SO READY to spring on a UTV - Trying to decide gas or diesel, HELP!!

[HawkinsHollow]

I am ready to spring on a UTV and I am trying to decide between diesel and gas. 80% work vehicle with maybe a hunting trip or 2 per year.

Unfortunately, the Kubota options are out of my price range. Well into the $12-$15K range used

The only main accessories I am looking for are a roof and windshield. I have a winch and LEDs to put on it already.

Have a couple other diesel options.
#1 is a Kawasaki Mule Pro DXT
It is a 2017 but it has 1800 hours on it. For $9700 asking price. That seems like a lot to me. I think it was a fleet vehicle for a utility because of the hours and it has numbers on it. Part of me thinks that is a good thing as it was probably maintained well. Has a windshield and roof.

#2 Is a 2014 Polaris Ranger 900 with 378 hours for $7500 asking. Guy says it is a good unit. A few small gremlins like tough shifting sometimes and a slightly bent ROPS. Roof no windshield 1.5 hours + away

#3 2017 Kioti Mechron with 1079 hours on it. For $8700 asking. Guy says it is a tight machine Has roof and windshield. This one is the closest at about an hour away

I have seen lots of Polaris haters. I do like the idea of a construction oriented machine like the Kioti or a CarryAll. Any advice ?
HELP ME SPEND MY MONEY!!

 

[Bearsixty7]

Just my opinion,
I would get a gasoline powered one unless you will be doing a lot of towing or heavy hauling with it, otherwise your paying more for the diesel unit up front and the additional cost for fuel and maintenance and they can be more difficult to start in really cold weather.

Full disclosure, I'm a diehard Yamaha Fan, Had several over the decades (ATV's) and never had an issue with any of them, so that's always the brand I look for first. Can't say the same for the Polaris or Can-AM's we've owned (briefly) or the Suzuki's I've been around.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Also, You may have already seen this thread, but if not, lots of good comments in it,

UTV - Trying to Decide

I've pretty much decided I'm going to buy a UTV but I'm having a hard time taking the plunge, particularly because the price is hard swallow for what your getting in a lot of cases. I doubt I'll buy new, as I don't think I can come in under $25k for what I want and I refuse to spend more than...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[deserteagle71]

Just my opinion,
I would get a gasoline powered one unless you will be doing a lot of towing or heavy hauling with it, otherwise your paying more for the diesel unit upfront and the additional cost for fuel and maintenance and they can be more difficult to start in really cold weather.

^This.

The diesel is great if all you will be using it for is around the farm or ranch. People who own them will tell you they don't do nearly as well as a fun trail vehicle as does a gas-powered rig.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I hear ya! I heard they are a bit more sluggish for sure.

This is going to be mostly a workhorse for my property, which does have some hills. Hauling wood out of the bottom will be a chore. I also liked the single fuel option for tractor and utv, but that is not a deal breaker.

No really cold weather here, but a few days a year.

There are tons of Yam Rhinos out there but I need a bench seat for wife and kid/dog,so they are out.

Guy that has the Kioti also has a reasonably priced Kubota 900 with a hydraulic dump bed. Might have to go look at both.

What else?

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

We got a 2022 Polaris Ranger 570 full size just over a year ago. We have been very pleased with it. I've used it for hunting and trail riding some. Also, working around the property. I've moved lots of gravel and dirt with it. Generally a big scoop with my loader is no problem to haul and dump. I've done 2 scoops of road base gravel... that was so heavy the hitch drug a channel all the way to where I dumped... Too heavy... I've pulled drags around to smooth dirt. I would not hesitate to get another. My sister has a Kawasaki Mule Pro that is awesome also. I bet whatever you find that is in good shape will probably do what you want.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

The other non-diesel option would be to get a grandpa driven mail getter that has low hours and has never seen mud and has a few good options. Honestly I need a machine without OPP, other peoples problems. My last ATV I had was always giving me trouble, I don't want that.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Get a Honda UTV Pioneer 1000 - Side-by-Side (SxS) UTV - Honda

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Get a Honda UTV Pioneer 1000 - Side-by-Side (SxS) UTV - Honda

VERY few of these in the used market around here. And I want a bench seat, looks like these are bucket seats.

 

[Bearsixty7]

VERY few of these in the used market around here. And I want a bench seat, looks like these are bucket seats.

Its a bench, seats 3 and there are 5 or 6 seaters too.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Lots of diesel options keep throwing themselves in my face.

Now a Cushman Bad Boy 1600xd (which looks exactly like a Kioti mechron) just surfaced with 900 hrs, diesel, hydraulic dump bed with extra remote valves for a 3 point hitch etc, full blinker setup, and mirrors making it totally street legal here, a front hitch receiver which I know I want. Just lacking a windshield for $8500 asking price.

 

[bigtiller]

Do any of them have a 4 wheel independent suspension? That makes for a very smooth ride.

 

[jjeff]

If what your interested in doesn't have a roof or windshield.
They make quite a few aftermarket roofs/ hard plastic and soft tops they also make lots of aftermarket windshields both glass and polycarbonate. From experience if it's polycarbonate I'd recommend it being hardcoated.

 

[MTGreen]

"Work" can mean a lot of things. Do you need large bed size/capacity/dump capable? 4wd? high ground clearance? Towing capacity? Is it going to sit for several months per year? CVT, geared, or hydrostatic trans? Street legal? Need to go faster than 25mph?
I would think there would be quite as few (likely more important) considerations than just gas vs diesel.
There are other options as well such as a Japanese micro truck or a turf vehicle such as a Progator or Workman.

I would suggest if gas making certain it's fuel injected.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

"Work" can mean a lot of things. Do you need large bed size/capacity/dump capable? 4wd? high ground clearance? Towing capacity? Is it going to sit for several months per year? CVT, geared, or hydrostatic trans? Street legal? Need to go faster than 25mph?
I would think there would be quite as few (likely more important) considerations than just gas vs diesel.
There are other options as well such as a Japanese micro truck or a turf vehicle such as a Progator or Workman.

I would suggest if gas making certain it's fuel injected.

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, No, I will use it just about every day, CVT I guess, Yes, I wish.

I can get all of those things in a diesel or gas.

The more than 25 MPH thing is funny. While yes I would of course I'd like it to go faster than 25, my main gas consideration, Kawasaki Mule, doesn't go faster than 25 so I figure why not get a diesel that goes 25?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I am having a little cold feet on the slowness of the diesel UTVs.

Been talking to a guy and he said yeah its slow, but it will tow a house. It dawned on me if I wanted to move a house I would use my tractor. The main reason I am getting a UTV is to get to and around my property quickly. I have a tractor for the heavy lifting.

I am going to look at a couple diesels this afternoon and I will make my decision then.

But honestly the only non- 25 MPHer that I am seeing are mostly Polaris. like the Mules but those are slow too. Most of the Mule pros are out of my price range.

Sorry I am just thinking about loud, which is helpful on TBN sometimes because you will get a nugget of knowledge that helps the process.

I tend to jump into these decisions too quick, I am trying to be more patient and measured in my decision making.

 

[Rockbadchild]

to me it depends on what you want to do with it and the type of terrain... if its solid ground, no to very little swamp or mud and lots of ''putting around'' or farm work then diesel, if its performance and mudding you are after then gas... Deisel are a lot quieter the gas in average.

 

[Bocephous]

My dad has a diesel Kawasaki Mule and wishes he had bought another gas model. Diesel is too loud for him.

I have had a Yamaha Wolverine X2 since 2020 and like it a lot. It could use a little more bed space, but it is a good compromise UTV between work and play. I keep a chainsaw and other tools in the bed usually and use it to get around our property, maintain our trails, haul small loads of firewood back to the house, pull small trees, plow snow and as recreation tooling around our back roads.

I added a winch, windshield, plow, rear bumper and that's about it. Low range it will go anywhere it will fit I have to nerve to aim it. It will do an honest 52mph before the governor kicks in. The only thing I don't like is that the rear diff is always locked, so it will tear up a yard if you're not careful.

First two pics are from when it was brand new, so the windshield isn't on it yet.

Last two pics are what it looks like now, and to give you an idea of how much the bed holds/doesn't hold.

 

[Yander]

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, No, I will use it just about every day, CVT I guess, Yes, I wish.

I can get all of those things in a diesel or gas.

The more than 25 MPH thing is funny. While yes I would of course I'd like it to go faster than 25, my main gas consideration, Kawasaki Mule, doesn't go faster than 25 so I figure why not get a diesel that goes 25?

I agree with your logic. I have owned one that went 28mph (Gas) and it was primarily a work but sometimes a play vehicle. I really didn't want a faster one since it was primarily work and do I really need my kids/grandkids going faster then that on the road or, even worse, in a field. I really think Gas/Diesel shouldn't be your deciding factor since you said you will be using it often. If you think it would sit with gas in the tank for long periods I would go diesel for fuel quality reasons.

I would look at the condition/features etc. and decide off of that. The difference between gas/diesel in price would most likely be negligible since diesel usually has a little better fuel economy, especially in those small engines. Our Kawasaki gas engine on our ZTR just drinks the gas.

 

[Yander]

I am having a little cold feet on the slowness of the diesel UTVs.

Been talking to a guy and he said yeah its slow, but it will tow a house. It dawned on me if I wanted to move a house I would use my tractor. The main reason I am getting a UTV is to get to and around my property quickly. I have a tractor for the heavy lifting.

I am going to look at a couple diesels this afternoon and I will make my decision then.

But honestly the only non- 25 MPHer that I am seeing are mostly Polaris. like the Mules but those are slow too. Most of the Mule pros are out of my price range.

Sorry I am just thinking about loud, which is helpful on TBN sometimes because you will get a nugget of knowledge that helps the process.

I tend to jump into these decisions too quick, I am trying to be more patient and measured in my decision making.

We have a Gravely Atlas (Polaris Gas engine). Goes about 35mph. They are a wide bodied UTV and can seat 3 adults.