Considering a purchase/trying to convince the wife...

[jedi_4_life]

Hello All,
I’m new to the forum and am considering a 6x6 amphib for my house. I originally was looking at a quad for doing work around my house as well as for plowing snow. I have a little over 2 acres and plan on doing a lot of landscaping, rock wall building, etc so I envision towing a trailer. At this time I hadn’t planned on doing a lot of recreational riding, but that could always change. Then I came across 6x6world and saw how cool an Amphibious ATC would be. Plus, I live on a 100 acre state owned pond, with a boat launch and all so I’d love to get use out of the pond as well.
Here are some of my questions:
- Can I expect to get enough use out of a 6x6 around the yard as compared to a quad? I would be doing such things as towing a trailer filled with dirt or rocks, plowing a 500 ft steep driveway in the winter, etc. Plowing is the big thing. I’m not sure if I’d need tracks, but I have a steep driveway and snow removal is key. Plus I pay about $350 a year to my snow plow guy, and I feel like I'm paying him for something he enjoys doing.
- Should I expect some complaints from the other homeowners around the pond about the noise, or the disruption of wildlife that they might think a 6x6 causes. There are a lot of lilly pads in the pond and I’m sure the 6x6 would tear some of them up. (Note: the pond has a 5 or 6 MPH speed limit, but that’s it from what I understand. Gas motors are allowed.)
- Over time, if you were to enter and exit the water at the same location, would there be a lot of evidence and would the shoreline get eroded? I ask because the state owns a 10 ft border around the pond, which is also a nature trail. So I don’t own exactly up to the pond. With my luck, someone might notice when walking the path and complain that I’m destroying the environment.

So, my main use would be for work around the house, but I’d love to take advantage of the pond and take my daughter out for a ride now and then. Thanks for the help!

[Raleigh Trainer]

This sounds like me 5 months ago. Now, I'm planning rides with friends as often as I can.

I bought a Polar Sport trailer from Northern, and it tows great behind my Max II:
Polar Sport Off-Road ATV Trailer — 1500-Lb. Capacity, Model# 8233 | Lawn + Garden Trailers | Northern Tool + Equipment

I can get around my 2.5 acre wooded property much, much easier in my Max than I could in something like my friends' Polaris Sportsman 500s because of a utility quad's poor turning radius. My Max spins on a dime. Plus, it makes turning with a trailer super easy, though you do have to watch you don't turn TOO much, or you can bend the bar across the back of the AATV.

My 4yo daughter LOVES riding with me. I had to get a seatbelt tensioner because the belt was too loose even when cranked all the way, but it was an excuse to get her a really cool helmet and googles. She asks me almost every day, "Dad, can we go ride the six wheeler?"

The tires are not environmentally friendly, though. You will most likely leave "evidence" of your exits from the pond, and six tires paddling through the water do indeed churn things up quite a bit. This is not like a jonboat with a small outboard.

The newer AATVs are much quieter than older models, but I still feel noisy when I ride through our neighborhood's common areas. I feel like I'm going to get a phonecall any day.

Look at it this way, though. You still wouldn't be taking 4-wheeler into the pond, now, would you. So, you might as well get an AATV, use it around your property, then find real areas to ride near you.

[6X6]

Hi:
If it's a steep exit, expect to leave pleanty of tracks. If it's a shallow slope and you take it easy, you should be able to avoid major damage, but don't expect no evidence. My 7 or so acers of pond/stream border many neighbors, but despite me owning a 2-stroke (noisier than newer 4-stroke machines,) I have yet to get: calls, authority visits, even much attention at all. But if your driving around the yard, sharp turns damage the grass quickly. But my 4 wheeler does so too, but to a lesser degree. (Sport Quad with solid axle. A rear diff equiped utility would do little damage at all, unless you lock the diffs)

EDIT: OK, if it's leaving tracks at the edge that's a worry, get an old indoor/outdoor carpet to roll out ( Preferrably red) and climb in and out on that. This will work fine if it's not very steep. If it's steep the rug will get pulled out from under you

[artist1018]

Anchor the carpet piece with tent stakes!!

[brushcutter]

You can always offer to take the neighbors for rides,plow their drives and such.Who knows,your owning one could convince others to get one of their own and then you could go riding together.And thats a good thing!