KIOTI Mechron users: Pros/Cons/Issues: chime in please....

Coyote machine · May 17, 2017

I just recently purchased a Kioti Mechron 2200PS, leftover 2016 model in Kioti orange.
I'm seeking comments from all who own one about their likes, dislikes, and any issues, thoughts for improvements etc. you all can come up with. ALSO, I'd like to know what any of you purchased with your rig; windshield, cab, headrests, etc.; did you find some cool accessory that will fit it too?
ALL feedback is appreciated!:thumbsup:
I will let you know my impressions too as I get more hours on it. I have another thread in this section about its initial purchase and some details about a tandem axle, (dual floating axle) ATV/UTV trailer I'm using with it, for those who might find it of interest or possible use for themself(s).
Looking forward to hearing from you all....

Thanks,

CM

Coyote machine · May 20, 2017

Anybody home?!

Thought I'd find at least ONE Mechron user/owner who wants to contribute their experience(s).....

sdef · May 23, 2017

I would have thought so also as I seem to recall a couple responded to your original thread. Will keep this thread alive a bit longer in case those Mechron folks are just busy at the moment. I know I do not check "my" forums all that often. A main reason I purchased a Polaris Ranger over a Kawasaki Mule FX... was availability of factory and after market accessories. I do accessorize...

As far as general, non specific OEM UTV accessories, I bought my Ranger 900XP with options of steel roof (strength), front/rear auto glass (no scratching of poly materials), 4500# winch (useful for so many things) and 24" fwd. LED light bar. In use I have discovered I also need and am in the process of/have installed: interior LED dome light, roof mounted LED bed light, 7" 36 watt roof mounted rear light bar, heavy rubber bed mat and ceiling/ROPS mounted dual long gun rack- just in case. Also replacing any rocker type plastic electrical switches with better quality SS push button models to lessen chance of accidentally turning them on.

A windshield wiper could be useful but I am not going to add it as the Polaris electric model is EXPENSIVE. And since I do not have doors, its use would be minimal. If you do a lot of driving in brushy areas, hard- half doors could be a worthwhile option. I am staying away from full doors, but we have gotten wacked in the face/head by small tree branches in the woods.

Oh, just added a bag of moth balls in the under seat storage/ECU area, along with wiring area under the hood as I discovered a mouse had been living there- fortunately caused no damage.

Coyote machine · May 25, 2017

What brand/model is your winch? And, I'm a little confused, is it a dealer/MFG OEM part?
Can you show some pics of it, and or the various items you mentioned?
Thanks.
CM
Mechron owners must be out using their UTVs?!

sdef · May 25, 2017

I can provide lots of photos. But just to be sure, you do realize this is for a Polaris Ranger and not a Kioti Mechron? The winch is a Polaris branded Warn that can be mounted on anything. But you would need a mount kit specifically for your UTV. All of the lights and switches I have added are general purpose items and not vehicle specific.

Coyote machine · May 26, 2017

Whatever works for you. Not like I'm getting any feedback from Mechron users, and the winch could be useful to me or others since it is universal.
AND, though I haven't studied it yet, it seems Kioti does offer some accessories, but to what extent compared to more common brands like Polaris or Kawasaki, etc. I don't know.
So all knowledge is useful from my POV.:thumbsup:

Thanks,

CM

sdef · May 26, 2017

Okie dokie. I was busy today at the range (my own private range

) chronographing ammunition and will be back out there tomorrow. Sunday I can probably get you some pics, links, etc. for things I have done that have been/are useful to me and I would think would be useful to others who use their UTVs for things other than play. I do like to accessorize to make my life easier, as usually I am working major projects by myself and need the tools/accessories to make it all work for me.

sdef · May 28, 2017

Just for reference, my UTV has low hours and 98% have been working hours and this is how my Ranger is outfitted. I viewed your Mechron on Kioti's web site and it looks like a sweet machine designed for working on hard surfaces and established trails per the tires that are on it. Kioti's basic options also are telling about how they feel their machine should be used.

I am in the south with mild winters and you are up north... so that will make a difference on accessories (cab). Plus the Mechron does not have a large after market parts base so this makes a difference also on what I will suggest. I may make a couple different posts instead of loading up everything in one, large post.

Attached are a couple pics of my Ranger for general comparison with yours. Note our ground clearances are similar per web sites but my tires have a deeper tread pattern (stock). Note the picture of the back of my ATV with synthetic rope attached. The other end of the rope is attached to the rear axle of a 2WD 2000 Toyota Tacoma truck stuck in the sand on a small decline in an area I am building up for a new shop to be built. The UTV pulled it right out. First tried using the UTV in open differential mode- one wheel drive and that tire spun. Then locked the rear axle (all electronic) and had wheel spin in the relatively soft soil I was sitting on. Then put it is AWD and pulled the truck out easily with no wheel spin.

sdef · May 28, 2017

Winches and pulling tow points: I have mounted winches on my vehicles for many years and have even used one on my Kioti DK45HST and on my trailers. I have never had to use them for self extraction but have used them for many other things, such as pulling out my stuck truck with the UTV, pulling out a friend's old Ford tractor that was mired in sandy loam mud nearly to the axles using my Jeep GC, righting an old storage shed so I could prop it up using 2 x 4s, at the 3PH on the tractor to help guide leaning trees I was cutting down to clear my property for a new home, to load a different old Ford tractor with flat tires and no motivation onto a U-haul trailer, using the UTV to stretch tight a new fence being built using 6' horse fence, and on and on. I will always have electric winches on my appropriate vehicles and trailers.

In general (opinions vary...), an electric vehicle winch should be rated to pull 1.5 times - 2 times the weight of whatever one may be pulling that has good, rolling tires on it. The higher the ratio the easier it is on the winch and vehicle battery. Examples: My Jeep GC loaded weighed ~ 5000 pounds and its winch was rated at 9500 pounds; nearly 2:1 and my sweet spot. My Ram 2500 diesel truck has an expected max winching weight of ~ 10,000 pounds and its winch is rated at 12000 pounds. Barely adequate should I have to self recover but it was the largest winch I could fit into the winch bumper I decided to use. However, I have several pulley snatch blocks with every winch I have that can be used to double the pulley power of the winch. Our local country fire dept. also has a 12k winch on their 1 ton, 4WD brush truck. But I think a 15k winch would be better for both vehicles.

For my Polaris UTV, I selected a Polaris branded, Warn 4500# rated winch. It was a factory option and I had the dealer install it. He was giving me 25% off any accessory, helmets, whatever with free installation. For self recovery my UTV should never weigh more than 3000 pounds so my 4500# winch would give me a 1.5: 1 ratio, which is ~ industry standard as I recall. Plus I also have a couple pulley blocks. There are many options for my Polaris but I was not able to find much for your Mechron. But Kioti does have a 3000# winch option. Personally I would want more- 4500#, but your problem is finding an after market winch mount. Most winches (UTV different than auto type) have standard bolt patterns but the vehicle mount would be the issue. Maybe you could purchase a Kioti winch mount and an after market winch? The winches basically come as a complete kit except for vehicle mount. One may have to add wiring from the winch to the battery as a worse case scenario. Most UTV winches are mounted behind the front bumper/brush guard.

Note I also welded a pair of of 4000# working load shackles up front to act as tow points, drag points or a place to attach the end of the winch rope back on itself if using a snatch block pulley to double the winches pulling power. Both shackles are welded to points with direct, steel attachment to the UTV frame area, so are strong. And one also needs a strong attachment point at the rear, which fortunately, you and I have with the 2" receiver. All of my winches have synthetic rope vs. steel wire rope as synthetic is much lighter and far safer than wire rope, but is more expensive and has less abrasion resistance.

sdef · May 28, 2017

Lighting: My tractor and UTV have auxillary LED work lights I added front and rear (in process of wiring the rear) and should be mandatory, I think. I also added a LED dome light for inside the cab and a LED bed light outside the cab. LEDs use much less power while providing greater light output and bulb reliability. Polaris had an incandescent dome light option I was not interested in and just added these instead: EZ LED Cargo Light Kit: Polaris Ranger Razor Crew Diesel, Yamaha Rhino, Can-Am Commander, Kawasaki Teryx Mule, Arctic Cat Prowler, Honda Big Red MUV Kioti does list a front working light option. But LED light assemblies are standard fare these days and can be purchased most places and installed.

sdef · May 28, 2017

Cab and related: As mentioned previously, I live down south and do not have a significant need for a cab due to our mild winters. But if I lived in Vt!!!, I certainly would have a full cab I could remove the doors from during the summer months. Roofs to me are steel for longevity and support for mounting my accessories. But lots of folks have plastic. Kioti has a soft cab and hard cab kit. I like the looks of the hard cab kit and it may have auto glass also, but know they are pretty expensive. The soft cab may work better due to cost. Pretty much personal preference here. Point of reference: My steel roof and auto glass front and rear cost ~ $650 each, as I recall- plus installation. But all of my accessories were discounted with free installation with the purchase of my Ranger. I will most likely add after market plastic, half doors (bottom half) to mine to keep mud and potential dogs and wild critters out while driving along in the woods, etc. I have grey fox and red fox in my back yard a lot.

Windshield, front and rear: If one opts for a front wind screen (mandatory for me), a rear one is probably needed also due to air being pulled inside the cab area from the rear while traveling on dirt roads, if no back window exists. I like plastic in some things but not for my roof or windows. If one has a winter need for a cab, then to me that also means a windshield wiper. Poly windshields are far easier to scratch than auto type glass and both of my windscreens are auto type glass. These days I purchase once and do not expect to replace as normal maint. as that is just too expensive in the long run. Again, steel roof and auto glass F/R.

I recently added a double long gun rack to the top of my ROPS- just in case... This is mounted in the cab, out of the weather and away from prying eyes. If one may have to deal with wild hogs, wild dogs, rabid animals in their area, a long gun is a handy thing to have. I do carry a hand gun but few things beat a long gun- most of the time. My rack is the Big Sky BSR-2. I added 1/4" x 1" steel flat stock to bridge the F/R of my ROPS and to mount the rack to. It can also be through bolted to the roof but this may not have left accessibility to ARs due to their design and the design of my roof.

This information should provide you with things to consider and in my thinking, functions well with either a work type vehicle or a play type vehicle.

sdef · May 28, 2017

Oh, a couple last pics of work this morning and the last couple weeks. We are sodding, etc the front. Typically I unload the sod from the truck using the tractor. But we have had a lot of rain recently and the clay soil is still soft and muddy. So used the lighter weight UTV to transfer the sod and organic top soil.

Coyote machine · Jun 2, 2017

Hey sdef
Thanks for all your writeups on the various thing you've done with and to your UTV. I'm new to all this, and will take many things into consideration regarding what you use/recommend.
I have a winch mount plate built in behind the front bumper cage area. I will have to check the bolt pattern and distances and see what might fit.
I'm not sure about a windshield or cab, soft or hard right now, but time may change that, as I get more use of the UTV.
Auto glass, good to ask about. Kioti does have a limited accessories list, but some nice stuff nonetheless.
I've ordered some things already, which should be in relatively soon. Nothing fancy. just skid plates, headrests and such.
I will probably use it most between my two adjacent properties, so no real dirt road time per se.
It does not come with a horn, and rear lights of anything but basic headlights, and switch for horn, headlights, and blinkers, also an add option.
The dash cluster being located on the right side of the dash, is annoying, but I see why they put it there. They have a couple of small areas with idiot lights in the cluster, but should have put the emergency brake light closest to the driver side of the dash, IMO. One can purchase a buzzer kit for the E brake, but I don't want to ask what they want for it in $, it'll probably just make me mad.:confused3:

One issue I have with my dealer and most small dealers of equipment is ordering anything usually entails paying ridiculous S/H fees or waiting till forever for a stock order where my dealer 'eats' the costs. On this first minor items order I'm waiting- but he didn't tell me it could be a long time since he's attaching it to his tractor shipment, not a stock parts shipment.

I was thinking about the bed/dump/hydraulic lift kit and wondering if it would allow me to tilt the bed part way up while dumping something like sod or topsoil, so as to not dump it all in one place when filling holes in lawn areas, etc. I would think that would be possible, no?

Thanks again for your insight into the whole world of UTVs. You obviously have some experience and preferences and good choice of tractor brand too!

sdef · Jun 3, 2017

Concerning the bed dumping options- if one dumps heavier items from their bed much, a hydraulic or electric option would be great. Note the pic above where I dumped a load of loose, organic top soil into the bed of the UTV. The wife and I then tried to dump the bed but could not manually lift it... So if this was a priority for us, which it is not yet, I would have to add a powered dump option.

It is great you have a winch mount built in. Only negative about mounting UTV winches is there is little room to work and the front bumper needs to be removed to mount the winch usually. YMMV.

Really like the Kioti hydraulic remote options for their UTV. Really awesome. Not sure how they could be used as the hydraulic pump could not be very large- but cool nonetheless

ksbrdmkr · Sep 15, 2017

Purchased a 2200ps about a month ago. I like the way it drives on the gravel roads, very comfortable between 20 and 24 mph. No options on it yet but thinking about the safety items kit and want to look into some sort of cab. Only 8 hours on it so still don't know where the point on the fuel gauge is that will hold a 5 gal can of diesel.

Illini22 · Oct 24, 2017

I'm considering a utv as of late. Are you happy with the mechron? It seems to be about the cheapest diesel option. Tractor house has a few for around 9k and one for 8.5k. , 2016 models.

ksbrdmkr · Oct 25, 2017

I am pleased so far, added a wiring harness for light bars and use one set of wire for a rear light and the second wire to run spay pump. Ordered a windshield and top but haven't come in yet. Put about 6 gal of diesel at 10 hours and now with 18 hours on it and the fuel gauge is still at 3/4 full.

K man · Mar 18, 2018

I have been debating on getting a new Mechron 2200PS. Read a lot of good stuff about it. The only complaint is how loud this machine is. I want to know if anyone as one with a field cab on and how quiet is it inside. Also saw a video the front mount attachment for the snow plow looks kind of bulky and job to install not sure if that is an original equipment. I have also looked a Mule and Pioneer 700. The main reason why I am looking at the Kioti is to be able to trade in my CK 30 hst with FEL, front mount SB66 and scraper of which I really have no use for anymore and for heath reasons need something smaller and easier to install for winter snow removal.

laurencen · Mar 18, 2018

purchased a Mechron 3 years ago, in general its a good machine, never let me down, use it for hauling material on the acreage, like the bench seat we can ride with the grandkid in the middle, for accessories I added the roof, light kit for the odd time we use the grid roads and a 40 gallon sprayer, custom fits in the box. its a tough machine and solid.

off topic for the lake I picked up a 4x4 Kawasaki mule 500, previously had the 2x4 model, it realy has not changed, this gets used for weekend drives on the grid roads with grandchild, again bench seat, one thing about a bench seat you can exit either side of the machine

there is quite a difference in size of machine between the mule and mechron,

ksbrdmkr · Mar 18, 2018

Still like my Mechron 2200PS, yes it is noisy so I try to have ear plugs in, which I also carry anyway, top speed for me is 24 miles/hour, the diesel is great for slowly going through the field spraying trees and weeds, and it seems to have great traction. I did install a glass wind shield, top, rear screen and safety kit. When dressed for cold it wasn't bad at 10 degrees. Biggest minus for me is the belt drive, I would rather have a HST but lots more $.