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| What's the best utility vehicles out there? Kubota? Gators? Polaris? Gas or diesel. I need something with electric or hydraulic dump and can handle being run short distances. Need it for working around the farm. Not ripping and sporting around.
Edited by oliver2255 1/9/2017 09:13
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North Central Illinois | It really depends on how you are going to use it. If you want something sporty and cool that goes fast I would go with Polaris. They have some reliability issues but are extremely popular. The Kubota is slow and heavy. It isn't a snow or mud machine. It has a fully hydraulic dump bed that is the best in the industry as far as I can tell. The Kubota is a worker and hydrostaticaly driven instead of a belt drive. The diesel engine is an inline 3 cylinder that I'm pretty sure they use in a couple of their small compact tractors. While still a belt drive machine, the Gators have come a long way in the last several years. I also like the Kawasaki Mule. |
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| Kubota has also started offering a PTO on theirs. |
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Central Kentucky | Tough question. Appears a lot on here. It really is what you want, where you are and how much you want to spend. I usually start with what I don't want and finish with what I Need the machine do. I can't have a belt machine. I have to cross a 30' wide creek that is app a foot deep. Have had belt machines leave me in the middle too many times. Especially Gators. I don't want to run fast or go on the highways. I have to have a good dump bed that will lift a load. For me it needs to be hydrolic. So you get the point. Next don't just shop price. The cheapest machine is usually the worst. Pay now or pay later. I like diesel just because of my farm fuel. We use ours everyday and enjoy being able to get in and out easily. I know what I like but it is not my place to say what you need. If you were on my farm doing my work the choice would be easy. Let us know. Good luck. |
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| I like the new gators, those kubotas are so big and heavy, you might as just we'll get a Toyota Tacoma. |
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North central, IA | Kubota, hands down. Whoever said Polaris has reliability issues was being too kind. We've had three and will not own another one. They are poorly designed, cheaply constructed, and badly supported. The ONLY thing they have going for them is that they go dangerously fast for a short wheelbase vehicle. |
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So. IL | 855 gator would work great for this. About $17-18 k for a new one is the only problem. We have had them since 2011 on the farm and never had one belt issue. We don't drive through standing water but we will pull a 8 row corn head down the road during harvest. |
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NC Iowa | Never drove a gator. That said I just bought a new Kubota Rtv X1140 and love it so far. Dealer wouldn't take our ranger so I have both at the moment. Yeah Kubota is a little heavier but it's built to last. More metal, less plastic. |
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| for a working machine all the ones listed are very good. I will say that the kubotas can be kinda heavy if you have to go through some deep muddy spots. No one has mentioned kawaski mules. I have had them for years with very good luck. Not the fastest machine, but they are very rugged & are great for everything from chore work to backing loaded hay wagons into the barn. Hope this helps.....thanks |
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SE Michigan | Not a Deere guy buy any means, mostly red in my shed. I really like my 2012 825i gator, not a speed Demond, it will go down the road at about 45mph, that is fast enough to for me. Hauls and pulls what ever I want. Zero problems thus far. Don't have the power dump on mine, but I seldome need it. Mostly used for pulling empty wagons, pulled a 17.5" head on a cart just fine. Good in the mud and snow, easy for the kids to drive also. Wish it had a little more foot room, but it's tolerable |
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North Dakota | I have a honda big red which has been completely trouble free in 6 years of HARD use. Father has a pioneer 1000 and I really like the amount of improvements that were made. They addressed every issue I have with mine. Good mix of mobility, speed, toughness and reliability. |
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The Internet | oliver2255 - 1/9/2017 14:16 What's the best utility vehicles out there? Kubota? Gators? Polaris? Gas or diesel. I need something with electric or hydraulic dump and can handle being run short distances. Need it for working around the farm. Not ripping and sporting around. I have been using a 2014 Gator 855d to spread Avadex. It's got a universal steering wheel and Greenstar and quite like it. It doesn't feel particularly heavy duty but has taken spreading in its stride and each time ran all day none stop. It also hardly left a mark on the freshly drill, conventionally tilled wheat, if weight is important to you. To run short distances you'd probably be better with a gas version. As someone up thread says, you probably need to wok out what you want it to do, which is seems you have and buy the machine that its the bill. Just thinking aloud, if you are doing short distances, does anyone make an electric powered one? That may well be the best machine to go for if someone does. |
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north-central Indiana west of Fulton | north1 - 1/9/2017 11:02
I have a honda big red which has been completely trouble free in 6 years of HARD use. Father has a pioneer 1000 and I really like the amount of improvements that were made. They addressed every issue I have with mine. Good mix of mobility, speed, toughness and reliability.
Would you care to comment on the ease of servicing ? The engine is under the seat which makes servicing harder and also creates more heat under you. Any complaints with that. Want to get a better look at the Honda soon. |
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| I like the Big Reds and Pioneers as well, but I personally feel the gators are easier to work on. Had a Big Red come through that blew the rack and pinion steering box after hitting a stump, owner claimed they weren't going fast and it wasn't big, and nothing was damaged other than the adjuster for the rack, blew it right off the box.......so it might have had a flaw in the casting since new. But that has been the only thing on those I have done other than general service. Put a few belts in the gators, but it's not that big of a job, and the ease of use for anyone to run it makes it a nice trade off. |
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West Central IL | We're on our 3rd gator. currently have an 825i that's a bit over a year old. It's got 5400 miles on it already, gets rode almost everyday. It has 6 different drivers, It sees mud, snow, blacktop, gravel, dirt, and pasture. We have never had a major issue with any of them. First one we had I think was a 620, we had it a long while. The most problem we have is a cv boot getting a hole or tear in it. We put a different style of guards on this one the other day that are made of metal and cover more area. Comparing it to the Polaris 900 that Dad owns, which has been to the shop twice and it maybe gets ridden once or twice a month on the road. A guy that hunts here bought a new Honda 1000. Time will tell, as he doesn't ride it very much. It looks stout though. |
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Ontario | Use a HPX gator on a vegetable farm. Bought it in 2006. Handiest thing ever. Carries 1000lbs easily. Steel box is tough. Handles mud without problems. Only issue we have had was a bent push rod when new. Deere recommends using gas treatment to keep valves clean. Wouldn't hesitate to get another one. |
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Jackson County, AL | Wouldn't be Deere for me due to the belt drive. Kubota or Honda due to power train. Hydrostat on Kubota. All gear on the Honda. Pick one that best fits your situation. |
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Wi | Kubotas are tough, I'd say the newer ones seem cheapened up though in some spots while others are improved. Our old RTV900 is tough, the newer 900X we have rides nicer with more suspension travel, but the box is built like a pop can. The new 2 speed transmission is a better idea but doesn't seem to shift as nice, may need to play with some adjustments on it.
The hydro trans is great but takes a lot of getting used to. Of course the dynamic braking is the first thing to get used to so you don't eat the steering wheel when you lift the throttle. Shifting when on an incline or other situations requires the relief valve to open in order to move the shifter. Original RTVs based nothing, then they added the knob to the dash, now it's built into the brake pedal. Hold the pedal to open the relief and allow shifting. The dynamic braking and relief may need some fine tuning to your preferences. If you ever drive in ice/snow/mud you will then realize you have to think backward with the hydro. The accelerator is not actually connected to the throttle, it's connected to the hydro and the hydro then pulls the throttle. The response is sluggish, if you need more RPM you have to lift the throttle, don't push it down more or it will just bog down. It takes some getting used to.
Overall the hydro is nice, but don't expect it to drive like a belt machine. |
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Floyd County, Iowa | I'll be the odd man out. I've had Polaris ATVs for 15+ years, never had a problem.
Just brought my new Ranger side x side home today.
Looked pretty hard at the Mule, too ,but settled on this one. Right or wrong, it's mine now.
Not gonna use it for a tractor or truck- I have those to use for that. |
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Osakis, MN | Me too I've driven Rangers, Mules, Pioneer 1000, John Deere Gators, Arctic Cat Prowlers, Yamaha Rhino. I'll keep my Ranger 900. The only one that does perk my interest a little is the Honda 1000. Surprisingly sporty, I expected it to be slow and clumsy. It's kind of a hot rod. A bit noisy and hot under the seat but a blast to ride aggressive. Got back in my Ranger and it's so smooth without the shifts, and engine reving involved with the Honda. I think it was his Bluetooth kicker stereo system that made it seem fast! The cargo box converted to seats on his. Fun but not very utilitarian in the working class. Polaris could redesign the tailgate latch for sure. They are by far the best seller out of the one built. |
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Northeast Pennsylvania | I'll add bobcat to the list. Specifically the tool cat. They're pretty slick in the right environment. |
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north-central Indiana west of Fulton | tomosakis - 1/9/2017 14:26
Me too I've driven Rangers, Mules, Pioneer 1000, John Deere Gators, Arctic Cat Prowlers, Yamaha Rhino. I'll keep my Ranger 900. The only one that does perk my interest a little is the Honda 1000. Surprisingly sporty, I expected it to be slow and clumsy. It's kind of a hot rod. A bit noisy and hot under the seat but a blast to ride aggressive. Got back in my Ranger and it's so smooth without the shifts, and engine reving involved with the Honda. I think it was his Bluetooth kicker stereo system that made it seem fast! The cargo box converted to seats on his. Fun but not very utilitarian in the working class. Polaris could redesign the tailgate latch for sure. They are by far the best seller out of the one built.
You notice the hot seat then on the Honda ? Polaris fixed that problem on the 900....disappointed Honda didn't move the engine to the rear. |
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Extreme Northwest MO | I'm in the Ranger boat as well. We have both a 2011 and 2012 on our farm and we have run the heck out of them and haven't had hardly any trouble. The 2011 was used during the flood to haul sandbags and spent time going through flood waters which I would assume would be harder on one that just about anything and it has never missed a beat. We wanted the speed because we think it is a lot easier to drive around to the different farms than getting a trailer and hauling it. My Mom uses it around the yard to haul mulch, dirt, limbs, etc. |
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North of Iowa | Yep, I'll jump on the Polaris wagon too. Have put thousands of miles on both Ranger's and Rzr's. |
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Alabama | i just got a polaris 500 . kubota was my next choice but have to go faster than 25 mph. |
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southern Missouri | Club Car XRT 1550 with Kubota diesel. Have a couple of them and so far they are dependable. Really well made frame. Automatically kicks in 4 wheel drive when needed. Have full cabs. One has the quick attach hookup for a bucket or blade on the front. Very fuel efficient and starts well when very cold due to glow plugs. Yes, everyone thinks they are a golf cart, but they're a good farm machine. |
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Kansas | Kawasaki mule pro , 3 year factory warranty
Mule pro fxt with a curtis cab and heat! Did I say 3 year factory warranty. Really nice with kids and cattle. |
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SE MT | We pretty much make our living out of a side by side these days and have retired the horses and most of the ranch pickups.
We run 3 polaris ranger 800s.... all 3 of them closing in on 20,000 miles and near 2000 hours
It hasn't been a repair free trip by any means, but when compared against buying new and trading every couple years it was an easy choice..... helps if you're handy too, or have someone who is.
I repair other folks side by sides as well when I have time.
I was loaned a honda pioneer 700 a couple years back, and all I can say is the only thing I liked about it was the 3 speed automatic. it was a underpowered, no suspension travel, tight cab, no engine access dog.
I've driven the Kawasaki mule PRO FX, and it's a great machine. beefy drivetrain, bigger than any I've seen. not slow like the old Mules or Kubotas. It's the closest thing to a Ranger you'll find that most likely will have better reliability. Also comes with a FACTORY 3 year warranty. No one else is doing that right now although I've heard polaris might be?
The JD gators are good machines, but lack in the cab area, and for a period of time didn't even have covers on their belt drive boxes. any other belt drive machine does not have a problem crossing water because their boxes are sealed.
The ranger's reliability has been getting better with time, although they do have their own problem areas. ours are far better machines now with 20,000 miles on them than they were with 7,000. mostly due to updates and improvements I've made along the way.
One thing to consider about the Polaris- Parts for them are relatively CHEAP in comparison to Honda, Kawi, and others.... almost half the cost. so if you're planning on owning it past warranty, they may be the one to have... Big UTV salvage yard in Nebraska that has 100s, maybe 1000s of them.
Everyone up here runs polaris. That's what the dealers sell, and that's what the demand is. Kubota's can't keep up, and everyone wasn't the smoothest ride possible. that is still a poalris made machine. although the Mule Pro FX is right there with them... They only fall behind in the Power area.
If I could rank them it would be
1- Polaris Ranger
2- Kawasaki Mule Pro FX
3-JD Gator
4-doesn't really matter. |
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North Dakota | I can't comment on ease of service compared to other makes, but is better compared to my big red. Wish they would change to cartridge type oil filter. Power steering is nice. Love the air filter simplicity and they changed where the engine air is drawn from which is big improvement over big red. More ground clearance. More power and better gear change steps. Haven't noticed the hot seat problem, but maybe if I was in Texas instead of North Dakota it would be a concern. |
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north-central Indiana west of Fulton | Thanks for the reply. |
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Arkansas | What improvements do you make on your machines to make them so much better?? Trade in goes to crap quickly if you actually use them and put on many miles. Just as well keep them and run em if you can keep them going.
Tom
NE ARK |
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| I may be the odd man out, but second year on a Yamaha Viking.I really wanted the Honda Pioneer, but the dealer couldn't get one for 6 weeks, Honda was that backed on production. I was concerned about the belt drive, but Yamaha has a clutch so the belt always stays tight. We had to Polaris 4wheelers that I inherited, compared to my Rancher with electric shift, they are very noisy and we've replaced the belts twice. Not a big deal but the Honda has nothing done to it. Back to the Viking, my dealer had only replaced one belt (the owners teenage son buried it in mud and literally burnt the belt up!) Other pros is the leg room and shoulder room, I havn't been in a side by side that can compare. Plus small doors with regular door handles, not them irritating nets. The big seller was the wide wheelbase. It can straddle 2 30" rows no problem as it lives with a 60 gallon sprayer in the back of it all summer. the only thing they need to change is put a differential in the rear end or at least a turf mode like the Polaris, cause it will tear up the grass in the yard when you turn. Heres another downer on the new Polaris's, they no longer have a separate park brake, the park is in the tranny. Most of the time not a problem, but if your jumping out to tag a calf don't slam it in park! (neighbor did that!, no longer a Polaris owner!) Lots of good machines out there, spend a day test driving, you'll soon figure out which one suits you! |
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SE MT | Glad you like your Viking, They're big!
As for the parking brake/park feature, I think you might be in the minority wanting a park brake back. They were always problematic. can't say I really use the park brake when I tag calves, but maybe you're in hilly terrain? Best way to tear the park brake up is to set it when moving. won't do that many times before you've burnt up a $70 pair of pads. |
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SE MT | The main issues on the polaris 800 rangers were the suspension bushings- which were problems before, and even today... Upgrade to a better brand of bushing and that helps take care of that problem.
Once we started hitting around 1300 hours, we were having transmission bearings fail. Warranty was covering the first failures, and the second, till I finally did one myself and replaced the garbage Chinese ball bearings they were using and installed a japanese bearing instead. I was spending less to re-bearing the whole transmission with quality bearings than it cost me to buy two junk chinese bearings from polaris.
The polaris transmission repair jobs generally cost around $1700, especially if it broke a case half.
I usually have about $100 into my rebuilds, and can get the transmission out, rebuilt, and back in the machine in a day. Since switching bearing types I have had zero transmission problems since. Also quit running polaris oils and started running strait hydraulic oil in the transmission and front diff.
Also added grease zerks to the suspension, heavier springs to the front shocks, better quality ball joints and wheel bearings, Each ranger is running Self leveling rear shocks that will pump up to level no matter what laod is in the back. got them from PowerSports Nation for a very reasonable price.
Also got my clutch servicing down to where I seldom replace one. I just freshen them annually and they serve me well.
It takes some extra elbow grease, but I don't mind putting money in them knowing that they're paid for, and are as reliable as anything I can buy right now. The thought of trading them off scares me because of what new ones cost. |
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| Havn't replaced the pads yet, but have adjusted them. LOL! Another thing get the power steering, might cost another $1000, but you never regret it! |
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SE MT | What do you think of the cab? Is it fairly air tight? |
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Floyd County, Iowa | Now, the Rangers come with zerks in the suspension and driveline. Experience proved that they needed them, so they went back to having them standard.
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Osakis, MN | Hot might be an understatement, this was the 5 seater model. It would cook your legs. |
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north-central Indiana west of Fulton | tomosakis - 1/10/2017 08:54
Hot might be an understatement, this was the 5 seater model. It would cook your legs.
Thanks for the information......that disappoints me ! |
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Leesburg, Ohio | Well, I am sure the rangers can go fast, so if that's what u need, get a ranger.
Oh, wait, don't they have to be running to go fast? Oooops!
Amuses me all the talk about the reliability of the rangers from the ranger owners, then more talk about, well, if,you fix this, change that, modify there, rebuild every few hundred hours, then they are ok.....
JMHO....to each his own. |
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North central, IA | Your dealer is a smart man. I wouldn't take the Ranger either. :-) |
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Morgantown, Indiana | what about the can am defender.
Edited by lsweddle 1/12/2017 17:41
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Best Utility Vehicles? Kubota? Gators?
