Utv/Side by side?

[drajj5]

I have been looking at these things and are they not just a blown up four wheeler? It looks like they were born as a golf carts and grew up to be a modified off road vehicle. I admit, they are cool looking and would be fun to drive. I wonder if they have proven themselves to be worth the 10+ thousand dollar investment.... Curious to see the viability of owning one.

I own a old beat-up truck that has heat and with the windows rolled down; has A/c. I can load just about anything I want without worry of damage, and still drive it to the store for milk. I still want a side by side anyway - guess it is the inner child in me wanting the "fun factor".

The wife would kill me if I bought one so I need all the good excuses possible to win the argument over. If there are women reading this, "Don't tell my wife" I need your insight as well.

 

[Xfaxman]

Just in case you missed it among all the Forums on TBN: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/

Here is my thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/287792-electric-polaris-ranger.html

 

[Walkin Horse]

I considered a small truck when I bought my Mule. The utvs are so easy to get around in. It is so much easier to get in and out of is the big difference. We use it to feed out of, and have horses scattered around in different places. It has been used for firewood pulling a trailer. I have a rack on the bed with shovels and such hanging on it. I have hauled 17 16' fence boards on the rack. I put a tongue on my generator and pulled it with a compressor in the back to where I was fencing. I took the front bumper off and put a steel "shelf" on the front to hold a 4 drawer tool box. I take the box off and sit a stripped down wonder boy blower on the front to blow leaves off the drive and around fence lines. It's easy to park around the barn or get in the barn. I can ride right up to the barn refrigerator and get a drink without getting out. I ride it a mile down the road to the hunt club and use it there. Sometimes I get my wife or the girl that helps me at the barn to take it and I take the tractor to where I'm working if I need tools and the tractor.

If you are active and do a lot of stuff outside you will find more and more uses for it. I guarantee you will wonder how you ever farmed with out it.

 

[Gunny]

If mine died today, I'd be shopping for a new one tomorrow! For years I just didn't feel that I really needed one, but once I did I wondered why I had waited so long. Mine only has a 700# cargo capacity, but that's more than enough for hauling tools, spraying fence lines for weeds, pulling empty and lightly loaded trailers around or just carrying a few fishing rods and tackle boxes down to the creek.
I really like the ability to get on or off from either side, plus I installed a radio for entertainment while working or driving around.
The biggest advantage (for me) is the fuel economy. My farm is about 1/4 mile from my house and I use it to commute back and forth several times during the day. My full size pickup was getting some pretty lousy gas mileage doing the same thing, mainly because it never ran long enough for the engine to warm up and the trip was too short to get it up into overdrive. The UTV sips gasoline compared to that pickup and it's easier to load or unload tools from the UTV versus the pickup.

My wife didn't care for it much when I first got it, but since she found out how convenient it is, she's always using it for things like going to the garden to pick tomatoes or beans, taking the grandchildren for a joy ride, etc. I do think that if mine did die today, she'd very much support me for buying a new one.

 

[Duwop]

I've had my sxs 51 weeks and have put on 387 miles. I have just a 5.93acres but there is always something that needs to be done and I would have walked most of those miles without the sxs. I'm the benefactor of failed back surgery and have been declared handicapped/lame. The purchase was part of two plans, one was to help keep me active outside gardening and caring for the land, and two is that I can't take it with me so I'll save the wife and kids the argument by spending some while here on earth ( less time laying around bellyaching and licking my wounds).The wife had noticed I was slowing down and had brought up the idea of a golf cart but to modify it to carry the tools and such needed to do chores. I stumbled on sxs by accident but after reviewing everything on YouTube about them and visiting all the manufacturers webs sites I told the dear wife I was getting one. We rode out to a powersports dealership and took a test ride on a Honda 700 sxs/utv man I was hooked, I told her I knew of another place across town where they sold all the different versions of Polaris Rangers and RZR's RZR's are what most younger adults want as they appear to be built for fun less utilitarian. Before the end of that day I had ordered a Honda Pioneer 700/2 the 2 signifies 2 seater Honda has a 4 seater that is quite revolutionary as it converts to seat four or you can use as a 2 seater with dump bed. So my recommendation is to take a month and read and view all the vids on YouTube get out to test ride as many different sxs/utv's and see what you think. One more thing, my grandson is only 18 months old and he drives me crazy with wanting to ride this thing I think I would have bought it just for the fun I have riding him a round.

 

[oosik]

I have a Polaris ATP. Mainly use it to go down and get the mail - mile long driveway, maintain the fence lines and get to places on the property where the tractor can not go. I guess I could use the tractor for most of this work but it sure would mean a lot of extra "huffing" when it comes to fence line maintenance. My property includes some impossibly deep gorges along the fence lines and even with the ATP its a chore getting into them. I look at the new UTV's and just can't convince myself, yet, that they would be any better than what I currently have. I know I will go with a UTV when/if what I have gives out. There is simply no way possible that my 4WD Jeep or 4WD pickup could get to most of the fence line without creating everlasting ruts.

 

[EddieWalker]

If mine died today, I'd be shopping for a new one tomorrow! For years I just didn't feel that I really needed one, but once I did I wondered why I had waited so long.

I feel the same way. I had four wheelers, but rarely rode them because they where so limited in what you could use them for. I had a golf cart that was a lot better, but it got beat up and pretty much fell apart driving around on my roads. When I decided to buy a UTV, I started out cheap and thought I wanted something to replace the golf cart, but maybe with more power and better suspension. I didn't want anything fancy or even four wheel drive. From comments on here while looking, and actually going to the different dealers, I bought a Kawasaki TransMule 4x4.

I financed it with payments being $80 a month after a few grand as a down payment. I paid more every month and had it paid off in two years.

I don't know if there is a day that somebody doesn't drive it. Easily it's the most used piece of equipment that I own by far!!!

Eddie

 

[nybirdman]

I have and use both;ATV&SxS.Mine has 3700 miles and used as a bird mover, manure spreader,wood hauler,feed hauler,sprayer,handicapped people hauler and couldn't be without it.
I own a uplands preserve so it is used about every day.
2006 450cc Yamaha Rhino,also have a 1998 Kawasaki Prairie with 3000+miles that still earns it's keep.
Family owns;Kawasaki Teryx ,JD 825 Gator and they also have been good machines.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Here is a pic of my mule. Fence boards on top and shovels on the side. One is fom a tree stand.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[tamu94]

I hear you . I had the same arguments but after watching my neighbors use their RTV I convinced my wife it was the way to go. The ATV was very limited in what it could do and could not carry passengers/cargo. Once we got the RTV my entire family was hooked. It is used constantly. The ATV is almost never ran.

The RTV provides ease of getting around and plenty of useful space for cargo over a truck. I can drive it anywhere I want instead of being limited to the main roads. The wear and tear on my truck has also been eliminated. The dump bed is great for all kinds of chores too. Last, I like being out on the land. With the open cab you still get to experience it. The cab of a truck isolates you from the outside (or at least it does for me).