Side by Side or 4x4

[Deanes]

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.

Also you can get a weather proof cover with zipper doors cheap for all winter use. Add a sprayer and you have a real farm workhorse with not much investment.

 

[Flogger]

#1 for me is accessibility. Getting in and out of my side by sides is a winning feature. The other is visibility and the ability to get into so many places a pickup will not go. I put front hitches on all of them and I can place trailers into tight areas that would not be possible with a pickup. The real question with me is what would go first, my utility tractor or the side by side??

 

[LouNY]

There is absolutely no way a two wheel drive golf cart would go in many of the places that my SxS does.
Also there is no way you will get a pickup or jeep in many places it goes. And you can't go as fast in a rough pasture with that truck and control it.
As far as the mini truck it can't go were the SxS does and it will not fit a large framed man in a mini truck.
So I'll keep my SxS and my truck and my tractors they all have their places and uses.

 

[domains]

700 Grizzly 4x4 has full lock , Any stronger and you will blow the 200$ belt, My brother bought the 660 model(700 is just a bigbore), Auto atvs when the one way bearing lets go behind the clutch it's kinda pricey, plus check oil often because the base does not hold much oil

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

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.

Have you ever drove a side by side?
You never have to put it in neutral to start it, I just leave it in high gear, just press the brake and turn the key. And where I live I can drive the side by side 5 miles into town if I want to.

 

[ArlyA]

Well, you know I was thinking, maybe we should save use some $$ and get us electric golf cart. Why not?

 

[Fastowl]

Well we are on a good sized ranch in the west edge of the Texas Hill country. Over the years we have added a number of vehicles for various 'jobs' on the ranch. First, even though we may be traveling miles on the ranch it is not necessary, IMO, to be able to be able to have a vehicle to drive at 50-60 mph. The ranch roads won't allow it (too rough). We started out years ago with a couple of used ATV's and a 1991 Jeep. Also a new Bobcat s650. Since then we've replaced one of the old Polaris ATV's with a couple of newer ones in 2014 and 2017. We added a Kubota RTX 1140 in 2018 in diesel (top speed 25 mph). And over the years a couple of John Deere tractors.

What gets used the most? It depends on the season in some cases. But the Kubota tends to be the go to in lots of cases. Its smooth ride and ease of getting in and out makes it a pleasure. The ATV's are used for things like spraying cactus or mesquite. The Bobcat is used for moving hap bales; clearing brush (large tree shear and a grapple). The bigger John Deere used for moving dirt, blading roads, etc.; the older 1980 JD is something that I need to sell as it doesn't see much use these days. The jeep is a backup now when we have large groups out here. The jeep is pretty bullet proof but the harshness of the ride swings the vote by friends and family to use the Kubota more often. The Kubota is also useful to carry out tools to work on fencing, deer blinds, windmills, troughs, etc. The fact that it is diesel means we can fuel it from our farm tanks of diesel we keep for the Bobcat and tractors as well.

So if it were me and I just was going to get a vehicle for our situation I would stick with a Kubota or Mule side by side. And if you have another need for diesel I would look to have common fuel if possible. But as has been said prices of all of these things have gone nuts. We paid $13,500 in 2018 for a new RTX 1140, I would hate to think what that would go for today. Finally a beater pickup could be an answer for some since you could use it to run to town, etc. But the ride is so much harder on roads out here it would not be near as comfortable as the SxS or ATV's. And there are plenty of places we go into the brush that a pickup could not make it. The bottom line is that the choice will be what your terrain is; the type of weather you normally see and what you intend to use it for. Good luck.

 

[deserteagle71]

The jeep is pretty bullet proof but the harshness of the ride swings the vote by friends and family to use the Kubota more often.

^This.

Been a Jeep owner for many, many years. Still have a 2006 Wrangler. Don't use it that much any more. If I put 100 miles on the Jeep on rough trails I feel like I've been beat with a stick. Those same 100 miles in my Can-am Defender are a piece of cake, it rides so much better.

 

[Goose1776]

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.

Tried the golf cart route
Twice actually
If I could find one in 4x4 for a decent price that’s what I would have again
But even with knobby tires, it can’t make it through our property most of the year.
They get stuck way too easy

 

[Torvy]

I like butter. I also like peanut butter. I also like bacon.

In some recipes, I can use butter or bacon fat. In others, I can use butter or peanut butter. In some cases, only one of these options is acceptable.

My point here is that it is just silly to expect one vehicle to do everything better (and/or at a better price point) than all other options. We all have to use what we can afford and that works best on our properties.

I guess I don't understand why some jeep owners insist on jumping into every question about a UTV and tell the OP that a jeep is better. Maybe we focus on the actual question and start (or add to) other threads about the usefulness of jeeps on rural properties.

 

[tradosaurus]

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.

Yes, because getting my SxS started and put into drive take me an entire 10 sec.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Yes, because getting my SxS started and put into drive take me an entire 10 sec.

Or like I said, in a previous post, you can leave them in gear and just press the brake pedal to start it let go the brake pedal and drive away

 

[plastikosmd]

“I guess I don't understand why some jeep owners insist on jumping into every question about a UTV and tell the OP that a jeep is better. Maybe we focus on the actual question and start (or add to) other threads about the usefulness of jeeps on rural properties.”

Probably because the title is the OP thread was sxs vs 4x4?

4x4 is a pretty broad category(and even what some consider a utv or sxs!)

 

[Omega Woods]

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 bought a Kubota RTV-1100 in 2018. Every day, I wish that I had bought a small, used (or even new) truck. I don't hate my RTV (unless I'm going up a hill) but it is one of the dumbest purchases I have ever made when I consider what I could have gotten for the same (or a lot less) $$$.

 

[Goose1776]

I bought a Kubota RTV-1100 in 2018. Every day, I wish that I had bought a small, used (or even new) truck. I don't hate my RTV (unless I'm going up a hill) but it is one of the dumbest purchases I have ever made when I consider what I could have gotten for the same (or a lot less) $$$.

They are currently selling for a premium, if you want to sell it

 

[goeduck]

I bought a Kubota RTV-1100 in 2018. Every day, I wish that I had bought a small, used (or even new) truck. I don't hate my RTV (unless I'm going up a hill) but it is one of the dumbest purchases I have ever made when I consider what I could have gotten for the same (or a lot less) $$$.

Sure wish I could take it off your hands and reduce your headaches for you.

 

[tradosaurus]

I bought a Kubota RTV-1100 in 2018. Every day, I wish that I had bought a small, used (or even new) truck. I don't hate my RTV (unless I'm going up a hill) but it is one of the dumbest purchases I have ever made when I consider what I could have gotten for the same (or a lot less) $$$.

You probably aren't using the RTV for what it is intended. Nothing wrong with that.
As others have stated, sell it now and find a truck you like.

 

[Deanes]

Have you ever drove a side by side?
You never have to put it in neutral to start it, I just leave it in high gear, just press the brake and turn the key. And where I live I can drive the side by side 5 miles into town if I want to.

Yes I have driven SxS's. I thought some do require neutral, but your point is well-taken. For that 5 mile trip into town, that truck I suggested would be the better, more efficient and faster option to go to town and spend that extra $5000 or so I still have in my pocket. I wish we were neighbors, it would be fun to try a 100 yard race from engine off. Loser has to grill the burgers. (<:

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Yes I have driven SxS's. I thought some do require neutral, but your point is well-taken. For that 5 mile trip into town, that truck I suggested would be the better, more efficient and faster option to go to town and spend that extra $5000 or so I still have in my pocket. I wish we were neighbors, it would be fun to try a 100 yard race from engine off. Loser has to grill the burgers. (<:

Many times when I go to town I’m not in a hurry. It’s just the wife and I taking the Side By Side to take our time drive on a couple different dirt roads to look at a couple farms and drive on a minimum maintenance road around the lake that we live close to, sometimes life is about not being cheap and just having fun.

I didn’t spend $31,000 on a side-by-side to be more efficient or faster. Like I’ve said before we have a side-by-side because we like the trail ride also, we also have a jeep because we like going off-road in to each his own. I guess some people you just can’t be convinced to have some fun, but they spend their money on what they want and I spend my money on what I want.

 

[Omega Woods]

You probably aren't using the RTV for what it is intended. Nothing wrong with that.
As others have stated, sell it now and find a truck you like.

And what is it intended? I use it for lots of hauling and dumping. I recognize that it'll go places I couldn't get a truck and I take it into the woods sometimes. Maybe I should have bought a different one. It's handy and, as I said, I don't hate it but I feel it cost more than it's value to me.