Big kit with big engines and plush cabs may predominate at Lamma but the show is also a great place to see what’s new in the ATV and buggy world.

These useful machines continue to find a ready niche on stock and arable farms alike and the range of equipment available continues to increase.

New machines at this year’s show include the bigger-engined Yamaha’s Grizzly 700, which replaces the company’s 550 model and is also claimed to cut fuel, plus Polaris’ latest Ranger diesel and its Sportsman 450HO ATV, John Deere’s Gator fitted with Camso tracks, and Kawasaki’s Mule Pro, which can be configured as either a two- or four-person layout.

On top of that is Canadian maker Can-Am’s Outlander ATV, plus the first showing of its Defender farm buggy with all manner if clever modular kit.

Finally there’s some interesting mods for the Deere Gator, a new Linhai Chinese UTV with, unusually, a Perkins engine, plus UTVs and ATVs from Quadzilla.  

Grizzly is a sipper, not a guzzler

Yamaha launched its Grizzly 700 at the end of last year, replacing the popular 550 model. By increasing the power, many customers may have thought fuel use would increase, but the company claims an independent test shows the opposite is true.

A recent fuel test, carried out by an existing Grizzly 550 user to compare it with a new Grizzly 700 and adjudicated by an independent judge, claims the larger model is somewhat more fuel-efficient than the older one.

The older model apparently averaged 20mpg over a distance of 278 miles, while the new Grizzly 700 managed 23mpg.

These miles were carried out doing exactly the same tasks, which included shepherding, pulling a trailer, feeding pheasants and a proportion of road travel.

Polaris expands range

Polaris now offers an active descent control feature on its Ranger Diesel. The system gives smooth, controlled hill descents, says the company, automatically braking all four wheels on steep inclines at the touch of a button.

Electronic power steering is also standard, and power is derived from a 1,028cc Kohler Tier 4 indirect injection engine. A 110A alternator provides power for ancillary attachments, more than double the previous models. Prices start from £9,995.

Polaris was also showing its new Sportsman 450 HO ATV. This 400cc ATV is the company’s entry-level model, but has everything the larger models have, including 550kg towing capacity, 82kg rear capacity and 41kg at the front with loads of storage to boot.

Automatic four-wheel drive and Polaris’s PVT automatic transmission are also features.

Gator can (almost) walk on water

John Deere had a Gator fitted with Camso tracks on its stand. Although available in the UK for the past five years, it was only last year that Deere approved the system for its Gator range of UTVs.

However, in other areas such as the US and Scandinavia, having tracks to extend the use of ATVs and UTVs is commonplace.

Ground pressure is apparently reduced by 75%. For example, a standard UTV on wheels exerts 3.9psi, whereas the T4S system reduces this to just 0.88psi.

The ATV system reduces it from 2.00psi to 0.55, depending on the load. The Camso T4S system takes just two hours to install, with no modifications needed to the UTV or bike. In fact, 95% of farmers do it themselves. Price for the UTV system is £3,750.

Mule goes Pro

Kawasaki may have been among the first in the farm buggy market, but its dominance of this sector has been somewhat eroded over the past few years, with most manufacturers bringing out competitive models with newer features.

The Mule PRO-DXT EPS and PRO-DX seat either two or four and have a new, more powerful 993cc inline three-cylinder diesel engine. The range features front and rear suspension and selectable two- and four-wheel drive CVT transmission with dual-mode differential.

For those who want extra seating, but also need extra carrying capacity on occasion, seating can be converted into a load bay on the Trans Cab model. Cargo bed size is now big enough to carry a pallet, and load capacity is 730kg, while towing is more than 900kg. Prices start from £11,129.  

Can-am’s entry-level Outlander

As well as the all-singing, all-dancing Defender UTV, Can-Am also had the Outlander range of ATVs on the stand.

The entry-level model, the Outlander L, is a 450cc bike powered by a liquid-cooled Rotax 450 four-stroke.

Torsional trailing arm independent rear suspension means the rear wheels pivot up and down in a vertical line rather than in a butterfly motion, eliminating scrub, says the Canadian company.

Selectable four-wheel drive and automatic front diff lock with no speed or rev limitations is standard, while the Outlander L can tow 590kg. Prices from £5,999.

Pimp my Gator

With more UTVs being used on farm, there is a growing demand from farmers to adapt their vehicles to suit their requirements.

Howard Marshall Engineering offers a complete range of modifications, mainly for John Deere Gators, but other makes are also catered for. These include the popular universal mount for slug pelleters, spreaders and sprayers, as well as LED and halogen lighting kits, extension sides for increasing the load volume and dual front- and rear-hitch systems.

The Comfort Kit is said to reduce in-cab noise by up to 10dB thanks to an audio insulation self-adhesive material that is applied to the inner panels and cowling to absorb vibration and resonance. There is an external air intake kit that limits air intake noise at full throttle, too.

The company also does bespoke modifications, the latest being high-spec horizontal-drum capstan winches for hoisting tools and equipment, all controllable from outside the cab.

Chinese-built UTV powered by Perkins

The market for diesel UTVs may have plateaued, but there are plenty of farmers who would opt for one over an ATV if they were a little cheaper.

The Linhai LH800U could be the answer. This rugged-looking UTV is Italian designed and powered by a 762cc three-cylinder Perkins diesel engine.

Drive is via a CVT transmission with high/low and four-wheel drive, and the model has had 12 months of extensive testing in the UK to tailor it to our conditions.

There are already dealers in Scotland, and Duncan Wildman of Linhai Industries is hoping to build a network of 20-40 dealers in the UK over the next year. Windscreen, roof, bull bar and winch are all standard, with road-legal glass windscreen and alloy wheels optional.

The LH800U-2D has a three-year warranty, is EU approved and road legal, and costs from £9,995.

UTV duo from Quadzilla

Quadzilla was showing two price-competitive petrol UTVs at Lamma.

The larger Tracker 800EPS has an 800cc V-Twin liquid-cooled engine made by parent company CFMoto and a CVT transmission with selectable two- or four-wheel drive.

Suspension is provided by dual A-arms front and rear, while winch and aluminium wheels are standard, as is electronic power steering on this model.

Prices start from £6,665 plus VAT, while a fully enclosed cab with heater costs £2,999.

A smaller 550EPS model is also available starting from £5,832. Both are road legal.

Pump prevents spills

Sick of getting covered in petrol or diesel when filling from jerrycans? Then this lightweight, portable pump – the only DC pump Atex certified for use with petrol and other flammable liquids, says Fill-Rite – could be the answer.

Suitable for petrol, diesel, biodiesel, paraffin and E15, the aluminium unit is self-priming, thermally protected and has a number of configurations to suit different applications.

The 3m quick-connect power cable easily joins to the vehicle’s battery and there is a 2.4m discharge hose with nozzle as well as a 1.8m suction hose. Prices start from £250.