Work UTV ... narrow down some choices please

Sawyer Rob · Nov 30, 2015

I looked at a deere UTV and the diesel was made in china, I forget what model gator it was though...

SR

Copperhead · Dec 1, 2015

Could be. I know it is a Yanmar diesel, and that has Jap origins. Whether it is now being made in China by the Japs, I have no clue. The Gasser engine in the 825i is definitely Chinese in origin and build. None of this bothers me, as both engines have a very respectable track record of reliability.

TSO · Dec 1, 2015

On my Deere 620i Gator, the product tag for the machine says "Made in USA" and on the Kawasaki gas engine, it says "Made in Japan."

TSO · Dec 1, 2015

Phone duplicate...

ovrszd · Dec 1, 2015

In today's world "Made in USA" only means "assembled in USA".

TSO · Dec 1, 2015

ovrszd said:
In today's world "Made in USA" only means "assembled in USA".

Which could be true.

Copperhead · Dec 1, 2015

I would say that is very true. A lot of GM, Ford, and Chrysler transmissions have Chinese made components. I haul a lot of Chinese made gears, CV axles, etc to U.S. component suppliers that are moving it to the various transmission plants. I used to haul a LOT of wiring harnesses for GM from the Mexican border that were made in Mexico by American Yazaki, a Jap outfit. I have hauled lot of bumpers from Canada to U.S. Ford plants. And the list goes on and on. And the tractor and UTV sector is no different. Kawasaki assembles a grip of ATV's and Mules in Lincoln, NE from components that are sourced both in and out of the U.S. I have lost track of the number of loads of Kaw ATV's and Mules I have hauled out of the Lincoln assembly plant. A major Kawasaki engine plant is in Maryville, MO. Same thing. Assembled in Maryville from a variety of outsourced products from U.S. and foreign suppliers. Most of those are going to Lincoln to put in the ATV's and Mules. But until the plant near me closed, the flywheels for these motors were made in Kellogg, IA at Midwest Manufacturing.

Copperhead · Dec 1, 2015

Back to the OP, I just picked up a John Deere 825i. it was a demo model that the dealer let me use over the weekend to see if I liked it. Well, I did. It is going back tomorrow to get a few things put on that I want.

We negotiated for $18K for it. Has 40 hrs time on it. It has full front, rear, and fender protection. Power lift box. Extra CV protection fore and aft. The larger spoked rims with the Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires. Included in the $18K price, I am getting a Deere windshield, full soft cab (third party), installed cab heater, and snowplow. And the factory warranty doesn't start till I get the 825i back, and the dealer threw in a extended warranty to sweeten the deal, along with a full service before they bring it back. All in all, I thought it was a pretty good deal. Should be a long term real workhorse.

Code54 · Dec 1, 2015

Congrats! Nice machine and that heater will sure be handy this winter!

Copperhead · Dec 1, 2015

I wouldn't have even considered the 825i if I had not been chatting with the dealer about something else and the topic came up. They had a batch of 825i's that had been demo's at the Iowa State Fair, and had been summer loaners to some school districts. The one I got had been on loan to the high school in a town south of me. If one is looking at a good working UTV, irregardless of brand, see if a dealer has a low hour demo unit you can get your hands on. Especially at the end of the year. They want to get rid of them and will likely cut a good deal. Probably will even let you try it out for a few days to see if you like it, like my dealer did.

I just had to get the heater to appease the wife, but I will enjoy it also.