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www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation April 2017 21 SPECIAL FEATURE Cushman advises anyone purchasing a new utility vehicle to know specific job needs before researching options. Consider unique challenges that your sites bring, such as special towing needs, and clarify what tasks you aim to complete. Do you need additional bed storage and tie-down options for large loads? Or, do you carry heavy payloads, which make a hydraulic or electric assisted bed dump beneficial? The Cushman Hauler line of vehicles offers customization options to truly tailor the vehicle to your needs. Finally, don't look at only the functional- ity of the vehicle, but evaluate the OEM's warranty and after- market support. When you've determined that a UTV fits into your business model, take time to research dealers. There are many factors to consider when choosing a dealer. Some examples include what type of service support they offer, whether it be mobile services or service on-site at the dealership only. Knowing the type of financing or leasing offers that are available is important. If you need the assistance of a utility vehicle for only a short time, ask if there is a rental opportunity available through your dealer that would better suit your needs. — Raven Honsaker, director of product strategy and development for Textron Specialized Vehicles (Cushman) When determining if a utility vehicle is right for their business, it is important for landscapers to consider the versatility of the machine. Many professional landscapers do not think they need a utility vehicle because of the multitude of machines already in their fleet. However, landscapers who invest in utility vehicles see the value quickly. We consistently hear from landscapers that utility vehicles are the handiest tools in their entire fleet, and they do not know how they lived without one. Landscapers who are on the fence should look at the overall value that utility vehicles bring to their businesses. Once determining that a utility vehicle is right for their business, there are several questions that professional landscape contractors should ask: 1. What is the job you want to accomplish? 2. What are your needs to complete your tasks? 3. Could your company use this machine for other jobs? With so many options on the market, it is important for professional landscape contractors to identify their needs prior to visiting the dealership. Once the above three questions are answered, we recommend meeting with your local dealer to discuss your responses and determine which machine is best for your business. Additionally, the dealer can help you figure out if it is best to purchase or finance your new UTV, depending on business needs and cash flow. — Mark Davey, marketing manager, Gator utility vehicles, John Deere UTVs are all-purpose vehicles and can be used for many purposes. Landscape professionals considering investing in a UTV purchase should take the time to understand the main drivers for their purchase and understand the applications they will be using these vehicles in. Once they have determined the applications, they can identify the specifications that they need to prioritize. Since they will be using the vehicles to work and to help get their work done faster, it's important to understand the difference between "work" and "play" vehicles as the lines have gotten blurred between them. Landscapers that want to get serious amount of work done should focus on the true commercial-duty work utility vehicles. The standard work specifications between vehicles may be very similar, so it's important investigate and research the durability and reliability of the vehicle from their peers within the industry. Landscapers should also look for versatility, such as Kubota's X1140, K-vertible model that allows for transporting more people when they need to or carry more load in the cargo box when they need to. For landscapers working in hotter weather conditions, they should look for UTV models with air conditioning. For the northern landscapers, powerful snow plowing/blowing/ brooming performance is a must along with a nice heated cab. In the end, all vehicles are priced very competitively; the main driver should be comfort, durability and performance for their specific application. — Rajesh Joshi, Kubota product marketing director, turf Cost and time efficiency. They should understand their specs in regards to payload, towing and how big the dump bed is. They should look at the accessories/implements available to help them do the job. — Donna Beadle, Polaris spokesperson — Section compiled by John Kmitta. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BOBCAT COMPANY