 I totally restored, was an old USFS rig (ID tag on steering stem next to VIN said so).
I have a good pal who brings his 900cc Polaris RZR, but it uses a live rear axle and really grinds up terrain, so I make him to wide sweeper turns and no tight turns in my gravel roads.
Kaw KDX 220
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Yamaha WR450F
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78 Honda CT90
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 11 Apr 2020 11:24am
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Quoting: AKfisher I used to have a wheeler until the family grew, we now have a side by side. I haul firewood, kids and dogs. Go fishing and hunting with it. It sure is a nice tool to have.
I have found my side by side to be a very valuable tool. Many look at it as a piece of recreational gear, not so, its a work tool. One of my best investments (not for $$$ return) but for usefulness at property.
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gsreimers
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# Posted: 13 Apr 2020 08:34pm
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Our place is 5 acres on an island so everything comes in by boat in the summer or snowmobile in the winter. The cabin sits 200' off the water and up a pretty good hill. Our Can Am Outlander 570 is a lifesaver. It hauls everything up the hill. Makes many 200 ' trips every year but never gets to go any farther as it is stuck on the island.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 13 Apr 2020 09:21pm
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Quoting: gsreimers Our place is 5 acres on an island so everything comes in by boat in the summer or snowmobile in the winter. The cabin sits 200' off the water and up a pretty good hill. Our Can Am Outlander 570 is a lifesaver. It hauls everything up the hill. Makes many 200 ' trips every year but never gets to go any farther as it is stuck on the island.
I think how easy we have it compared to the early pioneers. The internal combustion engine has certainly been a game changer. Where my cabin is, its an 18 mile slow trek into town and the area is rich in gold mining history and lots of old log cabins from the 1800's still standing and some are even lived in, in the area. I imagine a simple trip to town I take with my truck with AC on hailing loads of supply's back up, they made in a buckboard wagon, much slower pace, rough road, lots of dust, probably once a month or two to haul up supplies, probably flour, salt and coffee.
We are truly spoiled now days. I drive my Mule 1/8 of a mile to close my gate at night. 
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shingobeek
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# Posted: 13 Apr 2020 10:06pm
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gsreimers and I have similar places, I have 5 acres on West side of a lake with no road access......all boat or sled, but we have been talking about buying a small 4 wheeler to use with a trailer to haul gear up the hill to the cabin. We have had a winch and wagon system, but that broke several years ago, and that hill gets bigger each year....maybe a small 4 wheeler and small trailer is the next step?
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darz5150
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# Posted: 13 Apr 2020 11:46pm
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Quoting: shingobeek maybe a small 4 wheeler and small trailer is the next step?
If you just need one for a pack mule. Maybe check into an old riding mower. You can get them cheap or free. Once the decks rust/crap out. No body wants them.
Just get rid of the deck. Hook up a trailer. And go.
I've got a little 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 foot trailer. And have hauled everything from firewood, 2-100# propane tanks, water barrels etc with a few different Sanford and Son deck less mowers.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 13 Apr 2020 11:59pm
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Here's a few of my small cabin helpers.
Mower/trailer
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Old Wheel Horse/disc
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'80 side x side w/dump bed
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Log Dawg
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2020 11:12am
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dark that Log Dawg is a cool looker. Sure a variety of little rigs to make life easier.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2020 10:06pm
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Quoting: Aklogcabin that Log Dawg is a cool looker.
Thanks AK. Still a work horse even tho its 40 years old.
The grand kids love it when they come out to visit. Usually the first question they ask is, "Can we drive the Log Dawg?" Lol.
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Cowracer
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# Posted: 15 Apr 2020 03:12pm
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We use our Side-by-sides mainly for recreation. We have paved roads right up to the driveway, so hauling stuff in is easy-peesy.
At our lake, we pretty much all get around in them. You will see a sprinkling of golf carts, but they struggle with the hills here. Most evenings, we load up the coolers, jump in the SXS's and run around. Usually stopping at friends places, and occasionally, getting a little stupid with them in the woods and trails below the damn.
Every year, there are a few 'poker runs' with them. My favorite is one of the biggest ones. It's a trash clean-up day, and you can win prizes based on how much you haul back to the collection point. This is a video of the participants right before it started.
URL
About half my enjoyment from my lake-lot and cabin comes from my side-by-side.
Tim
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shingobeek
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# Posted: 15 Apr 2020 07:58pm
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Darz5150, never really thought of it, thanks....cheap and effective.
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