Side by Side or 4x4

[deserteagle71]

I think jeeps (cj,yj&tj) fit that 60 inch requirement. Newer ones, not so much.

Overall width of my 2006 TJ is about 70".

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

You're in Minnesota? What area (wondering if we're neighbors)? I'm around the Paul Bunyan State Forest area.

East of Saint cloud, Minnesota

 

[bcp]

The last of the CJ Jeeps and every model since then use wider axles by about 6-8 or so inches and won't fit through 60 inch posts. Many older ones won't, either, since things like mirrors, handles, spare tire, etc. added to the body side make it over 60 inches wide.

Bruce

 

[Hughman]

Guess your right when you take mirrors and fender flares into account. I think it was my rear bumper that measured in at 60". Still, a lot of the new sxs aren't exactly tiny anymore.

 

[lhfarm]

Just to be clear, I was pushing the early CJ - 2a, 3a, 3b, and the early CJ5. Check out www.ewillys.com for a listing of Jeeps across the country. There are many restored Jeeps in the modern sxs price range. And just for fun, watch some of the old videos showing what these "Workhorses of the Farm" could - and can - do.

 

[Torvy]

Just to be clear, I was pushing the early CJ - 2a, 3a, 3b, and the early CJ5. Check out www.ewillys.com for a listing of Jeeps across the country. There are many restored Jeeps in the modern sxs price range. And just for fun, watch some of the old videos showing what these "Workhorses of the Farm" could - and can - do.

How many of those have dump beds?

 

[Stevehogan]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a side by side for running up and down the mountains in southeast KY. It seems the cheap ones start at about 8000 and they go up from there. The JD Gators can easily be 25000. Even used the resale seems fairly high for what it is.
My daughter was looking at a 2013 RAM 4x4 shortbed - 185000 miles. It was $6500. I took it for a test drive and it seemed fine - it needs a new heater core which I'm factoring in.

I can't really see why the side by sides are so high when a truck like this probably can about everything for just driving around the homestead - and maybe once in a while driving into town.

Why would someone get a gator/side by side if you can get a beater 4x4 truck for less money? What am I missing here?
What are you thoughts on this?

My son bought a can-am defender for his apiary and I started using it routinely on our 15 acres. Found it to be convenient for projects on the access road and field work instead of the pickup. Don’t worry about scratches / dents in my $50k truck.
So when he bought his homestead and I lost access to his side by side I started looking for one, and your right new or used they command a premium price. I dismissed new as to the price and looked to used. One of my prerequisites was heated cab as we live in northern NH and I would be using it year round. After searching for a couple of months we located one with cab and high miles (used in a well drilling business) no trail miles! As this unit was located in GA. I wanted dealer to send many pics & videos which he did. We came to an agreed price over the phone and three days later we loaded it onto the trailer.
Like any purchase with unknown maintenance history I proceeded to changed all fluids and filters per the owners manual. As I checked over the defender I found the previous owner had written down when oil/filter/belts had been changed by date & engine hours. Like any used machine we did come across a few discrepancies mostly Electrical in nature. Can-am’s a notorious for bad electrical switches (nothing a C note couldn’t cure)! Bad spark plug wires and boots an additional $144.00 runs smooth now and starts easily even when -20F.
So bottom line our 2019 Can-am 1000 defender with heated cab and all factory accessories with10,260 miles cost us $16,200.00
I hope this gives you an idea where the market is at. Good luck with your search.

Steve H.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

My son bought a can-am defender for his apiary and I started using it routinely on our 15 acres. Found it to be convenient for projects on the access road and field work instead of the pickup. Don’t worry about scratches / dents in my $50k truck.
So when he bought his homestead and I lost access to his side by side I started looking for one, and your right new or used they command a premium price. I dismissed new as to the price and looked to used. One of my prerequisites was heated cab as we live in northern NH and I would be using it year round. After searching for a couple of months we located one with cab and high miles (used in a well drilling business) no trail miles! As this unit was located in GA. I wanted dealer to send many pics & videos which he did. We came to an agreed price over the phone and three days later we loaded it onto the trailer.
Like any purchase with unknown maintenance history I proceeded to changed all fluids and filters per the owners manual. As I checked over the defender I found the previous owner had written down when oil/filter/belts had been changed by date & engine hours. Like any used machine we did come across a few discrepancies mostly Electrical in nature. Can-am’s a notorious for bad electrical switches (nothing a C note couldn’t cure)! Bad spark plug wires and boots an additional $144.00 runs smooth now and starts easily even when -20F.
So bottom line our 2019 Can-am 1000 defender with heated cab and all factory accessories with10,260 miles cost us $16,200.00
I hope this gives you an idea where the market is at. Good luck with your search.

Steve H.

Nice price.

We have 2022 Can Am Defender limited 4 four door with heat and a/c, we sold our 2019 Can Am Defender Cab with heat and 6500 miles last March for $23,000, a $1,000.00 more than we paid for it 3 years earlier.

 

[ArlyA]

How many of those have dump beds?

Its funny thought, we hardly ever used the dump feature. Just to clear debris out now and then.

 

[tipoblanco]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a side by side for running up and down the mountains in southeast KY. It seems the cheap ones start at about 8000 and they go up from there. The JD Gators can easily be 25000. Even used the resale seems fairly high for what it is.
My daughter was looking at a 2013 RAM 4x4 shortbed - 185000 miles. It was $6500. I took it for a test drive and it seemed fine - it needs a new heater core which I'm factoring in.

I can't really see why the side by sides are so high when a truck like this probably can about everything for just driving around the homestead - and maybe once in a while driving into town.

Why would someone get a gator/side by side if you can get a beater 4x4 truck for less money? What am I missing here?
What are you thoughts on this?

Agree,a truck is an all around better idea,towing,hauling,power and like you say,run to town,i would love to have a gator but just not affordable or practical,i bought a 90 jeep wrangler for $5k thats not alot bigger footprint than a sidexside but more useable and parts are cheaper and any labor i can do

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a thread of mostly pictures of atv and utv's at work.

 

[NewWisFarmer]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a side by side for running up and down the mountains in southeast KY. It seems the cheap ones start at about 8000 and they go up from there. The JD Gators can easily be 25000. Even used the resale seems fairly high for what it is.
My daughter was looking at a 2013 RAM 4x4 shortbed - 185000 miles. It was $6500. I took it for a test drive and it seemed fine - it needs a new heater core which I'm factoring in.

I can't really see why the side by sides are so high when a truck like this probably can about everything for just driving around the homestead - and maybe once in a while driving into town.

Why would someone get a gator/side by side if you can get a beater 4x4 truck for less money? What am I missing here?
What are you thoughts on this?

We’ve had a Kawasaki Mule and now a Gator. The Mule (older model) was jerky and hard on my back. I rode in a Gator with a friend across his very rough SE Colorado ranch. When I got home I ordered a Gator and I haven’t regretted it for a minute. it certainly has some quirks that I’m not fond of, but overall I love it. Much smoother ride, which is essential for my arthritic back.

also:
Side by sides are fun!
And like you said, resale prices on Gators seems to say they hold their value fairly well.
Good luck, your argument for an old beater is valid - just personal preference

 

[ArlyA]

Agree,a truck is an all around better idea,towing,hauling,power and like you say,run to town,i would love to have a gator but just not affordable or practical,i bought a 90 jeep wrangler for $5k thats not alot bigger footprint than a sidexside but more useable and parts are cheaper and any labor i can do

Here is where we use an atv at work... No truck or suv do this and its PSI is far, far lower.

 

[Dpgoat]

We have a 16 mule 610 and it is great and can be had cheaper then most others. I rely on it for firewood duty, it gets worked hard and put away wet. Load it up almost to the roof level with firewood then park in the garage. I pull wood from it for2-3 days then go out back and load it up again. 6 cord this year 7 last year. It’s a nice machine, simple design. Neighbors gator is a lot more machine, a lot more powerful $ a lot more $$$. in my case the mule was better suited for us.

 

[FERLING]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a side by side for running up and down the mountains in southeast KY. It seems the cheap ones start at about 8000 and they go up from there. The JD Gators can easily be 25000. Even used the resale seems fairly high for what it is.
My daughter was looking at a 2013 RAM 4x4 shortbed - 185000 miles. It was $6500. I took it for a test drive and it seemed fine - it needs a new heater core which I'm factoring in.

I can't really see why the side by sides are so high when a truck like this probably can about everything for just driving around the homestead - and maybe once in a while driving into town.

Why would someone get a gator/side by side if you can get a beater 4x4 truck for less money? What am I missing here?
What are you thoughts on this?

Because some people value material things more than money in the bank.
Lord, if I just had the money I spent on new cars between age 20 to 50 I could have retired 5 years earlier. Took me 30 years to realize vehicles take you to destinations and back home basically the same. Best money you ever spent on a vehicle is one that you completely wore out and isn't repairable.

 

[ArlyA]

Because some people value material things more than money in the bank.
Lord, if I just had the money I spent on new cars between age 20 to 50 I could have retired 5 years earlier. Took me 30 years to realize vehicles take you to destinations and back home basically the same. Best money you ever spent on a vehicle is one that you completely wore out and isn't repairable.

Every time we are out working on trails, I say "gee, if I a had more $$ in my pocket, we'd get waaaay more work done"

 

[ttener]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a side by side for running up and down the mountains in southeast KY. It seems the cheap ones start at about 8000 and they go up from there. The JD Gators can easily be 25000. Even used the resale seems fairly high for what it is.
My daughter was looking at a 2013 RAM 4x4 shortbed - 185000 miles. It was $6500. I took it for a test drive and it seemed fine - it needs a new heater core which I'm factoring in.

I can't really see why the side by sides are so high when a truck like this probably can about everything for just driving around the homestead - and maybe once in a while driving into town.

Why would someone get a gator/side by side if you can get a beater 4x4 truck for less money? What am I missing here?
What are you thoughts on this?

I agree with the mini truck option. Lots of states now allow them on roads with speed limits under 40mph. Try to find one with a dump bed, 4-wheel drive and a high and low gear. They usually go for around $6500.

My Yamaha side by side would tear the living crap outta my lawn when turning. The rear diff is always locked. Really does a number on the turf. I may be wrong, but I think the entire lineup is still like that.

Mini truck won’t do that and I think they are about the same weight. Only issues with the minis is they are metal. Rust can be an issue.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

I agree with the mini truck option. Lots of states now allow them on roads with speed limits under 40mph. Try to find one with a dump bed, 4-wheel drive and a high and low gear. They usually go for around $6500.

My Yamaha side by side would tear the living crap outta my lawn when turning. The rear diff is always locked. Really does a number on the turf. I may be wrong, but I think the entire lineup is still like that.

Mini truck won’t do that and I think they are about the same weight. Only issues with the minis is they are metal. Rust can be an issue.

Yamaha maybe that way, but I’m on my fourth Can-Am defender, and they all have a turf mode, I can make a tight U-turn, and not even make a mark on the grass

 

[Teachu2]

I agree with the mini truck option. Lots of states now allow them on roads with speed limits under 40mph. Try to find one with a dump bed, 4-wheel drive and a high and low gear. They usually go for around $6500.

My Yamaha side by side would tear the living crap outta my lawn when turning. The rear diff is always locked. Really does a number on the turf. I may be wrong, but I think the entire lineup is still like that.

Mini truck won’t do that and I think they are about the same weight. Only issues with the minis is they are metal. Rust can be an issue.

I have a 2006 Yamaha Rhino, and it has a lockable (and unlockable) rear diff, in addition to 4x4. Sure glad to have it this year, we're at 288% of normal rainfall so far.

 

[Deanes]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a side by side for running up and down the mountains in southeast KY. It seems the cheap ones start at about 8000 and they go up from there. The JD Gators can easily be 25000. Even used the resale seems fairly high for what it is.
My daughter was looking at a 2013 RAM 4x4 shortbed - 185000 miles. It was $6500. I took it for a test drive and it seemed fine - it needs a new heater core which I'm factoring in.

I can't really see why the side by sides are so high when a truck like this probably can about everything for just driving around the homestead - and maybe once in a while driving into town.

Why would someone get a gator/side by side if you can get a beater 4x4 truck for less money? What am I missing here?
What are you thoughts on this?

Get the truck and also a cheaper golf cart with a bed and knobby tires. A raised golf cart will go 90% of the places you want to go, is cheaper to maintain, and quicker. (not faster, but quicker. sit down and go, not sit down and find neutral, get it started, find forward then start to rev it up. Meanwhile the golf cart is 100 yards across the field). The truck and golf cart makes a lot more sense financially.