UTV Suggestions

[CPTKILLER]

I have a Ranger 500 albeit replaced by the 570. It is simple, reliable, safe, and can do whatever is needed. Mine is basic without a top, or windshield or doors. It has been fine for Central Texas weather.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

First off, nice idea for your dad.

Don't take this wrong, but at 82 I'd go with comfort and maintenance as the deciding choices. That leaves out golf carts as the batteries require charging. My FIL never charged his, and it ended up sitting for a year before he basically forgot about it. If the plans are to inherit it, you might also consider what is best for you.

Comfort and ease of use are my deciding factors. Good luck to you.

They do have gas golf carts too.

 

[tradosaurus]

I'm shopping for a UTV that my 82 yo father will use to putt around the farm. He primarily would use it to check his groundhog spots throughout the year and a slow cruise around the property. I'll use it occasionally to carry a chainsaw, tools, pickup the mail and trash cans, simple stuff like that. He does drive on some manicured trails, nothing really rough, rocky, or muddy. The only UTV I've checked out and driven so far has been the Polaris Ranger SP 570 as it checks the boxes on price and size. It's a little tall for my dad to be able to slide onto the seat due to his bum knees and old legs. He can't step up into something easily. The Ranger seemed more for performance than pleasure. My other options are the Kawasaki Mule SX and the Kubota RTV520. I haven't seen the Mule or RTV in person yet, but they seem similar in size and look to be easy to get in and out of. Both seem to be nice to just put it in H or L and press the gas to go. Simple is best for the old man. I ruled out the Honda Pioneer 520 due to the reports of jerky shifting from the geared trans. I'm leaning toward the Kubota so far since the trans is HST which should make it very easy and smooth to drive. I don't have any UTV experience so if you can add some insight to the models listed as well as any models worth mentioning, please do so. If you need a ballpark price, let's call it <$12,500.

You need to bring your father with you and test drive various brands (Don't rule out anything) as well as a golf cart mentioned above.
What you like may not be what your father will like.

 

[EddieWalker]

I bought a Kawasaki 4010 TransMule for my place. When looking, I wanted something to haul materials around the farm, but also able to carry 4 people and an ice chest in the back for fishing at the pond. I like how easy it is to get in and out of, and how easy it is to drive.

What surprised me is how quickly my parents took to it. My Mom has never been very adventurous, and never does anything outside her comfort zone. The day I bought the Mule; she couldn't wait to drive it!!!

She is 84 now and I've had the Mule since 2011. She still drives it almost every day. Mostly she works in the gardens with my wife, but she also keeps everything cleaned up after a storm. Then she hauls everything to the burn with the Mule.

 

[mikester]

First off, nice idea for your dad.

Don't take this wrong, but at 82 I'd go with comfort and maintenance as the deciding choices. That leaves out golf carts as the batteries require charging. My FIL never charged his, and it ended up sitting for a year before he basically forgot about it. If the plans are to inherit it, you might also consider what is best for you.

Comfort and ease of use are my deciding factors. Good luck to you.

Forget electric, get a gas engine golf cart.

Club Car uses little 350cc single piston Kawasaki engines with real spin on oil filters and they run forever. The motors even have a governor you can adjust to match his skill level. Lots of torque for hills. He doesn't need speed. Think of it as a powered wheelchair.

You won't beat a golf cart when it comes to comfort, low maintenance, easy to use, and by far the easiest machine to get in and out of. Comes with 4 or 6 beer holders. Made for old fat drunk men to get in and out of and operate easily. 82 is getting up there for mobility issues, he will hate having to climb in and out of a UTV.

I need shin pads to get in and out of my UTV. Having to use a key to start and stop really bites.

If you need a box get a carry-all. I wouldn't bother because they are stupid expensive and harder to find.

I had one of these

You can get a flip down rear seat that make a nice flat bed.

I got mine 3 years old at the end of lease from a Club Car dealer at the end of the season. They have tons of used and new in the yard at the end of season. Got a really good deal on it because they don't want to hang onto inventory over winter. Drove mine for 20 years and then sold it for more than I paid for it. Your old man will probably only need to fill the tank with 5 gallons once a year because they are so frugal with gas. My sidekick will drink that in a few hours.

The Mules are nice machines but harder to find. Golf carts are everywhere around here.

 

[JeepHead]

I would take your dad around and have him check them out and find what he likes. My sister bought a brand new Club Car golf cart with the Kawasaki engine a couple years back and I absolutely hate that thing. IT is the most rough riding and uncomfortable thing to drive around in. The SxS's ride so much nicer and IMO are not anymore difficult to get in/out of than a golf cart is. I found the Kawasaki Mule 4010 to be extremely easy o get in and so is the Honda Pioneer. Not to mention the SxS will hold value much better than a used golf cart ever will.

 

[TractorNoob85]

I appreciate all the good suggestions. I took my dad with me to sit on the Ranger 570. He was basically trying to scoot his ass up on the seat instead of stepping up into it. That's when I knew something that tall wasn't a good choice. I have a local dealer with a Mule SX FE model available. I'll try to take him to see that one over the weekend. Hopefully they do test rides. I hate the idea of buying something without feeling it out first. The golf cart would be a great option if he wasn't going to drive it through the woods and I want something with more utility in mind. The Kubota is still on the table too as it is probably the smoothest operating. The maintenance and replacement of Kubota parts puts me off a little. My Kubota dealer is 25 miles away while Kawi parts can be had everywhere.

 

[1 Old Man]

I bought the Kawa Trans 4010 mule in 2018. Seats 4. You can get a model that seats only 2, but
I got g-kids so...... also got a roof for it. Anyway, use it almost every day, fencing, tree work, some
limited spray applications, fishing, checking out the property, etc etc even loaded a dead feral hog
or two in it. Visitors can use it to give themselves the "tour". I've had absolutely 0 problems with it.
Has a locking differential and 4wd. Some of the best money I've spent.
And the best part for me? My wife loves that thing.
Good luck in your search.

 

[ranger13256]

Kawaski Mule SX 400 would be perfect! Simple, cheap, reliable!

 

[Fields_mj]

I have a friend who has about 120 acres and heats with firewood. He's in his 70s now, but I've known him for over 30 years. He's been running the same two gas golf carts the entire time I've known him. In the late 90s he looked real hard into getting a UTV, but decided they just didn't offer enough benefit to justify the added cost (and they were a LOT cheaper back then). If he needed to pull, push, or haul more than he could fit in the golfcart, he'd either use his tractor (an old Satoh) or a pickup truck. The UTVs just didn't have enough payload capacity in his opinion.