iDRY Vacuum Kilns

Sponsors:

Best atv / utv

Started by llawton, August 10, 2018, 09:22:18 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

llawton

Greetings from Montana!
We are purchasing 20 acres of scrub land with a coulee of pine trees. The property is about 1/2 mile up from a reservoir which has fishing, boating, etc. We are not planning on building at this time, but we need to clear out some deadfall and open the canopy as well as run back and forth to the reservoir. There are two of us and family. No children. We don't want to leave a footprint of tire tracks all over the land. We have seasonal access. Question: what is the best used utility vehicle? Thanks!

samandothers

Welcome to the Forum!

My brother has a Kubota 500 has rtv and I have a Polaris Sportsman 4 wheeler. Sportsman is Not really made for 2.  The Kubota rides rough when going over rocky terrain or small dead fall. At least more so than the Polaris Sportsman.

Kubota ground clearance is ok.  Kubota does have a bed and can haul stuff easier and you can sit side by side under the cover and have a windshield to keep spiders off the misses.

I bought the 4 wheeler when our kids were home and they loved it.  Now with them gone I'd probably go for the Kubota but in a diesel since my tractor and truck are diesels.  It is more of a work viehicle.

sawguy21

The major brands are all well built machines, it comes down to desired features and dealer support. Buying used can be a headache. Can you enlist a seasoned rider/mechanic to inspect the machines? They tend to be rode hard and put up wet and repairs are not cheap. Don't even consider the cheap offshore clones.
old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm

mike_belben

I do quite a lot with a $900 suzuki king quad 300.  I show it no mercy whatsoever and it hasnt broken yet.  Theyre closer to a tractor than any other atv.  










Praise The Lord

Ianab

Kawasaki Mules are popular with farmers here. Comfortable side by side seating, roll cage, roof etc , and they are designed to carry or tow a useful load. A roof and windscreen is a real bonus on a cold rainy day too. 

Safety is a big thing as OSH is cracking down on ATV safety. Too many farm workers getting killed on quad bikes. UTVs like the Mule are able to go pretty much anywhere a quad bike will, WITH 2 people and a load on the back, and if you do end up doing something dumb, you don't get trapped under a heavy quad bike in the bottom of a ditch. 

Ground pressure would be about the same as a quad bike, so they wont tear up the ground any more than a quad. 

Been doing some storm cleanup and using a friends Mule to gather up some limbs for firewood. Tows a full size utility trailer and load like that without breaking into a sweat. 
 
Weekend warrior, Peterson JP test pilot, Dolmar 7900 and Stihl MS310 saws and  the usual collection of power tools :)

snowstorm

polaris ranger  top of the list. whats up with no tire tracks???

WV Sawmiller

   I badly misuse my Kawasaki Prairie 650 ATV and it keeps on kicking. If you are planning on riding 2 I would highly recommend the UTV as being safer. Good luck.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Claybraker

I'm happy with my Polaris Ranger 800 EPS (electronic power steering) but I've never heard anything bad about the Mule or the Kubota. The John Deere Gator on the other hand...my brother bought one new about 5 years ago. He got rid of it and now has a Ranger 900 EPS that he's been happy with for about the last 3 years. He's still pretty satisfied with it now.

Fuel injection is a must these days. Power steering is nice, but not really needed. Solid axles in the rear instead of independent suspension makes for a rougher ride, but if you are pulling a load or anticipate ground engagement attachments I'd consider that. Winch on the front, yep, you probably need that.  Enclosed cab, windshield, not so much. Down here in Georgia, where it rains in the summer, it's nice to have a roof.  Windshield is handy in thick brush. Some ATV's can fit in the back of a truck,  but I've seen enough You tube video's to realize what a bad idea that can be.

tawilson

I've got a Kubota RTV500. Been happy with it for 10 years but I do wish it had power steering. Its geared pretty low so lot's of pull but not too fast.
Tom
2017 LT40HDG35 WIDE
BMS250 and BMT250 sharpener/setter
Woodmaster 725

barbender

I have a 99 Polaris Sportsman 500 that I bought new. I always planned on getting rid of it when Yamaha or Honda came out with a comparable machine, just because Polaris had a bad reputation. That machine has lived it's whole life outside and it's getting badly faded, but it has been bulletproof. I do have a bad CV joint now, but after almost 20 years I'm not too upset. I was sold on the Polaris at the time because of the power and the ride quality. My Dad bought a couple Honda 450 Foreman at the same time, they'd be a good work machine but they were not fun to ride, they really beat you up. Another nice thing about the Polaris 500 platform (they've now grown to a 570) they've been making them so long they're a pretty good bargain. I just saw a sale fir new Polaris Sportsman 570's for $4999. That's $1000 less than what I paid for mine all thise years back. I haven't been around UTV's a lot. Last fall out west I got to ride around in a couple Polaris Rangers. One was an older 500 (I think)   It would be ok for a work rig, but nit that enjoyable for recreation. Slow and loud, the engine is always revved up and the tranny really whined. The other nachine was a new Ranger 1000, that one was nice and a cruisin machine. Loads of power, it was also $18K😲 The owner of that machine had a JD Gator, he was running out of vocabulary to describe what a pile of garbage it was. P.S. They all mke tracks😊
Too many irons in the fire

Ljohnsaw

What about an old Datsun or Toyota 4x4 pickup truck?  Before they got big.  Probably cheaper and a lot tougher.  Put a couple jump seats in the bed for the kids.
John Sawicky

Just North-East of Sacramento...

SkyTrak 9038, Ford 545D FEL, Davis Little Monster backhoe, Case 16+4 Trencher, Home Built 42" capacity/36" cut Bandmill up to 54' long - using it all to build a timber frame cabin.

celliott

"Best" is a relative term. Everyone had had good and bad experiences with multiple brands. A UTV/SxS is quite a bit heavier taller and wider than a normal quad, but more capable towing and loads plus some are 4 (safe) seat ready. Quads can get places between trees the big machines can't.
We use Can am 6x6's. A good compromise between quads and utv's. Most people can't believe we don't use utv's for the work we do but they take a bigger trail and are too tall. The 6x6's can do an incredible amount of work and go places you really shouldn't :) 

My 2cents, we've gradually switched from Polaris to Can Am and certainly have noticed a difference in build quality.

On the "no tracks" thing- I think you would be better off to build established trails and maintain them. Water bars, solid surfaces, bridges where needed. And don't go riding wherever all over the property. Eventually you'll find people will "cow path" drive in the same tracks and it makes ruts. An established trail with erosion control minimizes the impact.
Chris Elliott

Clark 666C cable skidder
Husqvarna and Jonsered pro saws
265rx clearing saw
Professional maple tubing installer and maple sugaring worker, part time logger

submarinesailor

Quote from: ljohnsaw on August 11, 2018, 01:49:15 PM
What about an old Datsun or Toyota 4x4 pickup truck?  Before they got big.  Probably cheaper and a lot tougher.  Put a couple jump seats in the bed for the kids.
Got a 95 with 300K on it sitting down in the country just waiting for me to find the time.  Going to remove the bed, cut the frame way down so it's real short and but a wooden bed on it.  That's after I fix the left rear window to keep the rain out. ::) ::) ::)

Woodcutter_Mo

 I don't know how much you want to spend but the sxs I would like to have is the Mahindra Roxor  :o. They have a 4 cyl turbo diesel with 5 speed manual and 4x4.

 I just use a Honda ATV, it works for most purposes but a sxs of some sort would be better (and safer) for 2 people.
-WoodMizer LT25
-592XP full wrap, 372XP, 550XP, 455 Rancher, RedMax GZ3500T
-Fixer-uppers/projects:
024AV, MS260, MS361, MS460, Shindaiwa 488, 394XPG

wesdor

Not wanting to start a war here - just trying to gather information. 

In our area I see a lot of John Deere Gators (John Deere World Headquarters is about 15 minutes away). I notice that the JD has not been mentioned. What are the positive and negative sides of the Gator?

gspren

When I was looking at UTVs about 6 years ago the JD Gators had plastic beds while the Kubota that I got has a steel bed and that was a deal breaker for me as I know how I am about hauling almost anything and steel welds better than plastic. The Kubotas are limited to around 25 MPH but I seldom go over 15 so not a problem for me although out west in more open country it might be an issue.
Stihl 041, 044 & 261, Kubota 400 RTV, Kubota BX 2670, Ferris Zero turn

wesdor

Thanks for the quick reply gspren. 
That is indeed a big difference. I'm not very happy with the local Kubota dealer.  I'm not looking to purchase before next spring, if at all, so this is the beginning of my research 


florida

No matter what brand or size the biggest thing you can do not leave tracks is to not mount mud grip tires, make slow and wide turns and don't spin your wheels. 
General contractor and carpenter for 50 years.
Retired now!

Magicman

Quote from: wesdor on August 12, 2018, 12:15:14 PMI notice that the JD has not been mentioned. What are the positive and negative sides of the Gator?
See Reply #7 & Reply #9.
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

wesdor

Thanks Magicman, I must have skimmed those posts too quickly and missed the comments. 

One of my deer hunters bought a nice one a few months ago (not a Deere). I'll have to pick his brain. 

Looks like there are reports on the Deere. 

barbender

I think that it bears restating how much that fella disdained the John Deere Gator he had previous to the Polaris Ranger. I'm not trying to start a brand war, I couldn't care less about such things. I like quality machines that I can depend on, and his opinion of the Gator was anything but. I know Polaris has had a lot of recalls and some quality issues as of late as well. But the Ranger he had, he was very happy with.
Too many irons in the fire

jcbrotz

Quote from: barbender on August 12, 2018, 11:50:14 PM
I think that it bears restating how much that fella disdained the John Deere Gator he had previous to the Polaris Ranger. I'm not trying to start a brand war, I couldn't care less about such things. I like quality machines that I can depend on, and his opinion of the Gator was anything but. I know Polaris has had a lot of recalls and some quality issues as of late as well. But the Ranger he had, he was very happy with.
Wanna hear something funny My mom has a gator and a bobcat. they both are made by non other than Polaris Yanmar diesel in the bobcat and a rocket motor of some sort in the gator. But Polaris makes the running gear don't know if the new ones are that way or not but 4 year old one is. I have a Kubota because we work the death out of it. 11000 miles and counting :D :D
2004 woodmizer lt40hd 33hp kubota, Cat 262B skidsteer and way to many tractors to list. www.Brotzmanswoodworks.com and www.Brotzmanscenturyfarm.com

maple flats

My brother has a bobcat Toolcat, similar but truly in a different class. It has 2 seats, AC/heat and hydraulics to handle any job. He runs a full size stump grinder, a front end loader (5' bucket I think), a hydraulic dump box, a 7' flail mower and a tree shear. It has all wheel drive and 2 or 4 wheel steering.
If you consider one, sit down before you get the price. My brother paid $21,000 for his and it was 12 years old I believe. It also needed work, but my brother is both a mechanic and a machinist. He bought it from a dealer, but with the dealer doing nothing to it, as is where is.
I see now a toolcat that has low hours and it 1-4 years old goes in the mid $40,000's so it will likely not be a recreational vehicle, but a do all work vehicle that looks like a UTV. They can haul 2000# and tow 4000#.
logging small time for years but just learning how,  2012 36 HP Mahindra tractor, 3point log arch, 8000# class excavator, lifts 2500# and sets logs on mill precisely where needed, Woodland Mills HM130Max , maple syrup a hobby that consumes my time. looking to learn blacksmithing.

Sixacresand

Quote from: Woodcutter_Mo on August 12, 2018, 10:54:13 AM
I don't know how much you want to spend but the sxs I would like to have is the Mahindra Roxor  :o. They have a 4 cyl turbo diesel with 5 speed manual and 4x4.
I have researching the Roxor.  I was impressed that Mihindra almost duplicated the 1940's jeep in design and look.  A PTO can be added for a mower.  In reality a small side by side tractor with FEL should be invented
"Sometimes you can make more hay with less equipment if you just use your head."  Tom, Forestry Forum.  Tenth year with a LT40 Woodmizer,

samandothers

Whatever you get ensure you are comfortable with the dealer!

Thank You Sponsors!