Why buy one?

[shooterdon]

I cannot figure it out.

For those who have both a tractor and pickup, what do you use the SxS for?

 

[Roadworthy]

I can't figure it out either. I currently have two tractors and two pickups. Do I have an SxS? What is it?

 

[tjkubota93]

Side by side.

I dont know why, they are ridiculously expensive.

They do look fun, I would be in the market for a new kubota sidekick if they were 5 or 6k.

I think some people have legitimate uses for them, most are status symbols

 

[ruffdog]

I really miss having my RTV900 that I traded in on the Toolcat. Tough little work vehicle that I used to help me in many chores like cutting trees, fencing, snow plowing, hauling,. It was just easier to use than a truck when you are in tight quarters.

 

[dfkrug]

I think some people have legitimate uses for them, most are status symbols

Yes.

Side-by-sides, or UTVs (utility vehicles) evolved from golf carts, which were convenient small cars you could drive around on large properties, carrying all sorts of stuff (golf clubs, etc.) and 2-4 people. They often provided some protection from the weather as well as small size and low cost. I used to see 3-wheel UTVs (Cushmans) driving around the community college next to one of my childhood homes back East.

Never to leave a good thing alone, some makers (and buyers) have gone nuts with UTVs that can cost over $50K these days. Some are quite sporty, like dune buggies, and some are almost tractors (Bobcat Toolcat). I don't really get it either. The Christmas tree farmer next to my property here mostly uses 25+ yo beater small pickups to fill his off-road needs, at substantially lower cost. Not much status with those.

My own dirt roads and trails are narrow, so I prefer ATVs (quads, and 3-wheelers before those).

I do have a UTV, of sorts, but it is a converted Suzuki Samurai 4x4 with dump bed.

 

[Diggin It]

I'd love to have one, even with much, much less property than many of you have. My little tractor does a lot of things, but it moves slow since I have to stay in Low due to my hills. My two mowers will pull a small trailer, but not much of a load. My property isn't suited for driving even a small Ranger or S-10 type pickup around.

One of these would be perfect for carrying tools, filled sprayers, etc. around, but there's NO way I'm paying $5K or so for a glorified go kart. I didn't pay that for one of my current cars, and barely over that for the other. If I could find one in the 1,000 to 1,500 range, I'd probably have it.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have two and a truck and a tractor and I or one or both of my two 14 year old grands or the 8 year old grand or my wife use one of the RTVs daily. Not letting the 8 year old drive my L3901, wife doesn't want to drive it and mountain trails and yard to steep and grass to slick for 4wd Truck. Not going to walk over to the barn to get tractor to go get mail and not going to drive truck down ot mail box. Grands start driving RTVs at age 6 and not going to let them drive my truck.Recently aquired an ATV also but I will admit I don't need both RTVs. Bought the first RTV 8 years ago and second one a year ago and with new advances in ride quality I traded the 8 year old double row and got almost what I paid for it in trade toward the new improved RTVX1140 earlier this year.
Lots of things in life are never missed and never valued until you have one. It's always neat to stand across the fence and say he sure blows his money on wasteful stuff and I'd never need one of those riding mowers when my push mower has good sharp blades and keep the spinning blades sharp and no gas or oil to buy and how smart I am and how stupid he is. :laughing::cool2:

 

[Diggin It]

NO Child should operate something like this.

Age 6? If it isn't already criminal (which is probably is), it should be.

 

[BRMyers]

My wife and I have been discussing getting a side by side. The biggest reason her RA makes it hard for her to walk long distances and it would make it easier for her to get around the farm. Plus, it is easier for her to get on and off a SS verses climbing up and down off the tractor.

 

[oosik]

I have a tractor( Kubota M6040 ) and a pickup ( "the" Taco Wagon ). I also have an ATV ( Polaris ATP ). ATP = all terrain pickup. I uses the Polaris to carry supplies needed to repair my mile and a half of barbed wire fence. The majority of my fence line is only accessible with the ATP. There are two locations where even the ATP can not go. I carry any needed supplies, by hand, to those locations. The ATP is also a quick, easy, cheap way to get the mail - mile long driveway. The ATP is often my go-to vehicle for many projects around the property.

A side by side would, in most cases, be able to replace my ATP. It would take some clearing of fallen trees and a tad more navigation. However - the added costs would not be offset by any greater abilities.

IE - bad weather. I simply wait for better wx.

 

[jmc]

I'm getting close to buying a SxS for 39 hilly acres. It will be more practical than a dirtbike to enjoy the property in a different way. I'll need more trails and maybe a bridge or two over some ravines. Makes no sense financially or for maintanence time, however.

When I bought an expensive backhoe for property work, friends and family thought I was nuts. If I'd used that same money for a swimming pool, no one woulda batted an eye....

 

[astrohip]

I cannot figure it out.

For those who have both a tractor and pickup, what do you use the SxS for?

We have a Kawasaki Mule, probably the most useful vehicle we own. It's how we get around our property.

Yes, we have a pickup, but it can't go where a Mule can. Maybe when it's dry, and on the smoother areas, a pickup works. But on the more challenging terrain, or when it's been raining, you need a sturdy, sure-legged Mule. The pickup is also too big for many areas.

A tractor? It makes no sense to use a tractor for 90% of what we use the Mule for.

Whether it's just driving around looking at the land, or hauling items from one area to another, or going for an open air drive to enjoy Mother Nature, or any of the dozens of other uses we put our Mule to, a Mule (or any UTV) is the best way to do it.

 

[Tennsawdust]

My wife and I have been discussing getting a side by side. The biggest reason her RA makes it hard for her to walk long distances and it would make it easier for her to get around the farm. Plus, it is easier for her to get on and off a SS verses climbing up and down off the tractor.

That is exactly what tipped me toward buying a side by side. We live at the top of a ridge and that means that makes it really hard on her to walk back to the house from anywhere she would go on the property. I was planning to wait until next year to buy something, but after watching her stop twice on the walk from the garden to the house I decided the SxS was past due.

We have an ATV, but it is old and you can never count on it to start or bring you back if you ride it somewhere. The pickup is just too big to go some places. The Defender will go almost anywhere on the farm and it is very convenient to step in it and go. It will fit through tight spots and tread through soft ground that my truck or tractor would sink out of sight on. Base model side by sides cost about the same price as an ATV, so buying a new ATV wouldn't have saved anything.

I agree with the others that it is something you might not understand the need for until you buy one. For us it was a needed addition to the farm.

 

[oosik]

If I didn't have my ATP or a UTV there are simply sections of my barbed wire fence that could fall into disrepair. No way will I ever be carrying rolls of barbed wire or T-133 posts to these difficult locations. Or anywhere along my fence line, for that matter.

 

[Tennsawdust]

When I bought an expensive backhoe for property work, friends and family thought I was nuts. If I'd used that same money for a swimming pool, no one woulda batted an eye....

People are funny. The one person that has given me a hard time over buying the side by side has a $45K pontoon boat he is making payments on that goes into the water at least twice per year. Our SxS gets used almost every day.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not trying to get out of excercise, but I often use my electric gator a few dozen times a day, the two hundred feet between house and shop, mostly to get suff, or save time. What, I'm gonna hop in the truck, or on a tractor?

Jump on, hit the pedal, your head snaps back and your on your way. Or get the mail. This week, I brought the pressure washer up to the house, and related material. MUCH more convenient than tractor or pickup. Now, the Diesel Mule, not so much! The fact that you constantly have to start and stop an engine is not good.

 

[DMax82]

I do have a UTV, of sorts, but it is a converted Suzuki Samurai 4x4 with dump bed.

Would love to see pictures of this!

 

[shooterdon]

I asked the question because I sold the XP800 and RZR about 18 months ago and do not miss them much. Got a used Jeep Wrangler for $1000 more. I use it for trail riding on the logging/gaswell roads we have here and as a second vehicle to back up the pickup truck. Nice not to be covered in dust and enjoy A/C in the summer, and heat in the winter.

I used the Ranger to haul firewood but the tractor does it much more efficiently as I now store wood on pallets or in IBC totes and use pallet forks. No more double handling.

I used them getting my mail when the weather was nice as my mail box is 2 1/2 miles away . Jeep or truck works too.

Might be handy to have a golf cart for maintenance around the place in the summer. The UTV's tended to tear up the lawn so they did not get much use anyway.

One of the locals just bought a Can-Am that was over $30k. Nice toy...but still a toy IMHO. My new LS 4140 HSTC seems like a bargain.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Many have evolved into nothing but overpriced Motorsport vehicles, not Utility vehicles. Never spent a penny on a Rec item and probably never will. Not good value! The more they become popular and a fad (must have because the neighbors all have one) item, the worse the value will become.

 

[LouNY]

So many uses for them especially if they are sod friendly;
checking hayfields, fences, working cows, branches and garbage on the lawn.
Quick runs to the mailbox and to and from different barns.
Picking up and carrying calfs during calving season.
Take a few mineral blocks out and about.
Could a tractor or truck do most of it, sometimes not always.
I keep hearing people that say their jeep gets every where that an atv or utv does,
not in this area especially when it's wet weather.