Work UTV ... narrow down some choices please

[TSO]

Back to the OP, I just picked up a John Deere 825i. it was a demo model that the dealer let me use over the weekend to see if I liked it. Well, I did. It is going back tomorrow to get a few things put on that I want.

We negotiated for $18K for it. Has 40 hrs time on it. It has full front, rear, and fender protection. Power lift box. Extra CV protection fore and aft. The larger spoked rims with the Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires. Included in the $18K price, I am getting a Deere windshield, full soft cab (third party), installed cab heater, and snowplow. And the factory warranty doesn't start till I get the 825i back, and the dealer threw in a extended warranty to sweeten the deal, along with a full service before they bring it back. All in all, I thought it was a pretty good deal. Should be a long term real workhorse.

I'm the OP actually... I picked up a nice, used low hour 620i for a great price (i think $7500, can't remember now LOL) with the power lift bed, open station (we don't want a cab on this) ... and we are very happy with it. I can't imagine another UTV being better, for our uses anyhow. That was back in the spring. But congrats on your purchase, the 825 sounds like a nice unit.

 

[Copperhead]

Great and Congrats! Looks like we both scored!

 

[Green Power]

So how is the 620I holding up?

 

[TSO]

So how is the 620I holding up?

No issues whatsoever, been a great machine.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's been two years of looking to find a good used RTV with no luck... just not that many around here.

My best deal so far is a 610 Mule XC camo with hard canopy and 2" receiver just under 9k out the door.

Some of the comments about being lawnmower like have me hesitant... it's a lot of money for a lawnmower that can't mow a lawn...

The Ranger 400 seems to be discontinued... so that is out.

Need 4 wheel brakes... 4 wheel drive... room for two and narrow enough to fit a full size pickup bed...

Must be dependable and reliable and able to negotiate 29 degree dirt trails...

 

[dalroo]

I have a 2014 610 Muke XC and it has been great so far. About 100 hours with no issues. I bought because I've always had good luck with Kawasaki, and it fits into pickup bed. Pretty simple machine without a lot of bells and whistles to break. Also will go anywhere I've taken it, including mud washing across bumpers. Pretty slow and limited to 25 mph, which is fine cuz my kids tool around on it at the ranch.

Added aftermarket soft top, windshield, receiver hitch, and made bed and floor mats out of rubber material from Home Depot. I think out the door I was at $8400, so with the add ons, and time passed, $9k seems about right.

 

[RollingsFarms]

It's been two years of looking to find a good used RTV with no luck... just not that many around here. My best deal so far is a 610 Mule XC camo with hard canopy and 2" receiver just under 9k out the door. Some of the comments about being lawnmower like have me hesitant... it's a lot of money for a lawnmower that can't mow a lawn... The Ranger 400 seems to be discontinued... so that is out. Need 4 wheel brakes... 4 wheel drive... room for two and narrow enough to fit a full size pickup bed... Must be dependable and reliable and able to negotiate 29 degree dirt trails...

The Ranger 400 is now the Ranger ETX.

 

[ultrarunner]

I learned the 400 had a unlockable differential and the ETX doesn't?

Have to step up to the 570 for that...

So much to learn...

My Kubota Dealer is also Kawasaki... he sells way more Kubota now as his customers like the Kubota Hydro and the braking it offers...

 

[EddieWalker]

One of the things the Kubota guy said when I was comparing them was that the Kubota transmission is so much better. It allows you to slowly crawl along if you want. His example was spraying fence line. I thought he made a very good point, but in the end, I went with the Mule. Sometimes while trying to go slow in the Mule, I remember him telling me that and how right he was. The Mule is not great at going super slow. It's fine a little faster, but that's faster then I want when spraying. Now when I tow my 300 gallon spray tank, I use my tractor. It's worth the effort to remove the mower, hook up the spray trailer, and then put the mower back on when I'm done over using the Mule. That really is it's weakest issue.

 

[ultrarunner]

Do you ever miss the hydro braking where you basically control all forward and back from the hydro pedal including slowing and park?

 

[EddieWalker]

Never thought about that. Brakes work just like a car and it stops on a dime. My Mule just doesn't do super slow very well. It's no speed demon either, but there are only two places on my land where I can floor it, and that's plenty fast for the ten seconds it lasts. I haven't even done that in years.

 

[ultrarunner]

We have a lot of steep up and down... very little flat... you know, the East Bay hills.

The Hydro sure makes it easy... can't remember the last time I used the brake pedal... all Hydro with the backhoe and lower the bucket for parking.

The kids do real well with the Hydro too... of course the difference in price is the Hydro Kubota is 50% more...

Until recently, I had no idea Kubota RTV topped out in the mid 20k range...

Two years of looking for something use and no luck...

Most dealers here sell only the sport models to people for recreation... not much ranch business.

 

[4570Man]

The brakes on my Mule work great. If I wanted I can lock up all 4 wheels on asphalt and skid to a stop. In fact I don't like the engine braking of the RTV. The engine braking on the Kubota RTV works so good if you aren't careful it will throw you into the dash especially an unsuspecting passenger. The payload of a Mule 600/610 isn't very good, but that's why I have a tractor. Compared to other side by sides a Mule is pretty slow, but plenty fast enough.

 

[ultrarunner]

Speed really is at the bottom of the list...

I have one very long steep downgrade... about a half mile of steep descent at a steady 29 degree.

With the Hydro I just take it slow.

I imagine with the Mule I would be riding the brakes the whole way???

 

[EddieWalker]

...Until recently, I had no idea Kubota RTV topped out in the mid 20k range...

Two years of looking for something use and no luck...

Most dealers here sell only the sport models to people for recreation... not much ranch business.

J & K Sales, Ltd

This is an auction place about 45 minutes from my place. They list items for sale before the auction and I've always used them for comparing prices. Sometimes they have really good deals. I bought my trencher from them.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks Eddie... it's been raining here pretty good... looks like we will get the reservoirs back to normal after 5 years!

My best to Mom and Dad...

 

[ultrarunner]

Just saw a local ad for a Ranger 400 with turfs...

Asking $6,000 which seems way too much.

I left a message asking for details... how many hours, year, service records... etc.

Turfs look good... not ideal for what I have in mind.

Who knows... if I can strike a deal... might have found something a lot less expensive for the interim.

The 610 Kawasaki is the one I've been considering...

 

[GolfAddict]

We have a lot of steep up and down... very little flat... you know, the East Bay hills.

The Hydro sure makes it easy... can't remember the last time I used the brake pedal... all Hydro with the backhoe and lower the bucket for parking.

The kids do real well with the Hydro too... of course the difference in price is the Hydro Kubota is 50% more...

Until recently, I had no idea Kubota RTV topped out in the mid 20k range...

Two years of looking for something use and no luck...

Most dealers here sell only the sport models to people for recreation... not much ranch business.

The RTVs can really get up there in price, but for a 500 in cammo with a hard plastic top, ATV tires, is $10206 on their build it page. Not sure what your dealer could do, but for only a little more than $1000 difference from the Mule you may want to take a hard look at one.

 

[ultrarunner]

The one at 9k started at $7500 plus tax, license, build and hard canopy and rear receiver...

It seems about $1500 over out the door... at least so far...

 

[GolfAddict]

The one at 9k started at $7500 plus tax, license, build and hard canopy and rear receiver...

It seems about $1500 over out the door... at least so far...

Ah, got ya now.