| The original ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) were not the | | | | a couple of guys hoofing it can and can fit in the bed |
| three and four-wheeled recreational vehicles that we | | | | of a pick-up truck for transport to and from the |
| know today. The original ATVs were designed in | | | | hunting lease. |
| Japan as a vehicle used to go from the farm to the | | | | Farmers and ranchers have added to the popularity |
| town and back in remote, isolated, mountainous | | | | of this vehicle, attaching a trailer or other accessories |
| areas of the country. Especially during the rainy | | | | in order to haul hay to winter-stranded cattle or just |
| seasons or during the spring run-offs, many of the | | | | up to the barn. They've found that they are less |
| mountainous roads would become impassable, often | | | | likely to get stuck in mud holes in the pasture and |
| stranding families at their farms, or away from them, | | | | that they can traverse land that otherwise would |
| for long periods of time. The three-wheeled vehicle | | | | have required hiking to get to livestock in need of |
| was invented out of necessity, though it didn't take | | | | attention. |
| long for the Japanese manufacturers to realize that | | | | In many cases the ATV has replaced the horse, mule |
| they might have a quite different market place in the | | | | or donkey for getting around a large ranch and farm |
| United States. | | | | kids are much more amenable to doing their chores if |
| Appearing in the U.S. in the early 1970s, it was | | | | they can do it from the saddle of an ATV. |
| marketed, promoted and sold as a recreational | | | | These vehicles are definitely here to stay. |
| vehicle that would enable riders to experience the | | | | Accessories and new configurations will no doubt |
| "thrills" of riding in areas previously only accessible to | | | | provide ever changing ways in which to use them as |
| horses, donkeys, llamas and mountain goats. | | | | we become more aware of not only the usefulness, |
| Primarily still a recreational vehicle, hunters have found | | | | but the limitations and inherent dangers of these |
| that they are really handy for moving through rugged | | | | vehicles and how to minimize those dangers while |
| terrain and are able to go where pick-ups and other | | | | maximizing the utility, and yes, the fun, of these |
| four-wheel drive vehicles cannot. They can also haul a | | | | motorized workhorses. |
| carcass to the campsite or pick-up much quicker than | | | | |