Farm UTV's.....Mule or Ranger...or other?

[Beltzington]

I went today to pick-up a new Polaris Ranger crew but when I arrived the one I supposed to get had miraculously sold but they had another that was $1,800 more. I of course left empty handed.

While I was there I noticed the Mule 4010 trans that also seated 4 people. It was a little cheaper but sales guy said it had a 3 year warranty versus 6 months on the Ranger.

I've never bought or owned a UTV but need one for general use....also moving people so they don't have to walk so far to the barn. I was going with the Polaris only because my neighbor has one and he has good things to say about it.

I'm trying to stay under the $12,000 price, is there anything else I should be looking at? Not going to be used on trails or 4 wheeling, just hauling post, gravel, hay, people, etc.

I know they are propbably both great but does one edge the other out?

Do some research on the Club Car XRT what used to be called the CarryAll. They come in 2 or 4 seats, 2 or 4WD, diesel or gas. Top speed 25MPH but they will haul or tow close to 2000LBS.

 

[ovrszd]

These discussions are always interesting. People's perception of work are so different. As is dependability, load capacity, etc.

It becomes very confusing for the inexperienced to decide which machine will best suit them. Again, because of the varied expectations.

When a buyer's expectations matchs the machine's capabilities, it instantly becomes their go to machine. Hopefully you will be that lucky.

Read poster's declarations of greatness with all this in mind.

 

[shooterdon]

These discussions are always interesting. People's perception of work are so different. As is dependability, load capacity, etc.

It becomes very confusing for the inexperienced to decide which machine will best suit them. Again, because of the varied expectations.

When a buyer's expectations matchs the machine's capabilities, it instantly becomes their go to machine. Hopefully you will be that lucky.

Read poster's declarations of greatness with all this in mind.

These are wise words.

Regrettably, very few people really think about what they want a machine to do, and how often, when the urge to buy something hits us. It gets more apparent when you use something for a few years. The OP's said.

"I've never bought or owned a UTV but need one for general use....also moving people so they don't have to walk so far to the barn. I was going with the Polaris only because my neighbor has one and he has good things to say about it. "

That is not very specific...except for moving people to the barn....and if more than one, I believe a Mule only carries one other passenger?

Having owned two UTVs, one for 8 years, I would never buy another. There are better and cheaper ways for me to get my work done and "joy ride"...but that is me, with only 20 acres. YMMV

 

[grsthegreat]

I have a Mule 4010 and love it. Very well built. I added the electric hydraulic bed tilt kit for the wife. She uses it to clean stalls. Ours is the 2 seat model. Nit the fastest on the road, but ours never leaves the property so that wasnt an issue. I looked at alot of models, and most had plastic rear beds. Thay was the deal breaker for me. The mule is all steel bed. Very little plastic used on body except hood and some trim.

 

[ArlyA]

I've got many, many work hours with a Defender which has a plastic box. Must say I love that! Why do you not like them?? We found them darn tough, easy to clean out and don't rust.

I have a Mule 4010 and love it. Very well built. I added the electric hydraulic bed tilt kit for the wife. She uses it to clean stalls. Ours is the 2 seat model. Nit the fastest on the road, but ours never leaves the property so that wasnt an issue. I looked at alot of models, and most had plastic rear beds. Thay was the deal breaker for me. The mule is all steel bed. Very little plastic used on body except hood and some trim.

 

[grsthegreat]

I've got many, many work hours with a Defender which has a plastic box. Must say I love that! Why do you not like them?? We found them darn tough, easy to clean out and don't rust.

. i move alot of rocks, wood,etc with mine, and also use it when its 5F outside in winter. i simply dont like plastic exposed to these temps and conditions. One other thing i notes was how QUIET the mules are. mine sounds like a automobile. very quiet. I looked at alot of units that were very noisy.

 

[ArlyA]

Sled body components are largely build from ABS and HDPE plastic's. HDPE (high density polyethylene) is what our defenders box is made from which is very strong materiel and even tougher, at low temps. Rock hauling is was it is made to do.

. i move alot of rocks, wood,etc with mine, and also use it when its 5F outside in winter. i simply dont like plastic exposed to these temps and conditions. One other thing i notes was how QUIET the mules are. mine sounds like a automobile. very quiet. I looked at alot of units that were very noisy.

 

[grsthegreat]

Well i guess thats why dump trucks are made of plastic. Everyone has their own opinions. Id prefere steel over plastic. In all the years i had my JD870 tractor, the front plastic hood part (upper hood nose)was destroyed by dropping ice 3 times, but the steel hood wasnt even dented. The stupid hood trim cost Between 80-100 to repair each time. I had to go look up my records.

 

[deezler]

These discussions are always interesting. People's perception of work are so different. As is dependability, load capacity, etc.
It becomes very confusing for the inexperienced to decide which machine will best suit them. Again, because of the varied expectations.
When a buyer's expectations matchs the machine's capabilities, it instantly becomes their go to machine. Hopefully you will be that lucky.
Read poster's declarations of greatness with all this in mind.

Agree with Don, well said here.

I'm currently wrestling with which way to go myself. I know I don't want a pure play machine (RZR, CanAm, etc), but! - the ability to put on a helmet and go shred my trails does sound really fun also. So I was leaning towards a 60-80HP ranger. But then I hear about over heating and belts breaking, etc. Are they even fun to drive fast on trails, or is it just a bumpy, clanky chore?

Frankly a 48V golf cart with fresh batteries and a trailer hitch could probably do most of the "work" I need to do with this type of vehicle. I have a tractor for all the big hauling, after all.

 

[newbury]

I've viewed my B7610 as my UTV, but it only carries one person. Has anyone seen a 3pt passenger carrier that the safety police would agree with??
I can probably get by with a loveseat bolted to a pallet and carried on my 3pt forks.
Main uses would be carrying a couple of people around the land.