Work and Utility

The saying is, “Old habits die hard.” Can-Am engineers learned that feeling well when three years ago development work began on a new model that was to be unlike anything they’d built before. Still, there would be some similarities; the new model would need excellent power, first class styling, and manufacturing excellence. It was not all unfamiliar territory, but rather than for racing across the desert or dunes, the new model was aimed squarely at what had been the domain of the Polaris Ranger.

Atten-TION!  Before we can proceed any further, we gotta get somethin’ straight.  The new POL-aris General is NOT your mommas UTV.  It’s a fine, multi-pur

We always have work to do around the yard or farm, and a couple times a year that includes grading the drive to take out the holes that somehow develop on their own for no apparent reason. In the past that has meant a rake and shovel, but it’s darn near impossible when the drive is one step below the hardness of concrete. Thankfully, we’ve finally solved that problem and now we’ve got a tool that makes it a whole lot easier.

Cub Cadet is a company that was formed over five decades ago to serve the American dream.  The rapidly swelling ranks of post war baby boomers were moving to the suburbs and country by the millions and buying homes with plenty of grass for kids, dogs, or playing catch.  Between the picket fences and the front porch though, there was a lot of grass to cut and snow to push, and nothing could be more rural than a small tractor in their small field to get the job done.

Woods Powr-Grip has been making tools for lifting and maneuvering difficult to grip pieces such as glass, stone, metal, etc. for almost 50 years.  Their gripping tools can be found working away on automotive assembly lines, installing glass panels on new skyscrapers, and even in the car repair shop pulling dents from body panels.  If you’ve got a tough surface to work with, they’ve got a tool that can get the job done.

No machine has played a bigger role or has had more impact for a wider variety of owners than the Polaris Ranger.  Before the Ranger, John Deere’s Gator and Kawasaki’s Mule were about the only choice for any serious, work capable utility vehicle.  Both the Gator and the Mule were solid performers on the farm or the job site, but weekend recreation was not their domain or even much of a consideration.  The new Ranger, however, offered the ability to haul everything from bricks to hay bales all week and camping, hunting, or fishing gear all weekend.

One of the best-selling accessories for ATV and Side x Sides is an aftermarket plow. With their maneuverability, 4wd, and ability to work in tight quarters, an ATV or UTV with a plow can get into places a tractor or truck mounted plow can’t reach, and they’re much more cost effective. If you already own an ATV or Side x Side, it’s a no-brainer to turn it into a winter work tool as well.

We’ve seen all types of bolt on attachments, but we’ve never seen anything quite like the Kubota RTV RAC system developed by Seizmik. It won’t make you faster, your engine more powerful, or your machine more capable of climbing the dunes or slogging through muddy fields, but it absolutely excels at turning a hard-working UTV, like the Kubota RTV, into a four-wheeled work platform. It’s your truck, your shop, your toolbox, and your work buddy all in one tough, mobile package.

When most people think of John Deere, it has little to do with off-road vehicles and everything to do with American agriculture. There’s more than one side to a field, however, and the company that began with old John Deere’s simple steel plow, pounded into shape from a broken saw blade, has turned into one of the world’s most recognizable brands, with products that touch on nearly every type of outdoor activity whether it’s work or recreation. Deere & Co.

Regardless of where you go, there are Side x Sides hard at work or play. What started years ago as simple utility vehicles, such as Kawasaki’s Mule, was quickly adapted by sportsman as Polaris introduced the Ranger, and then Yamaha jumped on the sport aspect with their Rhino. Today there are models of every size and for every imaginable use. For manufacturers already in the powersports business, it made sense to introduce another product line for their dealers and customers. While other brands gobbled up sales, the question was always: when would Honda bring out a Side x Side of their own?