Utility Vehicle

cowboydoc · Oct 1, 2002

The tricycle wheel gators were a death trap. They haven't made those for 20 years now. I totally agree with you to stay away from them or any other one. I see Polaris came out with one like that. I can't believe they did that. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt on one if it hasn't happened already.

rocky2 · Oct 1, 2002

Some interesting points. The Gators suspension vrs the MULEs independant makes some sense. I'm not sure of the one for one specs, but is the Gators ground clearance/over all profile lower, or does it just look to be, and that's the stability difference? The older CJ and YJ JEEPS with solid axle suspensions were more prone to flopping over (both on and off road) than the newer TJ's with IS.
Now I've really overloaded our MULE and have been on some real off camber hills and it never got the least bit squirrelly. And when it's been loaded and going over some seriously uneven ground the IS does allow for longer wheel travel keeping the wheels in contact with the surface with less body lean and twist.

Egon · Oct 1, 2002

Cowboydoc

Those three wheelers are a real boon to cyclists on the back country trails. They leave a nice center lane to ride on where the four wheelers tracks are to close to the bush on the sides. Catches the bike handlebars.
Egon

ScottAR · Oct 5, 2002

The TJ uses a solid axle, same size as the older ones... Only difference is it uses coil/link suspension versus the leaf springs of the old ones.

TxBilly · Oct 7, 2002

You should also look at these at pugpower.com. I have the basic model and have had very good performance from it.

yooperdave · Oct 7, 2002

We have a Polaris dealer not too far away.

I really want to test drive a 6x6 ranger. The web site says this machine can go up to 40 mph. The old 5x4 gator we have could only achieve this by driving off a high cliff.

The ranger seems to have more of everything over the gator.

We will see how the test drive goes.

Yooper Dave

gerard · Oct 7, 2002

I saw the pugs at the Farm Days this summer in Seneca Falls and they looked pretty impressive. The top of the line one is articulated, fully enclosed with a huge dump bed. Salesman told me this was all they use at the grand canyon 'cause it's the only thing that will go up and down the trails. Course I think it was around $10K so it better be good!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

cowboydoc · Oct 7, 2002

There's no doubt the Ranger is a better machine. It's full six wheel drive, hi/low range, more hp, etc. But you are also looking at another $2500. It all depends on what you want to do with it.

fractal · Feb 21, 2003

You might check http://www.compactequip.com/features.php?Show=beatenpath

They all seem to be decent products with slightly different focus. Guess it depends on which product best meets your needs.