A UTV or ATV can bring some fun to a task usually associated with exertion. With a four-wheeler, you can enjoy mowing your lawn or removing weeds that are waist-high.

This guide should give you a good idea of the types and styles available for ATVs or UTVs. Take a look.

Rough Cut Mowers

The rough-cut mowers are used for taller grasses, brush, stalks, etc. The cosmetics of the mower are less important than the ability to remove the offending material. The mowers used for rough-cutting tend to be more powerful and heavier duty. Let's take a look at the different types.

Flail

Flail mowers can handle rougher terrain and thicker vegetation. Multiple cutting blades are mounted on a horizontal roller or bar. The blades are slung out by the centrifugal force of the rotating roller.

The blades are less likely to be damaged by this design. Each blade is pivotable so it can "kick-back" if it hits the ground or another obstacle.

For different cutting requirements, blades of different styles can be used. You can choose from blades with heavier weights to cut thicker or rougher foliage. Or you can use blades that give a mower-like finish.

Front Mount- Flail ATV mowers are available in a pusher design. Some models can be connected to a winch on the front to raise them when necessary.

Some flail mowers can be offset so that they sit outside the ATV's track width. The four-wheeler can be harder to control, but this allows for a closer trimming of the edges.

The front mount also allows you to see the area that you will be cutting. The wheels of an ATV or UTV will not mash down the grass and weeds before cutting them, as they would on a pull-behind style mower.

The flail mowers mounted on the front are usually narrower to improve handling. The ATV's ability to turn is adversely affected by wider front-mounted mowers.

Pull behind Mount- This is the easiest and most popular method of using a flail lawnmower. The majority of flail mowers can be mounted directly behind an ATV or UTV, with the option to offset it to one side.

They can be wider than the standard pull-behinds without causing problems with handling. These are preferred for large foliage or vegetation, which can produce larger and stiffer stems. These stalks could cause tire punctures when you run them over after cutting, as with a front-mounted mower.

Shredder

The shredder ATV mowers were based on flail mowers. These are designed to mulch more. They come in a variety of styles and sizes.

A stationary extra cutting bar may be added to achieve a more complete cut. Some mowers have flaps on the deck that keep the material longer in the mower to encourage more shredding.

They are available in both front-mounted and rear-mounted styles. The shredder is most commonly used in the pull-behind style.

Rotary Blade

The more traditional rotary mowers have blades mounted on the deck or blades that are horizontally mounted and rotate parallel to the ground.

The blades and spindles are heavier duty on those designed for rough cuts.

The engines are typically more powerful when cutting thicker or coarser materials.

Trimmer

Trimmer mowers operate on the same principles as lawn trimmers. The only difference is that they are designed to handle rougher trimming.

The ATV trimmer-mowers use a larger piece of cutting wire that is inserted individually into the head.

The majority of models have an offset on one side. The trimmers have a swinging motion that allows them to contact objects such as trees or posts. They can then "kickback" in order to keep the trimmer near the object.

Finish Mowers, Lawn Mowers

Rotary Blade

The ATV mower or rotary blade finisher is designed to provide a more precise cut than the rough-cut mower. The main differences are the finer adjustments to maintain accurate grass-cutting heights.

Most ATVs have deck-style pull-behind mowers with anti-scalping features and adjustable deck height.

Reel

Reel lawnmowers are based on a classic manual style mower. The rotating action is provided by several horizontally curved blades that are mounted directly on the wheels.

The reel mowers are designed for trimming fine grass to create a more manicured appearance. The only type of lawn mower without an onboard motor.

Most ATV rigs use multiple mowers mounted together to cover more ground.

ATV Mower Mounting Types

Front Mount

Several manufacturers offer front-mounted or pusher-style mowers, which are less popular than the pull-behind models. The majority have a support frame that attaches to the ATV frame. The mower is mounted on the support frame.

Flail-style lawnmowers are the most common front-mounted type. Front mount deck mowers are available, but they have a larger size that has some disadvantages.

Pros

• Improved visibility of what the mower is going to be cutting.
• Attached to a winch, the mower can be raised to avoid obstacles or to move to another area.
• The overall length is much shorter when used with a flail-style mower than the pull-behind models.
• Transporting the ATV with the mower attached is easier.

Cons

• Weight of the support frame.
• In some situations, steering and handling can be affected negatively.
• The size of the mowers that are allowed to be used is limited.
• Tow behind mowers cannot be offset as far to one side as a mower.

Pull Behind

Pull behind UTVs and ATV mowers do exactly what their name suggests. The mower is connected by a trailer-type drawbar and the four-wheeler by a hitch.

Pros

• The range of sizes is wider than the front mount. Decks are available in widths ranging from 40 inches to 66 inches.
• Adjust the drawbar to increase the range of offset left or right.
• No extra support frame is necessary.
• Can perform the same functions as zero-turn mowers.
• Attaching and disassembling the mower is quicker than with other types.
• Rotating the hitch allows you to mow uneven terrain.

Cons

• The greater the overall length, the more difficult it is to maneuver in tight places.
• The majority of models cannot be lifted. This makes it difficult to transport and get around obstacles.
• The control cables and wiring is usually longer and must be mounted at the rear of ATVs or UTVs.

Belly or Center Mount

ATVs are less likely to have the traditional lawn tractor-style belly mount. The belly mount is different from flail or deck mowers, which have the engine mounted directly to the mower.

A separate frame supports the ATV's engine and extends into the middle of the machine, providing a mounting for the mower deck.

Pros

• It operates much like a lawn tractor.
• The most compact system for ATV mowers.
• The mower is easier to transport when it's mounted.

Cons

• The weight of the engine, mower, and mounting frame is added to the ATV.
• The size of the mower is determined by the wheelbase of an ATV.
• You can't offset the sides.
• The mower is designed to fit in a small space.
• Mounting system with more complex features
• Maintenance is harder to reach.

UTV Mowers and ATV Mowers

Deck width The deck size for most ATV mowers ranges between 40 and 66 inches. The width will vary depending on the number of blades, and the power of the motor.

Numbers of blades- The number of blades depends on the width. Decks with a smaller width may only have one blade, while decks wider than that can use three blades either in an offset or inline arrangement.