8 Side by Side Accessories for Tackling Small Farm Chores
Maximize your UTV’s potential on the farm. This guide covers 8 essential accessories, from winches to sprayers, that boost efficiency and simplify chores.
Your UTV is more than a way to get from the barn to the back pasture; it’s the heart of your small farm’s logistics. With the right accessories, this versatile machine transforms from a simple transport vehicle into a specialized workhorse for nearly any task. Equipping your side-by-side thoughtfully means finishing chores faster, working more safely, and reclaiming valuable time.
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Choosing the Right UTV Tools for Your Small Farm
A UTV is a blank canvas, and its true potential is only unlocked with the right attachments. For a small-scale farmer, the goal isn’t to replicate a full-sized tractor but to enhance the UTV’s inherent strengths: speed, agility, and versatility. The key is selecting tools that match the scale of your operation, whether that’s a few acres of pasture, a small orchard, or a large market garden.
Think about your most repetitive, labor-intensive chores. Are you hauling buckets of feed, mending fence lines, or spreading fertilizer by hand? These are the tasks where a UTV accessory provides the biggest return on investment. The right tool should feel like a natural extension of the machine, simplifying the job without turning your nimble UTV into a clumsy, oversized piece of equipment.
Before purchasing any attachment, consider its entire lifecycle on your farm. How will you store it? How difficult is it to attach and detach? Does it require its own maintenance schedule? A tool that saves you an hour in the field but costs you two in the workshop isn’t a win. The best accessories are durable, easy to use, and built for the specific demands of your property.
Tow-Behind Spreader – Buyers Products Tow Spreader
Spreading seed, fertilizer, or lime across a pasture or food plot is a back-breaking job when done by hand. A tow-behind spreader automates this process, ensuring even coverage and saving hours of walking. It’s the key to improving soil health and pasture productivity without the expense and soil compaction of a large tractor.
The Buyers Products 100 lb. Tow Spreader is an ideal fit for small farms due to its simplicity and durability. Its 100-pound capacity poly hopper is large enough to cover a couple of acres per fill but small enough to remain maneuverable. Critically, the poly construction won’t rust when exposed to corrosive fertilizers or salt, and the enclosed gearbox is protected from dirt and moisture, extending its service life.
Before you buy, check that your UTV has a standard hitch receiver. This spreader connects via a simple pin hitch. Also, be mindful of your terrain; while its large pneumatic tires handle bumps well, you’ll need to adjust your speed on uneven ground to maintain a consistent spread pattern. This spreader is perfect for the homesteader managing pastures and large gardens but may be too small for someone managing more than 10-15 acres.
UTV Sprayer – Fimco 25-Gallon Boomless Sprayer
Whether you’re spot-spraying invasive weeds along a fence line or applying foliar feed to an orchard, a UTV-mounted sprayer provides precision and efficiency. It allows you to cover significant ground quickly while carrying enough liquid to make the trip worthwhile. This tool is indispensable for pasture management, pest control, and targeted fertilization.
The Fimco 25-Gallon Boomless Sprayer hits the sweet spot for small-scale operations. Its boomless design, featuring nozzles that spray out to the sides, is far more practical for navigating around trees, fence posts, and other obstacles than a traditional rigid boom. The 2.4 GPM high-flo pump provides ample pressure for a consistent spray pattern up to 35 feet wide, and the included handgun is perfect for detailed spot treatments.
This sprayer straps directly into your UTV’s cargo bed and connects to its 12V battery, so confirm your bed dimensions and battery access beforehand. You’ll also need to learn how to calibrate your spray rate based on your ground speed for accurate application. It’s an excellent choice for managing 1-10 acres, but for larger properties, you might find yourself refilling the 25-gallon tank too frequently.
Tool Rack – Kolpin Rhino Grip XL Universal Mount
A UTV bed is great for loose material, but it’s a terrible place for long-handled tools like shovels, rakes, or fencing tools. They slide around, get damaged, and create a hazard. A dedicated tool rack system securely holds these items, keeping them organized, accessible, and out of the cargo bed, freeing it up for other materials.
The Kolpin Rhino Grip XL Universal Mounts are a brilliantly simple and effective solution. These heavy-duty, ratcheting grips can be mounted almost anywhere on your UTV’s roll cage or bed rails. They can securely hold anything from a single shovel to a string trimmer or even a firearm, thanks to their soft, non-slip rubber construction that protects your gear while holding it tight.
Installation is straightforward, but you’ll want to experiment with placement to ensure tools don’t obstruct your view or get snagged on branches. Think about which tools you use most and mount the grips where they are easiest to reach. These are for anyone tired of a tangled mess of tools in their UTV bed; they bring order to daily chores and make your workflow smoother.
Electric Winch – WARN VRX 45-S Powersports Winch
A winch is your UTV’s get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s essential for self-recovery if you get stuck in mud or snow, but on a farm, its utility goes much further. A good winch can help pull fallen trees off a fence line, tension wire for fencing, or drag heavy objects into place, turning a two-person job into a one-person task.
The WARN VRX 45-S Powersports Winch is a top-tier choice that provides confidence and power. Its 4,500-pound pulling capacity is more than enough for any UTV, and the 50-foot synthetic rope is stronger, lighter, and safer than steel cable. The all-metal construction and IP68-rated waterproofing mean it’s built to withstand the grime and weather of farm life.
Proper installation is critical; this isn’t a simple bolt-on accessory. It requires a model-specific mounting plate and wiring directly to your UTV’s battery. You must also understand basic winching safety, such as using a tree-saver strap and never handling the rope under tension. A winch is a serious tool for farmers who work in challenging terrain or need a reliable source of portable pulling power.
Matching Attachments to Your UTV’s Capacity
Before you load up your side-by-side with every accessory imaginable, you must consult your owner’s manual. Every UTV has specific limits for towing capacity, payload capacity (what it can carry in the bed and cab), and tongue weight (the downward force an attachment puts on the hitch). Exceeding these limits is not only dangerous but also puts immense strain on your UTV’s frame, suspension, and drivetrain.
For tow-behind implements like a spreader or harrow, the key numbers are towing capacity and tongue weight. For in-bed items like a sprayer or storage system, you need to focus on payload capacity. Remember to account for the weight of the occupants and any other gear you’re carrying. A 25-gallon sprayer, for example, adds over 200 pounds of water weight alone, which can quickly eat into your payload limit.
Electrical accessories like winches and light bars also draw power from your UTV’s charging system. A heavy-duty winch can pull a massive amount of amperage, potentially draining your battery if used extensively without the engine running. Ensure your UTV’s stator and battery are up to the task of supporting the electrical load of any accessories you plan to add.
Drag Harrow – Field Tuff 4′ x 4′ ATV Drag Harrow
A drag harrow is a simple but incredibly effective tool for pasture maintenance and ground preparation. It can be used to break up manure piles to fertilize the field and reduce parasites, smooth out rough spots in a paddock, or prepare a seedbed for a food plot or garden. It’s a low-tech, high-impact implement for improving your land.
The Field Tuff 4′ x 4′ ATV Drag Harrow is perfectly sized for use with a UTV. Its simple, heavy-duty steel mesh design requires no maintenance, and it’s versatile. One side has tines that point down for more aggressive digging and scarifying, while the other side is flat for smoothing and leveling. At just over 50 pounds, it’s easy for one person to flip over or move for storage.
This harrow connects to your UTV with a simple chain and tow ring, which can be attached to any standard hitch. The main consideration is matching the harrow’s width to your needs and your UTV’s power; the 4-foot width is ideal for maneuvering through gates and around obstacles. This is a must-have for anyone with livestock on pasture or who needs to maintain gravel driveways or arenas.
LED Light Bar – Rigid Industries E-Series Pro Light Bar
Farm work doesn’t always happen between sunrise and sunset. Whether you’re checking on livestock late at night, finishing a repair after dark, or plowing snow before dawn, a powerful light source is a safety essential. Factory UTV headlights are often inadequate for illuminating a wide work area.
The Rigid Industries E-Series Pro 10-inch Light Bar provides an incredible amount of light in a compact, durable package. This isn’t a cheap, flimsy light; it’s built to military-grade standards with a virtually indestructible polycarbonate lens and a housing that can take a beating. Its combo spot/flood beam pattern is perfect for farm use, providing both long-distance visibility down a path and wide-angle light for the area immediately around you.
You will need to wire this light bar into your UTV’s electrical system, which typically involves a relay and a switch. Ensure your UTV’s charging system can handle the extra electrical draw. While it represents a significant investment, this light bar is for the serious user who needs guaranteed, reliable illumination in the worst conditions, year after year.
Front Windshield – SuperATV Scratch Resistant Flip Windshield
A windshield transforms the UTV experience from a purely recreational feel to a functional, all-weather work cabin. It provides crucial protection from wind, rain, dust, and debris kicked up in the field. For anyone working in less-than-perfect weather, it’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity for comfort and safety.
The SuperATV Scratch Resistant Flip Windshield offers the best of all worlds. It’s made from 1/4" polycarbonate, which is 250 times stronger than glass, and both sides are hard-coated to resist scratching from branches or grit. Its most valuable feature is the three-position design: fully closed for bad weather, vented for airflow, or fully open for maximum breeze on hot days.
Installation is a bolt-on process designed to fit your specific UTV model’s roll cage, so be sure to order the correct version. The gas struts that assist in opening and closing the windshield make adjustments easy, even while on the move. This is an essential upgrade for anyone who uses their UTV year-round, especially in colder or dustier climates.
In-Bed Storage – DECKED UTV Cargo System
The open bed of a UTV is great for hauling bulky items, but it’s a terrible place for smaller tools, recovery gear, and supplies. Things get wet, bounce around, and are exposed to theft. A secure, weatherproof storage system organizes your gear and protects it from the elements.
The DECKED UTV Cargo System is a game-changer for organization. It creates a raised, flat deck in your UTV bed—capable of holding up to 200 pounds—while providing two massive, weatherproof, full-bed-length drawers underneath. This allows you to keep your essential tools, tow straps, and spare parts securely stored and out of sight, while still having the full surface of the bed available for hauling larger items like feed bags or hay bales.
This is a model-specific system, so you must order the one designed for your UTV. It’s a significant investment and adds considerable weight, so you’ll need to account for it in your payload calculations. This system is for the farmer who relies on their UTV as a mobile workshop and wants to keep expensive tools secure, organized, and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Prioritizing Safety with UTV Accessory Use
Adding accessories changes how your UTV handles, and ignoring these changes can lead to accidents. A full sprayer tank, for example, raises the vehicle’s center of gravity, making it more susceptible to rollovers on steep or off-camber terrain. Always adjust your driving style to account for the added weight and its location on the machine.
When using implements like winches or tow-behind equipment, establish a clear zone of safety. Never allow anyone to stand near a winch line under tension, and ensure bystanders are well clear of a spreader or sprayer when it’s in operation. Before each use, perform a quick walk-around to check that all hitch pins are secured, straps are tight, and electrical connections are solid.
Finally, the added capability shouldn’t lead to complacency. The fundamental rules of UTV safety still apply: wear a helmet and appropriate protective gear, use your seatbelt, and never operate the vehicle beyond your skill level or the terrain’s limits. The goal of these accessories is to make work more efficient, not more dangerous.
Making Your UTV the Ultimate Farm Workhorse
A stock UTV is a useful machine, but a thoughtfully outfitted one is a true force multiplier for a small farm. By selecting accessories that directly address your most common and challenging chores, you transform it into a specialized tool perfectly suited to your property. Each attachment—from a simple tool grip to a complex storage system—is a piece of a larger strategy to work smarter, not harder.
The key is to build your UTV’s capabilities incrementally, focusing on the tools that will provide the biggest immediate impact on your daily workload. Start with the accessory that solves your most pressing problem, learn how to use it safely and effectively, and then identify the next piece of the puzzle. Over time, you’ll create a machine that is indispensable to your operation.
By matching the right tools to the task, you can tackle everything from fence mending to pasture seeding with one versatile vehicle. A well-equipped UTV doesn’t just save your back; it saves your most valuable resource: time. Choose wisely, operate safely, and watch your productivity grow.
