Utv/Side by side?

[EddieWalker]

The go anywhere aspect of it is really nice too!!!! After it rains here, it's pure misery trying to get around until the mud dries out. With the Mule, I can go out while it's raining!!! The few times it's snowed here, I took the Mule out and was able to go everywhere I wanted to. On my roads, and through the fields. It didn't matter. The clay builds up on my boots so thick that it becomes very difficult to walk for more then a short distance, but the mud flies off the tires of the Mule and it just keeps going.

I have managed to get it stuck a few times, but that was my fault. I have a few bottomless areas that when wet will just suck you into them. I thought I could go across it fast enough that I wouldn't sink in. I was wrong. Fortunately it's small and light enough that I can pull it out in minutes.

Eddie

 

[westcliffe01]

The climate is a bit milder where you live than MI, but I have found that having a roof and windshield are pretty essential in keeping rain, snow, bird poop and the like off the dash, steering wheel and seats. The windshield (I went with a true glass laminated windshield on my Kubota RTV 500) makes a huge difference in comfort here in the midwest when it is 20F or lower and the wind is blowing.

I also went with a vinyl "windshield" that provides an air block at the back of the cab and it is very helpful in keeping hay dust and wood chips off you in the summer from the load that is on the back. It was pretty cheap and just straps onto the roll cage with velcro.

I personally would have loved to have doors, but Kubota discontinued them and most of the alternatives are zippered cloth doors which are a PIA. In the summer you can leave them off, in the winter they are nice to have to prevent the cab area blowing full of snow while you are sitting in the hunting blind for hours watching it snow... I also would have loved it if someone made a bed cover to protect commonly used tools that I have in there all the time.

The main negative with the side by sides is the placement of the engine and access to it. When operating in dusty conditions (like hay fields) one has to constantly keep the engine, radiator and exhaust clear of debris that can block flow or create a potential fire hazard. I did find that the hydrostatic transmission in the RTV series of UTV's is ideal for steep mountain terrain. They are not speed demons at all, but real working machines. This past summer I used the front hitch to back loaded hay wagons into the barn (it is so much easier with a front hitch) and I guess the hay wagons must have have had 100+ bales on them each. Certainly a very useful machine. The 2 cylinder gas fuel injected engine always starts without any fuss regardless of altitude or temperature, down to -40 last winter...

 

[drajj5]

Wow!!! I never knew that people were so fond of them....

I guess I should confess I have too motorized things laying about. I owned a 4x4 four wheeler that is full time four wheel drive. I used it several years and slowly stopped using it as it would not 'carry' the kids/gear/beer wherever- all together. So it sat, and sat and every year I would go and jump it off to move it to its next resting place. Darn thing would pull a loaded 5x10 trailer loaded with firewood like no tomorrow though; stopping was a bit tedious however. Anyway, it got sold for little to nothing and I ended up using a 73' ford 4x4 to do Everything that that four wheeler did. Yep, there is not a straight panel on it anymore. Inside the bed looks like it has mountains of its own from tossing gravel to firewood in it. Its so ugly and yet it is so practical that my wife actually likes to use it to get (that load of manure or that bucket load of red mulch) for her garden(s). Keys are left in it at all times- no one would steal it.
So bringing up a utv/Side by side this evening went as I expected, shot down from the get-go. She needs me to convince her that it will outperform that nasty old ford- I am struggling to find an excuse, "any excuse" to vindicate getting one.

Stupid truck is going to last forever - I can't kill it, kids can't even kill it for some reason. Leaks just enough oil to preserve it from rusting seems to run on no oil pressure whatsoever. Maybe I will just rip the doors off so she will be too embarrassed to drive it - even then she will probably drive it.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Puke in it.

 

[boblibido]

Do what I did. Buy the vehicle and then let her drive it. My gf has never had a bigger smile on her face. Now she comes up with reasons to just drive the thing. (Kubota 1120d)

 

[BWSSR]

2011 Kawasaki Transmule 4x4.....with the 4+ seating..the grand kids have a blast..flip the back seat..extend bed..bam...lots of room for tool, gear, wood, deer....2nd Mule for me....wife likes it too

 

[tamu94]

When I bought my place none of the neighbors had a UTV. Now there are 3 RTV's and a Polaris owner around me (plus mine).

They are very useful vehicles. Wont argue that they are not expensive though.

 

[SIMassey]

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.

It was the wife's idea to buy ours. There are places on our property that she had never seen before getting it. Wouldn't part with it for anything now. One of the handiest tools we have on the 12 acres.

 

[westcliffe01]

I bought the Kubota RTV 500 with 96 hours on it for $6500. The dealers were running a special at the time for a new one at $7500, but I'm sure that has gone up since.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I share many of the sentiments expressed above. Mostly, I was exhausted of jumping in and out of a pickup truck all day working on the property. The UTV is so much more convenient. Also, it does less damage to the grasses or soft ground - and, it goes into the woods where my truck was out of the question. My wife says - Get the right tools because when the property becomes "work" it's time to sell.