Work UTV ... narrow down some choices please

[Oldpath05]

Went thru all of this and 2 things:

Since looking for a working UTV, I am surprised that Bobcat hasn't been brought up. Don't have one, but they are in the same league as the Kubota RTV X series working UTV's. Was checking out Bobcat UTV's recently and considering.

I rarely ever hear of anyone using the Snowsport snow plow. Very good little sleeper of a plow. No need for all the cost like many plow setups. Total cost of a very good plow is $1000 or less and just a standard receiver for hitch in the front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4h__99SzMA&spfreload=10

Reviews from others:

ATV Plow Reviews | Customer Reviews of SnowSport All Terrain Plow

Maybe the reason Bobcat isn't mention much is because of the starting price on their web site is $12,500.00, and their site spec. didn't even show if it was 3 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. I thought $10,500.00 for my Rhino was outrageous, but it IS 2 wheel drive, 3 wheel drive, and 4 wheel drive.
And that Snowsport snow plow, I see why that's a sleeper plow, they would have to pay me to put that on my ATV-UTV, I've done enough snowplowing over the years so I know that would be a pain in the blank.

 

[aczlan]

I rarely ever hear of anyone using the Snowsport snow plow. Very good little sleeper of a plow. No need for all the cost like many plow setups. Total cost of a very good plow is $1000 or less and just a standard receiver for hitch in the front.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4h__99SzMA&spfreload=10
Reviews from others:
ATV Plow Reviews | Customer Reviews of SnowSport All Terrain Plow

Yep, its a receiver mounted plow. Hit something hard off center and you WILL bend something.
There is a reason most plows have two widely separated mounting points...

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

That's another thing i like about this 550, it has 4 wheel disc & the bigger wheels/tires which gives it more clearance. Speed is not a concern for me being i bought it as a work vehicle, i'll put it on our dead end road to blow it out occasionally or even to cool off some during warmer weather.
My son came in the other day after a hard rain & wanted to know if i went mudding, i let him know that wasn't it's intended purpose & i better not see sign of that, he got the message.

Ronnie

We looked at one of those before we bought the RTV500, really didn't like the "wheelwells" in the bed, so we didn't get it.


Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

To me with the steep terain makes 4 wheel brakes a necessity... otherwise the little Gator would do 95% of the tasks...

He did upsize the tires as the OEM were always getting flats with the new ones also having more plies...

Except of tires... that little Gator has been trouble free and used several times a week as an Estate vehicle...

He got a good deal on it new from a John Deere Dealer in the Valley as none of the farmers were interested in anything but 4wd and this is one wheel or 2 with diff lock...

 

[PRCWI]

The bobcats are essentially rebranded Polaris.

The 3650 is the same as the Polaris Brutus.

They are nice vehicles but just FYI. I like the extra functionality of the Brutus with the pto on the front but it certainly adds $$$ to the price tag.

I like the gravely atlas specs as well (also derived off the Polaris brand/chassis) but I haven't been able to test drive yet.

 

[Copperhead]

Maybe the reason Bobcat isn't mention much is because of the starting price on their web site is $12,500.00, and their site spec. didn't even show if it was 3 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. I thought $10,500.00 for my Rhino was outrageous, but it IS 2 wheel drive, 3 wheel drive, and 4 wheel drive.
And that Snowsport snow plow, I see why that's a sleeper plow, they would have to pay me to put that on my ATV-UTV, I've done enough snowplowing over the years so I know that would be a pain in the blank.

Yeah, it does have a higher starting point, but considering it has a lot of stuff already in the standard model that is usually spec'd out as additional stuff on other brands, Not so sure it is that big of a deal. Like complete under carriage protection from full skids plates to CV guards and radiator guard. It has 2 WD, which when it senses slip on the back, it automatically locks the rear axle, and if more slip, put in the front. Then you also have a switch on the dash for locking in 4wd all the time. And the bobcat 3400 seats 3 in the seat and hauls 1250 lb in the box. But then, the thread was started with a working UTV in mind, not a toy.

Well, many of the reviewers on the Snowsport site also have used the so-called heavier duty plows and still have pretty good thing to say about the Snowsport. One can complain about the cost of a UTV, but have no problem dropping a considerable amount for a plow that they perceive as better, though they have not done actual comparison plowing with something like the Snowsport. From the reviews I read on the Snowsport site, seems those folks like it.

 

[Copperhead]

Yep, its a receiver mounted plow. Hit something hard off center and you WILL bend something.
There is a reason most plows have two widely separated mounting points...

Aaron Z

Seen them work on pickups and hit some pretty sizable rocks and such and they just hop over the rocks and go back to work. Same for going thru ditches and other stuff. And they don't tear up landscape if one pushes snow off into the yard. Really ought to take a look at the pickup version videos on the snowsport site and see the crap they run these things in to. The ATV/UTV versions are the same critter of a snow blade setup.

See this vid and see if you can do as well with a standard snowplow as easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO1N0S-nIr4

 

[Green Power]

Yeah, it does have a higher starting point, but considering it has a lot of stuff already in the standard model that is usually spec'd out on other brands, Not so sure it is that big of a deal. Like complete under carriage protection from full skids plates to CV guards and radiator guard. It has 2 WD, which when it senses slip on the back, it automatically locks the rear axle, and if more slip, put in the front. Then you also have a switch on the dash for locking in 4wd all the time. And the bobcat 3400 seats 3 in the seat.

Copperhead, the Bobcats, are polaris's with white plastic basically.

 

[Copperhead]

So are Gators and a lot of other UTV's, being plastic. Point?

 

[DT86]

Copperhead, the Bobcats, are polaris's with white plastic basically.

I thought they were clubcar?

 

[Green Power]

I thought they were clubcar?

In the past, on some models. All current models are Polaris.

 

[Xfaxman]

I thought they were clubcar?

In the past, on some models. All current models are Polaris.

Yep, the 2200 series was made by Club Car.

Our first one was gasoline powered.

Traded it in on the diesel version.

 

[ultrarunner]

How did the gasoline version work out?

Sometimes see them advertised around here.

 

[Xfaxman]

How did the gasoline version work out?

Sometimes see them advertised around here.

It was a workhorse, never got stuck, great 4WD system. Went to diesel because we had a 100 gallon offroad diesel tank and no other gasoline equipment. Too much of a hassle messing with the gas cans.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

It was a workhorse, never got stuck, great 4WD system. Went to diesel because we had a 100 gallon offroad diesel tank and no other gasoline equipment. Too much of a hassle messing with the gas cans.

Just the opposite for me: Diesels are a PITA in the winter with fuel mixing and below zero temperatures.

 

[ultrarunner]

Good to know... have to keep both on hand and gas is easier because I can fill from the tank on my truck...

Diesel always means taking the 5 gallon jugs to one of the few stations that have Diesel and having to pour holding the jug to fill my tanks...

Gas has a coiled hose that can stretch 15' in a pinch...

It can be years before we see even one night of frost here in the SF Bay Area...

 

[jcummins]

Good to know... have to keep both on hand and gas is easier because I can fill from the tank on my truck...

Diesel always means taking the 5 gallon jugs to one of the few stations that have Diesel and having to pour holding the jug to fill my tanks...

Gas has a coiled hose that can stretch 15' in a pinch...

It can be years before we see even one night of frost here in the SF Bay Area...

The exact opposite for me.

 

[petebert]

A few pages back I had asked about UTV's and their snow removal abilities. I ended up buying a low hours Rhino 700 and putting a softcab on it, it came with a plow. We just got 6-8" of snow and it rocked. I did my 1/4 mile driveway, I didn't completely clean my road but I did a car widths path about 1/4 mile long on the dirt road I live on since the county sometimes takes a few days to make it out. I also did 2 passes on my neighbors 1/4 mile driveway. I didn't put any weight in the back or anything, just drove it as is.

 

[ovrszd]

The exact opposite for me.

Yeah, me too. I burn 200 gallons of fuel a month. Everything is diesel except my Rhino ATV and chainsaws. Have a 50 gallon transfer tank in my truck. Buy diesel 1 mile from my farm.

 

[jcummins]

Yeah, me too. I burn 200 gallons of fuel a month. Everything is diesel except my Rhino ATV and chainsaws. Have a 50 gallon transfer tank in my truck. Buy diesel 1 mile from my farm.

Gas is a lot more volatile too. I do at times wish my diesel gator had a little more oomph. But in all honesty that's only about 10% of the time.