Kleinste bakkie, grootste woema
Hoe weet jy 'n wildsplaas of vakansie-oord word uitstekend bestuur? Wenk -- die antwoord is groen en geel, trap liggies oor gras en plas blitsig deur 'n plaasdam.
As jy meen die antwoord is "krokodil", is jy amper reg, want die beste oorde spog met 'n John Deere Gator. Die nutsesels wys die plek word deur mense bestuur wat die verskil
tussen doeltreffend en effektief verstaan.
tussen doeltreffend en effektief verstaan.
Die Gator is min of meer so groot as die legendariese 1946 Willys Jeep, maar kan meer mense met swaarder vragte baie veiliger deur dieper waters dra.
Rolrame, en drie-punt sitplekgordels maak die sy-aan-sy voertuigies uiters veilig, terwyl onafhanklike vering 'n sagte rit gee. 'n Grondvryhoogte van 28 cm, vierwiel-aandrywing, 'n lae swaartepunt, 'n palwissel-koppelaar en 'n ligte bakwerk verseker verder dat die waens berg en dal kan deurkruis.
Vyf modelle is tans plaaslik te koop. Die intree modelle is die Gator 550 met twee sitplekke, of die langer 550 S4, met vier sitplekke. 'n Laaibak met valkante en 'n 570 cc enjin wat 11 kW maak om tot 635 kg te karwei, asook meer as 70 hake en knippe om enige vorm vrag, soos 'n verdoofde bok, veilig vas te hou, maak die Gator 550 modelle veral vir jagplase geskik.
Vir nog swaarder vragte is daar die Gator 625i met 'n 17 kW 617cc enjin wat meer as 1,2 ton soutlek tot op die berg, of southappies tot by die swembad kan dra en sleep.
Dis swaarder vragte as wat meeste dubbelkajuite kan vat, maar drie-silinder gebruik skaars petrol.
Vir plaasbestuuders wat self diesel stoor, bied die Gator 855D 'n drie-silinder, 854 cc enjin wat ook 17 kW maak en oor al die vermoëns van die petrol Gators beskik, maar die 23 outydse perde gee meer wrinkrag teen laer toere terwyl die palwissel-koppelaar die ratte en toere in die regte verhouding hou.
Toeriste-plase sal die vinnige vier-sitplek Gater 825i verkies, met 'n 635 kg laaivrag en 680 kg sleepvrag om drie gaste en al hul tasse te laai. As die pad te modderig raak, koppel 'n knop die viertrek.
Die 825i het 'n drie-silinder, 812 cc enjin wat 37 kW maak -- dis 50 perdekrag wat die Gator oor klippe wat 28 cm hoog staan of water wat tot 55 cm diep is, kan trek. Soos al die Gator modelle, het die 825i swaardiens gly-plate om die onderstel te beskerm en sywande wat die passasiers se bene en voete veilig hou.
Die Gators se 4x4 vermoë is egter nie hoekom plaasbestuurders hulself op die skouer kan klop met elke Gator aankoop nie. Die tevredenheid kom saam met John Deere Finansiering, wat vir elke koper doelgemaak word. Enige persoon wat nog dink groot bakkies is beter, kan gerus 'n Gator gaan ry. Hulle sal gou agterkom hoekom mense daai John Deere plakkers op hulle groot bakkies se sterte sit.
Smallest bakkie, most sense
How do you know when a resort or lodge is well-managed? Hint -- the answer is green and yellow, steps lightly over grass and splashes quickly through a farm dam.
If you think the answer is "crocodile", you would be almost correct, for the best places boast a John Deere Gator. These handy little workhorses show the place is managed by people who understand the difference between efficient and effective.
The Gator is almost the same size as the legendary Willys Jeep, but it is a lot safer and can carry more people with heavier loads through deeper waters.
Roll cages and three-point seat belts make these side-by-side vehicles very safe, while independent suspension delivers a soft ride. A ground clearance of 28 cm, four wheel drive, a low center of gravity, continuously variable transmission (CVT) and light body panels further add up to a little wagon that can traverse any hill and dale.
Five models are currently available in SA. The entry-level models are the Gator 550, with two seats; and the 550 S4, with four seats. A load bed with drop sides, 'n 570 cc engine that makes 11 kW to cart up to 635 kg, as well as over 70 hooks and latches to strap down loads of any shape, even a sedated buck, make the 550 Gators ideal for hunting farms.
For lodges needing to cart even heavier loads, the Gator 625i has a 617cc engine that makes 17 kW to carry and pull over 1,2 tons of salt lick to the mountain top, or snacks to down to the swimming pool.
Managers who only use diesel will delight in the Gator 855D, which uses a three-cylinder, 17 kW 854 cc engine and has all the abilities of the petrol Gators, although the 23 horses give their torque at lower revs while the CVT keeps the gears in the best ratio.
Resorts will prefer the faster Gator 825i, which makes 37 kW from a three-cylinder engine -- that's equal to 50 horsepower to pull the Gator over rocks of 28 cm and through water that is 55 cm deep.
As on all the other Gators, the 825i has heavy-duty skid plates to protect the underside and foot wells to keep safe the passengers' legs and feet.
The Gators' 4x4 ability is not, however, why managers can congratulate themselves for each Gator working on a farm. That satisfaction stems from the John Deere Finance, which is tailored for each buyer. Anyone who think big bakkies are best should ride a Gator. They will discover why people then go brand those bakkies with a John Deere stickers.
