UTV or Mini Truck?

[robertwhite]

OK, Big time confusion in my head.

I need a small utility vehicle. Strictly small farm use, no off road (except fields), blah, blah, blah.

For the price of a used low hours Kawi Mule Trans ($5-6K) or the like, these used mini trucks sure do look appealing. Full cab, 4x4, hydraulic dump bed which is much larger than a UTV's.

What say the masses?

 

[Iangb]

I ran a Suzuki LJ81 mini truck for years on my farm. Looked a lot like this one:

Eventually replaced it with a used Polaris Ranger XP.

The little Suzuki was a tough little beast but had an awful turning circle and a very high centre of gravity..........it tended to fall over on hillsides and or soft ground. My place has some tight spots that the Suzuki found difficult to access compared to the UTV.
If you're on fairly flat open ground the mini truck may well suffice.

 

[robertwhite]

Thanks.

Anyone else?

 

[jcummins]

To me the UTV would be a blast compared to the mini truck.

I have a Kawaski Teryx. And I use as a farm vehicle, not recreation. It is in use, everyday, in/out all day long. It goes in the mud and wet without leaving track better than a tractor or truck. Having said that, unless you want to go faster than 25, I do...but admittedly a do a lot at less than 10mph, a mule has a much bigger bed and is probably a better utility UTV..

 

[bontai_Joe]

Since I'm an older guy (53) the mini truck would appeal to me. It has an enclosed cab to stay out of the rain, has heat and many have air conditioning. It is those kinds of things that would allow me to work longer, and be more productive.

 

[robertwhite]

Thanks again.

I did a search and a ton of reading and have come to the conclusion that the mini trucks are very unstable (high COG) and when the bed is loaded to the max the get very light in the front end.

I can easily see it tipping on a hill and can also easily see it getting front light due to the long wheelbase.

The street tires and low ground clearance of the mini are also things that make me lean towards the Mule Trans.

Can the mini be effective? Yeah, probably if you change out the tires and don't overload the bed, but I will be looking at a used Mule tonight. We shall see.

 

[Will_C]

I ahve always thought that a mini truck makes a lot of sense for many of us. I have always worried about parts and service, though. It seems that every mini truck "dealer" I have seen is a fly by night operation. That does not make me feel good about spending $6-7,000 on a mini truck.
Will

 

[Iangb]

This is what I ended up with.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_T1pXEgomXEQ/SsBDEX7N6cI/AAAAAAAAAEY/ckcKn2OFUvI/s720/XP1%20small.jpg

 

[luscsmith]

I have had one for two or three years and is very nice on a cold morning to be able to run out side and start up with heater and defroster going, go back in, have a cup of coffee then go haul what I need to.

 

[jcummins]

Since I'm an older guy (53) the mini truck would appeal to me. It has an enclosed cab to stay out of the rain, has heat and many have air conditioning. It is those kinds of things that would allow me to work longer, and be more productive.

Older....Joe don't do that to me....I'm 67.

 

[toy]

To me the UTV would be a blast compared to the mini truck.

I have a Kawaski Teryx. And I use as a farm vehicle, not recreation. It is in use, everyday, in/out all day long. It goes in the mud and wet without leaving track better than a tractor or truck. Having said that, unless you want to go faster than 25, I do...but admittedly a do a lot at less than 10mph, a mule has a much bigger bed and is probably a better utility UTV..

A friend of mine got a teryx and I drove it but I only got it up to about 25 mph, how fast will they go without blowing them up and what about the top speeds for the mule? From the posts that I have been reading it seems that the mule is a work horse but I get the feeling that they aren't very fast. Which side by sides will travel at a pretty good clip but yet will still be able to do work and also do some climbing and go in rough terrain and in some water{ mud holes and a shallow creek] occasionally? By the way I liked the teryx, it was a 750 le I believe with fuel injection are they very durable? I wouldn't be abusing one but I would want it to be capable if the occasion arose that I needed these abilities.

 

[toy]

I saw a suzuki samari the other day and I was thinking that they don't look any larger than some of the side by sides that I have been seeing lately especially the side by sides that has a front seat and a back seat, but you have to put licenses on the samari but you don't have to the side by sides, and where I live it isn't unusual to see 4 wheelers and side by sides on the main road. That don't hardly seem right does it? Do a little alterations and have a samari in a side by side disguise, hum a little redneck thinking.

 

[jcummins]

A friend of mine got a teryx and I drove it but I only got it up to about 25 mph, how fast will they go without blowing them up and what about the top speeds for the mule? From the posts that I have been reading it seems that the mule is a work horse but I get the feeling that they aren't very fast. Which side by sides will travel at a pretty good clip but yet will still be able to do work and also do some climbing and go in rough terrain and in some water{ mud holes and a shallow creek] occasionally? By the way I liked the teryx, it was a 750 le I believe with fuel injection are they very durable? I wouldn't be abusing one but I would want it to be capable if the occasion arose that I needed these abilities.

Mule top speed 25. Teryx...stock will run 30 in LOW, 50-55. Chip it, 60. with other mods 70-75. BUT on the mods, it not top speed, it how quick they get there and modded they are QUICK. You got the sport guys, then the utility guys which I'm one.

Having said all that, I have an 08 which is the carb version, and had a chip, but it created a mid range miss, and I took it off. I run around the ranch in low range all the time, since I seldom get over 15 mph. It is easier on the drive belt to run in low. I would not buy a carb version...very cold natured.

I built a tray for the bed to hold all sorts of ranch tools etc. I'd be lost without this thing. I don't think I could get it stuck, and you would not believe the places I've had it. And when I want to play a little, it's very agile. If I could change anything on this one....I'd like EFI, and a bigger bed, otherwise I like it a lot.

 

[project_X]

I'd vote for a mini truck, here's mine: 1993 Suzuki Carry, heat, A/C, 22,000km and I've added a dump box.

 

[whistlepig]

Older....Joe don't do that to me....I'm 67.

I'm 57. I'll stick with my ATV. I can get it done quicker and with less wear and tear on me and the pasture. When it's warm and dry or the ground frozen a pick up would work just fine. When the ground turns to soup is when a UTV or ATV is better. Although I have two 4x4 trucks and a 4X4 tractor I'm not going to rut up my pasture with these when the ground is soft. A UTV or ATV won't do that.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It all depends. Drawbacks to the minitruck I saw was parts availbilty, the cab if you have a lot of tree limbs and size. The advantage of the mini truck is the bed, if you need all that space then it is great, however you can get a decent trailer to pull behind a good UTV to gain you all that extra space and then some for those times you need it.

I like the UTV's more then mini trucks as they seem much more capable in off road situations. Since if I am going to be using a UTV it is because it is off road and most likely muddy. If it isn't muddy and is solid enough for a stock mini truck I will just as soon use my half ton pickup I already have.

 

[Cook123]

what would you expect? you old farts/

 

[toy]

Thanks jcummins for the response. I've looked at the artic cat, polaris, and the yahama side by sides also, but I haven't got serious about trying to make a deal yet. I know that I would want to sometimes go faster than 25 mph in order not to impede traffic when I would ride on the local county roads, but I would still want to be able to work with it and not lug it to death at 15mph or blow it up trying to go 35 or 40 mph.

 

[KentT]

Thanks jcummins for the response. I've looked at the artic cat, polaris, and the yahama side by sides also, but I haven't got serious about trying to make a deal yet. I know that I would want to sometimes go faster than 25 mph in order not to impede traffic when I would ride on the local county roads, but I would still want to be able to work with it and not lug it to death at 15mph or blow it up trying to go 35 or 40 mph.

Then, I suggest you look at machines with a High and Low range on their trannies. Several don't have this. Low Range on the Rhino and Teryx, for example, seem to be good for up to around 20 MPH or a little more, and let you do hard pulling or hauling, while High Range will go 35-45, depending on the machine.

 

[bontai_Joe]

I was just pointing out that after a certain age, comfort gets a little more important, especially if your back is as bad as mine. And I can't tolerate being in the cold like I used to, or the heat, or bouncing up and down at high speed on lumpy ground. Sad to say, all that stuff hurts anymore. As to the "street" tires on a mini truck, I am sure there are more agressive tread patterns available aftermarket.