Utv/Side by side?

[davrow]

I use mine (Yamaha Rhino 2 seater) gardening around the house - it fits between the house and the retaining wall in back - no car, truck or tractor will do that. The short wheelbase allows it to get down ravines/gullies and back up the other side without catching a bumper on each side and leaving all four wheels of a truck dangling (or conversely getting high-centered). Admittedly, I got it for the fun factor... but I've found it is truly useful to have, much more than I ever anticipated.

My wife and I use it to drive around the neighborhood to visit with neighbors, too. It's not street legal here, so we can only use the private streets in our 4,000 acre 'development'. Sure couldn't walk it anymore!

 

[trollingfever]

i know very little about side by side atv or rtv. my research says the kubota 1120d, is banned (i confirmed with wis and fl)from state and federal trails because it is 61 pounds over the 2000 pound limit. the 900x is 1950 pounds and it is approved. slower in speed (25mph) than most but built more solid, i read. more useful for work kubota says, but the 1100 lb bed load is similar to many with 1000 pound loads.

if any input from owners/users of the 900x with suspension would be appreciated ; how is the ride? how comfortable is sitting for longer times(1-4 hours)
what is the average fuel consumption? how is the maintenance, i read how expensive filters and service items are? how many hours or miles are expected? is there anyone with first hand experience compared to other rtv/atv on the market? yamaha, honda, polaris, and kawasaki. i only have a price on a gas powered honda pioneer 700, at $12,900 (higher than the diesel kubota 900x base $10,100, 900 work site & bedliner $11400, and the 1120d with bed liner is $13,000.)

 

[nybirdman]

Anything diesel is going to be more expensive for maintenance than a gas model;fuel more expensive and potential problems in winter.That being said;we own two Kubota tractors and are happy with them.
The RTV's are heavy,slow work machines with minimal ground clearance(at least compared to the others).
My family owns 2015 Yamaha Viking,2013 JD 825 Gator,2008 Kawasaki Teryx and a 2006 Yamaha Rhino.
I prefer the Yamaha's over all.Checked out the Honda and didn't care for it myself.

 

[groundcover]

The Kubota RTV 900 is a work horse, love mine. Sips fuel, has all the speed I need, I even got a tag for mine but haven't run it on the road. I cut a rubber stall mat to fit the bed and bolted it in with two brass toilet bolts, easy to pull out to wash under it if needed.

 

[westcliffe01]

One area where there will be absolutely no competition between a full size truck and a UTV is fuel consumption. When I took my Kubota to the Rockies, I drove it up and down the mountain all day and seldom used over 2 gal of fuel a day. Now with a full size truck, that would be quite a different story. Fitting between the pine trees would be another area where the UTV does better and an ATV better still, but I would be loathe to give up space for the bed and second comfortable seat. Used trucks are not all that cheap now that new ones cost $50k+ either...

I ended up using a 73' ford 4x4 to do Everything that that four wheeler did.

So bringing up a utv/Side by side this evening went as I expected, shot down from the get-go. She needs me to convince her that it will outperform that nasty old ford- I am struggling to find an excuse, "any excuse" to vindicate getting one.

 

[tamu94]

One area where there will be absolutely no competition between a full size truck and a UTV is fuel consumption. When I took my Kubota to the Rockies, I drove it up and down the mountain all day and seldom used over 2 gal of fuel a day. Now with a full size truck, that would be quite a different story. Fitting between the pine trees would be another area where the UTV does better and an ATV better still, but I would be loathe to give up space for the bed and second comfortable seat. Used trucks are not all that cheap now that new ones cost $50k+ either...

Size is also something that wont compare. I can take my RTV almost anywhere I want on the property. A truck is mostly confined to the roads. A UTV is much more agile and smaller so it will be able to go where you need it.

 

[FTG-05]

I need a UTV for around my farm. I have my RAT (Rural Assault Tractor) but it's a one person vehicle, open to the air (i.e. it's cold as **** when cold out side), no canopy so it sucks when it rains and the biggest pain of all: it only holds one person! I really don't want an ATV due to most of the above, although you can get one more person it it (usually). A UTV just seems like it would be more useful.

So I need a UTV.

I prefer slightly used since I'm retired and my budget for this is fixed and thanks but no thanks to any monthly payments. Low hours and miles and some nice options like the locking diffs (which I very much need for my hill) and the winch.

How can I determine what a good price is on any UTV? Is there a KBB.com for UTVs? KBB = Kelly's Blue Book.

And what are some good makes and models to choose from vs. makes and models not to choose from? For example, there's no way I want to get a Kawasaki Mule since they only have 3-3.5" of wheel travel; most UTVs have 9-10" which I also need for my rough one mile road I'll be using this on.

Thanks!

 

[nybirdman]

Yes there is a blue book for ATV's and SidexSides.NADA,Kelly's ect.Look for a used Yamaha Rhino or Kawasaki Teryx(totally different than the mules).You will find a lot of Rangers because they sold a lot them and people tend to get rid of them.I would stay away from the Honda Big Red and any of the Chinese clones.

 

[westcliffe01]

FTG, you have to decide between the "sport" type UTV's (polaris razor or similar) which have large amounts of suspension travel and are set up for more speed. Or the alternative is the "farm hand" type UTV the likes of Kubota. I have a Kubota and it definitely does not have a soft spongy suspension. It is more in tune with the old leaf sprung jeeps which temper the drivers behaviour by communication through the seat of the pants that you are going too fast.

I chose the RTV for the hydrostatic transmission, which can pull all day long up steep hills, where a belt transmission used in the majority of UTV's might burn out. Mine is also used on hard rocky terrain. In winter I plan to fit tracks to it (another $4000) but that completely solves the deep snow problem.

If you have different needs, then the most suitable vehicle for you will be different.

 

[FTG-05]

West, it will definitely be the utility version.

I wondered why there were so many Ranger ads vs. the Rhino or Teryx, good to know.The suspension travel comparison was between the Rhino and Mule IRC, both utility vehicles, not sport.

The problem I have with the RTV is a) it's so expensive and b) it's so heavy. The previous owner had one here and I got to ride it around a bit. It did great in the middle of summer when it was dry. Wet and muddy with my hills? I don't think so.