The seller doesn’t list any numbers or show a VIN or data plate or anything like that, so we aren’t sure what year this John Deere AMT 622 Transporter is; it could be anywhere from the late-1980s to the early-1990s. This farm find is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $2,200. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
JD’s second go-round of their 6-series AMT (All Materials Transport) ATVs, or utility vehicles, the 622 Transporter, was a step up from the 600 Series in having two seats and a nice, flat floor for your feet, rather than a centered seat that you rode almost like an ATV. This was positively luxurious for a vehicle of this type. Well, maybe not luxurious, but not uncomfortable, let’s just say that.
The seller didn’t give much info, and the photos are lacking a bit, which is usually the case with Facebook or Craigslist ads. They don’t show even one inch of the right/passenger side at all, not even a glimpse. That’s disappointing, but we (I) have to remember that Craigslist and Facebook ads are basically the equivalent of the old classified ads in newspapers, but better in that they show at least some photos. They’re mainly made for local people, so if you’re close to Oshkosh, WI, you’d run over and look at this five-wheeler. It looks great to me, I’d buy it in a heartbeat just based on the photos that they show here.
I would like to know if it has a powered (battery-powered, not hydraulic in this series) dump bed, though. It has a 600-pound hauling capacity, and that’s a lot of dirt or concrete blocks. It also has a 1,000-pound towing capacity. We saw a 626 a couple of months ago here on Barn Finds, and that one was a bit rougher. Here’s another listing in case you wanted to see what it looks like under the bed, and see the engine, etc. And here’s a brochure with some specs.
They also didn’t raise that dump bed to show us the engine, but it should be a Kawasaki 290-cc four-stroke single-cylinder with 10 horsepower. It sends power to all four rear wheels, and the seller says two of those wheels are new, and two were replaced, but I’m not sure what that means. It also has a new battery. For $2,200 or offer (hey, it’s a Pawn Stars world, every seller expects offers), this could be a nice machine to have if you own some property. Have any of you had a pre-Gator John Deere five-wheeler utility vehicle?
Diff lock 🔐 will pull you out of most situations on the golf course ⛳️ Thats where these and the Gators found a home. Turf tires on it.
1000 pounds towing capacity? Very impressive!! ( Quoting the Project Farm guy Todd). I’ve never had a chance to drive one, but have seen these on farms and such. If I had a large puece of land, I’d want this. It looks like its in great shape too!!! Nice one Scotty!!!
Driven 3 varieties of these Dave.. one just like this, a 4 wheeler, and a 6 wheeler. The 6 wheeler had the nicest and softest ride… the seats have no cushioning, but those balloon turf tires ensure a smooth ride. The power lift box was very nice to have. 👍
Stan, Im beginning to think there hasn’t been much you haven’t had some seat time in lol. Power lift box is a great idea.
I had a neighbor here who putt-putted around on the local streets in one similar to this, off and on for a few years. It wasn’t legal but I doubt the cops pinched him, since he was doing it for so long. He often had riders with him too. His machine didn’t have the tandem wheels like this though.
I have the 6 wheel “Gator” version of this. (1995?) Top speed is 15mph. Which is plenty fast for something that only has limited suspension on the front. Mine has the hydraulic lift bed. And when you lock in the 4 drive wheels it will pull you out of some amazing situations that you should not have gotten into to begin with! Just don’t expect the thing to turn when 4 wheel deive is locked in! It will, but the turning radius is about the same as a bobtail truck with a 26′ box! The 6 wheel has a load capacity of 1,400 lbs. And used engines are going for approx. $1,200 these days. I bought it for my wife to use on our property (10 acres) for $100 at an estate sale. It didn’t run and had 5 flat tires. The running issue was easy as the air filter was plugged solid. The tires and battery costs about $600. It runs great and the wife appreciates the dump bed. It still needs new seats as they are dried out and cracked. (Nevada sun is very hard on vinyl!)
I have had about 5 of them over the 30 years. Still run a AMT600 on the ranch. With the 1 wheel up front you need to have flat property for it to operate nicely. I rolled one of these trying to go down too steep a hill side ways . Not hurt luckily. The plastic front and fenders are the key on these. Make sure there good. JD does not sell plastic front or fenders, they been discontinued. And are impossible to find any were. Only buy if it has a hydraulic dump bed that is very useful. This looks like a nice machine .At a very fair price I would be all over it but I live thousands miles away.
Again, proof positive Wisconsin isn’t all cow poop and beer farts, proudly made in my hometown( 1 of many) Horicon, Wis. I read JD recently celebrated their 500,000th Gator. That’s impressive. The Gator changed everything for the farmer, who previously had to rely on a motorized golf cart, if that. In case you are a city slicker, a farm is the definition of slop. A kindly mixture of manure and mud, ( mire) that no farm can escape. These revolutionized the farm, in that, not much could stop them. JD farm equipment is top notch, always has been, but they knew, how many million dollar combines are they going to sell? Gators appeal to a wide audience, and I’d consider it a “Modern Marvel”,,,apparently so did 500,000 others. I don’t think this has a dump bed, it would be a switch on the rather straightforward dash controls, as an electric up/down switch I don’t see.
To be clear, the dump bed WAS hydraulic, just electrically operated. Be a lot more hardware on the rear view.
Wisconsin is beer farts, cheese and the Packers.
I don’t see a switch for a hydraulic dump. But I believe it has a manual dump. (See the handle on the bed side.) Still a good looking unit.
If it does not have a electric/ hydraulic pump bed lifter. All is not lost occasionally the complete kits show up an Ebuy and you can easily refit one on it . Cost about $800.00 bucks for the kit . You not put a dump bed option on this , you will be unloading all the heavy rocks you put in the bed my hand. Impossible to unload , ( dump heavy load ) by just manually lifting bed.
This beauty caught my eye on FB because I used to use one at my high school job (40 years back) at a church w/ lots of grounds and acres of woods to maintain.
The turning radius isn’t fantastic but I can say from experience that these don’t really get stuck too often. When you lock the rear differential, they pretty much just plow straight on, through anything.
At that same time, a friend of mine had one of these in the family business. We recently got together “up north” Wisconsin for the first time in many years. They were still using that same John Deere AMT, hauling firewood around. It was running well and looked original to me.
These things are beasts.
It looks like I provided that link to the other AMT626 a couple months ago. And you guys thought I just watched for motorcycles. :)
Scotty, good write up, as usual. As you didn’t include an artist’s rendition of a hardtop model, here you go:
https://www.schneiderauctioneers.com/auctions/25707/lot/7628-john-deere-amt622-utv