Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
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www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation April 2017 19 SPECIAL FEATURE looking for lighter-duty UTVs, often with turf tires, to handle simple jobs. They are looking to step up from a small, electric, golf-cart-type of UTV without spending the money for a high- end, fast UTV. At American LandMaster, we market the LS350 to this market. We also see the industry utilizing a higher-end 4-wheel-drive vehicle for larger projects. Typically this is a 600cc or higher engine. The vehicles typically have 4 wheel drive with locking differentials to create all the power and traction needed. At American LandMaster, we market our LS550 and LS670 to this demographic. — Eric Hall, marketing director, American LandMaster Landscape professionals are utilizing utility vehicles to efficiently transport passengers, supplies and tools to and from the jobsite. These machines help them get to their work more quickly than ever before, and are economical to run and operate. Generally, professionals are spending more time in their machines, so manufactures like Bobcat Company have added comfort features such as improved visibility, ergonomic controls, easier entry/exit and comfortable seating. Some utility vehicles can now be configured with factory-installed cab heat and air conditioning for added comfort. Advancements in drivetrain technology have also led to many manufacturers producing more versatile utility vehicles with larger payload and towing capacities, as well as higher power and performance. Utility vehicles are also flexible in terms of where they can go. For instance, Bobcat utility vehicles have three drive mode selection options — turf mode, two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive — to match varying ground conditions. In turf mode, each wheel spins independently, allowing for minimal ground disturbance on turf, pavement and other hard-packed surfaces. Two-wheel drive allows both rear wheels to receive equal torque and spin for added traction on gravel roads, soggy trails and soft pasture. Four-wheel drive allows the machine to easily navigate in shallow streams, travel in snow-covered paths and pull trailers. — Chris Austinson, utility vehicle product specialist, Bobcat Company Utility vehicles are truly the Swiss Army knives of any commercial fleet, covering duties ranging from hauling tools, materials and people, to plowing snow or maintaining properties with sprayer and spreader attachments. Our focus is to create vehicles that are as flexible as possible so they can be adapted to whatever job is at hand, while maximizing crew safety, comfort and ease of operation. — Tom Mielke, utility vehicle product manager, Cub Cadet Professional landscapers are discovering the advanced functionality that UTVs offer. As landscapers expand their business offerings, the need to efficiently mobilize equipment has increased. UTVs, such as the Cushman lineup, are moving away from the "one-size-fits-all" model and are allowing users to customize their vehicles to fit specific needs. New UTVs come with extensive accessory options to help workers transport trimmers and edgers, leaf blowers, hoses and bags of fertilizer — all while towing a mower from point A to point B. Companies are increasing the capacity of cargo beds, and offering hydraulic power bed options to make hauling mulch or dirt easier and safer for the landscaper. And, unlike a truck, UTVs are more nimble and lighter weight, enabling operators to move heavy loads to a variety of places with less potential damage to the grounds that they work hard to maintain. Landscapers are seeing greater ROI on UTV purchases due to increased productivity. The cost savings that UTVs deliver are also being seen from improved vehicle mileage. Manufacturers are rolling out efficient gas or electric models. Our Hauler PRO has an impressive 50-mile range and a quiet, powerful 72-volt AC drivetrain, resulting in stamina that few gas vehicles can match. Cushman is seeing a growing demand for improved ride quality, passenger comfort and safety. Larger space in the operator area, for example, allows crews to enter and exit the vehicle more easily. So, not only is the functionality of the UTV increased, but the ride is safer and more enjoyable. — Raven Honsaker, director of product strategy and development for Textron Specialized Vehicles (Cushman) Utility vehicles are a popular option in the landscape market, allowing professional landscapers to use machines to tackle a variety of tasks throughout the day. From moving crews, tools and materials to using machines to perform jobs such as salt spreading, spraying fertilizer or snow removal using a front blade, utility vehicles provide landscape contractors with a productive and efficient tool. We are seeing more and more landscapers diversifying their businesses, taking on new jobs to increase revenue throughout the year. The utility vehicle market has continued to shift to keep up with the changes and provide customers with the tools they need to complete jobs. From offering new features to improve occupant comfort or machine performance to introducing new attachments that offer additional capabilities to operators, we are constantly striving to keep up with the changing market. — Mark Davey, marketing manager, Gator utility vehicles, John Deere PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMERICAN LANDMASTER