I started seriously thinking about buying implements for my ATV after reading an article in The Whitetail News that spoke about the use of ATV and UTV equipment for food plot installation and maintenance. Over the years I remained skeptical of performance and feasibility using any but the larger implements with a higher CC machine. My thinking there was that purchasing a $12,000 UTV and a $3,000 food plot implement made little sense when I could buy a brand new Kubota, 52hp tractor with a front end loader for $14,000. For me, though, neither option was within my purchasing abilities.

One day, shortly after reading the article I mentioned above, I looked at a pull behind disk at the local Tractor Supply store. While the discs appeared to be very sturdy, I still had some concerns with the design. One of my major hold backs had to do with stability while pulling the disc. Many disc implements like this one have a tendency to hop or wiggle when attaining any kind of speed. For me, that is a major problem. When using a disc to plow land, I want to reach a great enough speed to actually throw some dirt. Slow discing may cut fairly well, but the faster discing will actually break the clumps up into smaller particles that are much better for creating a firm seed bed. The pull behind discs that were in my price range couldn’t do that, and the heavier, more costly ATV discs needed a much larger machine than I had available.

Luckily, my friends on the Talkhunting Forum began a discussion and comparison of the different brands and versions of ATV and UTV implements. It was this discussion that led me to the Kolpin Dirtworks series of implements. I read quite a few blogs and forum threads where other people described their experiences and opinions of the Dirtworks, but I’ll only list my own. I ordered my implements through Cabela’s because they were silly enough to place the entire system in the Bargain Cave. After checking with Kolpin, first, to make sure the Dirtworks line wasn’t being discontinued (in fact, it was being improved) I made my order.

During the same time period I also came across a great deal on a used Yamaha Kodiak 400 4X4. This worked out perfectly. Almost all of the ATV implements suggest the use of a 400cc machine or larger, and water cooled tends to work best. Because of the issues I spoke of earlier about speeds and weight of implements, air cooled bikes tend to over-heat. This Kodiak was water cooled and had a High and a Low gear, each with 4 speeds. The 4-wheeler is ugly and beat up, but it is a work horse.

The Kolpin Dirtworks Series is a 3-point hitch that attaches to the ATV or UTV using a 2 inch receiver hitch. Kolpin sells receivers for most 2000 year and newer machines. My new Kodiak is a ’98 model and I needed to design and make my own receiver. I spoke with the folks at Koplin and they helped me create a design that would most appropriately suite my needs. I needed to find a welder. Whenever I need an expert do-it-all, I call John “cookin” Thibadeoux.

John threw a receiver together real quick like and we put it to the test. The design was strong enough, but the receiver sat too low to the ground, and thus couldn’t allow the implement to raise off the ground. We had to start over. Unfortunately time was short and my planting window was upon me. I instead borrowed a Kawasaki Mule from a friend of mine. Kolpin did have a 2 inch receiver made to fit the mule, so I ordered it and got to work.

The 3-point hitch assembly, category 0, is constructed of heavy-duty 1 1/2” square tubing with fully adjustable lift arms and top link and has a 250 lb lift capacity at the tool bar with 300 lbs down pressure capacity. Like any 3-point hitch, implements are then easy to remove and replace. I purchased the Cultivator set and the Disc Plow. The 3-point hitch is raised and lowered by a 12v electric actuator lift system with 20 amp maximum current draw. It even has a convenient rocker switch that can be mounted to your handle bars. One requirement of the Dirt works system is that you have to buy a tool bar for each implement, or take the time, each time you switch out implements, to unfasten one tool and fasten on another. This is a little inconvenient in my book, but still worth the cost. The Tool Bar comes in either 48 inches or 60 inches.

The Cultivator set is made of six S tines with changeable points. It comes with “blade” points, but I was able to find replacement points of varying degrees of sweep at Tractor Supply for under $5 per point or sweep. Though the cultivator set is a simple design and easy enough to make at home, the price to buy isn’t much more than it would take to buy the parts and assemble yourself.

The Disc Plow is a great design. Simple yet effective. With eight discs, four on each side, the Disc Plow cuts a width of four feet. Each side turns on a single axle with two bearings. Simple yet effective.

The Test:

For my first real test of the Kolpin Dirtworks series, I chose a food plot that was growing up in some fairly thick grass. I needed to turn the dirt so I could plant Whitetail Institute Power Plant.

I started with the Cultivator set. I’d read that using the cultivator first would break up the soil and make the disc more able to pulverize the dirt into a proper seed bed. The advice I gleaned from the internet proved to be correct. The Kawasaki Mule (diesel) had no problems pulling the cultivator through the hard packed soil. I did however have to stop often to clean the grass from the S tines. It seemed to be ripping the grass up by the roots. I made two to three passes with the cultivator, depending on how thick the grass and how heavy the soil. I was very pleased with the performance. If I had planted at that point I am confident I would have had a decent growth rate.

I quickly changed out the cultivator for the Disc Plow. I set the disc at the setting just short of the most aggressive position and lowered the discs into the ground. With 300 lbs of downward press, the disc did a great job of cutting. I stayed between 12 and 18 miles per hour while pulling the disc and felt thrilled to see dirt flying up from the discs. In only two passes I had a powder soft seed bed. Amazing for an ATV/UTV disc plow. I witnessed no bounce or wiggle. Because the 3-point hitch has the adjustable turn-buckles, I was able to make sure the disc stayed level. I really can’t say enough how pleased I am with my purchase. I feel like I invested my money well.

I next used the Dirtworks to install a 2 acre plot of Power Plant. I was fortunate enough that the land owner was able to get a local farmer to do an initial plow a couple of weeks before I showed up. The plot was grown up in Johnson grass and small woody plants. The farmer, using very large equipment, turned the soil under and left me with bare dirt in large clumps. I attached the disc to the Mule and then fastened a chain link fence drag behind the disc. Once again, I watched dirt fly from the discs. I averaged 20mph, with the discs set at medium depth, approximately 4 inches. I passed over the plot one time to break up the large clumps and to smooth the soil for planting.

I planted the Power plant and spread 800 lbs of 13-13-13 with my hand spreader and then passed over the plot again with the drag and a roller-packer. When I was done, I was looking at the prettiest foot plot I’d ever seen. They dirt here was a heavy clay-loam, rich and sticky. I was afraid the disc would have a hard time breaking up the soil and would get gummed up. Because I was able to maintain a higher speed, the disc had no troubles at all. In fact, in both plots, I felt that I built a better seed bed than I was ever able to with a tractor and disc.

Kolpin also offers other implements with the Dirtworks series. Available are a rear grader blade, box blade, landscape rake, sweeper broom and a chisel plow. Also available as tow behind accessories are a double-gang disc, dump cart, light duty drag, heavy duty drag, and a broadcast spreader. Visit Kolpin Dirtworks for the entire line of Dirtworks tools and implements.

By Brent Sawyer

TalkHunting Pro Staffer, Brent "Cobrican" Sawyer, was born into a sporting family.  His first couple years of life were spent on the banks of Lake Arthur and around his grandfather's farm in Jennings, La.  Even when his family moved to the city, they visited the farm often.  Brent's parents and Pawpaw spent as many hours as they could find taking him outside to learn how to care for and survive on the land around him.  They camped and hiked.  They gardened.  Brent joined the Boy Scouts as a Bobcat and continued to be involved through his High School days.  There, he learned many new skills to help him belong out of doors.  Brent and his cousins would often sleep out under the stars with only a blanket.  

At the age of 8 he was given his first BB gun.  At 10 he was allowed to hunt with a shotgun.  The family had a lease where they hunted, predominantly, Speckle-belly geese with the occasional snow or duck.  They also hunted doves and rabbits.  Brent learned how to call specks well enough to hunt on his own in only a short time.  About the time Brent went to college, his grandfather dropped the hunting lease.  Fortunately, North Louisiana offers some great opportunities for hunting on public lands.  He spent many hours duck hunting as well as hunting small game.  In 2000 Brent was invited to his first deer hunt.  Since then he has been fully involved in the deer hunting experience.  He also loves to fish.  Lately he has made more opportunities to fish salt water than freshwater but he enjoys both.

Brent Graduated with a degree in Forest Technology and has used his degree as a basis for hunting and recreation properties management.  He joined Talkhunting.com in 2008 and has attended gatherings in Louisiana and Alabama.  He also works for Breathe Safe Environmental Services as a third party monitor for lead and asbestos abatement.  He loves his job but hopes to be able to one day move exclusively to property management and consulting.

Comments(2):

1. Kolpin is #1

   I will have the Dirtwork's equipment hooked up to my 2008 Honda Rancher next year.. Great Article Brent!

   Thursday, August 04, 2011 Dennis

2. I have the same set up and love it great review

   Friday, August 05, 2011 erick