Need a recommendation for a Utility Vehicle

   / Need a recommendation for a Utility Vehicle #21  
The Honda Pioneer is a very nice machine.have had mine now since Nov.2013 done lot's to it all winter and now am enjoying driving it around.My only beef so far it that the front suspension is soft and bottoms out way to often. My fix has been like what some others have done. I've copied there idea of installing a 3/4 " spring spacer under the front spring,using a 1 1/2" water pipe it fits perfect over the shock.
 
   / Need a recommendation for a Utility Vehicle #22  
Hi:

We're in a similar situation, but only 2.5 acres of relatively flat land. Tractor is a 16 yr old J-D 4100 earlier compact model to what you have, and we WERE using a Yamaha 550 Grizzly to plow our 1000' of driveway. However.. at 71 yrs old, fighting this past Winter on the Grizzly left us with daily frozen butt and throttle thumb, so 3 months ago we switched to a Kubota RTV500. Price is around $9,000 Cdn, similar to a comparable ATV, but we now sit inside a protected area, AND have a foot throttle. We may add the cab for next Winter, but the 'Bota has already proven itself more than worthy.

Having the rear cargo bed is so handy for carrying tools etc., plus hauling or dumping brush when landscaping. You didn't mention plowing, but the machine is unbelievably good; with 4wd lock engaged virtually no amount of compacted, heavy snow will stop it.

One thing: it does NOT have power steering, which makes for tough slugging with undersized operators. (There may be an after-market kit available?) You DID mention wanting it to be 'around for a while'. You will not find these machines available used, but at well under $10,000 consider ordering new - they're overbuilt, probably capable of outlasting your lifetime needs.

Another thing: we have four young Grandkids, and all were home for Mother's Day weekend. With the side-by-side configuration we had a ball teaching the oldest two how to drive, with yours truly sitting right beside them to pull the plug if anything went wrong.

It also tows well over 1000 lbs with ease - FRONT OR BACK - 2" hitch sleeves are included at both ends.

Woordpecker
 
   / Need a recommendation for a Utility Vehicle #23  
Since no one else did, I'd recommend a plain old golf cart. I bought one used on a whim a year ago. It joined the fleet of a tractor, 2 ATVs, and a flock of motorcycles. The golf cart is used ever single day. More than any other vehicle. And it is just a plain old golf cart. It has really impressed me how much 'work' it can do around here.

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It looks just like this one: A Club Car Precedent. I added Ag-Lug tires on the back and knobbies on the front. It has never gotten stuck in mud or snow. Did get it stuck in deep pea gravel but, oh well, the other stuff can pull it out. It is all plastic and aluminum so leaving it out in the weather is no hardship. There are about a billion accessories you can add to one, including dump beds, lift kits, and even hop-up parts.

What it is is a 48-volt, 3hp electric motor, rear-wheel drive (with a differential), 2-wheel mechanical brakes and minimal ground clearance. Sounds inappropriate for your use but, as you have mostly flat acreage I think you might consider one. We usually have a 'homer' bucket strapped into one bag holder and the other strap keeps implements from falling out. Wife loves it. Dog loves it. And I think its really nice to 'motor' off not making a sound and not worrying about fuel or engine warm ups. A full charge lasts 2 or 3 days before it get sluggish.

After it passed the acceptance test around here, I 'invested' a lot of Internet time thinking I was going to improve it. But then it dawned on my that it is a freakin' golf cart! Just drive it. You can find them used as golf courses rotate their fleets every couple of years. $2,500 and up used is the price point where you can expect decent batteries. Yes, they have $900 worth of batteries but you only have to buy them once if at all. They hold their value well so just sell it if you don't like it.

And as a Ham operator, you have your own emergency power source!

Bob
 

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