Finally gonna bite the bullet and get some offroad transportation for the canine line. I can no longer walk the lines like I used to. For the guys that use an atv or utv for trapping, which do you prefer. What are the pros and cons of each one? Using a honda rancher on one property that the owner provided and like it except for the storage room available.

Side by side. For this next season my son and I made a goal to catch enough fur for a side by side. Just a used one then get it inclosed. It will definitely put less wear on the truck. I’ve used a quad in the past and it is nice but a side by side will be a little easier with one or two kids tagging along.

You boys must have some deep pockets.

Heck Beav ..I have two of each .. lol ...all but one side by side are old. 2016 can am defender my newest.

ATV will go a few places a UTV won't in timber. UTV will haul more gear and a passenger. I put a box on front and back of my 550 ATV will hold two dz #3size traps drivers small cut down pickaxe hammer and three gallon jugs of waxed dirt cablestakes and a few snares in back box. Drill and augers gloves setting tongs waxed paper trowel sifter visual attractors and misselanious items go in front.
Trapping bag gets bungied on top of back box. Sometimes a chainsaw
gets laid on it's side and the bag sets on the bar then both get bungied down. The saw only goes when I expect blow down trees across the trail
in front or behind me. Works good for me

Depends on how wide your trails are.

I have a small ATV and glad I didn't buy a bigger one. Out in the wide open, would be a different story.

Not to mention I trailer my ATV on a small trailer...then hook that trailer to the ATV and go. Can't do that will a big UTV trailer. Well you can, but what a pain.

I have and use both. Normally use the side by side as I can haul everything I need in it and do not have to unload it to trailer it from one property to the next. But the side by side is heavier and tracks up wet trails and roads more than the ATV. With all of the wet we had this year, I would set with the side by side and runs checks with the ATV.

I have a cam am commander...I love it for trapping I just need to organize a little better

If your patient and shop around, you can get a used Polaris Ranger 550 for $3k-$4k that will last you a lot of years. Not to much difference in price from a 4-wheeler. You do need to buy a trailer because its not going to fit in the bed of your truck haha. You don't need to buy a $20K Rzr for trapping. Another reason why I want a side by side, especially a ranger, is because you can get kits to fully in close them, and even get a heater. When you got a 5 year old with you, having it in closed at heated will be nice. I know I'm from southern Nevada, but what people don't realize is it does get cold, especially in the mountains. Plus when your used to 110 degree summers, 20-30 degrees is very cold. You also get the added protection from rain and snow. Especially if you have a year like is year where it seemed to rain and/or snow almost every time I checked the last couple months of the season. The fully enclosed kits can be expensive, but my brother buys and sells used ATVs, dirt bikes, and side by sides in Idaho and said he doesn't get to much more for a side by side with an enclosed kit vs one without it so he could get me a kit for a good price.

Suzuki samurai. Cab-heat-cheap-drive it instead of tow it--if want to tow no need for a trailer with a bumper hitch. At couple 1000miles on a sxs it's rdy to be rebuilt when a samurai is rdy for an oil change.....granted I trap close to home but I drive anywhere a sxs will go and down the hiways to next line. Sure works good for me

I use a Polaris sxs bought it new in 13 it's a 14 model it got 10000 miles on it I trailer it between spots I wouldn't recommend a Polaris for trapping my machine is literally starting to fall apart it's getting it's third clutch put in it now highly recommend a direct drive mcahine if you pick a four wheeler or sxs

Terrain will dictate which suits you best. Are you chasing beavers in river bottoms or chasing yotes in ag fields? I do both and get along great with my Honda rancher at 450! UTVS are great for predator trapping. But if your chasing beavers and otts in river bottoms unless the owners made woods roads they are limited! My atv I can weave in and out of trees easily. But your loads are more restricted if you plan on it lasting any amount of time. I got two special ordered plastic truck tuff boxes mounted on mine. But be warned it makes them very top heavy! My back box will easily hold 6 dozen predator traps. which I never haul over 3 dozen to help save my machine. My front box only gets baits and lures With a gun rack mounted on the back side to hold my driver a sledge hammer and catch pole. My next machine will probably be a utv only down fall in muddy situations they cut ruts as big as trucks. that will be a game stopper for me. Some of my farmers have better field roads then our county roads.They say they don't mind my 4 wheeler tracks just don't drive the same track repeatedly.

For sure on terrian up and down threw hilly pasture ground is what I mostly trap forgot to mention that also I recommend the mid size models they really aren't much heavier then a big atv

I couldn't agree more I borrow a 250 timber wolf when the bottom falls out! But its only purpose is for carrying critters and my lazy butt

Ive got a Yamaha Viking that will be getting a cap and heater this year ( $4000 to get it), I prefer a side x side for most of my activities but there are those time a 4 wheeler would be better. If I was strictly going by myself and not using it to hunt too I'd look at the wolverine.

After riding around in the rain on my quad all last season, I would say go for the side by side with windshield and wipers!!

I trap coyotes off of a Polaris Ranger. It's a 800 with a cab enclosure. I don't have a heater, but might be putting one in this summer. Obviously the sxs can haul so much more than an atv. I trap in pastures that is to rough to use a pickup, and much to far to walk. This summer, I'm taking the box off and building a box strictly for trapping. Will have drawers for lure and bait, another for drivers and set making tools, cutouts for 5 gallon buckets of waxed sand and compartments for traps. Going to use plywood until I have it the way I want, then will build one out of diamond plate or aluminum.

I have both, they each have a place on my trap line. If l had to chose l honestly don’t know which one l would give up.

I am probably going to redo the bed on my Honda Pioneer as well so I can organize it better. Those molded plastic bed walls are pretty tough but they are not conducive to mounting brackets on to hold tools or stakes. Not sure exactly how I am going to do it yet but there is definitely room for improvement.

Whichever one you get, wear a helmet. I was really really lucky last fall. This one landed square in my back (thought for sure I broke my back) and just barely missed my head with the rear drop down basket and then proceeded to tumble over 400 yards down the mountain. Luckily I had insurance. Only had 240 miles on it, 2017 Yamaha Kodiak. Walked away with a cracked rib is all.