UTV Choices

[Wood1Dennis]

Thanks everyone for all of the replies. I was not to surprised to find that no one had experience with the Eliminator brand. I did decide to go mainstream with the Polaris. When I go a quote from Cabelas with everything I needed, enclosed cab, plow, winch, etc. the Cabelas machine actually came in pricier than the Polaris. Then it was really no choice. At the end of April I picked up a Polaris Ranger 900XP. So far I really like it, did pay for an extended warranty. Here are a couple of pics of it at work!

 

[salecker]

How about a righthand drive mini truck?
I have one that i use for a bunch of stuff,hauls 1/3 of a cord.I have ATV tires on it and a set of tracks.
I paid $4600.00 for mine with the track kit,and atv tires.
These trucks are pretty much the same size as an side by side,and i did a ride a couple of fall's ago and was able to go anywhere the side by sides went.A couple of the side by sides broke through frozen mud holes that i went across.And one Chinese one couldn't keep up to where i went.Everyone was dressed for cold and wet,i had to take off my coat when i was driving.

I have a stereo and heater which you don't get otherwise,plus can be street legal if you want.
Mine is a Suzuki Carry.They are made by a bunch of manufactures.

 

[Jazzberry]

That thing is super cool. Doubt it would go off road as well as a four wheeler but it would do lots of stuff a 4 wheeler couldn't do. Figure out how to make the bed dump and it would be twice as cool.

 

[salecker]

That thing is super cool. Doubt it would go off road as well as a four wheeler but it would do lots of stuff a 4 wheeler couldn't do. Figure out how to make the bed dump and it would be twice as cool.

It has some limitations but not many.I beat it hard that day knowing i had lots of help if i got stuck or busted it.
Myself i would have no trouble keeping up with 4 wheeler s or side by sides.But i have been driving of road all my life,at 12 years old i built my first VW derived offroad machine with my dad.Had 4 full years driving that without brakes when i got my license.No such thing as 4 wheeler s when i grew up. We lived in the bush and couldn't afford winches so you learned how to drive.Or you spent all your time learning how to get unstuck.
I thought about a dump bed,but it is so small that you can unload it fast. Adding additional weight would make it harder to keep up with 4 wheeler s and side by sides.It has a steel skid plate so it is bullet proof underneath,but adds extra weight.It is going to be replaced with plastic some day.I am slowly removing weight it dosn't need.It is going to get another 2" lift in the front and some flip over shackles for the rear to extend the suspension travel,and a rear locking diff.Then the difference between the 4 wheeler s and side by sides will narrow some more.

 

[JRHAWK9]

I'm going to agree with some of what I have read. I will never own a Polaris. They are issuing recalls faster than they can feasibly fix them....lol They are just one step above CFMoto as far as I'm concerned. The fit and finish is just not there either. They are cheap, plain and simple.

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/company/news/recalls

The Japanese are reliable, but they are also under-powered in today's market. I don't think any Honda.Yamaha, etc comes close to putting something with 90hp in one of their ATV's. This may not be a big deal for some, but for me it is. I want HP.....the more the better. If you don't want/need the HP, you really can't beat Honda or Yamaha.

I have a '14 Can Am Outlander Max XTP 1000 and love it. I have 6,000+ miles on it and use it for play in the summer and work in the winter.


Here it is last summer cleaned up and all setup for our 600 mile, 4 day excursion from N WI up to Copper Harbor, MI and back.




Here it is about a month or two later setup for winter use hauling it's first load of many out of the woods. FIVE saws, two splitting mauls, two cable pullers, straps, clevises, cables, logging chains, gas, bar oil, safety gear, water jug, etc. About 150lbs+ on the front rack alone.



Here it is playing on the trails after a snowstorm one winter

 

[gabenson]

Thanks everyone for all of the replies. I was not to surprised to find that no one had experience with the Eliminator brand. I did decide to go mainstream with the Polaris. When I go a quote from Cabelas with everything I needed, enclosed cab, plow, winch, etc. the Cabelas machine actually came in pricier than the Polaris. Then it was really no choice. At the end of April I picked up a Polaris Ranger 900XP. So far I really like it, did pay for an extended warranty. Here are a couple of pics of it at work!

View attachment 226710 View attachment 226711

Congrats! That is one powerful machine. Any modification plans for it?

 

[walhondingnashua]

1. I would buy Honda. I don't have a ton of UTV experience, but Honda anything sets standard for reliability.
2. Toyota does, kinda, make a UTV. Maybe even one of the first UTVs. I knew a guy that hauled firewood, drug trees, plowed snow and hunted with an old Toyota Tacoma. he drove it anywhere a UTV would have gone (this was before UTVs were a thing). I'm sure there are plenty of cheap "beaters" out there. Probably even cheaper than a UTV today. Just a suggestion.

 

[salecker]

Seeing i have a mini truck buying a UTV for work makes no sense. You can buy 2 1/2 mini trucks for the price of a UTV.
Heater, stereo,wipers,cab, and a box where the sides fold down for larger then box loads.
And cheap on gas.

 

[vbu]

If I wanted something new I would buy Honda too. They have a true gearbox with a clutch, instead of a belt system like the competition has. If you're going to abuse it I think the Honda will last much longer.

If I was buying used I'd definitely get one of those mini trucks like salecker has, those things are awesome.

 

[walhondingnashua]

Forgot about it, but I have a neighbor with a Kubota UTV. He swears by it. He is a farmer and it is not a "toy," but just another tractor to him. If it's going to be primarily for work, the Kubota might be a good option.

 

[ericm979]

Hondas have all have different transmissions. The Pioneer 700 has a three speed torque converter automatic. The 500 has an automatic/manual clutch with a constant mesh gearbox like a motorcycle. The 1000 has the same type of constant mesh trans but with dual clutches like a Ferrari or VW DSG.

The 700 has what has to be the most difficult oil/filter change that I have experienced. You need three different O-rings and a washer in addition to the filter. It's difficult to get to and guaranteed to make a mess. Like most Hondas the oil capacity is minimal so you need to keep on top of the oil level and change interval. The 700 has a rear spool instead of a diff so if you drive it on pavement with turns the rear tires wear fast. Other than that it's a solid machine.

The beater Toyota will work if you have the right kind of terrain- open, not too rough or muddy or steep. If your terrain isn't like that the UTV will be able to go places the Toyota can't. Mine's steep, brushy/forested and rough and the Honda is far more useful than the beater Toyota was.

 

[duramaxman05]

Hondas have all have different transmissions. The Pioneer 700 has a three speed torque converter automatic. The 500 has an automatic/manual clutch with a constant mesh gearbox like a motorcycle. The 1000 has the same type of constant mesh trans but with dual clutches like a Ferrari or VW DSG.

The 700 has what has to be the most difficult oil/filter change that I have experienced. You need three different O-rings and a washer in addition to the filter. It's difficult to get to and guaranteed to make a mess. Like most Hondas the oil capacity is minimal so you need to keep on top of the oil level and change interval. The 700 has a rear spool instead of a diff so if you drive it on pavement with turns the rear tires wear fast. Other than that it's a solid machine.

The beater Toyota will work if you have the right kind of terrain- open, not too rough or muddy or steep. If your terrain isn't like that the UTV will be able to go places the Toyota can't. Mine's steep, brushy/forested and .rough and the Honda is far more useful than the beater Toyota was.

We have a pioneer 1000 and it absolutely sucks servicing. Love the machine. Engine/transmission holds 7.1qt of oil and has 2 filters. The subtransmission holds almost a qt. So it takes almost 8qts to service it

 

[mirabelorion]

It has some limitations but not many.I beat it hard that day knowing i had lots of help if i got stuck or busted it.
Myself i would have no trouble keeping up with 4 wheeler s or side by sides.But i have been driving of road all my life,at 12 years old i built my first VW derived offroad machine with my dad.Had 4 full years driving that without brakes when i got my license.No such thing as 4 wheeler s when i grew up. We lived in the bush and couldn't afford winches so you learned how to drive.Or you spent all your time learning how to get unstuck.
I thought about a dump bed,but it is so small that you can unload it fast. Adding additional weight would make it harder to keep up with 4 wheeler s and side by sides.It has a steel skid plate so it is bullet proof underneath,but adds extra weight.It is going to be replaced with plastic some day.I am slowly removing weight it dosn't need.It is going to get another 2" lift in the front and some flip over shackles for the rear to extend the suspension travel,and a rear locking diff.Then the difference between the 4 wheeler s and side by sides will narrow some more UTV accessories.
We have a pioneer 1000 and it absolutely sucks servicing. Love the machine. Engine/transmission holds 7.1qt of oil and has 2 filters. The subtransmission holds almost a qt. So it takes almost 8qts to service it

For those that use one for hauling the gear out, which brand/model would you recommend? I want just a basic 4x4, 2-seater with a cargo space in the back. No racing stripes, neon colors, or high lifts. Just a basic ugly work horse that will get the job done.

 

[walhondingnashua]

I don't have one but would love to get one, the Kubota would be my first choice for just a work machine. Personally I have been casually watching marketplace for an old John Deere 6x4 or an old Kawasaki Mule 4x4. A friends family had a 1999 Mule that they used for years. My parents still regularly use the 6x4 gator with the diesel engine that was on our farm for years. I personally took part in beating the sh!t out of both of these machines and they just keep going. Pricing realative to a new machine just for work purposes I feel they are a steal.

 

[John Galt]

Forgot about it, but I have a neighbor with a Kubota UTV. He swears by it. He is a farmer and it is not a "toy," but just another tractor to him. If it's going to be primarily for work, the Kubota might be a good option.

I just got the Kubota RTV1130. It has a 4 1/2' x 6' hydraulic dump bed that will haul 1200 lbs. As mentioned, it's not a toy or a race car but a work truck. Only goes 25 MPH but that is plenty on my road and I rarely have had it above 20. I tow the splitter down to the piles and start stacking in the bed, then I can back up to the shed and unload without bending over again. With plywood bed extensions I can hold two yards of wood chips and dump them in seconds.