help with utv selection for some one with physicalissues

[txcwgrlmom]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and I need some help with selecting a utv. I have looked at kabota, polaris, and a mule. My main problem is balance and getting in a utv safely. I flipped off a horse a couple of years ago and I now have the 2nd through 5th vertabrae fused. (No more riding for this cowgirl. Doctor's orders.) My uses are to check on the cows and duties on the ranch pretty much daily. I am leaning toward a kobata 500 rtv and mule 610. Both of these are easy to get into and four wheel drive. Conditions here are some brush, some annoying tallow trees to spray, and mud when it rains. I live near the coast so four wheel drive, roof, and a brush guard will probably be added. Pretty much open land so a tractor will have to rescue me if I am stuck. So if you have back issues etc. Please let me know your likes or dislikes with your utv. Thank you and God Bless

 

[ultrarunner]

Friend has a John Deere Gator because at 82... he couldn't get around anymore.

Every time I see him on the Gator he's like a kid again... gets out to see the neighbors and has little trouble getting around his place.

Is John Deere on your list?

 

[Cat_Driver]

I'd go with any 6x6. Deere has on Polaris has one. May be others. Just a tad bit more traction that a 4x4. a little safer. Good enough for the Military, should be brilliant for your needs. You can never ever be too safe in your condition. You also need to think about getting a Satellite phone if you don't have cell service in the boonies.

ON-DEMAND TRUE SIX-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
True AWD keeps you moving, automatically engaging all six wheels when you need more forward traction and reverting back to the rear four wheels when you don’t.


http://www.polarisindustries.com/en...011/Ranger/Ranger-6x6-800/Pages/Overview.aspx

http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/polaris-defense/2012/ranger/ranger-6x6-800/pages/photos.aspx

 

[txcwgrlmom]

I did look at a john Deere but it seemed to be very noisy but like your 82 year old friend I miss being able to ride through pastures etc on horseback and I am looking forward to being out and about like a kid again.

 

[prehm]

I would expect your back condition would beg for the smoothest ride. With that said, I would avoid the Kubota and the Mule. A UTV with full independent suspension will produce the best comfort. Smooth riders would include the Gator 825i and 855i, the Polaris Rangers, Artic Tracks, and the Honda Big Red.

I'm a Kubota RTV 900 XT owner and firmly am impressed with it, except for the smoothness of it's ride.

 

[patcopaul]

Also worth a look is the Kioti Mechron. Easy in and out, bench seats (seats 3), diesel and a hydraulic dump bed for about 11 grand. Beat that!

 

[texasjohn]

:welcome:
I love my Kubota 1140. I leave it configured with two bench seats all the time. Wonderful how it will take an extra 1, 2, 3, 4 extra people in an instant...or put stuff in and on second seat for easy access. It is a little lower to the ground than some competitive models...can be a good thing if you have problems stepping up into a vehicle. This makes it a little lower to the ground, but where you live typically ground clearance is not a big issue. I put hand holds in front and back...gives everybody, driver included, something extra to hang on to....not strictly necessary, but since I carry older people, kids, etc...I figured that they are a cheap extra safety margin. I notice that people use them more than half the time.

Top speed is a little over 20 mph....some people want to travel faster and this limitation bothers them...not me....I'm driving over pasture faster than a walking horse and seeing the country...good enough for me. The ride, you will have to decide for yourself if it is Ok for you. When going across pasture at slower speed, your ride is a function of holes and rocks you hit...springs are not a big factor here. Personally, when getting up to 15 mph or so across reasonable pasture, I've been impressed how the ride smooths out the bumps that I know are there.

One thing that was a big factor for me, power steering...not all vehicles have it....and this is important, easily overlooked factor...without it, steering at slow speeds, like often done with a UTV/RTV, can be a problem involving arm power and back motion....just something you will have to consider. Kubota steering is easy.

Turning radius with the 1140 is not as tight as I'd like it to be, occasionally have to do a 3 point turn. The hydrostatic transmission is wonderful. New models are improved over some several years ago...at that time people reported a decided screeching halt when you took your foot off the accelerator. Now it's very smooth slowing down and you have excellent smooth control if you realize you are going to stop and just slowly take your foot off the accelerator. This brakes the vehicle to a stop....I almost never use the actual brake pedal and then only when on a steep slope.

A roof and a windshield are mandatory.... I like the plastic roof on mine...wish I could get a glass windshield, the plastic one scratches far too easily. From Kubota, a glass windshield is available only with a metal roof.

I have tricked mine out with about 30 things that give it that extra usability/function customized for my use....and truly, these little things greatly improve the joy of using the vehicle....I've pulled a full 1000 gallon water trailer with it, flatbed trailer around the ranch, it carries all necessary fencing materials, tools, guns, etc...very flexible. And you need to carry a LOT of stuff since you never know what is going to come up on a ranch.

I understand your need to daily check cows and do ranch chores. Same here on 200+ acres. The Kubota is a work vehicle carrying almost everything I need all the time so I seldom have to make an unplanned trip back to the house for tools/supplies. Tool box in pickup bed is a must.

Am closing in on 200 hours with mine. It has been bullet proof, motor and transmission.....have had several flats, tried slime but a better answer is to get a spare tire, I have two, a right and a left.

Net, for me, I could have purchased something smaller and cheaper but know now that this would have left me struggling or coping with shortcomings with some frequency..... am very glad I did not compromise..... for a DAILY USER with a lot of different things to do, I made the right decision. A few more dollars than some other options, but then you get more, IMHO, AND IT'S WORTH IT. Am closing in on 70 and my body can't take what it once did, but the RTV helps me keep going.

I installed an inverter...so I also have 110 V ac power for electric tools, drills, saws, etc, where ever I am... a real help!

I put together a list of everything I needed and got bids from 6 or so dealers. I discovered some were stuck on sticker price while others were several thousand less.....so, figure out what you want and then get a bunch of bids....they will deal with you, or some will!

 

[txcwgrlmom]

Thank you Texas John for the advice. I am interested in knowing how you made your hand holds. Was this something you purchased or made? Seems to me in trying out various models that some extras would be nice. Also the invertor what brand do you have? Thanks a bunch.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hand Holds can be found at the Hardware Store where they have bath and shower accessories... I have bought heavy duty stainless ones at mine for ADA requirements.

Online, you will find the enclosed trailer dealers/accessory dealers have some nice handholds too for trucks, trailers and RV's

I have a 1200 watt and and an 1800 watt inverters... had the 1200 since 1990 and can't imagine being without the convenience to run a drill in the field... prior to that, I would lug my little Honda Generator... still have it for all day jobs...

 

[MrChris]

Sorry to hear about your horse accident. I was wondering why the Polaris 400/500 utv is not a consideration? Unless it is more difficult to get in and out of for you, I know that it has a much more forgiving ride with a softer suspension. It will also give you a bit more speed if you need to get over greater distances faster. The Kubotas claim is still more of a work vehicle than recreation use. The smaller Kawasaki 610 can be a little underpowered and again a stiffer ride. We use a 6x4 Gator on our horse farm. It works well for chores but is more of a work, rougher riding, slower moving machine. People have mentioned the 825 Gator but I feel it's in a bigger size and price category than what you said you have narrowed it down to.

 

[txcwgrlmom]

i did drive the Polaris 500 and I liked it but what bothered me was the floorboard. It is heavy duty plastic and the traction is not the best. I was worried about if the floor board became wet it could become a safety issue. I thought about taking my rubber floor mats out of my Nissan after I left the dealership to see if that made a difference. Also I noticed all utv's I tried had a handrail on the passenger side but not n the drivers side. This would make me feel safer getting in and out. I liked the Polaris and kabota 500 models because it was an easyslide in and out plus speed is nice but easy in and out is even better.

 

[txcwgrlmom]

thanks because not having a hand hold on the drivers side was a problem for me on some models I tested. I am glad to know there is an easy fix. I will look into the inverter. I have an electric weedeater with a hundred foot cord. I am thinking I can use that cord, my utv, and electric branding just got easier but I need to check the voltage on the brand first.

 

[Sawdustsmb]

We have a 6 x 4 gator here at the house and a kubota 900 at the farm. Gator has very low ground clearance and the Kubota, as reported, rides a little harder. My son was able to get the gator stuck 2nd day - the kubota not yet though maybe he is finally growing up (29) !!! and staying out of swamps.

Bob

 

[ultrarunner]

We have a 6 x 4 gator here at the house and a kubota 900 at the farm. Gator has very low ground clearance and the Kubota, as reported, rides a little harder. My son was able to get the gator stuck 2nd day - the kubota not yet though maybe he is finally growing up (29) !!! and staying out of swamps.

Bob

Besides having more wheels... what is the selling feature of the 6 wheel gators?

Is it better payload and traction on uneven surfaces?

I've thought about getting one and there are times when it would be a lot of fun too.

For the last 15 years I use my Suzuki Samurai as my UTV/ATV... only paid $1050 for it and it is street legal... no dump bed... but it does haul firewood, move the trailers around and so far I've never been stuck... well stuck for long... that is.

I was using it today and I think what I'm saying is it would be hard to justify 5, 10 or even 12k for an ATV/UTV

 

[texasjohn]

These are the handholds
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Auto-ATV/ATV-UTV-Accessories/UTV-Accessories|/pc/104796180/c/104695380/sc/104666580/Quad-Gear-UTV-Handholds/717058.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fauto-atv-atv-utv-accessories-utv-accessories%2F_%2FN-1100821%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104666580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104796180%253Bcat104695380&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104796180%3Bcat104695380%3Bcat104666580

this is my gun rack....one of them.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Auto-ATV/ATV-UTV-Accessories/UTV-Accessories|/pc/104796180/c/104695380/sc/104666580/Big-Sky-Racks-UTV-Bar/1276538.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fauto-atv-atv-utv-accessories-utv-accessories%2F_%2FN-1100821%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104666580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104796180%253Bcat104695380&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104796180%3Bcat104695380%3Bcat104666580

I recommend the above.

Lots of ideas here, not recommending the store particularly, it's good, but same stuff available in numerous places, including on line.

Cabela's: UTV Accessories


I recommend a hood rack and extra lights, fore, aft, side, cabin light, etc....if interested, let me know and I'll give you specifics.

Relative to the inverter, there are two kinds...pure sine wave and modified sine wave. Pure is quite a bit more expensive and necessary ONLY if you are going to run equipment that is sensitive to the electronic input....which you should NOT be doing from your UTV. You will have to decide what maximum wattage you need.... likely your electric branding iron pulls 1000 watts or more....you'll need to make sure your inverter can handle that...my inverter is 2500 watts, which is actually more than the battery/alternator can provide on a continuous basis. You might need an auxiliary battery for those branding occasions. Brand of inverter is not particularly important...but, carefully watch the watts it can provide.... you are going to need a lot of watts if you are thinking of using it for branding.

More questions?? Just ask, or PM me...glad to offer ideas. One idea would be to have a light weight step you could use to assist in getting into the front seat, then stow the step on rear seat or in hood rack. Wood or plastic...

When I track lots of mud into the RTV floor, I just get the power washer and wash it out....works for me. Have been in some terribly muddy situations...works for me.

 

[ruffdog]

I have a kubota rtv900 and am happy with my choice so far. I have drove others and work on neighbors polaris 4x6 and mule 2010. I installed a full cab and heater on the polaris and repaired the mule. Things I found out was the
4x6 steers hard and wears the front tires out quick. It will ride across rocky dry stream beds better than most 4x4s because of the extra tires. The mule is a early model that gets the crap beat out of it at a large horse farm.

The things that I liked with the rtv900 that sold me is how good it does things slow. With the hydro transmission, I have total control on even the steepest hills. Another item is the glass windshield that stays clear while plastic ones soon get so scratched and hazy that you can't see out of them. Another item was the hydraulic dump. I can load as much firewood in the back as I can and it only takes one finger to move the lever to dump. The last item is the power steering. It is such a treat to be able to steer it with one finger even when loaded.

The rtv900 only tops out at 25mph which is fine for my jobs. Shifting the transmission can be clunky until you learn the technique. It has great power and control so I can move the full hay wagons in and out of the shed and get them right next to the hay elevator.

My tip for you....test drive the (many) different units out exactly the way you would use them. If you will haul and dump weight in the bed, do it before you buy. Be realistic with your expectations and you will buy the right unit.:thumbsup:

 

[Sawdustsmb]

Besides having more wheels... what is the selling feature of the 6 wheel gators?

Is it better payload and traction on uneven surfaces?

I've thought about getting one and there are times when it would be a lot of fun too.

For the last 15 years I use my Suzuki Samurai as my UTV/ATV... only paid $1050 for it and it is street legal... no dump bed... but it does haul firewood, move the trailers around and so far I've never been stuck... well stuck for long... that is.

I was using it today and I think what I'm saying is it would be hard to justify 5, 10 or even 12k for an ATV/UTV

My gator is an older diesel so maybe the new ones are different but...
I think the original idea was to get more payload, however, when loaded heavy it does not steer well - I often keep the rear wheels at a higher inflation than the first rear set. Also in 2 wheel drive 2 rear wheels on one side drive. In 4 wheel all four rear wheels are locked up and driving making steering more difficult. Not good when the kid is making runs through the woods. Plastic is to expensive!
Bob

 

[Milo]

I am leaning toward a kobata 500 rtv and mule 610. Both of these are easy to get into and four wheel drive. .... Please let me know your likes or dislikes with your utv. Thank you and God Bless

I'll give you my thoughts on a Mule 610 which I bought new about 6 years ago. In short I love it!
It's been totally reliable never missing a beat. Both I and my wife find it so easy to slide in and out of (the roll bar is handy to hold on to) that our ATV's end up just sitting in the garage anymore. I let my neighbor take it for a spin and he came back grinning so I knew he was hooked. A few weeks later he bought one.

I appreciate simplicity in a vehicle like this. It's sealed, fan cooled CV transmission is efficient, quiet, and well proven. It operates just as smoothly as when new. The steering is light w/o needing to be power assisted and there's no bump steer. In other words when it hits a hole the wheel doesn't try to spin the steering wheel. The carbureted engine starts quickly usually w/o needing the choke. Sometimes in cooler temps I'll pull the choke but it can be pushed back in almost immediately. This little Mule just sips gas. It must hold around 4 gallons and we can run it for days on a tank.
The 610 has an open differential like a car so when turning it around the yard it doesn't chew up the grass like our ATV's can. Additionally there is a "diff-lock" position which locks both rear wheels together but I've only needed to use this feature a few times. It goes pretty darn well in 2WD but ours gets it's share of use in 4WD for steep hills, snow, stream crossing, mud, etc. The front differential is a limited slip.
There is a nice glove box and the "hood" lifts up to reveal a large storage trunk. (The engine is under the front of the bed.) The seat tips up and there is a place for an optional storage container.

Ours, nor my neighbor's, have ever been back to the dealer. In fact nothing has gone wrong with them. I bought the shop manual so what little maintenance is required I just do myself since it's so easy to work on. Basically once a year I change the oil and filter, drain the carburetor float bowl, and top up the battery water. Two years ago I adjusted the valves, changed the brake fluid, and changed the oil in both differentials.

Dislikes? I honestly can't think of much. I guess the 25 mph top speed would be for some but for the way we use it in the woods, fields and dirt roads it's probably seldom over 15 mph. It seems quieter than most UTV's I've been around, I notice a little more noise when I have the top on. The bed is steel so I had ours lined with a spray-in bed liner. The factory hard top is easy to put on and it looks nice but it was almost $200. If I can think of anything else I'll edit and add it here.

 

[ultrarunner]

I went to a local dealer yesterday that has mules, polaris, honda and can-am... probably 50+

They were really pushing polaris and can-am...

They do look like a lot of fun if that's the goal... I liked the mule the best because it seemed less to go wrong...

No Gator Dealers anywhere near here... so I only know the one Gator CX an elderly friend has... totally reliable for him and it has made him a kid again by being able to get around.

I get the feeling the SF Bay Area isn't exactly the hot bed for UTV's... almost never any used for sale locally.

 

[dmrp6510]

I would look at a Jd 825i with bench seat also the rebates are the highest intill may 31 get the best deal then apply the rebates 800.00