Utility vehicle questions

[sunnyside360]

Did they change something, mine has 3way switch on dash, 1wheel, 2wheel, & 4wheel drive?

---->Paul

I have a 2011 Ranger 800 XP with EPS (electronic power steering) and it has the 3 way dash switch to select either 1 wheel (turf mode), 2 wheel, and 4 wheel drive. I know the 2012 models also have this capability. I use the Ranger almost every day for property maintenance, checking game plots and trail cams, and recreation on the trails (over 300 acres). It's a great machine for my use. I test drove most of the others and felt the Ranger 800 XP was best suited for me but the Gator XUV 825i came in close second place. Best advice I can give is go look at and test drive the machines of interest.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have twin 7 year old and a 6 month old Grands, and a Neice (14)and Nephew (11) that are like Grands plus my wife and a dog. I mainly bought the 4 wheeler to spend time with the Grands/kids because they grow up so fast and in a few years won't have much time for Papaw. I also wanted one that will do some work but mostly for the Kids aspect. That brought me to the door, again of Barlows Kubota Dealer in Somerset, Ky. My 13th buying visit and left with a signed contract for delivery of a Kubota RTV1140 because of the Kubota dependability and two row seating. Also the no money down and 0% interest for 48 months.
Bought it last year which was our most snowy winter in years here. Used the RTV1140 several times to go get the Grands at the bottom of the hill (school cancelled and parents had to go to work) since no vehicles could make it up the hill. LOVED IT and the GRANDS did to. I have a transmission tower behind my house and a bit higher to the top of the mountain (hill) and then I circle around the mountain on an old logging path for a great ride which the Grands and all love.
If your going to take more than two, which happens alot with Kids having friends and maybe a wife or even son or daughter, consider the RTV1140 which will also work hard if needed.

 

[Swiftriver]

We looked at and tried them all ,Yamaha, Polaris, Deere, Arctic Cat & Kubota. The Gator 620i XUV was the one that seemed to have what we were looking for. Comfortable, adjustable seats (the wife is short,the Ranger was instantly out), higher bed capacity (both size and weight), a little faster than the Kubota which is nice when we go on the occasional trail ride, and dependibility( friends own(ed) the Arctic Cat and they are tinker toys). As far as the belt drive, we have over 200 hours on ours and have not had a problem. I round the bed with wet maple firewood from our woodlot all the time and heve not changed it yet. We throw bean bag chairs in the back for the hitch hikers and it is a sweet ride. Not dissing the other machines, other than the Arctic Cat, they all have there sweet spot, but for us the Gator was the one. You need to try them all and go with your gut feeling. They are way more useful and fun than a 4-wheeler.
Just My Opinion

 

[Martian]

Country boy,

Everyone has given great suggestions, but what are some of your main uses? If you plan on dragging timber around all day, the RTV may be a better idea, if your going to be using more general uses and some more trail riding the XUV would be a better idea. All of these UTV's have their sweet spots, some do some things better than others. There's really no clear winner for everyone. If you told some more of uses for the UTV, we would be able to give you a better idea on where to go. For now, though, you should go around to your dealers and sit on the tractors. Feel what one is the best for you. I don't think you can go wrong with any suggested as long as your getting what fits your purposes.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Country boy,

Everyone has given great suggestions, but what are some of your main uses? If you plan on dragging timber around all day, the RTV may be a better idea, if your going to be using more general uses and some more trail riding the XUV would be a better idea. All of these UTV's have their sweet spots, some do some things better than others. There's really no clear winner for everyone. If you told some more of uses for the UTV, we would be able to give you a better idea on where to go. For now, though, you should go around to your dealers and sit on the tractors. Feel what one is the best for you. I don't think you can go wrong with any suggested as long as your getting what fits your purposes.

I agree.

 

[ForPetesSakeFarm]

I second the above as well. When I got my Kawasaki mule 610 4x4 I needed a smaller machine for doing landscaping in smaller areas. I have a 66 inch plow and it has tons of torque to work in wet heavy mid Atlantic snows. Down fall to torque is that it has a max speed of about 25 like the 1st gen gators. I have modified it with a 2 inch lift and bigger tires for better Clearance in the snow and on the trail (lift was 100 on eBay). Now on the farm I use it as my spray rig (35 gal tank with pump and booms) and to pull wagons with produce from the field to the truck. Works great for me. I would reccomend to make a list of what you want to do with it and then pick the machine that best suits your needs. Good luck!

 

[crazyal]

I've got the Honda Big Red. I've had snow machines with belts and didn't really want to deal with a belt. The Honda is not the best machine at anything,IMO, but is a pretty good compromise and Honda is the largest mfg of engines in the world I felt like it would last for years.

I use it for towing a small trailer loaded with fire wood and for the occasional joy ride. Like I said, I'm sure others would handle more firewood and would give me a nicer ride but I'm not sure if I could find one machine that would do it. So far it has done everything I've needed and more.

 

[countryboy8]

Thanks again and my needs for the utility vehicle are property maintenance , fire wood , large scale gardening water and fertilizer etc , family rides, off road hunting and some not two rough trail ridding and perhaps minimal snow plowing i'm a little north east of thunder bay Ontario Canada so I would use the utv from about April 15th to November 1st or so. cold starting is a must

 

[countryboy8]

I'm leaning towards gas engines and shaft driven utvs

 

[Martian]

Thanks again and my needs for the utility vehicle are property maintenance , fire wood , large scale gardening water and fertilizer etc , family rides, off road hunting and some not two rough trail ridding and perhaps minimal snow plowing i'm a little north east of thunder bay Ontario Canada so I would use the utv from about April 15th to November 1st or so. cold starting is a must

I'm leaning towards gas engines and shaft driven utvs

That pretty well leaves you with the Ranger XP/HD 800. Built for work and play. Gas engines and shaft tranny's. I still think you should be open to both diesel and the belt tranny though, opens up a lot of options. Best way to tell is to drive them.