Should I trade up to a XUV 850D

[ddivinia]

I have a 2005 JD Gator HPX 4wd Gas. I got a deal on it (was a static display unit at the ballpark). I only really have 3 complaints:

Not really 4 wheel drive - buried it a couple times work cows.
No seatbelts have to keep an eye on the kiddo).
Cold Natured Starting - man, winter is coming and I am already pissed at it.

Will a new XUV 850D solve my problems? Do they start well in cold weather? Seatbelts standard - might get the deluxe top so I can add some lighting, etc.

I have a diesel tank at my house - so fill up is easy. I grow tired of having to go get gas, so that is a plus.

Ya know - I never had a problem with the towing and power - just starting.

Should I just go fuel injected gas and be done with it?

I am leaning towards 850D:
Delux cab (no doors or windows)
Electric kit
lights front and rear
horn
hitch up front
brush guard
fender guards
No power dump - have 2 FELs.
rhino line the bed
and the floor

I use my gator all the time. The deluxe cab will be nice in the weather and sun. More lights for working at night.

Has anybody bought the tool box? How is it? I always have tools in the back of my gator, would be nice to have them organized, etc. Loosing bed space sucks, but oh well...

Thanks,
D.

 

[Skipholiday]

Someone must have taken the seat belts out of your 2005. (they are standard equipment)
True 4 wheel drive is a big plus.
Both the gas and diesel XUV start very easy.
I have 620i (gas), if the diesel had a clutch enclosure I would trade up.
The deluxe cab comes standard with lap belts. The standard rops has lap and shoulder harness.

I like the light kit with the exception of the way the rear tail lights protrude out the side of the bed and are bent very easy.
Kit is very well made with that exception.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I have become quite the "choke virtuoso" with my '04 HPX in regards to cold weather starting. The "true" four wheel drive for my applications hasn't been an issue. I have less than 50 hours on it in three years so I will be hanging on to mine for awhile (like the rest of my life!) but I could see for your needs an upgrade sounds like the way to go. As for the seatbelts as Skip stated someone must have removed them because my '04 has them.

 

[ddivinia]

Someone must have taken the seat belts out of your 2005. (they are standard equipment)

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I wonder if mine is an 2004 or a early 2005....


Both the gas and diesel XUV start very easy.
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Cold weather?

I have 620i (gas), if the diesel had a clutch enclosure I would trade up.
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I really don't do much roading - it is for work around the ranch here. Is that the concern? I thought they were going to fix that and put an enclosure on the diesel.

Is the clutch enclosure standard on all of the 620is?




The deluxe cab comes standard with lap belts. The standard rops has lap and shoulder harness.
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Interesting - lap belts will be fine. I am leaning towrds the deluxe cab due to the easier wiring and a roof to keep rain, sun down.



I like the light kit with the exception of the way the rear tail lights protrude out the side of the bed and are bent very easy.
Kit is very well made with that exception.

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I wont get the road light kits - they would not last a week with me I bet.

I am talking work lights front and rear. It seems stupid only 1 light to the rear. Usually I back up to things to work on them - all the tools are in the back anyway.

Thanks,
D.

 

[ddivinia]

That is wild - they are nowhere to be found. I found that weird.

I will ask my dealer about them today. Heck - that would fix a lot of my headaches right there.

D.

 

[cef2lion]

I have the 850D with deluxe cab. Transfered the deluxe cab from my 05 HPX when I traded this past spring. Dealer wanted to do it that way. Might be hard to resell a deluxe cab model. Deluxe cab isn't cheap and it options are pricy as well. If you do move to the 850D and don't plan for windows or doors you might consider staying with OPS. You can add the Poly roof. My dealer sent me the following on the upcoming 08 models. Will have to see how that pans out when the 08 are released.

Craig

Not much new for 08. Poly Cab Doors and Rear Sliding Glass Window to go with Poly Roof and Full Windshield. Fancy Wheels. Heavy Duty Brush Guard. Heavy Duty Snow Blade with Power Angle and Lift.

 

[prosumequipment]

ddivinia: I sent you a pm

 

[jcmseven]

D-

I would trade for the diesel. It is a large improvement over your current machine. It is also quite a bit more powerful than the gasoline XUV and I have owned both. My diesel sips fuel and pulls like a mule. It is a tremendous improvement over my older HPX. A couple things: first the diesel starts well. I have had this winter some issue with the engine not wanting to start if it has been sitting for several days and the weather is cold. I keep mine inside an enclosed garage, but where I live we have already had several nights in the teens, with our garage temp being in the 30's. My pattern of usage is that when I am working long hours I do not use mine for sometimes over a week, then may use it 20 hours in two days. My suggestion when it gets cold is to take a few minutes every couple days and let the engine idle. No matter how cold mine starts fine unless it has been sitting for several days without being started. It has never failed to start but has caused some anxiety on occasion in this circumstance. As for the toolbox, I might suggest the soft zip up organizer if you do not have a lot of tools to carry at once. This is what I use and it will carry sockets, power tape, hammers, and most other tools I would regularly use on the property. It is washable, less expensive and can be slipped out easily and stored when not in use. In also has a tonneau cover included for as needed use. As for the cab, I do not run one, so I can offer no advice there. For me the half windshield and soft top offer plenty of protection. I know that Skip and others have gotten good service from their gasoline models and they are great--and maybe would do OK if you do not have many hills-- but having owned both if you are going to trade I would definitely go diesel unless you really need the clutch enclosure. It is much more powerful than the diesel in my older HPX. It also sounds as though you are considering this option more-strongly anyway.

John M

 

[Skipholiday]

D-

--and maybe would do OK if you do not have many hills-- but having owned both if you are going to trade I would definitely go diesel unless you really need the clutch enclosure. It is much more powerful than the diesel in my older HPX. It also sounds as though you are considering this option more-strongly anyway.

John M

John: As you know I have the gas model xuv. My brother has the diesel. We live in the mountains and all we have to ride on is hills.
My 620i goes as well in the mountains as my brothers 850d.
You should watch some of my videos and see the 620i climbing hills that 4 wheel drive trucks couldn't climb.

The 620i does as good if not better on hills than my 660 rhino.
My brother is going to trade his 850 for the 620 if next years diesel doesn't have the enclosure.
Next time he is over I will take some videos of them running together.
We ride almost daily and have not ever had a problem with any hills..

If I remember correctly your 620 was altered before you ever brought it home.
Maybe they hurt your low end to help you have more top end?

The diesel is no doubt more powerful and I would love to have one.
Lack of a clutch enclosure is a big problem if you ride in any water at all.
Once the belt gets wet you are stuck until it dries out. I've been there done that with my old hpx.
Also the belt will wear out faster and they are not cheap.
If you ride much offroad with an open enclosure, look inside it. It fills up with debri. Not good...

 

[jcmseven]

Skip,

You are right about the gasoline XUV I had. We did alter it some, but not really enough to hurt the lower end power. I think a lot is based on two things: first I am running aftermarket wheels which are taller and more aggressive than stock. This probably makes the difference in power more noticeable. The diesel engined XUV does not have as difficult a time turning them over as did the gasoline one. The second is how I use my machine. I mainly use my XUV for work. I do not trail run much with it. I can see that unloaded and going up short steep hills there might not be much difference. This is why, for me at least, the clutch enclosure is not as important as for one who trail run's more than I. I concur that the diesel is missing an important component here. I suppose we both must consider that we are not sure how D. is going to use his machine. If he is mainly running unloaded and his terrain has rolling hills, it might not be worth the additional money to go with the diesel. I can say though without question that pulling heavy loads on my 6x12 trailer up and down our mountain from 2500' to 6000' feet the diesel XUV hands down is the better machine--by a lot. But, again I am speaking of long pulls of sometimes greater than 25% that are fairly smooth--where absolute power is in evidence. If D. does not have that type situation he likely would do well considering gas. I must say that although the gas XUV I had struggled when pulling heavy loads up and down our mountain, it never stalled out and ultimately made it intact. In my personal use the diesel seems to get about five hours per tank more usage, regardless of loading, than did my XUV 620i. As I have noted in previous postings, I think the diesel seems a bit more quiet when running, where the gas engine is more quiet at idle. You may have also noted this about your friend's diesel machine v. the gasoline one. Not trying to understate an expensive decision, but I think the should D. get the gas or diesel depends mainly on two things: how much does he need the clutch enclosure and how much is he going to be pulling/hauling? Skip, I do not wish you to think that I am against the gasoline XUV. I am planning to get my dad one for Christmas and I am sure he will love it. I think for his usage, which is very different from mine, the gasoline option would be the better one. My perception of D. though, perhaps incorrect, is that he has a lot of property and like me will be using his XUV mainly for work purposes--and he has diesel tractors and an on-site diesel tank. I perceive that he likely will be doing some really heavy hauling and pulling at times and these tasks seem to favor the diesel to me (not that the gasoline one can't do them). I think, judging from my perception of his situation--which again might be wrong--that he would be happier with the diesel. It is though an expensive option, one without a clutch enclosure, so much thought must be considered first.

John M

John M