Farm UTV/RTV Purchase

[GJohnson]

For what it’s worth…I have a Kawasaki teryx, Kawasaki mule pro and two kubota RTV x900s. I do a lot of ranch work and all have their benefits. The first is…Kawasaki offers a three year warranty. Every other mfg offers one year. This is huge for me. That being said, the kubota machines are strong as an ox, comparatively…gas vs diesel. I pull a cake feeder with a kubota with a ton of feed. The trailer plus the cubes is around 3000 lbs. can’t do that with the Kawasaki comfortably as the steering is lacking and machine struggles mechanically. They have the power, but it seems to put the teryx under a lot of stress. Plus the hitch is beefy on the kubota as opposed to the Kawasaki. All that said, at least test a Kawasaki mule pro vs a kubota RTV x series. Both will impress in different ways. I use the teryx when I need to go fast, the pro when just tooling around (rides extremely smooth, like a car) and the kubotas are definitely the work horses. Hope that helps.

I should also add…speeds of the teryx are way faster than I ever want to go, that leaves me power and torque to get moving. Like I said before, the mule pro is very car like and can go pretty fast, never topped out, don’t know but probably 40 ish. The kubotas will go 26 mph if you have the distance to get them there. So if you’re planning to go fast, kubota isn’t going to suit you. I didn’t mention it before, but I also have a Polaris. It is constantly broken or needs something, so I won’t be buying that brand ever again.

 

[AbbiesFarm]

+1 for polaris ranger. I had a 2007 700 then bought a 2017 570. I have 20 acres some hills, but cruising the neighborhood, 7 miles of private roads. No one can beat the smooth ride of polaris. Neighbors that have the Kubota all complain about how painfully slow they are. I pull an assortment of things with the 570, never once have I thought "wish I had more power". It has pleanty.

 

[BMcColley]

Like you, I have about 25 acres of pasture. I also have horses, and some trees, especially along the outside of my fence line. I have found my Polaris Ranger extremely helpful working the fence lines to clean up trees which fell over my fence line, spray herbicide, spread seed, work deer food plots, maneuvering through horse lanes and woods, towing a DR brush mower, as well as towing hay equipment or hay trailer with eight 4x5 hay bales at a time. A front winch has been helpful in pulling posts that have rotted below ground. I haven’t had any mechanical problems, but I did have a fan relay go bad. I don’t drive fast, but I appreciate the soft ride. I’ve had this 50 hp Ranger for 10 years, but I’m upgrading this year for comfort more than anything wrong with the unit. The new model has three throttle options, self leveling suspension, 30% stronger drivetrain and upgradeable to 100 hp.

I have a farm truck, but it isn’t as versatile as the ranger in the fields, woods or horse lanes. With the Ranger, I also appreciate the ability to slide in and out quickly and easily for short hops on the property.

I tow a DR trailer for hauling cut up trees. The truck is a bit more difficult to load/unload cut up trees/brush vs. a trailer closer to the ground (kinder on my back). The trailer can dump as well. I use it a lot to haul cedar fence posts as well.

You’ve gotten a lot of helpful opinions. I’m sure you’ll find something suitable for you needs.

 

[lilranch2001]

I have had 2-570 midsize unites, I traded the first one for a EPS model because I mostly use it in the woods and I am not as young as I once was.

I rarely use the high speed gear, and it seems to do me well. I finally gave it a good bath yesterday, it was beginning to get pretty gummed up with chain saw bar lube

I have looked at Mule, Honda, and Kawsaki, and reviewed the specs on Bota, but price on bota was mostly (IMHO) way overpriced.

I went back to what I knew when I traded, and really have not ever regretted it.

 

[lilranch2001]

For what it’s worth…I have a Kawasaki teryx, Kawasaki mule pro and two kubota RTV x900s. I do a lot of ranch work and all have their benefits. The first is…Kawasaki offers a three year warranty. Every other mfg offers one year. This is huge for me. That being said, the kubota machines are strong as an ox, comparatively…gas vs diesel. I pull a cake feeder with a kubota with a ton of feed. The trailer plus the cubes is around 3000 lbs. can’t do that with the Kawasaki comfortably as the steering is lacking and machine struggles mechanically. They have the power, but it seems to put the teryx under a lot of stress. Plus the hitch is beefy on the kubota as opposed to the Kawasaki. All that said, at least test a Kawasaki mule pro vs a kubota RTV x series. Both will impress in different ways. I use the teryx when I need to go fast, the pro when just tooling around (rides extremely smooth, like a car) and the kubotas are definitely the work horses. Hope that helps.

You are right, The Mule does have a 3 year warranty, but in two units that I have owned, I had no need to ever use the warranty, so I am not sure how much value it adds......

 

[kellerw]

I'm kind of where you are (AGreenFarmer), still doing some research. I had thought the belt driven machines were mainly for joy riding and speed, but I read here that other have found them as good workers. The Kubota's I think are generally more $'s, and are built on a tractor frame. Since I've had 20 years of Kubota tractor experience, my tendency was to stick with the Orange. But now I'll have to look further into the Ranger, etc. I'd like to know what you end up doing and what your basic drivers were towards your decision

 

[ruffdog]

The Mule is made in Lincoln Nebraska and that plant has been there since the mid 70s.

 

[GJohnson]

You are right, The Mule does have a 3 year warranty, but in two units that I have owned, I had no need to ever use the warranty, so I am not sure how much value it adds......

That’s pretty awesome. But, it’s better to have it and not need it than vise versa. I just can’t be a cheerleader for the Polaris company. Mine has a lot of issues, small, but always something. Plus I know three different guys that have issues with transmission levers. Not sure why, I’d have to ask them more detail. My home place is a lot bigger than what this man is trying to cover, so my usage of these machines is likely greater. I think the Kubota Im using this morning has 8500 miles on it. Was bought new and only went to shop for a recall on back stabilizer bushings.

 

[bavrit]

Whatever I have, it must be able to turn in a tight circle without tearing up the turf. Can the Kubota do that?

 

[GJohnson]

Whatever I have, it must be able to turn in a tight circle without tearing up the turf. Can the Kubota do that?

Well…I install artificial turf for a living and use the kubotas for that a lot! You see my work on Sundays. Those aren’t torn up….