XUV 850D has arrived

[Donegal TDI]

If you've been following my attempts to get hold of one of these,
well, I got one.
It's not available for sale in Europe yet, but I managed to negotiate a deal with a guy that had returned home to Ireland from the US with an XUV for his father.
The father decided not to take it as he prefered the familiarity of his old 6 wheel gator and he told his son to sell it on. The son has a young family and is building a house so it was a wise move for them.
I collected it one week ago today with exactly 3 hours on the clock, used my cattle trailer to transport it and it just about fitted in, 1" clearance all around and top, but I got it home without a scratch.
It is bog standard, but has a power lift for the rear bed.
It has a cab and a glass front shield and wiper, but is fitted with the soft doors, and a soft rear window.
I hate this as when it gets dark you can't see out of the darned thing, especially when it's wet.
I've gone a little mad and ordered a stack of stuff for it at the local JD dealer, a decent enough sort who knows the story. I've ordered:
01.Glass door kit including rear glass screen.
02.Front washer unit.
03. Deluxe light kit.
04.Front cab work lights.
05.Rear work light
06.Beacon for cab.
07.Sun visor
08.Heater kit
09.CV protectors front and rear
10.Warn RT40 winch for front
11.Gauge kit for cab, voltmeter, ammeter, clock, coolant temp gauge(Not JD)
12.Sound deadening kit.
13.Exterior mirror kit.
14.Cab interior light
15.Front receiver hitch
16.Back up alarm
17.Front fender guard
18.Horn
19.Gator toolbox(from our friend Mr Gamble on this forum)
20.Seat covers.

Also a marine quality radio, speakers and enclosure.

I have a daytime job and I also farm.
This means at this time of the year when I leave in the morning it is dark, when I come home in the evening it is dark.
I'm really fed up at getting wet and cold and miserable on my Honda 650 Rincon, have a buyer for that, and looking forward to a bit of comfort for a change.
Also it explains the need for all the lights I intend to put on.
Plus a local engineering company is making me up an adaptor for the rear as I want to use a custom hitch mounted on 2" box.
I'll also have to make up a custom mounting arrangement for the front winch,
as the place I'm getting the winch from just supplies the winch only.

Will post some pictures in the new year as I build all the stuff onto the unit.
So it's going to be a busy time for me after Christmas.
I haven't driven the 850D much yet,
and it's killing me not to.
Reason being, when I finish the build it will get a rust inhibitor treatment.
I cleaned it to the state that it was in at the factory,
so it's staying inside until I'm finished.

Thanks for all the info here,
good bunch of guys,
and Merry Christmas to y'all.

 

[gordon21]

You will need floor mats if you will be using a heater. The floor is perforated.

What about a drop in bed liner, sprayed in liner or a big floor mat? I looked at all choices and finally picked the removable floor mat which I got from TSC (farm supply chain) which is a horse stall mat. 3'x5'x 1/2" thick for $40 I cut it to fit the bed. wait til you use the dump bed. It works great and will easily dump hundreds of pounds without straining. The rear hitch is already set up to accept all standard 2" receivers.

The front winch can be mounted on a plate that slides into the 2" receiver box. About $55 or a lot less if you can weld. Make sure you get the quick disconnect harness for the winch.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am glad you finally got your XUV. If you can please post pics of before and after modifications.

 

[Skipholiday]

Awesome. Glad it came together for you.

 

[Donegal TDI]

Thanks guys.
It came with the bed liner and floor mats,
but I'm going to add a bit more matting around the cab area.
The modifications for the rear hitch is simply a bit of 1/4" plate welded to some HD 2" box to extend the custom rear hitch I want to use out a little.
No mods to the Gator itself. Pics will show when complete.

Doubt if I'll get much done pre Christmas as I have 2 little ones to sort with Fr Christmas, and farm stuff to be getting on with,
but will post pics, promise.
It will be one heavily maxed out Gator.
And it isn't for leisure,
I really need the thing.
Especially come spring with lambing, fencing and getting fertiliser out when the ground is still too soft for 4 1/2 tonnes of tractor.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Sounds like you are one happy man >>>> and from all of us here, we are happy for you..... Good Lord does work in special ways !!!!!

Stay Safe !!!

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

man all these utvs with the heated cabs. you gotta post some pictures of that baby.

 

[Donegal_TDI]

There definitely seems a bit of devine intervention was involved in me getting my hands on what is probably a very rare 850D in Ireland.

Ireland is associated with the colour green because it rains so much here.
When it stops raining, then it rains some more, you get the idea.

 

[cef2lion]

Can you tell me where you got the gauge kit you ordered?

Also interested the sound deadening kit. I have an 850D with cab and soft doors. Wondering how effective this kit is?

Craig

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

all that rain makes for some good mud riding. is the water gonn be a problem on the belt?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Tommy, I thought the problem with the belts is only an issue if you drive thru deep water like at creek crossings where the water can get in there and douse things fairly well. I wouldn't think Rain would be an issue but I do wish Deere would make an enclosure and be done with the issue.

 

[darkday]

That's the only time it's a real problem. You can have it submerged in water and still get across a creek but it's not going to like it a whole lot. You might notice a tad of slippage if you have an old worn out belt in the pouring rain but even then it won't affect your ability to do the job at hand.

 

[milkman]

That's the only time it's a real problem. You can have it submerged in water and still get across a creek but it's not going to like it a whole lot. You might notice a tad of slippage if you have an old worn out belt in the pouring rain but even then it won't affect your ability to do the job at hand.

Would that be something similar to the performance of three wheel drive?

 

[Skipholiday]

Would that be something similar to the performance of three wheel drive?

Worse.. All momentum is affected.
Your stopped or slowed down significantly until it dries out, also the belt life is shortened.
This is a flaw with the diesel gators that needs fixed.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

.lol but the rain shouldn't affect it now splash from the tires will it did on my hpx thats why i put the enclosure but you should be ok.

Would that be something similar to the performance of three wheel drive?

 

[Donegal_TDI]

VGB10516 Noise Reduction Kit 1 USD 258.00

This hasn't arrived yet.
Interesting part is the air filter is relocated outside the cab.
Some foam pads.

Don't expect improvements to be dramatic.

I'm going to try and fabricate rudimentary engine splash guards to try and minimise any splash to the belt area.
Will keep y'all posted on this.

 

[cef2lion]

Any more info on the guage kit on your list?

Craig

 

[Donegal_TDI]

This isn't a kit as such from JD.
I've sourced the parts individually.
Voltmeter (spare I had for my own SAME tractor)
Ammeter 30A
Clock Analogue(very important)
Temp gauge.

I'm an electrical sort by trade,
and I'll have to wire these into the vehicle wiring system myself.
Will also fit an extra fusebox near battery instead of taking tappings from +ve terminal for every item.

In the US/Canada there is stacks of marine type gauges available and any competant auto electrician should be able to install them easy.
Good luck.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

the air filter should be outside the cab i have noticed that on my gas hpx that sometimes it gets a hickup and some air comes back out of the airbox it has done this ever sinse it was new it's nuthin wrong with it it runs fine it just i noticed it one day when they had some dust under the filter box . all of a sudden the dust blew away and i noticed it was the airbreather doing it . now if you was in a closed cab the carbon or fumes might buildup on ya maybe thats why they put the filter outside the cab.