Side by side ideas?

brian(MN) · Feb 26, 2014

Do any of you have a side by side (gator, prowler, or?) that you really like? I am looking at one for farm use, (rocks, branches, tools, seed, spraying). I have an older gator, but it is time to move up. I'd like something faster and that shifts easier. Going around to dealerships and tire kicking in this sub-zero temps is no fun so I'll try to get ideas on here , Thanks

Anonymous-0 · Feb 26, 2014

JD 825i power steering, 50 hp, 45 mph

ShepFL · Feb 26, 2014

For us we landed on gas powered golf cart. Multipurpose rig jacked up a bit to navigate the summer sloppiness.

Not a strong workhouse but good for general light duty work plus wife gets to decorate it for annual Christmas parade.

FWIW

jm. · Feb 26, 2014

Brian Have two KUBOTA RTV 900s right at 1000 hrs on each no problems, not the fastest out there but real sturdy built.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 26, 2014

A friend of mine got one from TSC. It's made in USA,has a Sabaru engine and cost less than other name brands. If I hadn't spent the extra money I had on old tractors I'd have one in a heartbeat.

2SteveWI · Feb 26, 2014

I have a Polaris Ranger 400, and love it. My shed is a half mile from house. Works great to buzz back,and forth. Use it to tow a 150 gallon tank to collect sap for making syrup. Overload it when picking rocks, or hauling out firewood. Have had it for just over 2 years, and no issues other than normal naintenance. I believe they are built in Minnesota also. Steve

dahlin · Feb 26, 2014

We have a 625I John Deere Gator and enjoy it very much. It is a very strong machine and you can do a lot of work with it. We like the electric dump box lift on it. This is very handy when you want to haul and spread gravel. It is not real easy on gas but that"s what you give up for power. It has very good clearance also. I don"t know what we did without it. We always had 4-wheelers before the Gator.

Frank 41 · Feb 26, 2014

I had a Bushog and got tired of the squeaky brakes and hard shifting and choking. I have a Kabota 900 that is a little slow and low but looks like it will last forever.

VicS · Feb 26, 2014

My son has a 900 Diesel Kubota. Bought it used with 5500 hrs. Power steering, and starts and runs like a new one. They don't have a belt. My wife and I have a 09 2plus2 EZGO electric. They have big tires and a bed/seat on the back. Will go about 10 miles on a charge, works for us.

sotxbill · Feb 26, 2014

(quoted from post at 18:51:11 02/26/14) Do any of you have a side by side (gator, prowler, or?) that you really like? I am looking at one for farm use, (rocks, branches, tools, seed, spraying). I have an older gator, but it is time to move up. I'd like something faster and that shifts easier. Going around to dealerships and tire kicking in this sub-zero temps is no fun so I'll try to get ideas on here , Thanks

Have had several brands.

sold all but the kawasaki mules. I have 4 now. two of them have over 3000 hours on them. The other two have over 2000 hours on them. Would never go back to the problems with the others.

Only problem with the kawasaki is that you keep wearing out tires, over and over and over... Guess they will never quit running.

Hay hay hay · Feb 26, 2014

I thought about it, then bought a new Chevy S10 pickup for about the same money. That was 12 years and 113,000 miles ago. Hard to drive a gator to town for coffee, or parts.

But I use the S10 like a gator, my neighbors call it my Gator. I drive it all over the farm.

brian(MN) · Feb 26, 2014

Thanks for all of the replies. To those of you who have Kubota 900s; I have read some reviews on them, all seem to like the engine say the machine is built tough. However some complain about the drive/transmission , is tough to shift? It is hydraulic drive if I understand it right. I should look at one if this weather settles down a bit.

T in NE · Feb 26, 2014

I'd go with a Ranger. You give up a lot of capability for not much power when getting the 900 over the 800 though. A friend works at the dealer and has had them come in with entire pistons hanging out the side of the block and still drive into the shop on their own.
Honda got replaced the big red with the Pioneer. Had air filter troubles on the big red that caused blown up motors. Jury is still out on the Pioneer, but if they didn't gear it slower than the Rincon (same engine) it will be worthless for really doing any work. The Rincon will run 60+ but isn't good for pulling anything at low speed.

The Rhino sucks. I wouldn't give anyone one, unless it was al kiyda, just so it'd be easier to catch them!

Wheat Farmer · Feb 26, 2014

Like our Kubota 900, but it is not fast. If you are pulling hills suggest you get a hand throttle. Cab and heater is nice.

Clodbuster · Feb 26, 2014

Rincon has a higher (mph) gear set. Some Rincon riders running tall mud tires use the lower gears from the Big Red.

Nathan (SD) · Feb 27, 2014

I bought a used crew cab S10 a few years ago. I went from using the 4 wheeler every day to once a month.

Dollar Bill · Feb 27, 2014

I'm well pleased with our 850 Ranger. Had it since 2010 have done nothing but change oil and put gas in it.

Geo-TH,In · Feb 27, 2014

I bought a 2012 side by side 4010 mule. Mostly for the grandkids. Seems like a good toy. I like the power steering, 4 wheel brakes.

It's difficult to dump the bed, because the hinge for the bed is at the end of bed and you lift all the load. So if you plan on dumping, get some kind of lift kit if one is made.

jm. · Feb 27, 2014

Brian The comment of hard to shift comes when the unit is stalled in a gear. That has been fixed by building in a new hydraulic release. You say hydraulic drive what the Kubota uses is actually a hydrostatic transmission. Tested and proven in lots of KUBOTA smaller tractors.. NOW IF you test drive one DO NOT do a 2 minute drive it takes a few minutes to get use to this drive. It is not like anything you have ever driven. When you let off the pedal the speed decrease, you can come down a steep grade and never touch the brakes. Lots of postives to this drive but takes some schooling to get use to it.

Prawn Farmer · Feb 27, 2014

Maybe more geared for use on the commercial side, the Toro Workman is a tough machine if you need weight carrying capacity more than speed. Can get them with Kawasaki gas, Yamaha gas or Kubota diesel engines. I have an older 2003 model w/V-twin that was owned by a landscaping contractor and driven almost exclusively by teenage boys. Although it was obviously used as a surrogate hot-rod/tank/monster truck, I bought it cheap and it is used almost daily and is a real workhorse . I believe it is rated at 1250lb GVW and 800 lb towing capacity with its Reece hitch.

T in NE · Feb 27, 2014

Didn't know that. Only test drove one at Husker Harvest Days. The neighbor who had one is now running around in a JD.

We keep mentioning a ranger to the boss but he threatens to get an old toyota and turn the exhaust up through the hood, and pull the doors off, to replace the rhino.

Side by side ideas?

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads