Need utility Side by Side

[Blue Mule]

I was referring to the Kawasaki Ridge. Seats are WAYYYY too high.

The Mule seating depends upon model. The FXR and similar has a flat bench seat and it's also pretty high, though not as bad as the Ridge. The MX seat is really nice. I haven't sat in the SX.

The MX isn't actually made by Kawasaki. It's a Kymco machine that's rebadged I think? But I had one and they are pretty nice for getting work done around the farm. Easy to get in and out of, steel floors, steel bed, real nice for the money.

 

[CPTKILLER]

I have a Polaris Ranger 500. It’s a durable and reliable UTV. I had goats on 27 acres and it fit my needs as a utility ranch vehicle.

 

[ToBeFree]

CFMOTO uforce 600. I've had it 1.5 years with no issues. Is it the best? not. Does it make some noise. yes. Has it done what I have asked of it? yes. I got it in September and they had a 3yr warranty on it. Came with the dump bed, winch, roof, hard side doors, Front windshield. Less than $10,000. We got the rear windshield also for a couple of hundred more. Nothing came close to the price.
A good friend of mine is a machinist and motor head and told me they are very good and you can't beat the value for the $$. Of course he drives a Polaris!

 

[LindenBruce]

The CFMoto is the best on this list. But, it's pricey. My dealer was getting $17k plus $2k in dealer fees and taxes. That put it out of range.

The Kawasaki seating is terrible. It's like they got Shaquille O'neal to be the stand-in for designing those seats around. I'm 6'3" and they are too high for my liking. My wife's feet won't even touch the floorboards. Ridiculous. Having said that, the MULE lineup is better. Not sporty at all though...not good for weekend fun...but great for chores.

The Polaris is a great all-around machine. Fair pricing if you shop around. Parts are everywhere.

Don't have experience with the Pioneer, but if it uses the same transmission as the Talon then it's going to be amazing. We've got a Honda Talon and I LOVE the transmission they use. So much better than a CVT.

Can-Am makes the worst garbage in the segment hands down. I would avoid them like the plague.

Thanks for the info Blue Mule. B.

 

[LindenBruce]

Thanks for the tips guys. I did not consider Kubota because I'm not much of a fan. My employer has a half dozen or so of them. They are reliable, but expensive to work on when they do break. Most of the SxS's are Kawasakis. A bunch of different Gators also. I'm also not a JD fan so I am not considering them either.

The only two I have been in so far are the Honda 1000-5 for a day of riding in the rain several years ago up by LongBarn California. I had a blast. I did sit in a Kawasaki Ridge and found it easy to get into and out of. The Ridge seemed easy to service. The only service issue I can see with the Ridge is getting the air filter out. The access hole under the seat is smaller than the filter lid (LOL).

I really want to see a CFMoto and a Polaris. I think a Tracy dealer has a Polaris on the floor right now. But they don't have a CFMoto. Thanks guys. B.

 

[zzvyb6]

This does it for me: fencing, C&S pickup, running the dogs, sprayer, mail retrieval, Year-round operation. 48V Lithium, software limited to 20 mph (measured), high low beams, horn, 4whl brakes, trailer hitch. Auto park keeps the dogs from hitting the pedals when it's time for a r i d e . Easily handles 14 square bales, even on hills.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

You forgot Yamaha.Owned atv/s by s since the early 80's.Honda,Suzuki,Kawasaki and Yamaha.Had my Kawasaki for 23 years and sold it for 1/3 of the new cost.
On my second Yamaha side/side and can highly recommend them.Lots of Can-Am side by side in our area,but I find them uncomfortable.
Base model Yamaha Viking can be had for 13K.
I would not buy any of the China made units.

On our fifth can am defender, I think they are comfortable.

^This! Is your place a swamp??

If you're not planning on "mudding" then save money and look at the standard Can-am Defender. I wanted an all-season unit so I bought one with the cab; don't care if it is 20 degrees and blowing snow I can still use it in comfort. I've been putting several miles a day on my Defender, doing fencing and setting gopher traps, and other chores. Much easier on me and on the fields to use the Defender rather than one of my tractors, especially when the ground is wet and soft. And I can take it on trail rides - works great for that also. Over 4000 miles on mine now and the drive belt still looks like new. Very dependable unit.

View attachment 3261314

Almost 6000 on my defender, many of those off road on trail rides, still the original belt.

 

[Paystar]

@Paystar has been happy with CFMoto.

Yes, so far I am. Just had my Z-Force in to dealer for a full service when we went to pick up the new C-Force 800 and everything checked out good.
And I have friends that have the utility U-Force versions and love them.
Biggest issue I have been seeing with them is many have the door latches popping open, but it's usually just a matter of latch adjustment and retorquing the roll cage.
I just like the fact that for thousands of dollars less you get a fully loaded machine that comes with winch, LED lights, horn, turn signals, mirrors, etc.

And just so you know, at least in Canada....CF's advertised prices INCLUDE freight and PDI. So any dealer that tries to charge you for that is ripping you off.
My local dealer tried, so I bought mine 4 hours away in next town.

 

[jjeff]

Honda 520 or Yamaha wolverine 2 passenger with dedicated dump box,? I currently own and use a pioneer 500, and a Yamaha 850 wolverine x4 for work and recreation. For recreation, pioneer tops out in low to mid 40s wolverine x4
Mid 50s in mph per gps . Suppose you could flash it and override the rev limiter but no way I'd want to. Neither have an open rear dif, but found both light enough it doesn't matter much nor do I care if my lawn isn't perfectly manicured. Both have been extremely reliable. Owned pioneer since 2016, and x4 since 2019. New pioneers have paddle shift or full auto selectable drivetrains. I do drop the skid plates on them when I pm both though for easier access. Found aftermarket accessories are much more affordable than OEM like a roof or windshield , quality of aftermarket accessories is good imo. Also discovered slightly larger 6 ply tires are much better than OEM 4 plys . .nex year probably getting a 520 pioneer with box on back instead of current 500 with rack. Pioneer 500 and 520 are 50" in width wolverine is about 60" both are pretty stable when turning even with hammer down lol. The pioneer 500 and 520 does not have oem power assisted steering. My Yamaha does. Another suggestion at slower speeds when towing or hauling something a selectable low gear is important both have great engine braking capabilities imo. Came across and transported occupants of a newer Polaris ranger sxs from the woods back to civilization after there Polaris sxs was disabled due to mechanical problems when I was recreational riding a few years back. I own, like, and ride Polaris and skidoo snowmobiles not so much there ATVs. Good luck

 

[ultrarunner]

What model of Mule did you look at? I'm 5'11 and one of the reasons I liked the Mule over the other brands was how easy it was to get in and out of it.

My 84 year old mom drives it almost daily and she has shrunk down to about 5'2. She has no issues with the seat, or getting in and out of it. One of the things that she loves to do is drive around the place after a storm and pick up branches that have fallen down. Then haul them to the burn pile. Mom never stops cleaning up the place, it makes her happy. Before I bought the Mule, she pulled a wagon around to clean up everything.

It's a 2011 4010 TransMule 4x4 that I bought brand new. The picture is right after I bought it, and before I bought the roof for it.

View attachment 3265023

And this was her pulling a branch to the burn pile that was too big to pick up. She gets mad at me if I do it for her, so now I just take video of her when I catch her doing something like this.

Mom age 87 with the Kubota…