The ATV, or all terrain vehicle, once considered pure recreation and excitement has emerged as much more than that. Years of innovations in the ATV industry have produced superior machines with extraordinary reliability and performance. Aside from enjoying the wooded trails and sand dunes, the ATV has found itself in numerous practical roles including search and rescue, law enforcement, agriculture and farming, snow removal, hunting and patrol of gamelands, and just about any job that requires access to areas previously unreachable by four wheel drive trucks. The four wheel drive (4×4) ATV models in particular have exploded onto the scene.
These utility atvs capable of being driven by all four wheels, are able to perform far more tasks than originally anticipated. The addition of accessories including luggage and storage racks and powered winches have also impacted the use of ATVs for business and practical purposes. Engines can range in size with maximum displacement as high as 800cc providing plenty of power for towing, dragging, and other tasks. A reverse gear provides much more versatility than the mono-directional ATVs of earlier years. Shaft drives have replaced chain and sprocket drives on the original sport models. PTO has become an option providing power for those who need to drive external accessories and machinery. With a plethora of options available, the 4×4 utility ATV can be considered a viable off-road vehicle and useful tool rolled into one.