Successful Farming Ultimate UTV Evaluation

[Member]

Thanks for posting this. I'm interested because I recently purchased a Honda Pioneer 700-2. I'm happy with it.

I compiled and sorted the ratings. Here they are:

Unloaded:

Rating	Rank	Machine
47.57	1	Polaris Ranger XP 900
47.04	2	John Deere Gator RSX 850i
46.65	3	Honda Pioneer 700-4
46.13	4	Yamaha Viking
46	5	Arctic Cat Prowler 700 HDX
42.82	6	John Deere Gator XUV 825i
42.3	7	Bobcat 3400
35.8	8	Kubota RTV X900

Loaded:

Rating	Rank	Machine
48.18	1	John Deere Gator RSX 850i
47.7	2	Honda Pioneer 700-4
47.66	3	Arctic Cat Prowler 700 HDX
47	4	Yamaha Viking
45.9	5	John Deere Gator XUV 825i
43.83	6	Polaris Ranger XP 900
40.5	7	Bobcat 3400
36.75	8	Kubota RTV X900

Total:

Rating	Rank	Machine
95.22	1	John Deere Gator RSX 850i
94.35	2	Honda Pioneer 700-4
93.66	3	Arctic Cat Prowler 700 HDX
93.13	4	Yamaha Viking
91.4	5	Polaris Ranger XP 900
88.72	6	John Deere Gator XUV 825i
82.8	7	Bobcat 3400
72.55	8	Kubota RTV X900

 

[texasjohn]

Well, wish I could see things rated such as.

pulling power before losing traction
night visibility for work conditions
lbs of carrying capacity, rated and
electrical accessory outlets
steering force, stop to stop, while not moving forward
durability of seats, floor mats
hours of operation, varying conditions, to empty full tank
ease/safety of entry/exit, driver/passenger side

Everyone has different needs and surely equipment is designed to meet those different needs.


everyone has different needs, tests should measure things that are difficult if not impossible for people to discover on the show room floor.

 

[timswi]

I'd like to see a video of them climbing hills with the RTV900..Bet they tried a "running" start in High range. High is for flat-landing..In M or L, my RTV1100 would climb a pine tree..As was said by others, I run out of traction before I ever come close to running out of power. They also seemed to have an issue with the machine weight...Isn't that the point for hauling heavy loads including trailers?...I also noticed that there were propeller heads involved in the review.

From the rating order, they seem more inclined to faster machines. I didn't need a sport machine, so I didn't buy one.

 

[Will_C]

I would not put down any machine, but I am happy with my RTV. Power-I guess it's relative, but mine has enough power to haul a measured face cord of wood in the back while skidding 2 12" by 12' long red oak logs behind it-I don't think I would want to be in anything but low range, as 5-6 mph was fine for me with that load-would not have wanted to go any faster!1

Will

 

[TableRocked]

Industrial toys, you may have a point there indeed.... and you are correct, I could get a used pickup, heck likely a close to new pickup for the cost of a UTV, but, with 95% of my property being dense forest, very rocky, lots of steep grades, also with a ton existing ATV trails, I "need" something that can navigate down those trails...plus the wife wants a golf cart to drive to the boat dock, also down an ATV trail through the woods....figured an UTV could serve both of our needs.....

Plus I need another vehicle to license, pay taxes on, and insure like I need a hole in the head....around here folks can drive these on the country roads without being worried about any of that......

 

[Xfaxman]

But they didn't include the "Ultimate" Farm UTV, the Polaris Ranger Electric.

It is so nice to go out there when it is way below freezing, turn the key, push forward, step on the pedal and you are going down the driveway. Took longer to type it, than it does to do it!


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/287792-electric-polaris-ranger.html

 

[TableRocked]

I would sure like to see a consumer reports style reliability survey completed by a large sample size of individuals for a similarly large sample of UTV manufacturers and models. Having owned a Range Rover, a Pontiac, multiple Hondas and Toyotas, and after talking with owners of like vehicles, I can tell you I don't care how "capable" a Range Rover may be, from 1989 through 2002, these things are so unreliable - electrical systems, coolant systems, transmissions, body rust (yes, the non aluminum parts), how anyone in their right might would purchase one thinking they'd wouldn't be wrenching on them all the time is beyond me. Toyotas, Hondas, as substantiated by Consumer Reports, some of the most trouble free vehicles on the planet.....

That being said, love to see a UTV Consumer Reports, Report......

 

[timswi]

I would sure like to see a consumer reports style reliability survey completed by a large sample size of individuals for a similarly large sample of UTV manufacturers and models. Having owned a Range Rover, a Pontiac, multiple Hondas and Toyotas, and after talking with owners of like vehicles, I can tell you I don't care how "capable" a Range Rover may be, from 1989 through 2002, these things are so unreliable - electrical systems, coolant systems, transmissions, body rust (yes, the non aluminum parts), how anyone in their right might would purchase one thinking they'd wouldn't be wrenching on them all the time is beyond me. Toyotas, Hondas, as substantiated by Consumer Reports, some of the most trouble free vehicles on the planet.....

That being said, love to see a UTV Consumer Reports, Report......

Personally I don't trust consumer reports....Anyway, given the treatment of these machines is so radically diverse, getting an honest widespread reliability review would be nearly impossible. Some beat them senseless, some don't. Some maintain them, some don't. Some leave them sitting in the yard their whole lives, some keep them in climate controlled garages -- etc. From what I've seen, if they are treated well and maintained well, there isn't a lemon in the bunch. Some are better at fun stuff, some are better at work stuff..All in what you plan on doing.

Asking others who own the machine as you would is the best reliability review there is.

 

[texasjohn]

I'd like to see one, too. No survey is perfect, but getting as large a sample size as possible is better than only relying on ads or anecdotal data. I've found Consumer Reports to be a good source of info...have purchased Toyota vehicles for 40 odd years...my experience matches the CR reported high reliability.

I would sure like to see a consumer reports style reliability survey completed by a large sample size of individuals for a similarly large sample of UTV manufacturers and models. Having owned a Range Rover, a Pontiac, multiple Hondas and Toyotas, and after talking with owners of like vehicles, I can tell you I don't care how "capable" a Range Rover may be, from 1989 through 2002, these things are so unreliable - electrical systems, coolant systems, transmissions, body rust (yes, the non aluminum parts), how anyone in their right might would purchase one thinking they'd wouldn't be wrenching on them all the time is beyond me. Toyotas, Hondas, as substantiated by Consumer Reports, some of the most trouble free vehicles on the planet.....

That being said, love to see a UTV Consumer Reports, Report......

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I think for the most part when people are driving a utv they don't expect they will need to use low range to climb hills or pull a load. I don't think many people doubt the Kubotas ability to move through various terrain or get over hills....the thing that separates them from the competition is that need for gear reduction. I've yet to see a hill that I've had to use low range on in my Gator 825i, I have friends with utvs including a Polaris Ranger, Polaris RZR and a CanAm Commander and all these machines will blast over any hill I've seen up here without shifting, they generally won't even lose any speed at all regardless of whether loaded or empty.


It seems a lot of people really like their RTV's which is great but for the folks who hop out of almost any other machine and get into the RTV it's going to feel like a major downgrade in the power department as well as suspension. It doesn't necessarily make them bad but it does hurt them in any side by side comparison testing situation.