ATVs and UTVs were once considered a luxury or, at best, a way of transporting people and materials around the farm. However, with more powerful engines and more robust frames and drive trains, modern ATVs and UTVs are proving capable farm tools, and their manoeuvrability and lower cost often give them an edge over their larger counterparts in some situations. Of the many implements that can be attached to your ATV or UTV to make use of this capability, here are 15 of the most useful.

1 Trailer: the original implement used on ATVs and still very useful. These range from the simple plastic wheelbarrow type to the dump trailer style, with electric tipping.

Trailers are used behind UTVs less often as they have a load area on the back.

2 Sprayer: sprayers on the back of ATVs and UTVs are a common sight. Mounted and trailed models are available. These can have booms or a hand lance. Boom widths of 16ft plus are available.

The hand lance system is often used to work in and around trees to keep growth under control. These are heavily used in the landscaping and property maintenance sectors.

3 Yard scraper: the simple yard scraper attached to one of these vehicles can be very useful when dealing with smaller areas where a standard tractor and scraper may not fit.

4 Rotary brush: these are attached to the front of your machine and are usually powered by their own motor. They are a really handy tool for keeping a yard clean and tidy.

5 Silage pusher/blade: these are used on either machine to push up silage or other fodder to feeding gates. Again these are useful when space is at a premium.

6 Shredders and mowers: there are many different types of mowers and shredders available on the market, including finishing mowers for the amenities market and shredders for scrub removal.

All of these machines can be used behind either vehicle.

7 Feeders: these carry a bulk amount of feed. The feed can then be either electrically or mechanically released. Release can be either done in snack form or a constant pour into troughs.

8 Weed wipers: these are very useful for selective use of herbicide to remove taller weeds from grassland without the danger of causing scorch to the grass.

9 Fertiliser spreaders: trailed and mounted spreaders are available that can carry up to 600kg of fertiliser. These allow for fertiliser to be spread on terrain where a tractor and spreader would be unable to travel.

They may also allow for fertiliser to be spread at an earlier time, as they can travel on ground that is not sufficiently dry for larger equipment.

10Muck spreaders: a side-flinger spreader can also be towed behind either machine. This would be very useful if spreading in small paddocks or loading directly in a small yard or shed.

11 Snow plough: in Ireland this is probably not something that will get much use, but they are available.

12 Menage graders: these are used in the equestrian industry to level the sand after horses have disturbed it.

13 Power loader: this a loader system for the front of an ATV which can be operated using an already fitted electric winch.

14 Posthole borer: an auger posthole borer can be fitted to an ATV, it uses its own engine and the winch to lower and raise the auger.

15 Snow blower: similar to the snow plough, but this comes with its own engine, which runs an auger feed system and blowing system to throw the snow out of the way.

This list covers most of the implements available for your UTV or ATV, both the standard ones and the slightly obscure.

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Focus: ATVs and UTVs