Test drove used John Deere Gator 6x4, have questions

[Hay Dude]

Other than Kubota and Deere, are any other brands available with a diesel?

 

[paulsharvey]

Other than Kubota and Deere, are any other brands available with a diesel?

Yes, there is/was a diesel Kawasaki Mule; Yanmar Bramha; Polaris Pro XD or something like that. I did check, and I Thought Gravely did, but it looks like I was wrong.

 

[tjandrews]

I was a bit confused at first by comments about the Gator not being for "off-road." But then I realized there's "off-road" and then there's "not on-road."

Our old Gator, the one that was given to us in July, is a TX 4x2. The "T" is for "Turf." It is not equipped for on-road use - no tail lights, etc. - so off-road is the only option. But being realistic, it's essentially a glorified golf cart.

Now, if by "off-road" you're looking for something that can scale The Matterhorn at 50mph, you will be disappointed with our Gator. But for what we do - hauling in produce over farm roads from the sweet corn or Indian corn fields, cucumber patch, tomatoes, squash, etc, it's "handier than a two-handled jug," as my Dad used to say.

 

[hayden]

I also have driven one of my Customer’s Kubota UTV’s.
I like the cab a lot, but when I started driving it uphill, I was surprised how doggy it was. The HST soaks up a lot of power.

It does. The Kubota really need to be 40-50 hp, not 25. They work at 25hp, but are dogs. I'm pretty sure they stay at 25hp because above that a buynch of emissions requirements kick in. Also, my understanding is that when the rated speed is over 25mpg, it has to have doors, which ends up being half doors unless you have a cab. That's why some UTV have doors, and others don't.

Thankfully most of my use is sub 10 mph, so the slow speed isn't an impediment.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Kioti Mechron 2200 is diesel. Never driven one, just know they exist.

 

[Hay Dude]

Trying to find used diesel 4x4 with a canopy for 5-6k that isn't a pile of crap

 

[sunandsand]

What scares me is that "going faster" is going to exceed the capabilities of the brakes and the suspension.

Here's a vehicle designed to go 20 MPH, it has 20 MPH brakes and 20 MPH suspension - but it is going 45 MPH - need to stop suddenly, ain't happening, need to swerve - who said that people couldn't fly?

There's an old book on motorcycle engineering which has an interesting line in it - "The motor was a lot faster than the bicycle".

I can vouch for the accuracy of that line. I had a chance to ride a genuine Vincent Black Shadow - the real deal - and while the motor was pretty fast (although nowadays any 600 cc sport bike would absolutely eat it for breakfast), the combination of skinny cable-operated drum brakes, a very spindly girder fork with only a few inches of travel and a rudimentary rear suspension scared me to death.

Yes, it would go, and it would go pretty darn well, but it could not stop and would barely go around corners. The motor was a LOT faster than the bicycle.

Sure, someone could put a Hemi and JATO bottles onto a Gator . . . but would you want to ride in it?

Best Regards,
Mike/Florida

 

[Eagle1]

Sure, someone could put a Hemi and JATO bottles onto a Gator . . . but would you want to ride in it?

Best Regards,
Mike/Florida

Well maybe just once

 

[airbiscuit]