Farm UTV's.....Mule or Ranger...or other?

[ovrszd]

Another vote for the mule, mine has been problem free.

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The only negative was the oil filter location, but this mod makes changing it easy.

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Nice Mule. Really like your sprayer setup!!!

 

[Industrial Toys]

As for my Duramax. It will hardly go anywhere. And if you get it going on a slippery road, it certainly won't stop any time soon.

What I meant about the suckers market is this. When I got my Diesel Mule around 2000, they were still a Utility Vehicle. Bought by companies and such. Only three or four companies made them. People were still riding around on those four wheel things things with handlebars and a bicycle seat. Now the UTVs have become popular, more consumer oriented, plasticy, and mostly bought on financing, which means the price climbs substantially.

 

[Rock Crawler]

And trust me, I'm not claiming to be an all knowing sage of the UTV market. I'm an engineer with at least basic knowledge of mechanical things who uses the things that I've been taught and that I've learned in the industry that I know and apply that to what I do and to what I buy. I absolutely can and have been proven wrong on more than one occasion. But I do try my best to make decisions based on the things that I know to be true. Much of that decision making is based on second hand information gathered from others who have gained experience before me. I gather information and apply it to my decision tree.

So I'm open to discussion. I'm not some wizard of endless knowledge. I hope to learn every day, and you all collectively are my instructors.

 

[Woody65]

I vote Mule. I’ve had mine for a couple of years now and it has worked hard dragging logs, hauling firewood, deer , tools and grandkids. I have driven it up mountains with 6 people in it with no problem.
This is when it came off the trailer brandy new. It has a few scars on it now but works fine.

 

[s219]

When I shopped machines back in 2016, I quickly came to the conclusion that there were two categories: Kubota RTV and everything else.

I just never saw anything as heavy duty as the Kubota, or as work-oriented. It's got a unique HST powertrain and true hydraulics, which together give you lots of options and possibilities. Beefy frame and metal construction. The bed is all steel with a sprayed in bed liner. And so on...

In that "everything else" category there are many many choices with all sorts of variations, and you can go nuts sorting through them all. But there seems to be something for everyone.

I feel like I can't come across as credible since I own the Kubota, but I truly feel like it's in a category by itself. May not be the right choice for everyone, but it serves as a very good reference point to help sort out the field.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The RTV is very machine like. It is also quite unsuitable for simply touring around. I used to like my old VW dunebuggy. You could put it in top gear, be doing almost highway speed and the engine would barely be above an idle. I would like a UTV more like that.

 

[YardBikeBob]

For light jobs and easily moving people around......golf cars work great. Dad uses them to haul everything with it that he can carry...yes, I'm sure he hauled WAY too much weight.

Don't overlook a golf cart. We had a 48v electric and beat it to death over 5 years. Bought it used and made money when I sold it (but, yes, I bought new batteries). Yes, golf carts on rough ground wear out suspension parts. Best ergonomics in the business. Grandkid magnet. $3k to $5k used.

Now have a Textron Recoil and wrote a review of it you can search for. 18 months / 800 miles / 130 hours and use it every single day; much more than tractor, ATVs, or P/U. Pulls a wagon if needed. Hilly, rocky 120 acres -- goes all over; never stuck.

There is something to be said for electric: zero maintenance, zero warm up, turn key and go in any wheather. Very quiet. Fast enough. Most things on UTVs that break electrics don't even have. Check the water every season and plug it in a couple times a week.

ymmv ~Bob

 

[groundcover]

The new Kubota side kick would be worth a look if you have your heart set on belt drive.

 

[ArlyA]

CVT drives have performed fine in UTV's and many other machines. No its not perfect, but this simple drive system works and is very efficient. In fact, I'd get one of those long before a hydrostatic transmission which have terrible HP losses, costs more and is much more complicated. I'm a believer in the KISS theory. (keep it simple stupid)

 

[Rock Crawler]

The new Kubota side kick would be worth a look if you have your heart set on belt drive.

Yes, and from my understanding is has a very well designed Subaru engine in it that is essentially automotive quality. I don't think I would be afraid of that machine if it fit my needs and checked my boxes.