UTV at 8600 ft?

[Jchonline]

Hi Everyone,
We are in the market for a UTV (2 seater not 4) for our mountain property. We have 47 forested/rocky acres with some hills and are at 8600 ft. At a minimum I want a cab and heater. We will be using it as a snow plowing machine in the winter for our 1/4 mile of disintegrated granite road (with some hills), moving wood/rocks, and helping get to more difficult places a truck cannot.

My first thought was a Kubota RTV 1100C, but I am concerned about a diesel with no turbo at our altitude. Previous experiments with non turbo Diesel engines on tractors didnt go so well. The Sidekick was my next option, but they dont have a good plow option (at least from Kubota). It is basically an ATV plow with mechanical angle.

This needs to be a UTV, no trucks or jeeps. They are too big to get places on our property. So what does everyone think?

 

[ruffdog]

I read good things about the Gator diesel with the add-on turbo kit. I think it was about $2k.

 

[Jchonline]

I read good things about the Gator diesel with the add-on turbo kit. I think it was about $2k.

I appreciate the comment. If this is something JD installs and warranties then I will consider. If it is like any of the others, it is aftermarket and voids warranties. That would not be favorable for me.

 

[Motorboatin]

1000cc gas so HP should not be a problem......tracks optional

 

[Trails2004]

Have you considered a model with fuel injection?

 

[Jchonline]

Have you considered a model with fuel injection?

I am hesitant to go gas for the loss of low end torque, and the belt driven transmission. Pulling small trees out of a stand doesnt sound like something appealing to these machines. However I could be wrong.

 

[arlen4720]

Sounds like you need a Toolcat...

 

[ruffdog]

Sounds like you need a Toolcat...

Yep...61HP turbo diesel with a quiet cab, heat/ac, radio.......

 

[Jchonline]

Yep...61HP turbo diesel with a quiet cab, heat/ac, radio.......

Too expensive sorry. I don’t like buying used.

 

[ArlyA]

These is nothing wrong with CVT transmissions. We tow snow implements with them for thousands of hours, at high percents of the engines max HP. I've operated grain combines with a CVT drive. If you get a large CC engine, I'd bet donuts you'll do fine at 9000 ft.

Let me add that hydrostatic transmissions failed, in the world of snow grooming.

 

[Trails2004]

I am hesitant to go gas for the loss of low end torque, and the belt driven transmission. Pulling small trees out of a stand doesnt sound like something appealing to these machines. However I could be wrong.

Would you be surprised if I mentioned the Gator 825i has more low end torque than the Gator 855D - Diesel? Both are CVT driven.

 

[Trails2004]

These is nothing wrong with CVT transmissions. We tow snow implements with them for thousands of hours, at high percents of the engines max HP. I've operated grain combines with a CVT drive. If you get a large CC engine, I'd bet donuts you'll do fine at 9000 ft.

Let me add that hydrostatic transmissions failed, in the world of snow grooming.

What Snow groomer do you operate?

 

[ArlyA]

Historically I've operated Tuckers (very short term) Pisten Bullys, various ATVs, UTVs and personally I own a Boss 6x6. And I should add many work sleds to the mix.

What Snow groomer do you operate?

 

[Trails2004]

I have extensive experience with Tucker in the Rocky Mountain West.

 

[showcattle]

I'd check out the Honda Pioneer 1000... 2 Pioneer 1 OVERVIEW - Honda

 

[Snobdds]

I have a Polaris Ranger 900 that I use up at my cabin at 10k feet. It does fine. The gearing has a much bigger impact on these machines than the power numbers.

I remember you being overly concerned about not having a turbo up high in elevation. I have a few pieces of diesel machinery without a turbo and they do just fine up there. Remember, up at this altitude, the air is thin. Although a turbo helps, you really have to put on a big turbo to get the mass of air needed to reap the benefits. Then the machine would be super laggy until the turbo spooled up enough. Most turbos sized to the machine can't get enough oxygen molecules crammed in the motor to really achieve full fulling, your always leaving some fuelling on the table. The computer measures the mass of air over a sensor and adjusts fuelling based on that reading. That is why having a non turbo motor at high altitudes actually gets to full fulling and I would say makes comparable power. Now if you can get a tune to adjust the fulling independent of the mass air flow sensor, then it's a non issue. You would just be burning a lot of diesels at that point and making a black cloud.

Just remember the physics of how a diesel operates and the three inputs needed for it to run: Air, Fuel, Compression.

 

[ArlyA]

I'd suggest the OP looks at the models his area dealer sells. In our book, its about good service, as much as whatever brand the machine is.

 

[zmountaineer]

I’ve got a Honda pioneer 1000. No belts, has a DCT (dual clutch transmission).

 

[Jchonline]

These is nothing wrong with CVT transmissions. We tow snow implements with them for thousands of hours, at high percents of the engines max HP. I've operated grain combines with a CVT drive. If you get a large CC engine, I'd bet donuts you'll do fine at 9000 ft.

Let me add that hydrostatic transmissions failed, in the world of snow grooming.

Mind sharing which machines you are seeing that kind of reliability in?

 

[Jchonline]

I'd check out the Honda Pioneer 1000... 22 Pioneer 1 OVERVIEW - Honda

Might be an option, we have a few dealers. Anyone with a Pioneer with a cab and heat?