Who makes the best overall Utility vehicle

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

like they say nuthin runs like a deere.lol i use the extra power to run a power invert to run my sawsall to cut trees on the trail and to cut scrap metal . i'm lookin for a little bit bigger alternator right now though. and i wanna do some other things to it too i just got me a cutting torch setup and that will help out alot so now things will start to come together alot quicker. before i was havin to cut everything with a sawsall or chop saw and then put it together and there was no bending but with a torch i can heat and bend and save alot on the welding. the next plan i have is a aluminum flat bed with removable bed rails i figure the material should run around 200.00 but the weight should be way less than half of what the stock hpx bed weighs.

 

[darkday]

I have a hard enough time keeping my gator running let alone put all that stuff on like you do tommy. lol. A tree caught my boot that is on the drive shaft going up to the front so lucky me I get to take that apart today... But hey I thought of something that might be good for your business on the diesels. You know that el crapo splash guard we have ? Make a metal one and I bet you could sell some. I can't imagine that being to much different then your gas and it would help protect the clutch and whatnot from branches. Of course we'd still have a problem with water but it would help and probably be cheap don't you think ?

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

i would make one but i don't have a deisle unit to use as a model.i bet i could make one in a few days if i had a unit to work with.

 

[Kevin Beitz]

I'm surprised that not many people are praiseing the Mule... I've had two and loved them both... I've also made my own... I'm now building one with two sets of duels...

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The Mule did get some praise at the start of this tread and is on my list to demo even if I didn't mention it recently.

I had fun today, I went to the 2 cylinder Expo in Canadaigua, NY today and found myself more interested in looking at all the UTV's running around up there. There were some of just about everything (well, I didn't see any RTV's ) and some nice custom machines running also. The owners sure did look like they were having fun regardless of what brand UTV it was

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

the mules are nice they have the same engine as the hpx but the front diferential is where they start to differ. i here alot of bad talk about thier diferentials .but as for everything else on them they are a great utv.

I'm surprised that not many people are praiseing the Mule... I've had two and loved them both... I've also made my own... I'm now building one with two sets of duels...

 

[Tractors4u]

I'm surprised that not many people are praiseing the Mule... I've had two and loved them both... I've also made my own... I'm now building one with two sets of duels...

Atone time Kawasaki had set the bar pretty high for all UTVs with the Mule. Everyone else has passed the Mule in performance and imenities. Kawasaki did do good in creating their 4 seater, but in my oh so humble opinion, the Mule is outdated and it is time for Kawasaki to bring something new to the table. The is nothing inherently wrong with the Mule, good engine, transmission, etc, they just need to keep up with the performance of the Ranger, Gator, and RTV.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Hade a chance to see one of the first Kawasaki mules yesterday. After asking him a few questions about it, he said it was one of the first ones that hit the south many years ago. Told me what year & how many hours that he had on it, but I honestly forgot. Now this unit was worked very,very hard, on his farm, and also used to hunt and play with. You could tell it was used alot, but not abused.
Must have been a great utiltiy vehicle, for reason, he told me the only things he has done to it was service it regularly, battery, tires, and last year installed a old pick-up truck radio with speakers in it. Kawasaki must have done something right...... I believe, that there are many great utv's out there, regular service and the way you take care of these units are everything. After talking to this gentleman, he said next month, he's going to purchase a diesel RTV 1100, for the reason of the engine and the A/C - Heat cab . But other than that, he was VERY well pleased with his Mule & plans on keeping it forever .....

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

the terex thinga ma giga is gonna blow the rhino away to me everything on the mules are great but the front diferentials.i'm pretty sure they will upgrade them too . now if they do that then they will have a really really good utv.

2008 KAWASAKI TERYX 750 4x4

Atone time Kawasaki had set the bar pretty high for all UTVs with the Mule. Everyone else has passed the Mule in performance and imenities. Kawasaki did do good in creating their 4 seater, but in my oh so humble opinion, the Mule is outdated and it is time for Kawasaki to bring something new to the table. The is nothing inherently wrong with the Mule, good engine, transmission, etc, they just need to keep up with the performance of the Ranger, Gator, and RTV.

 

[Skipholiday]

Seems they should have went with efi instead of dual carbs~!

the terex thinga ma giga is gonna blow the rhino away to me everything on the mules are great but the front diferentials.i'm pretty sure they will upgrade them too . now if they do that then they will have a really really good utv.

2008 KAWASAKI TERYX 750 4x4

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well, I found out my Kawi dealer doesn't sell the Mule there so I have to find a Mule dealer and hope to get a demo.

It doesn't make any sense to me why this dealer doesn't sell them though, they carry 4 different brands of motorcycles and ATV's but the only UTV's they have are the Rhinos and said they have no interest in selling the Mule.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Sounds like you need to find another dealer anyway. A good dealer, even if he didn't carry your Mule, and he is a Kawasaki dealer, would have busted his butt to help you get one somewhere, hopeing you would let him service it or sell service part for it.

I would extend my search, and go at any limit to stay away from that dealer. There is so many good folks out there willing to give a man a hand on his wants & needs. I myself, owns a Kubota RTV, and to tell you the truth, a Honda production engineer sold me on my Kubota. I called Honda Corp. Not that he put it in front of any other UTV, but I told him that I wanted a fully hydrostatic tranny in the next UTV I purchased. Just like the transmission that is in my Honda Rubicons... And he broke his back helping me and pointed to me the Kubota, for he said it was the only one that had that. But he also stated there are alot of great Utility Vehicles on the market, but if I had my mind on set on a hydro=tranny, well so be it.
Now, becouse he went above and beyond to help me what I WANTED, and not what he thought I should get or what they could or could not offer me...
I have and will do business again one day with this company that once help me >>> Know what I mean ...... I surely believe in helping folks for what THEY WANT,OR NEED * Not what I think they should do at my dealings >>>>>

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

it depends on what your gonna use it for.every utv has it's advantages and disadvantages

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Sounds like you need to find another dealer anyway. A good dealer, even if he didn't carry your Mule, and he is a Kawasaki dealer, would have busted his butt to help you get one somewhere, hopeing you would let him service it or sell service part for it.

I would extend my search, and go at any limit to stay away from that dealer. There is so many good folks out there willing to give a man a hand on his wants & needs. I myself, owns a Kubota RTV, and to tell you the truth, a Honda production engineer sold me on my Kubota. I called Honda Corp. Not that he put it in front of any other UTV, but I told him that I wanted a fully hydrostatic tranny in the next UTV I purchased. Just like the transmission that is in my Honda Rubicons... And he broke his back helping me and pointed to me the Kubota, for he said it was the only one that had that. But he also stated there are alot of great Utility Vehicles on the market, but if I had my mind on set on a hydro=tranny, well so be it.
Now, becouse he went above and beyond to help me what I WANTED, and not what he thought I should get or what they could or could not offer me...
I have and will do business again one day with this company that once help me >>> Know what I mean ...... I surely believe in helping folks for what THEY WANT,OR NEED * Not what I think they should do at my dealings >>>>>

This dealer has never been a great dealer but they are the closest dealer that carries a lot of different brands and parts which is why I even went to them. Right now I have narrowed my search down to the Trekker, Mule and Ranger. I wish the RTV and XUV had a bench seat though as they would be at the top of my list if they did. My Deere dealer told me he sells a lot of Rangers because of the bench seat and wishes Deere would put a bench seat on theirs.

 

[TWO GUNS]

You stated that you would consider, if the RTV or XUV had a bench seat ?
Now I don't own a J.D. XUV **** and can't swear what kind of seat they have in them, The XUV is a good utility vehicle from what I have read.

Well, what kind of seat do I have in my new RTV 900 ?
I thought I knew ~~~~~

I have a picture include in this post

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

the ranger is pretty nice but what are you gonna be useing the utv for ?if it's mainly for working i would say get the rtv. if your gonna get it for work and a little play get the hpx. if you wanna have it for work and a little more play get the xuv but be aware of the "complaints" and last if you wanna have it for work and alot of play i would get tha ranger. i have seen the rangers with loads in them and they might be hauling them but man they are pretty much dragging the ground. but you put the same load in a rtv or hpx and it don't even budge the rear end. and if your gonna be doing alot of real heavy hauling i would get the hpx or rtv over the xuv i just feel the solid rearend is alot more stronger than the irs.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Tommyhpx4x4,

What kind of seats does the XUV have ?

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

bucket but for the right price i'm sure a bench seat can be made.that emergency brake can be moved. me being disabled and not really likeing to move around in the seat alot i rather the bucket seats they are more comfortable.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You stated that you would consider, if the RTV or XUV had a bench seat ?
Now I don't own a J.D. XUV **** and can't swear what kind of seat they have in them, The XUV is a good utility vehicle from what I have read.

Well, what kind of seat do I have in my new RTV 900 ?
I thought I knew ~~~~~

I have a picture include in this post

You are right, I have been looking at so many different UTV's that I forgot just which one had what. So now the RTV is back on the list.

The XUV has bucket seats which I would like if all I did was use this for myself and a helper. But my daughter is a 3rd helper everywhere we go so a bench seat is perfect for my application.

 

[odleefs]

Has a japanese off road truck ever been considered? There are 4 door versions that would comfortably carry 4 adults and lift kits can increase clearance to 9-10 inches. They weigh in at ~1500 lbs and can tow about the same. Their cost is reasonable also.
Steve