Looking for a nice UTV for about $2k. What should I be looking for?

jkski · Jul 22, 2013

I just completed building my home on 5.5 acres and am looking for an inexpensive UTV for use around the property while clearing brush, hauling firewood, mulch, etc. and just simply to tool around on. I don't want to spend a lot as it will sit a good bit and I really do not need 4wd so I am looking to spend about $2k. What if anything should I be able to find in that price range (year, make, hours)?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

aczlan · Jul 22, 2013

We spent a little less than that on a used Toro Workman (now called the Workman MD), I would also look at the older Landpride, Deer Gator or Kawasaki Mule machines.

Aaron Z

hunterridgefarm · Jul 22, 2013

For 2k I think you are not going to find much in the UTV category, at least that's the way it is around my area.

Have you thought about a gas or battery golf cart? You can get a good used machine for around 2k. Not sure how much firewood they can haul but you could tow a small trailer.

Agent Blue · Jul 23, 2013

For 2k its not what should I be looking for ...... it should be look at anything you can find. Four grand doesn't even buy much in my area. Advertise for a 2x2 gator. Good machine, many produced.

Code54 · Jul 23, 2013

Yep - 2k is a real tough number. Looking at some well used off brand machine. Around here a rode hard put away wet, 5000+ mile, beat like a rented mule Rhino fetches 4K. I just sold a nice 5 year old one for 7500 and everyone told me I priced it way to low????
Golf carts can be found at that price that are decent and every once and a while I see a used mule for around 3k that is a little rough but still decent. The only thing I can think of used is Yerf Dog machines in that price range - I really know nothing about them so someone else maybe able to tell you about their capacity/quality.
Good luck

jkski · Jul 24, 2013

Thanks for the replies and honesty, I figured that $2k was likely a little bit of a dream figure for a decent machine, so I will just have to up my limit. A 2wd unit is all I really need as I have a tractor and skidsteer to use for the tough stuff. I have seen the YerfDog units for sale, just afraid of the reliability aspect and how available parts would be when something breaks. The American Sportworks Landmaster series looks pretty nice but for the price of a new one you can likely get a decent used Gator, Mule or Ranger and I think it would be better to stick with a major brand at that point.
Again, appreciate the thoughts and advice.

aczlan · Jul 24, 2013

Again, if you can find one, we paid $1400 for a Toro Workman. 16HP 2 cyl Briggs, 40"x46" dump bed, would hold as much as you could fit on it.
We ran it for ~1 year in which time we rebuilt the starter, did some other minor work and then sold it for $2000. The guy who bought it rhinolined it where the paint was coming loose, rebuilt the carb and it still needs a steering gearbox rebuild, but it works fairly well offroad (tends to wander on pavement though).
Here is one that looks like a newer version of what we had: 2005 TORO WORKMAN 3200 UTLIY VEHICHLE, appears that it will have four wheel juice brakes (vs rear wheel cable brakes) because all four wheels bolt on. New seats are $50-80 each from Surplus Center.

Another, a Gator for $2300: 03 John Deere gator and 07 foreman 500 I would look at it with someone who is familiar with golf cart clutches as the drive clutch is NLA if its broken and I wouldn only go to see it with cash in hand (no money order or "Ill ship it to you" stuff).

Aaron Z

EddieWalker · Jul 24, 2013

I started out looking for something twice that amount that I could fix up or get by with. Used and abused didn't bother me too much, but what I saw in that range was in way worse shape then I wanted to deal with. My goal was to have something to use around the place from time to time and not something that I expected to use all the time. The longer I looked, and the more I read on here, the more I increased my budget and the amount of debt I was willing to go into. In the end, I went with a brand new Kawasaki Trans Mule and that I financed. The payments where small and I paid extra every month to pay it off quicker. The best thing is that I never have to work on it, it always works and it's turned out to be something that gets used all the time. I think that if I had bought a junker, it would have sat around and just taken up space.

Eddie