Gator HPX demand and use as snow plow

[yankeerider]

I have an Eagle Plow for my XUV. I also had one for my now-sold HPX.

John M

John, can you offer any comments on steering effort between the XUV and the HPX? I recall you added power steering to the HPX, and am wondering if the HPX w/cab and plow might be too much for wife vs. the XUV effort. I take it after selling your HPX you missed it and went back to an XUV?

 

[cef2lion]

I had an '05 HPX. Currently I have an '07 XUV 850d. In '06 Deere made improvements to the steering effort. It is my understanding that was in the steering column bushing and increasing front tire pressure. The steering column bushing when from plastic or nylon to maybe bearing. Not sure if that could be fitted to the older HPXs. I don't know for sure but I think the XUV might have gotten the '06 HPX type steering. So the '06 HPX and the XUV would have similar steering efforts.

Craig

 

[shot_gun]

cef2lion: You are correct, the Plactic bushing was changed to a the bearings that they use for the front wheels on the garden tractors. You can change the bushing to bearings but you will have to cut out the "pipe" that holds the bushings and put a larger on in so the bearings will fit in. The front end is a little tougher. The gear ratio was changed in 06' and this requires an entire front axle assembly change. When they changed the ratio this allowed them to go to 14 psi on the front tire instead of 7 psi. Smaller foot print on the ground = less steering effort also.

Now if we apply that to the new HPX/XUV conversation. The XUV has a more narrow tire than the HPX. Meaning that the XUV has a smaller footprint than the HPX= less sterring effort. The way to tell is to drive both side by side and you'll see what I mean. Hope that clears it up alittle.

 

[yankeerider]

Thanks again to all, especially cef2lion and shot_gun. I found a local dealer who has an HPX and XUV and a rough terrain test track, so it looks like my wife and I will be doing some test comparison driving this weekend!

 

[cef2lion]

Welcome and enjoy whatever you choose. Couple points I noticed going from HPX to XUV. With independent rear suspension the XUV was smoother riding. I have hauled some heavy loads of dirt with XUV and rear end has held up so far but early to tell on that. The solid rear axle might be a selling point there. The XUV has a bit higher ground clearance. The XUV is faster. My dealer had the power dump package already installed when I bought the XUV. That option is less on the XUV then the HPX maybe to increase sells and also they went to a single lift cylinder. Very helpful in dumping heavy loads. My XUV has a front sway bar that I don't recall on the '05 HPX. If you will be adding a plow and weight of a cab they offer a HD front suspension kit. Not sure but something has me thinking the HPX might use a coil spring/shock approach and the XUV went to struts in front end.

Craig

 

[shot_gun]

Jerry, Your welcome. Have fun! Both are solid machines.

Craig, The HPX's didn't have a need for the front sway bar because of the solid rear axle. They have been using struts all along for both machines. They both use the same HD strut kit VGB10544. I would only add the kit if you get a plow. Otherwise if there isn't enough weight it tends to push the front end when your doing high speed manuvers.

Gentlemen Enjoy!

 

[jcmseven]

If I recall, the HPX after I purchased mine went to the reduced steering effort (I believe 30% reduction). This has carried over in the XUV. I cannot speak to the Power Steering on the HPX--as it was not available then to my knowledge--but it does help the XUV. With my plow mounted on the front I can tell much more difference than when just driving around. I have aftermarket tires on my XUV and one can tell some difference in steering effort with them v. the stock tires without PS. I would say for your wife, Yankeerider, steering an HPX Gator with a front plow without PS would be challenging, especially at lower speeds. This would be an instance where the additional cost of the Electrosteer at the outset might really offer a benefit.

John M

 

[yankeerider]

Thanks, John. We bought an HPX this afternoon.

She drove both an HPX and a TX. As it turned out, the steering effort was no issue at all (no plow, of course), and the accelerator pedal in the TX was so far to the right that she complained at first, but then decided she could live with it. She didn't notice any significant difference between the two except the pedal location. We didn't even test an XUV because the cargo bed height on that machine was too high for her to feel comfortable loading.

We'll find out if she has issues with the steering with the plow weight in a few weeks. I kind've doubt she's likely to be plowing with it anyway.