UV Question... Why not a Pick-up?

[SteveH_CT]

I've got a question... and please don't take this as a wiseguy remark - I'm sincere in asking this... Generally speaking how do folks justify spending $10,000 or thereabouts for one of these little utility vehicles? I have looked at the Gators that Deere offers, and I've seen Bota'a version online but I still don't get it.

Now take my situation, I've got two lots.. 1 is about 8 acres, and the other one is very large, but I'm only going to be working 12 to 24 acres to start. To me it seems to make a lot more sense to buy a few year old compact pick-up for $10,000 - it would give me so many more options... especially being able to drive it on road or off. Now granted... some of these little beasties have dump beds... but very little dump beds with kinda low capacity. So what would a UV do better (other than fit in a smaller space) or more cost effectively than a small pick-up? I saw one post on someone looking to get one of these, and of course the cab is extra.. heat is extra... Last time I'll say it... why not just get a small pick-up? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I'll close by saying I deny no man (or woman) their share of toys, and these look fun to ride around, but just try to let me see what I'm missing here. Thanks All!

 

[Tractors4u]

I would say the small size is the biggest factor. I have an 02 Gator 6X4 and I have taken it places no mini truck would fit. When I ride my fence line and I see something on the fence I can easily lean out and move it. It is just more convienent than a small truck for me. I paid I think $6200 for mine last year. If you had a small truck that you could take on the road, you would also incur tag and insurance costs.

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm with Brent. There are many places that I go with my Gator and Mule that the pickup would never get to. The biggest thing I like about one is there are virtually no tracks. With my small pickup you can see right where you drove for days. With the Gator a few hours later you don't know you drove there. It's also extremely handy. There are days we're on and off that thing 200 times/day building fence. All of the tools are right there. No leaning across the bed, etc. It's very nice for checking cattle, no obstructions to look out. I can put animals right in the back and go really slow and hold them in. Not to mention all the field and pasture work I do with it. We disucssed this awhile back. Do a search. For me if I had the choice between the two I would take my Gator hands down. If you add up insurance, fuel, registration etc. it wouldn't take too many years for a Gator to pay for itself over a small pickup for me. And as far as paying $10k for one most of the guys that bought a $10k one would have been just fine with a $6-7k one.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Thats kind of what I thought - getting into a place that a p/u, even an S-10 wouldn't. Ideally for me, when I move to the larger lot, I hope to get an ATV for "run-around" type work, fence fixing, and perhaps going out to drop trees in the farout sections. If I can find an old dump body truck I'll really be set for the type of clearing I've got ahead of me there.

Thanks for your answer though - it confirms what I was leaning towards. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

You make some great points there - I don't have cattle - just land with lots of trees and rocks that I hope to move out and cut down.

Thanks,

 

[yellowsocks93]

The Gators really do have low low compaction on the ground. I can easily make it through muddy places and such even with our 4x2 Gator. Today I got the chance to really drive a 6x4 Gator and I love it! Those are sweet and to me they are built a little tougher than the new Gator HPX. JMHO. I like the full underbody skid plates of the Gators cause you don't have to worry about wrecking anything. Every inch of the bottom of the JD Gator is inclosed in solid steel!

 

[jinman]

Steve, here are a list of reasons I like these UVs over small pickups:

1. Weight - UVs normally weigh less than 1,500 lb, and are often rated for pulling trailers and hauling loads that double their weight (800-1200 lb in bed + 1200 lb in trailer).

2. Ease of access to the cab - getting in an out of the open cab is very easy and quick

3. Dump bed - I've had two with power dump beds, and they are terrific. Everything from limbs to rocks and wood chips to sand can be dumped, saving my old back a lot of work.

4. Small engine with great fuel economy but plenty of guts to do a lot of work

5. Slow speed granny gears that are not common in pickups

6. CVT transmissions that change ratios automatically when/where you need more torque or power

7. Short wheelbase and very little overhang of the body so you can cross deep ruts or small terraces without bottoming out

8. Short size overall -Typically less than 11' total length

9. Slow speeds - for farm work, you rarely need over 25 mph and they are safer because you don't get into trouble because of excessive speed (althouh you can go too fast sometimes, even at 25 mph)

10. A vehicle ready to go through mud or water with its high-floatation tires. If you get stuck, you can get out with a simple come-along rather than an expensive winch.

These are probably my top 10, and I could think of more. I just think the UV is the perfect tool for any place with 10 or more acres and the need for lots of small jobs like building/maintaing fence or cutting and hauling firewood. The flexibility of UVs is limited only by your imagination. In my opinion, a small truck will be a lot more inconvenient and much more cumbersome to do the same jobs with. To me a UV is a "cheap Jeep" with a lot more cargo room in the bed. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cottonhawk]

I have a 2004 Polaris Ranger 6x6. This rig can climb hills no pick-up can even come close. It's hard working can pull and carry heavy load and provides a lot of fun too.

 

[Cottonhawk]

Here is a pic of the Polaris Ranger 6x6.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Thats very cool looking - my Brother has a couple Polaris ATV's - they are tough machines.