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Which side-by-side for hunting, forestry, farming and winter service?
Which side-by-side is suitable for hunting, forestry, agriculture or winter service? We show what matters.
Which side-by-side is right for hunting, forestry, farming and winter service?
A side-by-side is particularly interesting when an ATV reaches its limits in terms of carrying capacity, comfort or weather protection. With a steering wheel and pedals, seats side by side and a cargo bed, many side-by-sides make excellent work vehicles, including for winter service (snow clearing and gritting).
Which model is right depends above all on which jobs the vehicle is meant to do. A vehicle for rounds of the hunting ground has to meet different requirements from a side-by-side that works on a farm every day or pushes a snow plough blade in winter.
Which side-by-side for hunting and gamekeeping?
For hunting and gamekeeping, compact dimensions, good off-road capability and sufficient room to carry things are particularly important.
A cargo bed offers space for equipment and other material. A cab can also make sense if the vehicle is used all year round and in bad weather.
Depending on the job, particularly useful are:
- Four-wheel drive
- sufficient ground clearance
- cargo bed
- Winch
- Towing capability
- roof or full cab
- heating for year-round use
- additional lighting
Suitable model ranges include the Can-Am Traxter, Polaris Ranger or CFMOTO UForce. Which model and which engine make sense depends on how demanding the terrain is and which loads are to be carried or towed.
Which side-by-side for forestry?
In the forest, robustness, off-road capability and carrying capacity come first. If you regularly carry tools, firewood or other material, you will particularly benefit from the cargo bed of a side-by-side.
For more demanding forestry work, the vehicle should have four-wheel drive, low range, sufficient ground clearance and suitable tyres.
A winch and a towing option can also be useful for work. If you tow trailers regularly, pay particular attention to the permitted towing capacity of the specific vehicle.
For this kind of work, work models from the Can-Am Traxter, Polaris Ranger and CFMOTO UForce ranges are worth considering, for example.
Which side-by-side for farming?
On the farm, a side-by-side is particularly interesting if people, tools or material regularly need to be moved around the premises.
The cargo bed is a big advantage over an ATV here. Depending on the model, tools, material or other work equipment can be carried directly on the vehicle.
Important features are:
- Four-wheel drive
- large, heavy-duty cargo bed
- sufficient payload
- suitable towing capacity
- Towing capability
- robust tyres
- Winch
- cab and heating if needed
If you mainly do short inspection rounds, you don't automatically need the most powerful engine. With regular trailer use, heavy loads and demanding terrain, on the other hand, larger models can make sense.
Which side-by-side for winter service?
For regular winter service, a side-by-side's main advantage over an ATV is comfort. An enclosed cab with heating makes a clear difference when you work for several hours in low temperatures.
The vehicle should be prepared for, or suitable for, fitting a suitable snow plough blade system. Depending on the job, a spreader can also be used on or attached to the cargo bed.
Particularly important are:
- Four-wheel drive
- suitable tyres
- sufficient power
- Snow plough blade
- a spreader if needed
- cab
- heating
- good lighting
For regular winter service, suitably equipped Can-Am Traxter, Polaris Ranger or CFMOTO UForce models are interesting options, for example.
Do I need a full cab?
Not necessarily. If you mainly use the side-by-side in good weather or only occasionally, you can also manage with a roof, windscreen or a simpler cab solution.
For year-round work, winter service or frequent trips in rain and low temperatures, a full cab makes considerably more sense. Combined with heating, it creates a much better protected workplace.
ATV or side-by-side for work?
An ATV is more compact and often the better choice when manoeuvrability and small dimensions are particularly important.
A side-by-side, on the other hand, offers more space for driver and passenger, greater carrying capacity thanks to the cargo bed and, depending on the equipment, an enclosed cab with heating.
If you regularly carry material, work longer shifts or need a weather-protected workplace all year round, you should therefore consider a side-by-side.
Conclusion
For hunting and gamekeeping, compact dimensions, off-road capability and room to carry things are decisive. In forestry, robustness, the cargo bed and trailer use become more important. On the farm, payload, cargo bed and versatility take priority. For winter service, four-wheel drive, a snow plough blade and above all a cab with heating are interesting.
So engine power is not the only deciding factor. The right side-by-side should be chosen according to the job, the cargo bed you need, towing capacity, terrain and the weather protection you want.
