Help me justify owning a late 90s 4x4 ATV while living in the suburbs

So by luck I am next in line to receive a 90s Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV. It was already rescued and put back into running status by the current owner, but they are downsizing and offered it to me for free. Of course I said yes.

But I want to find some way to put it to work around the house. Right now I'm excited about using it to move around the 5x8 utility trailer that I store beside the house. I'm also thinking a good dump cart since it is coming time again for mulching the front yard (free wood chips). Which also makes me wonder about getting a box blade or blade of some kind to help spread the wood chips. I only have maybe 1/2 acre to tend, so it isn't like I need an ATV to maintain the back 40. But it would make hauling firewood to the front yard more fun.

Of course I'll be throwing it on the trailer to hit the woods with my kids, but I figured someone on here would have a similar overkill issue of machinery versus property. The timing is good since my trusty lawn tractor is finally getting put out to pasture and its replacement riding mower is little more than a self propelled push mower (not really made for towing).

And if anyone knows of a good place to ride near Atlanta I'm all ears.

As an owner of 1/3 acre, and several unnecessary Honda ATC/ATVs, I wholeheartedly encourage this behavior.  Even if it isn't a Honda...

In reply to JRGunfighter_John :

Technically I'm down a project car, so at least an ATV takes up less space.

Today I was looking at those cool baskets that mount to the back rack. Could make a heck of a powered wheelbarrow with the right containers.

Last night used the 2002 Rubicon to drag the lawn roller around. 

Would it have been easier with the lawn tractor, yes, but it's battery was dead...

With a hitch/ball you can tow around any current equipment you already own.  Roller, Yard Trailer, Leaf vacuum, etc.

Isn't standard practice for suburban ATVs to put car tires on them and do 70mph wheelies down the main street?

I can't help you justify it but as someone who has a couple of them, I'll certainly encourage it. 

My sons and I had a family meeting a couple of months ago about motorsports. The discussion revolved around building a family Lemons car or moving on to something else. 

The decision was 4 wheelers. We now have 5 of them and my middle and younger sons are shopping now for two more. Playing in the dirt is much more relaxing compared to endurance racing. Hanging out, camping, and just enjoying each other's company. We haul out to family property or one of several national forest OHV trails. 

Is your neighborhood overrun with golf carts? Can you use the quad in similar ways (potentially including any kind of permit or decal required)?

In reply to Toyman! :

It did occur to me this could be a slippery slope. I have an ancient 1973 Honda XL175 dirt bike that I used to ride. Slow, but it worked. I'd need to acquire another 4-wheeler or dirt bike if I wanted me and my two boys to ride together. Of course once my daughter gets old enough she'd need something too. And by then I've outgrown our utility trailer, so that would need an upgrade. And then I'd need to build a shed to put the lawn stuff so I can store everything in the garage....

"If you give a mouse a quad, it's going to ask for a friend to ride with. If you get him a friend to ride with, he'll need a bigger trailer....."

bbbbRASS said:

Is your neighborhood overrun with golf carts? Can you use the quad in similar ways (potentially including any kind of permit or decal required)?

When I read your first question, somehow I thought that the second part was going to be about chasing the pesky golf carts away with the quad.

In reply to slefain :

I'm currently looking at my utility trailer to figure out how to get 4-5 quads on it and we are building a lean too behind the shop to get everything under cover... 

It's still cheaper than feeding a race car or two.