Side by Side or 4x4

[finn1]

We bought some property in connecticut, about a mile from us. We bought a polaris ranger, used, for 7k. It will go places that no truck would be able to, especially crawling over rocks and roots. It also does better in the mud, and is far more nimble in the woods. Visibility is also much better. A truck might work for some, but our truck couldn't go all the places that the ranger will go with ease.

I can say that I have never been stuck off roading in my side by side.

Can’t say that about any of my Broncos or 4x4 pickup trucks.

Even if I did get the (1200 lb?) side by side stuck, it would be a lot easier to get out and back running than my old 4000 lb Bronco or a 5000 lb + pickup.

 

[wolc123]

I’ve never got stuck with my 4wd field vehicles (Chevy tracker, 3/4 ton regular cab Chevy pickup, or Dodge Durango. The main reason for that, is that I try to stay out of the mud with them. I did have a very close call with the Durango last fall, but putting the pedal to the metal powered me thru the unexpected mud when I hit it.

I’m not looking forward to repairing the ruts that I made, later this spring, when that turnip field finally dries out.

 

[plastikosmd]

Pulled the neighbor out many times before in his rtv. Just was asking too much. Quad was more appropriate for the mud holes here (or something with more clearance to avoid hanging up on the rock)

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Pulled the neighbor out many times before in his rtv. Just was asking too much. Quad was more appropriate for the mud holes here (or something with more clearance to avoid hanging up on the rock)

In the sleuthing business, my suggestion is to go around that mud hole. Perhaps the Jeep crowd looks at it and says to themselves, "Must. Go. Through. The. Giant. Stinky. Deep. Rutted. Mud. Hole."

Looks like a litmus test for who went to college.

 

[wolc123]

In the sleuthing business, my suggestion is to go around that mud hole. Perhaps the Jeep crowd looks at it and says to themselves, "Must. Go. Through. The. Giant. Stinky. Deep. Rutted. Mud. Hole."

Looks like a litmus test for who went to college.

If say more like “young and dumb”. The first thing I did, when I got out of college and got a good high-paying job, was went out and bought a fancy new 4x4 pickup truck. I had my old 2wd pickup off the road plenty of times before that and never got it stuck.

With the new 4x4, I just kept pushing the envelope until I really got it burried really bad one evening. The trouble is, when you do get a big 4x4 stuck, they are in deep and are not easy to get out. I learned my lesson and have not repeated that mistake.

 

[plastikosmd]

Well I guess he learned after I pulled him out 4+ times.
Got a quad and put the excess rtv cash away

As far as me “going around” it is easier to float the 15’ log I’m hauling for a project than winch/pinch it through the mile of woods. 10+ yrs here on the homestead, it isn’t all that big of a deal.

As far as college, I have no clue if the neighbor went? All the “elites” I know around here can’t drive stick

 

[tradosaurus]

Well I guess he learned after I pulled him out 4+ times.
Got a quad and put the excess rtv cash away

As far as me “going around” it is easier to float the 15’ log I’m hauling for a project than winch/pinch it through the mile of woods. 10+ yrs here on the homestead, it isn’t all that big of a deal.

As far as college, I have no clue if the neighbor went but all the “elites” I know can’t drive stick

Would a tractor do a better job?

 

[plastikosmd]

^
I have done w tractor/chain
Then tractor and stone sled
Tractor with logrite arch
Atv with arch
Then tractor with grapple as above


Now either jeep with grapple/3point or Quadractor (skidder).

Jeep is bit better for fetching if I only have 12” of end to grab. If I can straddle then Quadractor is good (I keep the chainsaw winch handy if needed on the Q to position)

About everything worked. Jeep is just easy as you don’t have to leave seat and probably safer

Backhoe or flail live on back of tractor now so this is easy. Tractor could absolutely “do it all” tho

(Sorry op for drift, personally everyone should have one of each imho!)

 

[Jdodson50]

I live in the mountains of Sw Va. I have a 2000 f250, 2001 ranger, 2 Kubota tractors, and a Kawasaki Mule. 300 acres of mountain land. We heat and cook with wood. My mule can get back in the mountains and out while hauling an unbelievable amount of wood. I do not know how we live without it. It is an indispensable tool. Oh, and also a lot of fun.

 

[JONNY BOYYY]

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?

never never buy a side by side that isn't a 4x4...it costs a little more but it keeps its value for years..a 2 wheel drive doesn't

 

[JONNY BOYYY]

never never buy a side by side that isn't a 4x4...it costs a little more but it keeps its value for years..a 2 wheel drive doesn't--------------

 

[JONNY BOYYY]

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?

never never buy a side by side that isn't a 4x4...it costs a little more but it keeps its value for years..a 2 wheel drive doesn't....

 

[ArlyA]

We occasionally use our 6x6 to move cut wood. But more often its used to haul tools around.

 

[inchman]

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?

Wow, I guess I am in the minority opinion here, but side by sides (or UTVs) are NOT really farm equipment. This is MY opinion and here are my reasons. They are toys. They are SUPER high priced (as you are finding out) and the parts availability is almost non-existent after about 10 years.
As you see, you can get a fully street legal truck for less. This is a truck with heat, enclosed cab, radio, wipers, maybe A/C, and a ton of other features. If you get a 'beater' it will go most places the UTV can go. I have a beater Jeep TJ and that will go any place a UTV can go. But I can also drive that down the shore, I can take it in deep snow, it can haul a lot more than most UTVs. I can also put 4 people in it!
A UTV is a 'fun' vehicle, but limited to off road use. They are not really as durable and repairable as a small 4X4. I'm not saying UTVs are worthless, but I when you think of them more as a toy than a tool, you can better compare them to a 4X4. If you are mostly using it for work, and live in places that get cold, snow, rain, etc, a 4X4 is the way to go. If you are only looking to ride around a larger property, and don't need to use it for real work in all conditions, a UTV is fine.

 

[ArlyA]

Wow, I guess I am in the minority opinion here, but side by sides (or UTVs) are NOT really farm equipment. This is MY opinion and here are my reasons. They are toys. They are SUPER high priced (as you are finding out) and the parts availability is almost non-existent after about 10 years.
As you see, you can get a fully street legal truck for less. This is a truck with heat, enclosed cab, radio, wipers, maybe A/C, and a ton of other features. If you get a 'beater' it will go most places the UTV can go. I have a beater Jeep TJ and that will go any place a UTV can go. But I can also drive that down the shore, I can take it in deep snow, it can haul a lot more than most UTVs. I can also put 4 people in it!
A UTV is a 'fun' vehicle, but limited to off road use. They are not really as durable and repairable as a small 4X4. I'm not saying UTVs are worthless, but I when you think of them more as a toy than a tool, you can better compare them to a 4X4. If you are mostly using it for work, and live in places that get cold, snow, rain, etc, a 4X4 is the way to go. If you are only looking to ride around a larger property, and don't need to use it for real work in all conditions, a UTV is fine.

I might be best if you stay in the truck or SUV ownership business.... We use our atv off-road for work, need low psi and a narrow machine.

 

[NYlumberman]

Form follows function, it seems to me the use would define the vehicle. My side by side lets me access narrow (sometimes too narrow) paths through the woods and it doesn’t rut up the ground when it’s a little soft, which is most of the year anymore.

 

[Doz]

So I my farm I have a couple tractors a 4x4 pickup truck and a gator with hyd.dump box for 90% of the jobs I grab the gator easy to get in and out doesn’t tear up things and leave a bunch of ruts gets into tight spots and is fun to drive

 

[lhfarm]

I am late to this party. My son and I have run www.farmjeep.com for 20 years. I take my 1949 CJ3a with the hydraulic 3-point shows across the midwest. People have no idea that the Jeep was used as a tractor. I tell them, in terms they can understand, that the Farm Jeep was a cross between a SXS and a CUT. For the price of a SXS you can find a beautifully restored early CJ (any model from 1946 to 1970) and equip it with a lift and PTO. And it is street legal. You can work it and take it to shows. You can off-road and drive it to church on Sunday. It is just plan fun too.

Barry

 

[Merck]

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?

 

[Ewcmr2]

I thought about a cheaper Jeep/truck but a so happy I went UTV. Convenience and capability make the case for UTV.
A rolled over UTV is easy to flip upright, Jeep/truck/tractor means walking back to equipment shed to get recovery tool and another tractor.
My UTV has 1500lb cargo capacity, more than a CUT bucket, and much faster. Sheets of plywood don’t fit in Jeep, truck sucks in woods.
I don’t spend time in UTV so heat/air aren’t a big concern.