The Best Options for Your Arena Leveller Towing Vehicle

Arenas are a big investment, so it pays to take good care of them and consider your maintenance options carefully. Achieving a consistent and cushioned surface for exercising and competing on requires high-quality specialist equipment. With the UK experiencing such a wide range of weather conditions, from record-breaking heat this last summer to the recent wet weather and freezing temperatures, most arena owners will have realised the importance of a well-planned maintenance programme.

Our arena levellers can be towed by a range of different vehicles - including quad bikes, tractors and gators - so we’ve compiled some advantages and disadvantages of these different options so that you can assemble the most suitable maintenance system for your equestrian arena.

Quadbikes

Quad bikes are easy to learn to use and are very functional to use on farms and equestrian centres. Small quads can be ridden down narrow lanes and through small gateways where perhaps a larger vehicle couldn’t. 
Quads are commonly used for towing arena levellers as they are generally small enough to reach corners better and move in and out of show jumps. They are also lighter in weight compared to larger vehicles, so are a good option if you struggle with very muddy fields and tracks. 
The main disadvantage of a quad bike as a towing vehicle is its high fuel consumption, however the initial investment is lower than other options.

Gator Utility Vehicles

Gators are a popular vehicle for equestrian centres, as they are very versatile and can be used for a huge variety of different tasks, such as delivering hay to fields, poo picking, moving jumps, and quickly checking over horses that are turned out in the field. With car-like controls, they are easy and very comfortable to drive. They can also feature different accessories, such as a roof which may be appreciated in wet weather! 

However, the main disadvantage of gators is that they can be very expensive. It’s also worth bearing in mind that they have a slightly larger turning circle than quad bikes and therefore less manoeuvrable.

Tractors

Tractors are a great option if you plan to carry out bigger projects and tasks, such as harrowing, mowing grass, or making hay. Tractors are heavier than quads and gators which requires more substantial ground infrastructure around the property.
Tractors are usually the most expensive towing vehicle option, however as with the gator, it may be worth the investment if you use it for a variety of different tasks.

Other Options

If you don’t have access to any of the above, it is possible to tow an arena leveller with a car or 4x4, however this is not the most effective option as it is hard to monitor the work of the leveller. It may also be more difficult to get into the corners so will require manual raking of those areas.
Our ArenaMate® Type 3 levellers are available in five different widths, we recommend the 1.5m or 1.8m models for smaller ATVs or tractors, and the 2.1m, 2.4m or 3.0m for larger ATVs and tractors. The most important point is that the leveller is wider than the towing vehicle in order to cover the tyre tracks.