What to purchase

[MACDABS]

I sold my 4 wheeler and want to purchase a UTV for snow plowing, hauling wood, and something to have fun with. I have a 110 TLB for heavy duty work so the only implement I will need is the bed lift and a snow plow. I have been looking at the John Deere XUV diesel and gas version. I love diesels but the gas version is much more quieter. I also am considering the Polaris 700XP or HD version and love the room and bench seat plus storage space everywhere. What kind of deals should be expected? Is a diesel better for a UTV ? Is 30 MPH max speed disappointing? Has anyone owned both and has reasons why one is a better machine or value over the other? I will also be adding the roof, and windshield, no full cab. Thanks again for your input.

Macdabs

 

[2fast2]

I recently bought the Deere diesel XUV and it is a little louder than the normally muffled gas version but not so loud you can't talk over it when riding two up. The gas version with the high performance exhaust is loud IMO.
I've got 10 hours on it now, was filled to the brim when new (at 0.2 hours) and I just added around 4 gallons of diesel to bring it back to the top, so it is really a fuel miser and that is something to consider.
I talked to a guy from MI who was selling his 850D XUV on ebay a while back, he used his for snow plowing and said he typically used around a 1/2 gallon per hour and it had all the torque and power he needed to plow his lots and the neighbors. He was selling it because he ran into trouble with the law for driving it on the road to do all this, so he was going to get an old Jeep instead.
What to buy is a personal choice and you need to consider local dealership support, what you want to do with it, how much work versus how much play, etc. I feel good about my purchase, but there are plenty of choices and hopefully others will share their opinions as well.
Good luck.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

people can say what they want but i seen a honda big red the other day with some 27"tires i think they was iether mudlitexl's or 589's but man it was nice. you would be surprised at what a nice set of tires will do to the apperance of a utv. and it don't have that small of a engine too.so you might wanna look into them and hey it's a honda they do run forever.

 

[MACDABS]

I was hauling dirt from one end of town to the other passed a Honda dealership 20 time that day , pulled in and glanced at the BiG RED. I can't get past the ugly looks of the machine. I call it a 50 footer...... looks good 50 feet away , or 3 bar stools down after 3 beers. I admit nothing is more dependable than a Honda .


Macdabs

 

[nmu98]

I have a Gator XUV in diesel with the top, 1/2 windshield, and rear screen. The one thing I will tell you is that the top and windshield hold the noise in and make it louder. I have added a water proof sound deadening material to under the box and under the seats. I am consdering adding a piece of metal behind the seats to deflect the noise back.

I think a 1/2 gallon per hour might be high if you just putzing around. I have 16 hours on mine and still have more than a 1/2 tank.

The Polaris with a top and windshield is still loud. The one I drove rattled alot.

I like the bench seat and storage of the polaris and I do not feel the need for more speed out of my gator.

Either unit will do well for you.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

throw a lift kit and some nice tires on it and thats a sharp machine .

 

[MACDABS]

Still looking, I am starting to lean towards the Ranger over the Gator. I love my John Deere products I have purchased and love the diesel option for torque, but the Gator seems to lack storage space and I like the tilt wheel and layout of the Polaris better. The major drawback I have with the Gator Vs the Ranger is no bench seat. I will use this machine for hauling wood and property chores like plowing,but also would like to load my wife and daughter for trail cruising& family time . I am debating on the Browning Ranger XP edition , or the standard Ranger XP and add my own uprgrades.. Has anyone purchased the 2009 XP Browning Edition? If so, is it worth the added cost for the extra options over the standard XP?

Once, again thanks for everyones input...

Macdabs

 

[nmu98]

Still looking, I am starting to lean towards the Ranger over the Gator. I love my John Deere products I have purchased and love the diesel option for torque, but the Gator seems to lack storage space and I like the tilt wheel and layout of the Polaris better. The major drawback I have with the Gator Vs the Ranger is no bench seat. I will use this machine for hauling wood and property chores like plowing,but also would like to load my wife and daughter for trail cruising& family time . I am debating on the Browning Ranger XP edition , or the standard Ranger XP and add my own uprgrades.. Has anyone purchased the 2009 XP Browning Edition? If so, is it worth the added cost for the extra options over the standard XP?

Once, again thanks for everyones input...

Macdabs

You had the exact same thoughts I had when i was looking. Only reason i have an XUV is I found one real cheap used. You might find more info on the polaris at ATV sites.

 

[bmac]

Still looking, I am starting to lean towards the Ranger over the Gator. I love my John Deere products I have purchased and love the diesel option for torque, but the Gator seems to lack storage space and I like the tilt wheel and layout of the Polaris better. The major drawback I have with the Gator Vs the Ranger is no bench seat. I will use this machine for hauling wood and property chores like plowing,but also would like to load my wife and daughter for trail cruising& family time . I am debating on the Browning Ranger XP edition , or the standard Ranger XP and add my own uprgrades.. Has anyone purchased the 2009 XP Browning Edition? If so, is it worth the added cost for the extra options over the standard XP?

Once, again thanks for everyones input...

Macdabs

The Browning model certainly looks nicer than my plain green XP. And I was torn between the two. In the end, though, I couldn't justify the price difference (which I think was about $2k).

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

out of all the rangers the browning does look the best.

 

[bigdeer2000]

i have an rtv 1100 and a ranger xp. if i was going to plow snow in Pa.i would pick the rtv 1100 with cab heat. i bought my ranger about 9 months ago and of course polaris has come out with the new ranger hd. i am currently fighting the urge to trade my ranger for the hd. good luck with your search.

 

[jcmseven]

In my opinion, you are looking at the two top overall UV's for both performance and work duties (the Kubota is right there for mainly work). I can tell you the Polaris is faster than my Gator. My dad has a new Ranger and it is quicker for sure BUT I have found very few times we have been able to even approach its top speed in real use. I will also tell you from personal experience the Gator 850D is the stronger pulling machine, hands down. I have owned the gas and diesel Gator's in the XUV line and the difference is huge with regard to power. The gasoline Gator is not in the same league. With regard to noise, I think the diesel is louder at idle and more quiet when moving and the gas is more quiet at idle and louder when working in the Gator line. In my honest opinion, I would go diesel Gator, Polaris product (either 500 or 700) and then gas Gator among those three. I like the Kawasaki engine it just needs about 5-10 more HP to be competitive with Polaris in this segment. I have never been bothered by my Gator's engine noise nor disappointed in its top speed. I have wished for more HP from even the diesel at times with the hills I see, but it has never let me down doing heavy work and will pull my dad's Polaris into the ground, especially at low speeds.

John M

 

[MACDABS]

In my opinion, you are looking at the two top overall UV's for both performance and work duties (the Kubota is right there for mainly work). I can tell you the Polaris is faster than my Gator. My dad has a new Ranger and it is quicker for sure BUT I have found very few times we have been able to even approach its top speed in real use. I will also tell you from personal experience the Gator 850D is the stronger pulling machine, hands down. I have owned the gas and diesel Gator's in the XUV line and the difference is huge with regard to power. The gasoline Gator is not in the same league. With regard to noise, I think the diesel is louder at idle and more quiet when moving and the gas is more quiet at idle and louder when working in the Gator line. In my honest opinion, I would go diesel Gator, Polaris product (either 500 or 700) and then gas Gator among those three. I like the Kawasaki engine it just needs about 5-10 more HP to be competitive with Polaris in this segment. I have never been bothered by my Gator's engine noise nor disappointed in its top speed. I have wished for more HP from even the diesel at times with the hills I see, but it has never let me down doing heavy work and will pull my dad's Polaris into the ground, especially at low speeds.

John M

Thanks, for your input. I am still confused on what to purchase. I did test drive the gas Gator outside and liked the machine, the diesel model was in the show room and the sales guy just started it and the noise was much louder at idle. I think I need to drive the diesel model at open throttle ,feel the torque , power and hear the noise.

I stopped again at the Polaris dealer and he is still waiting for his shipment of 700 xp rangers to arrive. The storage space and bench seat is why I have not purchased the Gator over the Ranger. Also I would like to drive one to compare it to the the 620 iGator I tested. If the Gator had a bench seat I would have never looked at the Ranger.... the 850d Cameo would have been in the garage. The angle plow for the Gator is nice, the Boss plow for the Ranger looks better, but no one has been able to give a price on it. They keep saying to go after market due to the price. The local Boss dealer said you need to purchase the plow at a Polaris dealer , my dealer said look at aftermarket again.
I also do not understand why the Gator has the tailgate rod system and rear brake lights are a option,not standard. Every other UTV has taillights and nicer endgate latch system.

sorry to rattle on , once again thanks for everyones input.


Macdabs

 

[nmu98]

I too thought WTF on the JD rear latch. BUT, after using it and the others, I love it. If you have something in the bed that has pressure on the gate, the JD one will open. Others will not. The Polaris I run with has broken his twice, now he dumps witht he gate closed, lowers, opens the gate and dumps again. All I make sure i do is open both latches at the same time.

You can quiet down the diesel with 2 washers on the parking brake system, and 20 dollars in sound deadening material on the bottom of the bed, but, you can never make the gator a 3 seater.

Good luck with your choice... Either way you go, you will be missing out on something.... But honestly, i don't think you will look back and wish you made a different decission either way you go. (I don't wish for a bench seat cause I love the diesel and other gator benifits)

 

[2fast2]

the diesel model was in the show room and the sales guy just started it and the noise was much louder at idle. I think I need to drive the diesel model at open throttle ,feel the torque , power and hear the noise.
Macdabs

Let me repeat what has been said by a previous poster, the diesel Gator XUV is fairly loud at idle, but IMO not at all loud while driving. If you want to stand next to it and talk while it is running, it might annoy you. If you want to use it to work or play, you'll be happy with it.