Finding the Right Utility Vehicle
Part 1: Utility Vehicles: Assess Payload, Towing Capacity
Part 2: Utility Vehicles: Application Helps Determine Attachments
Part 3: Electric Utility Vehicles Bring Benefits, Questions
Part 4: Utility Vehicles: Training and Safety
Part 5: PRODUCTS: Utility Vehicles
Utility Vehicles: Application Helps Determine Attachments
By Howard Mees - March 2010
Managers next must determine the best attachment options — from mowing decks and sprayers to generators and power washers — and the reasons workers need them.
Each application requires different options, accessories and attachments. For example, a large operation might use utility vehicles with more than 200 attachment options, from tool clamps and bed extensions to three-way blades and trailers.
Organizations demand grounds crews deliver the highest level of service, so crews must be able to work quickly and efficiently. To determine if an attachment is appropriate for a task, managers must understand the way workers use the attachment in the application. For example, if the department already has tractors with loaders, workers might not need a blade attachment for the utility vehicle.
The application is critical in determining the right attachment, but power is always high on the priority list. Adequate power is essential when workers are hauling heavy loads on hilly terrain. For transport vehicles crews will use in a park or other public space, managers should consider a vehicle with a slower speed and less power.
