UTV at 8600 ft?

[Trails2004]

My Gator has been going strong plowing every Maine storm since 12' and it shows no signs of getting tired. I've had one mechanical break down when plowing, I was in reverse with the wheel cut trying to back out of a ditch I had plowed too far over...the cv axle broke that was in 13' I believe and no problems since. It was replaced the warranty even covered it. I have well over 250 hrs of plowing with this and still have yet to blow a belt or find a storm too large to plow including a multiple 20" plus snowstorms. The biggest limiting factor I have is that Boss doesn't make an even bigger V plow for UTVs I'd like something with a 36" high moldboard instead of 27" on some storms.:laughing:

Awesome!!

 

[FatTire]

Right now the only 3 with a factory cab I can find in this range are Polaris Ranger 1000 Northstar, Deere 835M, and Kubota X1100C (and diesel offers from Deere/Polaris which I wont entertain). I am leaning towards gas with EFI. Right now the Polaris Northstar is 80+ HP and the Deere is 54. That is a pretty huge difference. For plowing at altitude I might want all I can get.

I have a 12 year old Gator 620i, still on the original drive belt. For several years I did a lot plowing with a V-plow (electric over hydraulic lift, manual angle). This machine is only about 25 hp, so it is way under powered when travelling on a road, but in low range that doesn't make much difference when plowing. The biggest issue with the this machine is the lack of power steering. For plowing it is all about weight and traction. Chains (v-bar preferred) and several hundred pounds of ballast in the bed will make a big difference. So for plowing, I'm not seeing the need for the absolute highest horse power. Nothing wrong with Deere but my next UTV will probably be a Sidekick or a Ranger.

 

[ArlyA]

BRP builds the Defender with a cab.

Defender Side-by-Side 2 Models for Sale | Can-Am | Can-Am

 

[rmk700]

Have the Honda pioneer 1000. Has 5 speed with high low range for mountain terrain. Though if your going down a steep grade the engine/tranny braking is about 6mph without using brakes. I’d prefer about 3mph but I can live with it.

Got rid of my pioneer 700. Just has 3 gears and is terrible in steep mountains country even with its torque converter.

 

[ArlyA]

I have a 12 year old Gator 620i, still on the original drive belt. For several years I did a lot plowing with a V-plow (electric over hydraulic lift, manual angle). This machine is only about 25 hp, so it is way under powered when travelling on a road, but in low range that doesn't make much difference when plowing. The biggest issue with the this machine is the lack of power steering. For plowing it is all about weight and traction. Chains (v-bar preferred) and several hundred pounds of ballast in the bed will make a big difference. So for plowing, I'm not seeing the need for the absolute highest horse power. Nothing wrong with Deere but my next UTV will probably be a Sidekick or a Ranger.

Its always nice to have people with actual experience posting. I'll agree with FatT. If you are running rubber tires to push snow, all that extra HP will only be good for spinning the tires. We operate pods and in snow, which takes lots and lots and lots of HP to spin.

 

[ruffdog]

^^A good defroster and windshield wiper is important too^^

 

[Jchonline]

I am going with the Kubota X1100C. If worst comes to worst I will have the dealer add a turbocharger. They did it for a customer at 10000 ft. They dont think I will need it but we have the option. This machine will be used for 100% work. They have a hand throttle kit for it much like tractors where you can set the engine RPM manually. This will help a bunch. Also adding a winch, work lights, side mirrors from dealer. Getting a Boss V-XT 6'6" plow and some studded chains for the HD work tires. Thanks for all the input!

 

[ArlyA]

I am going with the Kubota X1100C. If worst comes to worst I will have the dealer add a turbocharger. They did it for a customer at 10000 ft. They dont think I will need it but we have the option. This machine will be used for 100% work. They have a hand throttle kit for it much like tractors where you can set the engine RPM manually. This will help a bunch. Also adding a winch, work lights, side mirrors from dealer. Getting a Boss V-XT 6'6" plow and some studded chains for the HD work tires. Thanks for all the input!

All the machines we've ever had are 100% work tools. The reason I didn't list Ku machines is if its hydrostatic, they lose an inordinate amount of HP to power that.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

SWAG Kubota RTV-X11 - RTV-X112 Gen3 Turbo Kit for 214-219 Kubota RTV X11 | On Sale: $2,495.

SWAG Kubota in Bayfield makes the turbo kits for the RTVs.

David

 

[Trails2004]

Please post photos when you can!

 

[Jchonline]

Will be delivered next week most likely. I got a Boss V plow but have to get another company to install before delivery. Kubota’s V plow was $3000 more expensive.....

 

[Jchonline]

SWAG Kubota RTV-X11 - RTV-X112 Gen3 Turbo Kit for 214-219 Kubota RTV X11 | On Sale: $2,495.

SWAG Kubota in Bayfield makes the turbo kits for the RTVs.

David

Thanks for the info David. I do know my dealer has installed turbos before on these units at 10000 ft, but hopefully at 8600 we will be ok. Time will tell! I did get the hand throttle kit...that should help.

 

[Jchonline]

Quick update: starting takes a bit...but after it gets running it is fine. I got the hand throttle kit and it helps. I can get up and down all of my roads (pretty hilly) in H gear. Just picked up studded chains to go along with the Boss V plow this winter. We will see how it pushes snow uphill. If it struggles I may still add turbo.

 

[5030]

Hi Everyone,
We are in the market for a UTV (2 seater not 4) for our mountain property. We have 47 forested/rocky acres with some hills and are at 8600 ft. At a minimum I want a cab and heater. We will be using it as a snow plowing machine in the winter for our 1/4 mile of disintegrated granite road (with some hills), moving wood/rocks, and helping get to more difficult places a truck cannot.

My first thought was a Kubota RTV 1100C, but I am concerned about a diesel with no turbo at our altitude. Previous experiments with non turbo Diesel engines on tractors didnt go so well. The Sidekick was my next option, but they dont have a good plow option (at least from Kubota). It is basically an ATV plow with mechanical angle.

This needs to be a UTV, no trucks or jeeps. They are too big to get places on our property. So what does everyone think?

I think they do actually. You need to ask your dealer. The Sidekick would be my choice because it's sequentially fuel injected so it's not impacted by altitude, the EFI compensates for it.

My wife just bought one and it's a hoot. In 2wd (front axle is limited slip in 4wd, you punch it from a start and you can feel the weight transfer and it flat gets up and goes. We looked at the diesel but it is too slow for crusing around the farm. She likes it, so do I. I need to build a cradle so I can mount my sprayer in the bed.

 

[Jchonline]

I looked closely at the Sidekick. It cost $2500 more with the doors, no hydraulic dump, no factor cab, no heater, no AC. I really needed the Cab, and it made no sense to get the Sidekick with a super crappy cab as a compromise. Even if I do add a turbo I will still end up at about the same price, but with AC, Heat, and a factor cab. This is a work machine so I wont need the extra speed. I sure do like the Sidekick! Once they get a factory cab with heat/ac I may need a second machine .

I had my dealer check on the plow options from Kubota again, and they dont offer a hydraulic option. It is only the ATV plow that is used with a winch. I am sure that will change soon enough once they get more accessories out.

 

[5030]

I looked closely at the Sidekick. It cost $2500 more with the doors, no hydraulic dump, no factor cab, no heater, no AC. I really needed the Cab, and it made no sense to get the Sidekick with a super crappy cab as a compromise. Even if I do add a turbo I will still end up at about the same price, but with AC, Heat, and a factor cab. This is a work machine so I wont need the extra speed. I sure do like the Sidekick! Once they get a factory cab with heat/ac I may need a second machine .

I had my dealer check on the plow options from Kubota again, and they dont offer a hydraulic option. It is only the ATV plow that is used with a winch. I am sure that will change soon enough once they get more accessories out.

I don't need a plow on it at all, have this...

and you are correct the door kit is absurdly expensive, didn't get that either. Front folding windshield, turn signals, horn and mirrors. Added my own SMV triangle plus the roof. Comes with half doors that I wasn't sure about until we took it down a muddy road. Half doors keep the mud out and your pants clean.

Don't need a heater, the rad is in the front so you get warm feet.

Added a 5000 pound winch myself. What a job that was. Mounting the winch was easy. Routing the cables back to the battery was not. Basically had to take it apart to get the cables to the rear.

 

[Jchonline]

I don't need a plow on it at all, have this...

and you are correct the door kit is absurdly expensive, didn't get that either. Front folding windshield, turn signals, horn and mirrors. Added my own SMV triangle plus the roof. Comes with half doors that I wasn't sure about until we took it down a muddy road. Half doors keep the mud out and your pants clean.

Don't need a heater, the rad is in the front so you get warm feet.


Added a 5000 pound winch myself. What a job that was. Mounting the winch was easy. Routing the cables back to the battery was not. Basically had to take it apart to get the cables to the rear.

Ya the M62 is great at moving snow, I just freeze as I do it . The X1100C plow should give me a lot more maneuverability around structures and some tighter spots on property.

 

[5030]

The Sidekick don't have a hydraulic dump option, it's actually a linear actuator that powers off 12 volts. Kubota wants an additional 800 bucks for it. Don't see the need, the bed pivots over center so even loaded it's a one hand dump and all the bracketry is already in place for the actuator so one could buy an actuator from say Surplus center and fab up their own for hundreds less. Like the winch. Kubota wanted 600 for the winch. I bought a 5000 pound Badland ATV winch from HF on sale for 139 bucks and spent an additional 100 bucks for welding cable and copper lugs and did it myself. Some accessories (Kubota) are fine but some are way overpriced. The Kubota winch is actually a Superwinch with Kubota's name on it.

All in all, it's a nice vehicle. Wife and I are very happy with it. I've yet to put it in 4 wheel drive. 2 wheel does just fine.

 

[5030]

Ya the M62 is great at moving snow, I just freeze as I do it . The X1100C plow should give me a lot more maneuverability around structures and some tighter spots on property.

I plow in a Tee shirt with the am/fm on. I try to avoid plowing when at all possible. I prefer to sit in front of the fire and read a book.

 

[Garandman]

I would much rather have a CVT with a belt than Hydrostatic and geared in a UTV. These things have so much power coming out of these motors now, the only way to take advantage of that is CVT. The clutches are pretty much foolproof and the only item to break is the belt. A belt can be changed out in about 10 minutes.

I do hear the Honda has a traditional 6 spreed transmission now, maybe someone can confirm.

Has dual clutch 6 speed with high low. But do they make a cab model?

2 Pioneer 1 SPECIFICATIONS - Honda