Any Gator HPX experience?

[rockyridgefarm]

Went by the dealer, and there sure was a lot of activity with HPX Gators. They were pretty well fitted out and were sold before they hit the ground.

I would have assumed that a used 6x4 would be an awesome deal right now, but specs and price are so close that it looks like the HPX is the way to go. Any ideas?

Should I hold out for a Diesel, or is the Kaw fine?

 

[cowboydoc]

I've had mine for quite a few months now and love it. The extra ground clearance was great in the snow. The Kawasaki has served us well in the 6x4's for years now. When we were turkey hunting this spring the independent suspension was nice for getting around in the woods. That is one place that is a definite improvement over the 6x4. This one is a cross more between an ATV and the 6x4. It's a great unit. You won't be sorry if you buy one. I got mine for a little over $7000.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Thanks Doc - is yours a 4x4?

I want to be able to pull a chain harrow with it. Is the gas OK, or should I go Diesel...?

 

[cowboydoc]

Mine is a 4x4. I'm sure the diesel would be great. You would have more torque for pulling. My girls pull an 8' drag harrow with ours. It slows down a little on the hills but not too bad. They also pull the hayrake with it too, well the 6x4, but same motor. If you want the diesel go ahead and wait for it but I sure haven't regretted having the gas one either.

 

[Dargo]

I've had 3 Gators in the past. Two of them were used and had the gas engine in them. Both gas engines went bad on me. If you price a replacement gas engine for one, you will find that the unit is totalled. The 3rd one was diesel. My JD dealer told me that he has seen numerous "worn out" gas engines, but never a diesel one. The Yanmar diesel engine was fantastic. However, after getting the drive belt wet and loosing power so many times I got rid of it too.

 

[cowboydoc]

I've put thousands of hours on the Gators and have had one problem with the motors. Our last one had 1200 hours on it. Sold it to a friend and his kids drive the heck out of it and it's still going strong. We've had several with 2000 hours on them and still on the original motor. We had one motor go bad last year on one my Grandpa owns. It had 2600 hours on it. A new motor for it was $750. I definitely think the diesel will last longer for sure.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

How is the HPX different than all the other gators? I don't see any substantial changes, whats the fuss about?

Deere has a following with the Gator, but they gotta do somthing new with it to address the RTV.

 

[cowboydoc]

How is the HPX different than all the other gators? I don't see any substantial changes, whats the fuss about?

Are you kidding me? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I think you need to do some substantial homework here, esp. if you are supposed to be a dealer. The Gator was completely redesigned from the ground up and does not even resemble the old Gators in any way. Everything on them was completely redone.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color="orange"> but they gotta do somthing new with it to address the RTV. </font>

make it UGLY?

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

I'm with Doc here Neil. For goodness sake, before you post a message, read a few times and see if it makes sense or not. The HPX is nothing like the 6X4 Gator and the only thing it has in common with the 4X2 is the 4 wheels and the color. The RTVs are pretty nice, I have yet to try one out though. To be honest though. I don't want that much machine. I am sure some people do want it, but I want something simple and straight forward. I bought a one year old Gator 6X4 last September and was glad I didn't see the new HPxs or I would had to have a brand new to run through the mud, get scratched by tree limbs, etc, etc. The RTV is just more than I need.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I have not really followed what they have done with the Gator of the years. I did see that it has a suspension and 4x4, thats not new but is it new to the Gators? One thing that did impress me is that the list prices seem to be more reasonable. It will probably put a pinch on Cub Cadet and some of the other companies. I am not going to hide my ignorance here, we don't sell nearly as many UV's as most areas do.

 

[Tractors4u]

Rear suspension is new for the Gators. So is having front wheels that pull. So is High and Low range.

In your first post you said;

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How is the HPX different than all the other gators? I don't see any substantial changes, whats the fuss about? )</font>

In your second post you said;

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have not really followed what they have done with the Gator of the years. )</font>

Why would you critique the Gators in your first post if you admit in you have not kept up with the Gators in the first place?

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Neil, Brent and I are gonna have to drop by and by you lunch sometime....

Doc, too, if he aint busy...

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Sure I'll be there and I'll bring my new HPX so we can go over the differences. I'll admit the Kubota has more "gadgets" but as far as a base machine they are pretty close to the same thing and I can get an HPX $3000 cheaper than a kubota. And before anyone goes off on me I'm not saying the kubota isn't a good unit. I have driven it and tested it out and yes I think it is a good unit. I just don't think it's that much different than anyone else and especially when you consider it's $3-5k more than comparable machines.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

My appologies, my impression was that the next Gator was going to be some huge deal. It just did not seem to me that there was much difference here. During the show season people where talking about a somthing that was going to one up the RTV. Thats what I was expecting, but it seems thats now where they went.

I do agree that its going to be a competitive unit because the price seems great for a true 4WD unit. Does anyone know what the actual retail price will be?

 

[cowboydoc]

The retail price of the 4x4 Gator HPX is $8999. There are quite a few design specific changes. What's so special about the kubota then I guess if you want to go that route? Besides the hydro what is the "ground breaking" change there?

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Its a lot heavier!

 

[Dargo]

I've owned 3 Gators in the past (2 gas and 1 worksite diesel) and have always been a diehard JD person. However, when I priced the HPX with the diesel, power bed dump etc. and other equipment that comes standard on the Kubota RTV, there isn't really any price difference. So, I went and drove the RTV. I guess it depends on what you want. The RTV is built much heavier and felt so much nicer to drive with the power steering and the hydro that it moved me, a lifetime JD customer, to purchase orange. I definitely have nothing against JD, I just feel that Kubota caught them sleeping. I won't say that I will never buy JD again, I'm just saying in my opinion JD stayed content with their old design too long and didn't keep up with new developments and got passed by a competitor's design for people who use the vehicle for work and pleasure as I do. Again, no offense intended at all to the HPX, I even like it's looks better than the RTV, but for the same money I thought I got more vehicle with the RTV.

 

[cowboydoc]

What price did you pay for yours Dargo?

 

[riptides]

I have seen them where I live for 10300, No negotiation.
The same dealer a few months back was 10500.


-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif