UTV Suggestions

[kneedeep]

I’m old and crippled up, tough to get around some days.
I’ve had a 4010 Mule transport since new in 2007 and an original BadBoy Buggy (FWD) about 3 years.
I use both but the BadBoy is easier to get in and out of, but the ride is really rough. Plenty of power and the battery last several days with normal use. The charger is where the buggy parks, easy enough to plug in when battery gets to about 1/4 capacity. Use a smart plug to only charge it 8 hrs in case I forget to unplug it.
The Mule has a smooth ride and is faster than the BadBoy, although I don’t drive the Mule too fast around my place. Occasionally I will hit the road shoulder and ride over to a friends place via road to open the Mule up and “Blow it out!”.

As time catches up to me, I find the BadBoy is ride of choice more often as it is easier to get in and out of. I can slip around quietly and check predator traps, fiddle with water level in DukHole and slip into Deer stands.
The Mule has become a work ride hauling tools and supplies to wherever a project is. I have been planting about a dozen trees yearly and have set up a small trailer with water barrel, weedwacker, herbicide spray and fertilizer to water new trees daily for few weeks at a time.

If. I had to pick in a few years (when reaching 84!), the electric golf cart would be first choice.
JMHO

 

[angustrees]

I'm 85, live on steep 110a., and on my 2nd Kubota 1140.... I have the 4+ seater. It is not a hi speed machine but maybe the most rugged of any considered. And diesel avoids danger of gas handling. Keep diesel fresh & use preservatives.
The hyd. dump bed is not as large as the first model, but works well.

 

[Joe Batt]

Maybe not the best for your situation, but we removed the deck from an old country clipper joystick control ZTR for my special needs son. We use the foot well for carrying small stuff and a wagon for bigger stuff. Without the deck, it will tip up going up steep hills, but doesn't tip over because the engine hangs so low.

It's cheap and easy to fix.

 

[riptides]

I appreciate all the good suggestions. I took my dad with me to sit on the Ranger 570. He was basically trying to scoot his ass up on the seat instead of stepping up into it. That's when I knew something that tall wasn't a good choice. I have a local dealer with a Mule SX FE model available. I'll try to take him to see that one over the weekend. Hopefully they do test rides. I hate the idea of buying something without feeling it out first. The golf cart would be a great option if he wasn't going to drive it through the woods and I want something with more utility in mind. The Kubota is still on the table too as it is probably the smoothest operating. The maintenance and replacement of Kubota parts puts me off a little. My Kubota dealer is 25 miles away while Kawi parts can be had everywhere.

Maintenance and parts should not be an issue at 25 miles away.

My nearest dealer is over an hour away, my purchasing dealer over two. Parts when I need them are either a day trip or mail order. Heck, I have had overnighter on delivery. A hydraulic hose on the RTV bed finally sprung a leak after twenty years. Downtime was less than a day. Did not leave the house.

I keep filters and lubs in stock at the home site.

Good luck and you are doing the right thing by test driving!

 

[dstriplett]

I'm shopping for a UTV that my 82 yo father will use to putt around the farm. He primarily would use it to check his groundhog spots throughout the year and a slow cruise around the property. I'll use it occasionally to carry a chainsaw, tools, pickup the mail and trash cans, simple stuff like that. He does drive on some manicured trails, nothing really rough, rocky, or muddy. The only UTV I've checked out and driven so far has been the Polaris Ranger SP 570 as it checks the boxes on price and size. It's a little tall for my dad to be able to slide onto the seat due to his bum knees and old legs. He can't step up into something easily. The Ranger seemed more for performance than pleasure. My other options are the Kawasaki Mule SX and the Kubota RTV520. I haven't seen the Mule or RTV in person yet, but they seem similar in size and look to be easy to get in and out of. Both seem to be nice to just put it in H or L and press the gas to go. Simple is best for the old man. I ruled out the Honda Pioneer 520 due to the reports of jerky shifting from the geared trans. I'm leaning toward the Kubota so far since the trans is HST which should make it very easy and smooth to drive. I don't have any UTV experience so if you can add some insight to the models listed as well as any models worth mentioning, please do so. If you need a ballpark price, let's call it <$12,500.

We bought a Kawasaki Mule 3 or 4 years ago and love it. It sees pretty much daily use on our 23 acres and hasn't missed a lick even though it gets used hard and put up wet so to speak. We just added a Woodland Mills trailer to the back to get even more utility out of it. We did opt for the "plain Jane" version without the power steering but in hindsight we should've ponied up the extra bucks for that and a windshield. We also added the roof to the initial purchase.

 

[GeneSimm7]

I'm shopping for a UTV that my 82 yo father will use to putt around the farm. He primarily would use it to check his groundhog spots throughout the year and a slow cruise around the property. I'll use it occasionally to carry a chainsaw, tools, pickup the mail and trash cans, simple stuff like that. He does drive on some manicured trails, nothing really rough, rocky, or muddy. The only UTV I've checked out and driven so far has been the Polaris Ranger SP 570 as it checks the boxes on price and size. It's a little tall for my dad to be able to slide onto the seat due to his bum knees and old legs. He can't step up into something easily. The Ranger seemed more for performance than pleasure. My other options are the Kawasaki Mule SX and the Kubota RTV520. I haven't seen the Mule or RTV in person yet, but they seem similar in size and look to be easy to get in and out of. Both seem to be nice to just put it in H or L and press the gas to go. Simple is best for the old man. I ruled out the Honda Pioneer 520 due to the reports of jerky shifting from the geared trans. I'm leaning toward the Kubota so far since the trans is HST which should make it very easy and smooth to drive. I don't have any UTV experience so if you can add some insight to the models listed as well as any models worth mentioning, please do so. If you need a ballpark price, let's call it <$12,500.

I have the John Deere Gator 850D XUV and I don't think you can beat it. When in the market I test drove the Kawasaki Mule and the Kubota RTV. The Kawasaki was very good but I didn't like the way the Kubota handled. Your best bet is to go and test drive any and all that you are considering.

 

[Fastowl]

I'm 85, live on steep 110a., and on my 2nd Kubota 1140.... I have the 4+ seater. It is not a hi speed machine but maybe the most rugged of any considered. And diesel avoids danger of gas handling. Keep diesel fresh & use preservatives.
The hyd. dump bed is not as large as the first model, but works well.

Well I'm a spry 70. We've owned a RTX 1140 diesel since 2018 that we bought new. It gets used every day on our ranch. Its been bullet proof. Only issue was the raccoons stole the soft rubber horn button that Kubota wanted $35 for a new assembly, i bought a new 10 amp button on Amazon for $5 and good to go. Why do we need a horn? To get the cows to move out of the way. They come running when they hear the diesel and associate diesel sounds with food. Silly cows.

 

[pacosperson]

I'm shopping for a UTV that my 82 yo father will use to putt around the farm. He primarily would use it to check his groundhog spots throughout the year and a slow cruise around the property. I'll use it occasionally to carry a chainsaw, tools, pickup the mail and trash cans, simple stuff like that. He does drive on some manicured trails, nothing really rough, rocky, or muddy. The only UTV I've checked out and driven so far has been the Polaris Ranger SP 570 as it checks the boxes on price and size. It's a little tall for my dad to be able to slide onto the seat due to his bum knees and old legs. He can't step up into something easily. The Ranger seemed more for performance than pleasure. My other options are the Kawasaki Mule SX and the Kubota RTV520. I haven't seen the Mule or RTV in person yet, but they seem similar in size and look to be easy to get in and out of. Both seem to be nice to just put it in H or L and press the gas to go. Simple is best for the old man. I ruled out the Honda Pioneer 520 due to the reports of jerky shifting from the geared trans. I'm leaning toward the Kubota so far since the trans is HST which should make it very easy and smooth to drive. I don't have any UTV experience so if you can add some insight to the models listed as well as any models worth mentioning, please do so. If you need a ballpark price, let's call it <$12,500.

For that level of money you can buy an older Jeep that will serve him very well, and probably you too when you're 82.

 

[JeepHead]

For that level of money you can buy an older Jeep that will serve him very well, and probably you too when you're 82.

Wanna talk about something that can be difficult to get in/out of for an older person, that is definitely a jeep!

 

[tradosaurus]

Wanna talk about something that can be difficult to get in/out of for an older person, that is definitely a jeep!

And a military HMMWV! I drive one at work and it needs a step to get in and out.