What gas powered vehicle to get? | General Homesteading Discussion

What gas powered vehicle to get?

Page: 1 2 3 4

PorkChopsMmm

Rancher

Members

Forum Posts: 1515

Member Since:
5 Mar ’12

Offline

1 Dec ’15 - 2:19 pm

My kids are getting older and the electric dirt bike and electric ATV are breaking down a lot and causing issues. We are thinking of getting a gas powered vehicle but are unsure of what to get. Below are a few of our requirements... what do you all think? My kids older kids are 7 and 8 and have been riding vehicles for a while. Our land is almost all flat as well and I would say our kids are pretty responsible.

Safe for kids to ride
Ideally 2 can ride at a time
Built tough and reliable
Fun for the kids to drive
Can help with chores in some way (has racks, a tow hitch, etc.)
Less than $1k

My wife is keen on go kart with suspension but, while it may be the safest, it is also the largest, the hardest to store, and probably the least helpful when working. I am thinking a small ATV is the way to go but my main concern is having kids riding '2 up' on an ATV built for one person. They already ride like this now but the electric ATV only goes ~ 5 miles per hour.

Any thoughts? I think this thing is awesome but the safety part makes me hesitate. Just to clarify, our kids won't be jumping off of hills or riding offroad paths fast -- mainly driving on our own land through grassy fields.

http://lansing.craig.....93828.html

Jain

Boonies, California

Farm Hand

Members

Forum Posts: 210

Member Since:
26 Nov ’15

Offline

1 Dec ’15 - 3:10 pm

We do have an 4X ATV which we use for help with chores - hauling firewood, moving materials around our place which is anything BUT flat! (our property is a continuous 1:3 slope). My husband is a golden oldie so has earned the right to retire a wheelbarrow and instead pull a cart behind the ATV. If you really have a need for heavy moving assistance, its hard to beat one of these. But if its mainly for a YIPPEE!!! toy, to replace walking I think you could be doing yourself a disservice? It seems that too many people already would drive to the bathroom if the doors of the house were wider. (just my personal opinion)

Ever consider finding a decent used one that might need a bit of repairing? That way you and your kids can tackle a 'mechanical' lesson and come to appreciate what owning something really requires as well as a bit more reverence for taking care of something 'cuz ya know what it takes to keep it working!

My personal motto - The Home, a peace worth fighting for.

PorkChopsMmm

Rancher

Members

Forum Posts: 1515

Member Since:
5 Mar ’12

Offline

1 Dec ’15 - 3:58 pm

Jain, good points.

I think anything in my price range is going to be older and used so small maintenance may be required. I will include my kids with the fixing -- I already include them on fixing the other ride ons.

This sounds selfish but I want to be able to ride whatever they get because the small tractor has a horrible ride on our land. Going anything over 3 to 5 miles an hour is a no-go unless on our driveway.

We were thinking of letting the kids spend some of their savings on a Wii but realized it would only keep them inside more and not enjoy where we live. When we mentioned this idea they got so excited that I truly think they will be driving this thing all the time. 2 cheap Chinese ATV's fit our budget but I hear the repairs are a nightmare.