The LumberWorksForums

Hi all, I have learned one thing for sure,...... If your looking to buy a 4x4 to drag logs with,..... DO NOT BUY ONE THAT IS BELT DRIVE!!!. You end up spending more money replacing belts,... than you would if you had bought a gear drive model to start with. Trust me on this, I have about $6500.00 wrapped up in a Kaw 650 Bruteforce and I wouldn't hit a hog in the tail with it, scared I'd mess up good meat. It's a blast to "ride" but when you put a load on it, you better get ready to go in your pocket, it'll burn a belt up in a farting spell with a heavy load. However that is why we are building this new arch. It shouldn't have any trouble now, except in really rough terrain.

I have a belt drive that I pull a mower with. And I agree 100%, Wish I had the geared one.

What i use doesnt even have 4 wheels.


Thanks Alot Mr Mom

I have been doing what I call "light logging" with a John Deere Gator for almost eight years now. It is an old style 4x6 gator that is belt driven. It has probably tugged well over a thousand tons of logs with an average pull distance of 100-200 yards. Much of these logs were just pulled with a chain, then I got smart and started using a sled, then I really got smart and now use an arch. The gator is belt driven but has pulled many a massive load and I have NEVER replaced the belt, and it really doesnt look like it shows much wear! I suppose that I was lucky, the new style gators, the Kawasaki MULE, and some other UTVs are driven by a very similar belt drive system but they are not near as durable when moving heavy loads. I have seen a Kawasaki MULE go through two belts in a year in a much less demanding application and the shop says the next time it comes in it will probably need the belt drive clutch mechanisms replaced as well! (to the tune of $1500 or so)

Fancy oversize mud tires, lift kits, etc. are very popular, but they put tremendous strain on these newer belt drive machines. I assume that the old gator with it's low speed, four pulling tires, low center of gravity, and relatively small tire diameters is about as good as you can get for pulling heavy loads with a belt drive ATV.

I also have nothing but praise for the powerful little Kawasaki engines that power many of todays ATVs and UTVs, but I do not want any Kawasaki vehicle.

The gator does not go so good in the snow however (four drive tires make it very difficult to turn in deep snow.)

I have a friend who owns a motorcycle and atv repair business here in Fort Wayne that I visit on a regular basis. Every time I go there, he has a bunch of ATV's to fix and many of them are fairly new. It just seems like they don't make them as tough as they used to and one thing is for sure when they break they cost a lot more to fix then they used to cost as well. There are very few after market parts for anything in the engine and drive train and all the big name brands literally rape you for the cost of replacement parts, plus it can take weeks for the dealer to get it. The other day I was holding a $400 replacement universal joint in my hand for an ATV that only sold for $3200 when it was new. How can the cost of 4 universal joints be worth half the value of the ATV when there are hundreds of other parts that make it up as well. What I find most upsetting is that many of the four wheel drive ones brought in for repair are owned by older riders and do not look like they have been abused at all. Just like your experience, the dealers seem to have more reasons to void the warranty and not cover the repair then you can shake a stick at and that is why most of the folks bring them to him to repair. You would almost be much better off to go buy and old wheel horse tractor with cast iron rear for a few hundred bucks, take the deck off, and use it with a log arch to pull logs. I personally have a 1971 that I have used on many occasions that does perfectly well and only set me back $200, and if it breaks, what am I out?