Buying a side by side

[Branchchipper]

If your machine already has a ROPS (or at least a roof frame that looks like a ROPS), I would definitely put a windshield on it.

I ate a lot of bugs before we put one on our Rhino. Goggles/safety glasses help, but if you intend to be out a lot in the winter, that windshield will really discourage hypothermia, too!

I like the idea of a heated/enclosed cab, but we are occasionally out on snow with our Rhino, protected only by the windshield and roof, with no real issues.

Our old Gator 6x4 has no framework or windshield. My standard garb for that includes safety glasses and stereo earmuffs. But, it is a much slower vehicle that we use for hauling and fence work, not really traveling around.

Like someone said above- you still have to dress for the weather!

 

[whiskywizard]

Forget brands for a moment:

For heavier work in hilly terrain, I would stay away from any machine with a CVT/belt drive system. That unfortunately eliminates even the newest Gators and Mules, along with many others.

With a CVT, the machine will free-wheel down hills, leaving you 100% dependent on your brakes. With a full load of firewood, that is not a good situation (been there many times).

You've got to use a two-footed, throttle-plus-brake technique to compensate, which is not rocket science, but kind of cheesy!

Here in the muddy foothills, we use a Gator 6x4 diesel for hauling- its been a very faithful and rugged rig, but, because of the freewheel issue, if we were to replace it, we'd get a Kubota RTV 900 (or 1100- the cab sounds nice). The RTV hydraulic drive train design is fantastic.

For lighter loads and going places, with true all-terrain capability, (as well as excellent downhill control!) we vote Rhino. Unbeatable machine.

I had read about this problem in another thread but didn't understand the consequences as clearly as in your illustration. Sounds a bit scary to say the least. Someone else mentioned that they had problems with their Gator 850D in water but they thought that the enclosed drive belt on the 855D might have resolved the issue - any comments from 855D owners?

The freewheeling issue might not be such a problem for me as most of my heavy loads would be going uphill.

This is changing. Many belt-drive UTVs and 4-wheelers with belts also employ engine braking now.

I'm not suggesting that a belt-drive system is best. On the contrary, if you've got serious pulling ahead of you, I'd steer clear of belts, but the old problem of free-wheeling only exists in the lower-end price-point stuff now.

The Kioti Mechron has exceptional build quality, fit & finish and work capability. It's definitely worth considering. However, as long as you're going to include serious off-roading and mud/water, none of the UTVs will compete with the smaller sporty side-by-sides. And vice versa. The sport units can't compete when the tow loads get high and the bed gets filled. I think you really need to decide on work vs play. Based on the tasks described, I think you're more into a work unit. JD, Kubota, Kioti, rather than Yamaha, Polaris, etc.

 

[JimP]

Lots of good UTVs, just a different design emphasis. We have the gator HPX diesel. For us it is a good blend of work and fun. The worst limitation is low ground clearance. I only briefly looked at this years Gator model but the new bed seems to be higher.

We have the older style partial windshield and a softop, think JEEP style. It keeps the worst of the wind, rain and sun off without killing the fun factor. My only cab experience is with the SIMS gator cab, it is noticeably louder than the open machine.

Gator CVTs can free wheel if you let the throttle off completely, however if you keep a little throttle on it engine brakes pretty nicely. Also, the 4 wheel hydraulic brakes are a VAST improvement over the single transmission brake of earlier models. The brakes will slow and stop even free wheeling down a hill with a load. In most cases braking is limited by traction of the tires and not by the brakes.

Let us know what you think as you test the different machines.

 

[dougrout]

OK - the dealer dropped off a Gator 855D this morning before 9 AM. My wife wasn't quite ready so I took it for a spin on the rough mile long trail through the fields to the woods, a trip I usually make in my tractor. What a difference! I felt as though I could fly along the trail, hardly feeling the bumps that rattle your bones on a tractor.

Back to the house to pick up my wife. We threw the chainsaw in the back and headed back to the woods again. My wife complained about the noise, but I found it much quieter than in the enclosed cab of the RTV I test drove yesterday.

I wanted to try out the Gator on the steepest, narrowest terrain. My wife was not excited as we free wheeled down the first major hill! She got off while I drove down the next hill (not a good sign). Turning the gator around at the bottom of the hill was no fun - I found myself wishing for the power steering of the RTV.

We spent a bit of time clearing part of a new trail, then headed back home for lunch. There was some discussion about why I wanted such an expensive ATV (another bad sign).

After lunch we headed back to the woods, my wife driving the Gator and I driving the tractor (much better sign - she preferred the Gator to the tractor). We spent the afternoon milling pine planks (2"x12"x6') then using the planks to replace the top of a bridge on the ski trails. We needed a tool from home so I zipped home on the Gator in a fraction of the time it would have taken on the tractor. At the end of the day my wife insisted on driving the Gator again - another good sign. She even admitted that she enjoyed driving it, so I guess there is hope. I'm taking her to check out the RTV on Thursday. Wish me luck!

I think I could live with the Gator, but the power steering and transmission on the Kubota are a real plus- hence the return trip to see the RTV.

 

[sunnyside360]

I think I could live with the Gator, but the power steering and transmission on the Kubota are a real plus- hence the return trip to see the RTV.

Great. Test driving the machines will help with your decision. I'm curious to know if Kubota offers a noise insulation option for the RTV 1100 cab. I know the new one I test drove had a felt like material on roof, doors, and back panel and didn't seem that noisy. Keep us posted. Good luck.

 

[dougrout]

I managed to get SWMBO to come with me to test the RTV this week. We took out the 1100 with cab. Compared with the Gator 855D it seemed sluggish , but to be fair the Gator didn't have a heavy cab to weigh it down. It was a cold day and the warm cab was a treat.

We also tested an RTV 500 - it seemed much more responsive but doesn't have the power or the carrying capacity.

Some of our trails are very rugged - I'm leaning toward the Gator because of its better clearance. I hope to check out the power steering model when it comes out in March.

Thanks for all your input over the last couple of weeks.

 

[dlauffenburger]

Thanks for posting your test analysis. Have you test drove any of the Kawasaki models? While at the the local Kawi-honda dealer getting my bike worked on the owner and i had a discussion on Side-by-sides and he said that if i was looking for a work vehicle he would recommend the Kawi but if it was a sport vehicle the honda was the ticket.

Has anyone compared the Kawi units to the Deere, Kubota, Kioti; if so what are the differences (pros and cons).

Thanks again,

 

[NVGoat]

Has anyone compared the Kawi units to the Deere, Kubota, Kioti; if so what are the differences (pros and cons).

Thanks again,

We use an older (carbureted) Mule 3010, an RTV900XT, and a Mechron. These units are use in farming/ranching and get a good workout by a variety of people, myself included. All three are way different animals.

Mule3010 - Have had it for 7 years and you just can't kill it. It doesn't ride well (Like the RTV) or go very fast (maybe 15mph on the flats with the wind behind you) but it hauls big loads and goes places you would never expect. After tweaking the carb the cold start and idling problems known on these guys have gone away. Maintenance has been minimal except for plug, filter, and fluid changes. The belt drive has been trouble free and it does brake going downhill. Build quality and general engineering is very good. For a reliable workhorse it is great. Dealers are discounting them so you can pick up a good deal.

RTV900 - Added this unit a few months ago. Have about 50 hours on it. The ride is slightly better than the Mule but not by much. It just has a solid, refined quality feel and sound about it. The engine is much quieter that the Mechron especially when driving inside. It isn't very fast (20 MPH on the flats) but it is hauls well and the engine feels unstoppable. You do need to understand how the transmission works or you will think that it is lacking power. Like all HST's if you begin to slow down, you need to back off the throttle to build up revs. People kept stomping on it going up hills and bogged it down. Once they learned how to drive it everybody loves it. It has been completely trouble free since day one. It is too early to tell how much maintenance it will need in the long run. The RTV is always the first one out the door in the morning, it is everyone's preferred ride for our work.

Mechron - Have about 50 hours on it as well. It is the most fun to drive of the three. It is marginally faster than the RTV. The suspension is great and gives the best ride and I think that just makes it feel faster. The steering feels like it has a faster ratio (not sure if that is really true) and I feel that I could flip it around and get in trouble in just the right situation. Maybe that's why they include shoulder belts? Build quality is good but not up to the Mule or RTV by a long shot. The drivetrain is pretty unsophisticated. The belt tranny whines at higher speeds and isn't always the smoothest as it brakes downhill. The engine is just plain noisy and clatters. The tailgate rattles and buzzes no matter how it is adjusted. The mechanical pieces just aren't as refined as the RTV or Mule. We have had problems with it but nothing major. The engine wouldn't shut off for 10-15 seconds after turning it off. There is a rubber strip that runs along the back of the seat that is supposed to seal the gap between the bed and the cab. On ours it was installed backward allowing twigs to fall in between. One of them got stuck in the linkage and jammed the throttle wide open while driving. I had to yank it into neutral to get it to stop. Per the dealer, they installed it backwards because they had no instructions on how to assemble them out of the crate.

All that said. In my humble opinion:

The Mule is the best workhorse for the money (if the dealer discounts to market reality).

The RTV is the best built and engineered and will probably last the longest.

The Mechron is a good value but rough around the edges and I'm not convinced it will last as long as the other two. The bed is already showing signs of some rust where the sides meet the bottom.

I"ll add, that in our area, the Kubota dealer was very aggressive and the RTV and Mechron came in within $400 of each other, identically equipped. So you can get the highest quality unit for a competitive price.

 

[BoneDigger]

Before you buy definitely try out the Polaris Ranger. I tried a few and ended up buying the Ranger. It is great for my needs.

Todd

 

[dougrout]

We use an older (carbureted) Mule 3010, an RTV900XT, and a Mechron. These units are use in farming/ranching and get a good workout by a variety of people, myself included. All three are way different animals.

Mule3010 - Have had it for 7 years and you just can't kill it. It doesn't ride well (Like the RTV) or go very fast (maybe 15mph on the flats with the wind behind you) but it hauls big loads and goes places you would never expect. After tweaking the carb the cold start and idling problems known on these guys have gone away. Maintenance has been minimal except for plug, filter, and fluid changes. The belt drive has been trouble free and it does brake going downhill. Build quality and general engineering is very good. For a reliable workhorse it is great. Dealers are discounting them so you can pick up a good deal.

Haven't tried the Mule yet but if the price is good I should find a local dealer and give it a shot.

RTV900 - Added this unit a few months ago. Have about 50 hours on it. The ride is slightly better than the Mule but not by much. It just has a solid, refined quality feel and sound about it. The engine is much quieter that the Mechron especially when driving inside. It isn't very fast (20 MPH on the flats) but it is hauls well and the engine feels unstoppable. You do need to understand how the transmission works or you will think that it is lacking power. Like all HST's if you begin to slow down, you need to back off the throttle to build up revs. People kept stomping on it going up hills and bogged it down. Once they learned how to drive it everybody loves it. It has been completely trouble free since day one. It is too early to tell how much maintenance it will need in the long run. The RTV is always the first one out the door in the morning, it is everyone's preferred ride for our work.

Interesting that the RTV gets so many positive comments. I have an HST on my John Deere 3320 so I know to back off the pedal going uphill. The RTV just felt sluggish on the flat. Not a deal breaker, as I don't want it for speed but I did really enjoy the responsiveness of the Gator.

Mechron - Have about 50 hours on it as well. It is the most fun to drive of the three. It is marginally faster than the RTV. The suspension is great and gives the best ride and I think that just makes it feel faster. The steering feels like it has a faster ratio (not sure if that is really true) and I feel that I could flip it around and get in trouble in just the right situation. Maybe that's why they include shoulder belts? Build quality is good but not up to the Mule or RTV by a long shot. The drivetrain is pretty unsophisticated. The belt tranny whines at higher speeds and isn't always the smoothest as it brakes downhill. The engine is just plain noisy and clatters. The tailgate rattles and buzzes no matter how it is adjusted. The mechanical pieces just aren't as refined as the RTV or Mule. We have had problems with it but nothing major. The engine wouldn't shut off for 10-15 seconds after turning it off. There is a rubber strip that runs along the back of the seat that is supposed to seal the gap between the bed and the cab. On ours it was installed backward allowing twigs to fall in between. One of them got stuck in the linkage and jammed the throttle wide open while driving. I had to yank it into neutral to get it to stop. Per the dealer, they installed it backwards because they had no instructions on how to assemble them out of the crate.

All that said. In my humble opinion:

The Mule is the best workhorse for the money (if the dealer discounts to market reality).

The RTV is the best built and engineered and will probably last the longest.

The Mechron is a good value but rough around the edges and I'm not convinced it will last as long as the other two. The bed is already showing signs of some rust where the sides meet the bottom.

I"ll add, that in our area, the Kubota dealer was very aggressive and the RTV and Mechron came in within $400 of each other, identically equipped. So you can get the highest quality unit for a competitive price.

I wasn't considering the Mechron, so I guess I'm down to the RTV (still), the Gator 855D, the Mule and the Polaris Ranger diesel. I need to test drive the last two and get firm prices in all. The Kubota salesman has offered to drop off an RTV at my property so I hope to test it out here in the next couple of weeks.

Anyone have experience with tracks on any of these four ATVs?