EQUIPMENT FOCUS
By Gregg Wartgow
WHY UTILITY VEHICLES
MAKE SENSE IN LANDSCAPING Today’s utility vehicles can handle a variety of terrain, quickly transport employees, haul heavy loads and power attachments. Plus, they are less expensive to operate than a pickup truck.
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n the game of baseball, a utility player is one who can play a variety of positions. In landscaping and groundskeeping, a utility vehicle (UTV) can also play a variety of positions in a variety of working environments. It is that element of versatility that makes them so popular and continues to fuel demand. “From farmers and ranchers to surveyors and contractors, all types of users find UTVs to be a valuable part of their equipment lineup,” says James Little, dealer development manager for KIOTI Tractor, a manufacturer
Kubota
Utility vehicles are becoming more popular with landscapers because of their ability to efficiently travel in a variety of environments, from wide-open spaces to more congested areas with rough terrain. Pictured is Kubota’s new RTV-XG850 Sidekick UTV.
of tractors, zero-turn mowers, utility vehicles and attachments. “Landscape contractors rank high on that list— probably as one of the top three or four heaviest users of UTVs.” According to Roger Gifford, Kubota product marketing manager for utility vehicles, the primary audiences for UTVs often vary by vehicle and manufacturer. For example, some UTVs are designed more for recreational use, and some manufacturers cater more to certain customer segments such as landscapers, rural property owners or farmers. “Kubota’s full line of workhorse utility vehicles serve landscapers and contractors, construction sites, large-property owners and ag customers,” Gifford says. “Landscape contractors rank ahead of the construction market and are in Kubota’s
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top three customer segments along with our agriculture and residential customers.” Kubota is a manufacturer of tractors, loaders excavators, mowers, UTVs and attachments.
Ideal landscaping applications for a UTV
Landscape contractors often have to haul heavy materials and tools around a jobsite. According to KIOTI’s Little, a UTV with a large cargo bed, strong weight and substantial towing capacity can greatly improve production. Another thing to think about is traveling around congested areas of land, such as a bustling commercial site or heavily landscaped residential property. “A UTV is more maneuverable than a truck,” Little says. “A multirow UTV is helpful when transporting tools across large landscape sites.”