OK-I'm still narrowing

jcmseven · Nov 12, 2006

Fellow Posters,

On a previous post, we discussed the different UTV's I have been checking and each's respective benefits and shortcomings. My search is nearing an end and I have narrowed my decision to three (including a new one not mentioned). For reasons strictly of cargo box size and slim dealer support in our area, I have eliminated the Rhino. I think they are great machines but I just do not have much confidence in our dealer here, which is important. My current choices are: waiting for a new Gator diesel (to be out March 2007), to get a Polaris Ranger now, or to get a Bobcat 2300 (which I really liked). The advantage of the Gator is that I like JD products and have a great dealer. The downside is that I do most of my serious landscaping projects requiring of the machine in winter, which will mean waiting till next year to get serious things done on some of my property. The Polaris seems really nice, but if I were to get one, should I go with the XP for more speed or the 6x6??? I think the 6x6 looks funny and of course is slower, but I can think of a few circumstances where six wheel drive would be helpful (just not many). I really liked the 2300 Bobcat, but know nothing about them. Any experience? I just know it has a diesel, fully lockable four wheel drive, all aluminum body and dwarfs an RTV when seen side by side. It also seems to have some neat attachments. I know nothing of Bobcat's reputation except to say that I see a lot of their skid-steer loaders on jobsites around our area. I do not have a local Bobcat dealer, but there is one on the way to my parents' home, where I spend much work time, so it would be easy to stop in on my way. What are the thoughts on these thoughts from the group?

John M

crazylare1 · Nov 13, 2006

Hello jcmseven, we had a club car rep. stop by our Arctic Cat shop last week and demo'ed a club car utv, they are a sister company to bob cat. The machine was really nice and like the bobcat had an alum. frame etc. The one that the rep brought to our shop had the front end loader on it, all I can say about it is WOW!!! He was telling me that the frt. attachments that go on it are endless. He also was telling us that you can get a back blade and other attachments for the rear. The loader had a nice bucket that lifted about 4 feet and had a joy stick control that you can use to dump the bucket or if you were to put a plow on the frt. instead of the bucket you would already be set up for hydro turn. The box on the back had a dump feature that is very simular to a front snow plow on a pickup, that being an elec. hydro set up. The box is large and had a carrying cap. of 1000 lbs. I went for a ride in it on our demo track and a few things that I noticed was that it def. is more of a work horse than the A-C prowlers that we sell, the down side is that the prowlers ride so much nicer and simply put have a much greater fun factor. The club car is put together very nice and the fit and finish is fantastic. The one we demo'ed had the diesel engine and seemed to have good power, although we don't have any hills or major conditions that would have tested the power. In summing it up for the price that we were told that we would be able to sell the unit for with the front end loader, the elec. hydro lift box, and diesel engine it seemed to be a great value. He was telling us that we would be able to sell them for around $14,000 out the door. Our prowlers with the 650 cc engine (gas) and xt package sells for around $10,000 otd. Don't get me wrong, $4,000 is alot of money by any means but geez the diesel, frt. loader, power lift on the box, and larger pay load (both in box size, and weight), might make it well worth the money. My opinion for what it's worth is that if you want a fun machine to work once in awhile the prowler is hard to beat because of it's ride, speed (52mph out of the box, nearly 60mph when the engine is broken in) and sporty handling then that's the one to get, on the other hand if those things aren't important then go with a unit that works it's butt off like the club car. Remember this is just my opinion and others may say hey he's crazy,,,,, but since I'm crazylare they just might be right. Have a great week jcmseven!
Lar

gamble77 · Nov 14, 2006

That new Deere is worth waiting on, trust me

Ukraine Train · Nov 29, 2006

Have you checked out the 4x4 Cub Cadet UV?

Tractors4u · Nov 30, 2006

It will be interesting to see what Deere brings to the table with the XUV. I have an 06 Ranger XP. So far it has not let me down but I only have 50 hours on it. I have hauled heaping loads of dirt in the back of it and despite what others say, it does not squat the rear end all the way down and steering was still fine. When I was seeding my new lawn I was too lazy to hook my 5 foot disk up to the tractor so I chained it behind the Ranger and pulled it around the yard to break it up. The gangs were fully angled, but the ground was hard so it wasn't really digging in, butit pulled it with ease. My Ranger runs 44 MPH and the 07's are geared differently and they run 50 MPH. There are tons of Polaris add ons for the Ranger and other companies are building after market add ons as well. Here in Iraq where I am we have Ranger 6X6's and Gator 6X4s. I have seen 1 HPX and 1 Mule and 1 Club Car.

rdbrumfield · Dec 3, 2006

This past year we had two gators, rentals, on the job. I am in the construction industry and they were used to ferry the grade engineers around with their lazers and such tools.
I am sure they are good machines for some, but for us they didn't really measure up. Wheels fell off, chain drive would break. Seems they could enclose the chain so things wouldn't get in there.
One of the engineers finally brought his quad out for transportation. Better ride and it did the job.
We did on occaision have to push those gators out of the mud, low ground clearance.

Tractors4u · Dec 4, 2006

The Gator HPX is a different machine all together than the 6 wheel chain driven Gators.

darkday · Dec 4, 2006

Tractors4u said:
The Gator HPX is a different machine all together than the 6 wheel chain driven Gators.

As owner of both. +1

jcmseven · Dec 4, 2006

I have decided to wait and look at the new XUV Gator. I can get by without one long enough for them to come out. Having heard how well they pull (which is my main need) based on the Sarasota show, I would feel remiss if I did not at least drive one before I commit. I know they will not have the gross horsepower of the Ranger, it sounds like they pulled better when tested in Florida. I do realize it is a JD show, but the engineers told my friend, the salesman, they he could feel comfortable that JD had done the homework to have the "field covered" as he put it. So I think I will wait and see it myself. Thanks for the replies!

John M

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Dec 8, 2006

yea i'm holdin out on the xuv too . the wife says she's leavin if i come home with one.it's been 20 years of marriage but i guess i can part with her.lol they way they talk about them they are gonna be to good to pass up.