Truck tires on a UTV?

[Tennsawdust]

Which Defender do you have? I am considering a Can Am Defender and posted asking for reviews and got ZERO response. My others under consideration are a Kawasaki MULE Pros FX series, or the Bass Pro/Cabelas Tracker 800 (formerly Arctic Cat Prowler Pro/Textron Prowler Pro)

I have the Defender HD8 base model. So far I am very happy with it. It climbs hills well and in low range has good engine braking. Hauling rocks down from the top of the mountain was not a problem. It will comfortably cruise 45 mph on the blacktop and hit 55 mph if need be. Having the open area under the seats is nice. It shifts easy (some UTVs do not). I am assuming that if you are looking at the Mule Pro FX you would be looking at either a DPS or XT version of the Defender, both of which give you more goodies than the base model I have. From what I've seen of the Mule it looks like a good option. I looked at the Tracker as well. It didn't look to be as well put together as the Defender and I couldn't really find much owner feedback on it. In the end I beat the price quite a bit with the Defender (2019 MY closeout).

 

[Zebrafive]

I have the Defender HD8 base model. So far I am very happy with it. It climbs hills well and in low range has good engine braking. Hauling rocks down from the top of the mountain was not a problem. It will comfortably cruise 45 mph on the blacktop and hit 55 mph if need be. Having the open area under the seats is nice. It shifts easy (some UTVs do not). I am assuming that if you are looking at the Mule Pro FX you would be looking at either a DPS or XT version of the Defender, both of which give you more goodies than the base model I have. From what I've seen of the Mule it looks like a good option. I looked at the Tracker as well. It didn't look to be as well put together as the Defender and I couldn't really find much owner feedback on it. In the end I beat the price quite a bit with the Defender (2019 MY closeout).

Thank you! A base model would be fine (but I do like the upgrades on DPS & XT models) Did you get a rear axle locker with the base model? I was told it was an option in 2016MY, but don't know about other years. If so, there will be a switch on the dash. The only other real difference I see is 12" wheels on the base and 14" aluminum on the DPS & XT. I understand aftermarket PS can be added for $600


I currently have a 1996 Kawasaki Mule 2510 4x4. It has served me well. I am looking for more suspension travel, EFI (mine is hard to start in cold weather) I also need more leg/foot room. 6'2" size 13 boots. On my Mule the gas pedal is on the right side of the centerline of the Mule, I have to sit in the middle or at an angle. Very hard to drive with 3 on board.


The only thing I don't like about the new models is how high the box is, the price you pay for more suspension travel, but it looks like it would be hard to load a deer in the back (the Mule has hauled plenty)


Is your machine quiet? Speed is not high priority, I do not have a speedometer in the Mule, but doubt it can make 25mph. Plus in the farm 10mph is a rough enough ride (I think it has about 4" suspension travel)

 

[Tennsawdust]

I had the dealer include power steering, a top and windshield in the deal. Even with tax it still came in less than the DPS model. 2019 and up includes the rear locker on the base models. What it does not have are: power steering (easily added), the drive mode switch (the harness and programming are there you can buy the switch for about $30 and simply plug it in and go), the below dash storage bins and in dash storage box, the 14" aluminum wheels (it has 12" steel wheels, but does have 27" tires on the HD8), and some pigtails in the wiring harness for accessories (there is a bus bar under the dash that makes adding accessories easy, but a few of the leads that the DPS and up models have are not there). Mechanically you give up nothing with the base model. It is all "extras" that they leave off.

The Defender has one of the softer rides in the business. The base model wheels actually ride better because of the extra sidewall. I could really tell a difference when I put the 14" wheels with street tires on it. The bed is kind of high, but then it is kind of high on almost every side by side out there these days. One of the reasons that I bought the Defender is that I fit in it. I'm 6 foot even and a good bit more round than I should be. A lot of the side by sides felt really cramped to me. I fit best in the Viking, but there were several reasons it got eliminated early. A pretty good sized fellow could fit in the dDefender. I wear a 12 1/2 boot. You do have the wheel well intrusion, but having the area under seats open gives you a lot more room for your feet. That was one complaint I had about several of the SxS models I looked at - nowhere near enough foot room. 2 more inches in the floorboard would make all the difference in the world in some of these machines.

I would say it is among the quieter machines out there (outside of electrics none are very quiet, while some are really loud). Some machines have the engine right under the seat. Having it further back on the Can Am helps keep some of that noise away from you.

 

[Tennsawdust]

One more thing: The large Harbor Freight ammo box fits perfectly under the seat and still leaves you some extra foot room. Add a bungee cord and you have a great under seat tool box.

 

[LouNY]

Thank you! A base model would be fine (but I do like the upgrades on DPS & XT models) Did you get a rear axle locker with the base model? I was told it was an option in 2016MY, but don't know about other years. If so, there will be a switch on the dash. The only other real difference I see is 12" wheels on the base and 14" aluminum on the DPS & XT. I understand aftermarket PS can be added for $600


I currently have a 1996 Kawasaki Mule 2510 4x4. It has served me well. I am looking for more suspension travel, EFI (mine is hard to start in cold weather) I also need more leg/foot room. 6'2" size 13 boots. On my Mule the gas pedal is on the right side of the centerline of the Mule, I have to sit in the middle or at an angle. Very hard to drive with 3 on board.


The only thing I don't like about the new models is how high the box is, the price you pay for more suspension travel, but it looks like it would be hard to load a deer in the back (the Mule has hauled plenty)


Is your machine quiet? Speed is not high priority, I do not have a speedometer in the Mule, but doubt it can make 25mph. Plus in the farm 10mph is a rough enough ride (I think it has about 4" suspension travel)

I think that you will/would be amazed at the difference in ride quality from most of the new ones compared to your mule.
We have 2 of the older mules on the farm, fantastic utility vehicle they will travel all but the roughest fields with easy abit quite bumpy at times,
they will haul and tow quite well for the size and are good vehicles.
They are slow trying to get from one farm to the other, sometimes hard to start and quite a pain when you do have to work on them.
Changing a starter was a frustrating experience.
When I decided to get a side by side for me I was looking at all the ones I could find in my area.
I had a couple of specs in mind I wanted easy to get in and out of, I'm older, stiffer, size 15 workboots, and am large overall, I also wanted room for 3 because we end up with 3 or more in the mules frequently for work or pleasure.
After looking at so many that the specs were becoming confusing and hard to keep straight, had to keep going back to the brochures and make notes I had narrowed it down to the Kawasaki Pro FX and one other that I had not physically seen but was intriguing to me a Bennchee Warrior 800.
I ended up with the Warrior 800, the drive train is completely controlled with a 2wd or 4 wd switch, then a rear diff lock switch and a front diff lock switch.
It has all the lighting needed to be DOT legal headlights with high/low beam, directionals, brake lights, tail lights, hazard flashers, a horn, 27 inch tall DOT approved 6 ply radial tires as well as several other pieces of equipment that have been handy, winch, power dump on the box, windshield, roof, trailer hitch receiver.
It's an all steel body and does have some noise and rattling when going down the road (it has more in it but I run 40-45 on the paved roads).
It goes great in the fields, pastures and farm roadways, fair in the woods as it is 70 inches wide, but has 3 bucket seats to easily seat 3 we have had more in when giving kids or other people a ride.
So far we have been pleased with it over all, longevity is the main question now.

The dealer I got mine from had been using it as a demonstrator and it had several nicks and scratches in the paint, but I ended up over $3000 under the best price I could get on the Mule Pro ex.

To reply to the title of this tread I would not put truck or car tires on a utility vehicle, for my uses I believe the ride and traction would be severely compromised.

 

[Zebrafive]

I had the dealer include power steering, a top and windshield in the deal. Even with tax it still came in less than the DPS model. 2019 and up includes the rear locker on the base models. What it does not have are: power steering (easily added), the drive mode switch (the harness and programming are there you can buy the switch for about $30 and simply plug it in and go), the below dash storage bins and in dash storage box, the 14" aluminum wheels (it has 12" steel wheels, but does have 27" tires on the HD8), and some pigtails in the wiring harness for accessories (there is a bus bar under the dash that makes adding accessories easy, but a few of the leads that the DPS and up models have are not there). Mechanically you give up nothing with the base model. It is all "extras" that they leave off.

The Defender has one of the softer rides in the business. The base model wheels actually ride better because of the extra sidewall. I could really tell a difference when I put the 14" wheels with street tires on it. The bed is kind of high, but then it is kind of high on almost every side by side out there these days. One of the reasons that I bought the Defender is that I fit in it. I'm 6 foot even and a good bit more round than I should be. A lot of the side by sides felt really cramped to me. I fit best in the Viking, but there were several reasons it got eliminated early. A pretty good sized fellow could fit in the dDefender. I wear a 12 1/2 boot. You do have the wheel well intrusion, but having the area under seats open gives you a lot more room for your feet. That was one complaint I had about several of the SxS models I looked at - nowhere near enough foot room. 2 more inches in the floorboard would make all the difference in the world in some of these machines.

I would say it is among the quieter machines out there (outside of electrics none are very quiet, while some are really loud). Some machines have the engine right under the seat. Having it further back on the Can Am helps keep some of that noise away from you.

Thanks for the added info. I had the same idea about the base, add PS and roof. I priced a left over 2019 Can Am base HD8, no add ons, $10500 OTD, includes sales tax, I am not exempt. I have not priced Mules, I am thinking the FX, or FXR.


I am really hoping to find a low hour used machine. :drink:

Our County made it legal to take ATV & UTVs on the road. A lot of the "sporty" ones drive by now, some are real loud, some are "whiney" sounding. I want reasonably quiet, able to talk to passengers at low speeds on the farm trails.

I think that you will/would be amazed at the difference in ride quality from most of the new ones compared to your mule.
We have 2 of the older mules on the farm, fantastic utility vehicle they will travel all but the roughest fields with easy abit quite bumpy at times,
they will haul and tow quite well for the size and are good vehicles.
They are slow trying to get from one farm to the other, sometimes hard to start and quite a pain when you do have to work on them.
Changing a starter was a frustrating experience.
When I decided to get a side by side for me I was looking at all the ones I could find in my area.
I had a couple of specs in mind I wanted easy to get in and out of, I'm older, stiffer, size 15 workboots, and am large overall, I also wanted room for 3 because we end up with 3 or more in the mules frequently for work or pleasure.
After looking at so many that the specs were becoming confusing and hard to keep straight, had to keep going back to the brochures and make notes I had narrowed it down to the Kawasaki Pro FX and one other that I had not physically seen but was intriguing to me a Bennchee Warrior 800.
I ended up with the Warrior 800, the drive train is completely controlled with a 2wd or 4 wd switch, then a rear diff lock switch and a front diff lock switch.
It has all the lighting needed to be DOT legal headlights with high/low beam, directionals, brake lights, tail lights, hazard flashers, a horn, 27 inch tall DOT approved 6 ply radial tires as well as several other pieces of equipment that have been handy, winch, power dump on the box, windshield, roof, trailer hitch receiver.
It's an all steel body and does have some noise and rattling when going down the road (it has more in it but I run 40-45 on the paved roads).
It goes great in the fields, pastures and farm roadways, fair in the woods as it is 70 inches wide, but has 3 bucket seats to easily seat 3 we have had more in when giving kids or other people a ride.
So far we have been pleased with it over all, longevity is the main question now.
View attachment 623229 View attachment 623230 View attachment 623231
The dealer I got mine from had been using it as a demonstrator and it had several nicks and scratches in the paint, but I ended up over $3000 under the best price I could get on the Mule Pro ex.

To reply to the title of this tread I would not put truck or car tires on a utility vehicle, for my uses I believe the ride and traction would be severely compromised.

That looks like a mini hummer! 70" is wider than I want to go. I am not sure there are any dealers near me?

 

[Tennsawdust]

I'm sure there are several Massimo dealers in Michigan, but I think you will also find that the price on the Chinese machines just isn't the buy it once was. There are a few of the Warriors on ATV trader for $15K and up.

You might run across a decent low hour machine. Some people buy them and don't end up using them that much. Others don't buy enough machine and trade up as soon as they can. The 570 Ranger shows up a lot around here. People buy them and find out they may have decent hp, but mountain climbing torque is in short supply.

If you decide to go new you may want to find a multi-brand dealer. You will find out very quickly what you do and don't like.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have certainly never seen those Warriors. Love the Utilitarian (Military) looks and lack of PLASTIC. The circus style wheels would have to go though. lol