I have an opportunity to get into an ATV pretty reasonable this year. I have never used one for anything, and don' know much about them.
I am struggling a bit with getting it, as I don't know how much, if any, use it will get outside of hunting/trapping season. I don't own any property myself, and the house is on 2ish acres, so don't really need it at home. I am sure I can come up with plenty of uses if I try hard. I don't own a trailer either, would need to get one of those to take it to other properties I trap.
I can definitely see the advantage to using one for my trapping. I run my lines on foot now, would be able to run quite a bit more with the atv. I work full time, so checking before/after work. I can only walk so far, so fast. And carrying dead stuff out any more than 50 yards or so takes even more time.

So, talk me into why I need one, or why I shouldn't bother. Thanks.

I think you have the why

it is more of a does your why justify the cost

when you get a trailer go bigger than you think you need you will find a hundred uses for a 14 foot utility trailer that you hadn't even thought of yet

also you might want 2 or a SxS there are a lot of trails open to them now in WI for more off season use.

several of my neighbors plow with them , they are not the best plow but they do sidewalks quick

I could not justify the cost as most of the farms I trap I can drive the truck around where I need

A bigger trailer is always nice, but if he doesn’t have a use for it a smaller one may work in his favor. Big enough to haul the four wheeler and cooler, but could unhook it from the truck and tow behind the wheeler with trapping supplies and catches. But they are more of a pain to back up, so remember that.

I use mine for trapping pocket gophers. They are in places where walking is too far and a pickup can't go.

Space is definitely an issue when it comes to a trailer. I have garage space for the atv, but not for a trailer. And I hate leaving them outside, uncovered.

Time saver for sure but sucks if you live in a suburb or town

4 wheelers are better than on foot, side by side utv I prefer over 4 wheelers. Easier on and off and has a bed, can hall more and you can just toss things in the bed Instead of having to strap everything down on a rack.


Like said above a small trailer can be pulled behind a 4 wheeler. But that's more time hooking and unhooking but small trailers are easy to move around by hand.

I think you will like It being able to check and set more faster withoutbhaving to pack everything.

if the price Is right and you don't like it you can always sell it and get your money back or even make a little profit.

You can always build another building if you have room.

Lots of uses for a 4 wheeler I use mine to spray weeds mostly and checking traps in times of bad weather. Pull my log splitter around with it also when you need it it’s priceless not like I need to feed it if I’m not using it.

Trapping and hunting should be enough to justify buying it. If you have a pickup you don't need a trailer. It can go on your pickup with ramps. I have a 5×8 trailer from home Depot for mine. It works great. Used to pull it with my car. Now I have an SUV. Give your legs and back a break and expand your line a little at the same time. Whatever you chose to do. Good luck this year! And enjoy

I like mine as I can get into places that I can't with a UTV although I am limited on what I can haul. If your trapping one one farm or several close together, perhaps you can ask the farmers if you can park it in a shed for the season. Maybe even the off season too?

As far as storage, can you park it inside on the trailer? Careful about leaving it parked outside on the trailer or you may wake up to find both gone.

I agree with Providence Farms on reselling if you decide to.

I have big storage crates front and back....in my country its invaluable. Has a winch also.

You dont need a trailer for an atv.Just a trifold ramp and some tie downs in the back of your pick up truck.
Used an ATV for trapping long lines since 94.Used a 3 wheeler before that.

I would be lost without my sxs. I put 50-75 miles a day on mine. I do have to trailer it some. I have a heater, radio and light bars, which is nice when temps get to -20. It has helped me get on some properties by not making big tracks or ruts if it gets wet. Usually by the middle of November, wet isn't a problem.

I have two, one newer and larger 450 and the oldere 300 Honda. I use the small one for trapping on several properties. I pull my otter slead with gear to the river sites, plus the dry land coon lines on several properties.
I use both heavily for our sap collection. They are housed at our son and DiLs place where they have a 6 acres hobby farm with sheep and 10 acres of woods they use for their wood burner. They use them more than I do and they do the tires, batteries etc. for the use they get. I use a 5 by 9 foot trailer to haul my 4-wheeler. I have made two boxes to fit front and back to haul gear. I don't think you would be dissappointed at all in getting one. Another thought is buy one and maybe a hobby farmer near you or a permission farm can use it the times you don't need it and costs could be shared etc. Also storage issues might be resolved as well.

Bryce

I have a trailer but normally just run mine in and out of my pickup truck, I drive a F350 so takes a longer ramp and it’s steep but you get used to it. The ramp is tri fold and slides under the 4 wheeler once loaded. I never tie mine in, I did take a glue lam. Beam and cut it to fit in the front of the bed, that keeps the brush guard on the quad from breaking the back window. Just close the tailgate and drive off.



wws

buy it, you can't take the money with you when you pass on,

Definitely go for it you will be surprised how much you find to do with one once you have it

I have that feeling for sure.

Thanks guys. I am going to talk to the neighbor about it more this weekend.

WWS reminded me of a good point about halling in a truck bed. I Normally never straped mine in. One day I did and was on some rough coal mine roads hit a bump and blew out my back window. Now this was probably close to 20 years ago and I don't remember the details other than I never once had a problem until I straped it in. small ones fit better in trucks.

I'm glad I did bust the rear window becuse I watched them when it was replaced and saw how easy it was and saved the Cash the next time I busted one with fire wood replacing it myself . But the best saving thing was I was in TX with my wife and oldest son that was under a year old picking up an old military truck. While my wife was moving things into the hotel and I was checking the chains on the trailer our son was playing in the cab of the truck and locked himself in and the keys were in it. I just pop out the back window to get in and had it back in in under 10 min.

This is contrary to what a couple folks are advocating, but you should absolutely tie it down in the bed of a truck...front and back. If tied down correctly, you wont pop your back window on rough roads and you are protecting yourself against liability in the event of an unfortunate accident that would have your ATV thrown from the back (if it were not tied down).