Utility Vehicle

yooperdave · Sep 29, 2002

My Uncle is selling his Honda Goldwing, and wants to buy a gator style utility vehicle.

Can anyone recommend a sit down seat style utility vehicle?

Is the John Deere Gator better than a similar Polaris or Mule?

I am looking for a heavy duty, larger size frame, and lots of traction and power with room for 2 people.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

cowboydoc · Sep 29, 2002

I don't think you can go wrong with either one. We have a Gator and love it. They all have their advantages. The Gator is the best for not rolling over and for the least amount of damage to the area it's being run on, the polaris is going to have the most hp and the most speed, the mule is just a good all-around tool. Really though go look, drive them, and pick which one you like the best. All three are winners.

rmorgan · Sep 30, 2002

Richard, how come you think the Gator is best for not rolling over? I've always figured that with 6x6 and ATV heritage, the Ranger would win that one. With our hills, that's a key consideration, so I'm intrigued by your opinion. Thanks!

cowboydoc · Sep 30, 2002

That's not my opinion that's the facts from many independent reviews. Deere states it as well. They wouldn't say it if it wasn't true or they would get sued. The deere has the lowest center of gravity. The gator gets knocked because it doesn't have an independent rear suspension. The reason that deere doesn't have the ind. suspension in the back is because they wanted the gator to be as low impact to the surface it rode on as possible. If you look at most places where ground impaction is a factor you see a gator. btw deere also has a 6x6.

beenthere · Sep 30, 2002

A neighbor had a utility vehicle with the independent rear suspension. He had a medium sized load and was on a slight side hill. The center of the load was then on one side, the suspension gave, and he rolled it over - it went smooth and easy, something like when leaning too far in a canoe. The gator won't do that.

I have the 4x4 and am absolutely amazed at what it will do and where it will go in the woods, and up and around steep hills. I like it for the comfort in the seats, and the fact that one sits low in the seats.

But to each their own.

rmorgan · Sep 30, 2002

Thanks, Richard. I'm going to look into the Gator a little closer!

justractors · Sep 30, 2002

If you get the chance check out the Toro Workman 2100 utility vehicle.
It is only rear wheel drive but it has a "swivel joint" in the middle that keeps all four wheels on the ground. Solid rear axle and independent front suspension and the front suspension has adjustable ride hieght.
Maximum speed is listed at 16 mph but when ours were delivered all three ran about 21 mph. First thing I did was slow them down to about 12 mph until the "children" got used to them and then put them back up to 16.
It is powered by a 16 hp Briggs and Stratton twin cylinder and has a forward-neutral-reverse transmission.
Nice seats, headlights, and optional electric dump box. Body and box are all plastic. We have had them for about two months and have about 60 hours on each of them.
Cost was about $6400 with the electric dump.
It might not be your cup of tea but the price difference makes it worth a look. Try http://www.toro.com under utility vehicles to see the specs.

BTW Dave if you are going to be down around Roscommon email me and you can take a test drive. Might be you would rather have the bigger Workman 4230 at around $18K, you can test drive that here too.

fishman · Sep 30, 2002

Maybe that's why Mule's come standard with a ROPS and the Gator's don't? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

I find that a very interesting difference between the two that is not emphasized in the promo material I have read.

cowboydoc · Sep 30, 2002

In the Gator literature, at least the new brochures, they do emphasize the stability and the fact that the gator has 7.1 lbs./sq. inch of impaction and the avg. for others is 20-22 psi.

yooperdave · Oct 1, 2002

My parents bought a gator when they first came out many years ago. It has 5 wheels and was recalled due to stability problems. It has been a work horse but has required lots of time and money to keep it going. I am hoping that the new 6 wheel gators are vastly improved.

Thanks to everybody for all the input.

Yooper Dave

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.