UTV questions, RTV500, Mule 610, Ranger, etc.?

[badapplefab]

I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. I wanted a larger UTV, like the Mule 4010 or Kubota or the new gators. However, price and condition dictated my decision. I found a 2009 Mule 610 with just over 200hrs. I was hesitate, mainly because I live in the northeast and it was my means to plow my 500ft drvieway. I retrofited a John Plow to it (link below) and it work great. I mean it plowed 12inches of snow no problem. I've also used it to skid trees and brush. It has far exceeded my expectations. I've beaten it to **** and it still comes back for more. I'd recommend the Mule 610, you won't regret it. Best of all it fits in the back of my truck. Yes it is low on horse power and has a carb, neither has affect me.

Plow install link

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/192179-kawasaki-mule-610-plow-install.html

 

[jcmseven]

The previous post is why I do not recommend going with a Ranger used from someone I do not know personally or know maintains his/her equipment well. The other UTV's you mention are essentially light work UTV's; they are purchased by folks who use them to do the tasks you mention. They are slower, smaller and not as high performance in any way v. the larger 700 cc+ UTV's but they are bulletproof and vastly overbuilt for the tasks they do. I view the Ranger as a different beast. It is a UTV but is larger and more sporty than the other two. Used ones have been frequently abused and the Polaris warranty is pretty lean. This is not to say that they cannot be solid machines, but the track record of a subject machine is needed to determine this. I have owned a Polaris 800 EPS Ranger. I liked it and bought new. It was very comfortable and the best "just riding" UTV I have ever owned. It was not as good a work UTV as my current machine, but it was OK. Like you, I found Polaris build quality to be a little suspect. There were odd loose wires and plastic bits on the undercarriage and the frame design and construction was OK but not great. Despite this, it never gave me any trouble and ran great. I had about 100 hours on it when I sold it to a friend and he has put another 100+ on it with only minimal maintenance. The Polaris would definitely have more power, but it sounds like for the things with which you are going to use your machine, I would pass on that. My personal choice in your list would be the Mule, but you could not go wrong with the Kubota either.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Oops, by previous post, I mean the one done by Andy on page #1. Sorry.

John M

 

[Milo]

Satisfied Mule 610 owner here, bought it new in 2006. It doesn't generate a lot of speed but with it's gearing has all the power you'll need. The carb works well, it's easy to start warm or cold, and it just sips gasoline. The only problem I had was one time the wife ran it with the choke on for quite a while. It eventually stalled and wouldn't start. I saw what she did so I changed the fouled spark plug and it started right up. Never a problem since.
These little UTV's are quite well built and easy to maintain, just pick up a service manual if you want to do it yourself. I've taken ours all kinds of places including through streams. The XT with its additional clearance would go even better! Air to both the engine and sealed CVT is drawn from the top of the roll bar.