UTILITY VEHICLES POLARIS RANGER KUBOTA RTV

[rs1626]

ANYBODY GOT THE RANGER OR KUBOTA RTV ?   LIKES DISLIKES? PROBLEMS IM KINDA LEANING TO RANGER  LOOKING TO BUY ONE BEFORE END OF YEAR JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE

[Don K]

My father owns a Ranger and I will probably be buying one in the next couple of months. I have used his a good bit and was quite impressed with the machine, because I don't care for their 4-wheelers at all. The machine is quick and suprisingly nimble in the woods. It is very strong and can pull a heavy load especially in 4 Low range. Only dislike, If had a gripe would be the drive belt,  it will burn and start to slip if misused. For example, like trying to pull off a heavy load in third gear in a standard shift truck.  : :
 

I replaced one in the woods on another guys machine and all we needed was a screwdriver and a couple of small metric sockets.

My father's is 2 yrs old and he hasn't had any problem with his. They now make one with a 700 cc engine and it along with the 500, both have independent suspension which in my opinion only enhances a already capable machine.  ;D

Hope this helps a little. 

Don

[Ironwood]

Each UTV has it's strong and weak points. Check out www.hunterworks.com . There is a forum there to discuss items of interest. The Kubota has had issues with the one drive shaft spline junction that has been problematic. The hydrostat trans sounds.. interesting as does the power steering (I wish mine had it) The Polaris to my knowlege seems pretty sound. The Gator HPX has had problems with the gas engine pumping fuel into the crankcase and being cold blooded (I own one, I know!) Generally I love the thing and have had great service thus far. The HPX suits what I do very well and while others would work this seemed best for me (I also got a great deal on it used, but still under warrentee) It will boil down to your usage and which dealer you trust and is reasonably close to you. Good luck try them out, check with owners and enjoy the ride. Check out Honda's new entry, the Relentless . Reid

[Tom]

How'd you get that log up on top of that little go-cart, Reid?

[Modat22]

The only thing I don't like about the gator, it has a very firm suspension which is good for heavy loads but if you get into a rutty area the springs won't allow all the tires to touch the ground even though it has independant suspension, times like these make the posi-traction lock very useful indeed.

[Ironwood]

Tom,

Three beef cakes flippin it up at times there were two of those puppies on there.

                Reid

[bcraw98]

My Dad has also had a Ranger for a couple of years now and so far no problems just ordinary maintenance. It rides real smooth and turns easy. We don't have any complaints 'yet'.

[moosehunter]

A friend has an RTV. The thing is a TANK. It is slow but will pull a house. If I were to buy one I would most likely get the Ranger. I don't have the patience to go slow!

[Dakota]

This months magazine "ATV" has a review of 13 different ones.  They tested all of them and came up with some interesting information about them.
Dakota

[DonE911]

I researched the util vehicle pretty seriously a while back.  As already mentioned each has its own good points and bad points.   Thought I was decided on the yamaha Rhino, but went to look at the Polaris one more time.

It was raining so I went inside to wait for it to stop (the Ranger was outside inthe rain) and took a look at the ATP... which is a 4 wheeler with a small dump bed on the back and an unlocking rear end for turf uses.

Long story short I eneded up getting two ATP's instead of the Util vehicle.  I got two machines for only slightly more money.  The beds are smaller and they don't carry as much, but for me the 2 machines made it a no brainer. 

I don't regret not getting a util, but that cup holder sure would have been nice ;D

[logwalker]

I was looking myself a few months back and came upon a ebay list for a rebuilt Suzuki with a aluminum body and a small dump box in rear. Consider what you are getting for your $10k or so and this starts to make a lot of sense.
80 HP instead of approx. 25 HP.
Real drivetrain with hi/low.
Street legal. 75 mph vs.18/22
Cheap to buy. Cheaper to own.
Weathertight cabs.
1/2 ton chassis.

I could go on. All those UTES are cute to look at but I would be afraid to thrash em. Would make me a little ill to scratch that shiny paint the first couple times.

So my current project is to add a dump bed to my 92 Daihatsu Rocky. Kind of a fancy Suzuki Samurai. We gave it to our daughter for a driver and she went out and got t-boned bad. The DanG thing saved her live. Totaled the rig. So I got it back. Been driving all over the hills the way it is with my saws and other tolls. Fun to go to work. I'll post some pics soon.  Logwalker