Are ATVs/UTVs overpriced?

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Jeep - JK, JL YJ - models of Wranglers.

We have a JK and like it but the SxS is way better on rough roads/trails.

Didn’t know there was a JL. I have had many CJ7’s, a few TJ’s and one Gladiator. Never a JL though.

Some say why not buy a Jeep instead of a side by side but in Minnesota there are many more miles of ATV/UTV trails than Jeep trails.

 

[ultrarunner]

I went with Suzuki Samurai and find it does everything I need and cheap to keep.

I gave a 1000 for it about 25 years ago.

 

[Code54]

JL is the newest, I think it was released in 2017.

They do ride and handle a little better than the previous years.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

I went with Suzuki Samurai and find it does everything I need and cheap to keep.

I gave a 1000 for it about 25 years ago.

$1000 would be nice but like I said you can’t use none of them in Minnesota on the ATV/UTV trails. So thousands of us by side-by-sides and ATVs. Maybe we are the only state with that rule.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I went with Suzuki Samurai and find it does everything I need and cheap to keep.

I gave a 1000 for it about 25 years ago.

I bought an ex Postal Jeep about that long ago for $600, converted it to 4WD, installed an onboard welder, compressor, etc., which made it a very useful vehicle.

Still have it, but these days the Can-Am Defender is getting used more than the Jeep is. There are many things the Can-Am is better at, and vice versa.

 

[arto98607]

I have bought 3 new atvs, a 2012 Sportsman 400HO, sold it and bought a 2021 Rancher footshift, sold that and bought a 23 Sportsman 570 EPS.

The 400HO was 5,699 plus taxes and such, the Rancher cost 1/3 more than the 400HO, and the 570 was twice the 400HO.

Each machine cost more, but was better refined than the previous model that it replaced.

I guess it depends on ones needs, I am happy with my purchases.

The new SxS are real sweet too, but for me, I would buy a 2 door JL first.

The inflation was about 33% from 2012 to 2023 so they were not the same dollars.

Just saying.

 

[Joel/ak]

Here in MI on alot of the trails is a 60" max width rule, hell, even alot of the sxs's aren't technically legal. Although DNR doesn't say to much about it unless your driving like an ass.

When we got our '22 mule pro MX I crapped my pants at the 14k price....and that's cheap

 

[ArlyA]

And we paid 22K for our Outlander 6x6!! No jeep will replace

 

[JeepHead]

Here in MI on alot of the trails is a 60" max width rule, hell, even alot of the sxs's aren't technically legal. Although DNR doesn't say to much about it unless your driving like an ass.

When we got our '22 mule pro MX I crapped my pants at the 14k price....and that's cheap

I think a Mule will be my next purchase as well. Have read nothing but great things about them and I need more of a work machine than a sport machine. I still regret not swapping the old man this summer for his Kubota 900 RTV diesel sxs with only 400 hours. He wanted to swap me even for my new Honda Rubicon because his RTV was too big to get into his woods. Which is also why I bought the Rubicon to begin with, was to make trails through the woods.

 

[John_Mc]

I thought the Kawasaki Mule looked good as well. I was looking for a smaller UTV (I use the tractor for larger jobs.) For me, it came down to between the Mule and the Honda Pioneer 520. I ended up with the 520 since I just could not find a dealer near me that stocked the Mule. (I also found a deal on a 1 year old Pioneer.)

 

[dj1701]

I got the Mule Pro-MX about two years ago. So far she's been great. I use it for getting the mail, taking the trash out, gardening, getting wood, and let's not forget tailgating around the fire pit. She isn't camera shy either.

 

[JeepHead]

I thought the Kawasaki Mule looked good as well. I was looking for a smaller UTV (I use the tractor for larger jobs.) For me, it came down to between the Mule and the Honda Pioneer 520. I ended up with the 520 since I just could not find a dealer near me that stocked the Mule. (I also found a deal on a 1 year old Pioneer.)

I'd say the 520 Pioneer is the same machine as my 520 Rubicon. Very good and stout machine. I have pulled my 5x8 trailer stacked absolutely full of oak and hickory out of my woods with the Rubicon.

 

[JeepHead]

I got the Mule Pro-MX about two years ago. So far she's been great. I use it for getting the mail, taking the trash out, gardening, getting wood, and let's not forget tailgating around the fire pit. She isn't camera shy either.

View attachment 995268

What CC engine does it have?

 

[shooterdon]

I have the Mule SX. It is slow (max 25 mph) but very handy around the place. Not a trail machine if you want to keep up with others. I paid $8100 OTD in 2021. For a work machine it does the job well. I use it at least 3 times a week when the weather is good.

I looked at trading up to another Kawasaki more suitable for "fun" riding but could not justify the $12k extra cost. Then, by the time I added a roof, windshield, wiper, heat, cab, I was at the cost of decent used Jeep Wrangler.

If we drove ORV routes a better SxS would make sense, but we have miles of two tracks, logging trails and back roads around us so the Jeep is a better fit for our situation. In fact, to get to ORV trails we would need to trailer the buggy and that adds another cost and PITA factor.

We had a Jeep for a couple of years, and it was a lot of fun. Sold it when it got the "death wobble". Should have kept it and got it fixed.

 

[IndyIan]

And we paid 22K for our Outlander 6x6!! No jeep will replace

To me, that seems pretty crazy considering the actual hardware you are buying. My tractor was about that, of course in 2011, but even now a slight smaller dk4520 gear is $26.8k msrp.

But you seem to love the 6x6, and it does things that nothing else can, so its clearly worth it to you.

For working at my place, I'm pretty happy with the old 01 kingquad 300 and trailer, '87 tundra 250 and sled, and the tractor. My next toy/tool would be a mini excavator, or a dump trailer for the tractor.

 

[tradosaurus]

You couldn't wrench this "over priced" machine out of our hands.

View attachment 871583

What is the advantage of the 6x6 you have over a UTV? Width is the only thing I can see.

 

[tradosaurus]

Unless size is a consideration, IMO, the money is better spent on a pickup truck

I would think most people who buy a UTV are for recreation (trails) or working on property.
A pickup truck would not be a good choice for either. My UTV goes places a truck cannot go and is much lighter.

 

[John_Mc]

What CC engine does it have?

Let me Google that for you:

Kawasaki Mule Pro-mx Specs?

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Kawasaki mule pro-mx specs?' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

 

[Too many Kubotas]

A pickup truck would not be a good choice for either. My UTV goes places a truck cannot go and is much lighter.

That lack of weight can work for you...or against you.

I wouldn't pull the harrow with the M1008 (although it certainly could), and the UTV couldn't deal with the dump trailer.

 

[ArlyA]

To me, that seems pretty crazy considering the actual hardware you are buying. My tractor was about that, of course in 2011, but even now a slight smaller dk4520 gear is $26.8k msrp.

But you seem to love the 6x6, and it does things that nothing else can, so its clearly worth it to you.

For working at my place, I'm pretty happy with the old 01 kingquad 300 and trailer, '87 tundra 250 and sled, and the tractor. My next toy/tool would be a mini excavator, or a dump trailer for the tractor.

The PSI on this machine is incredibly low. Its height and width is smaller than a UTV. Operator visibility is better as well. Yes it cost to much but we still needed a machine to use.