Just daydreaming here, but it occurs to me that IF we manage to move, we'll be in the middle of about 9 acres of woods and 1/2 mile from the mail box.

Seems like a reasonable excuse to buy a side-by-side. Used, of course, the prices on new ones are just stupid. 2 passenger is plenty, don't need a dump box or plow or much of anything past two seats and 4WD.

My only experience is with an ancient JD Gator that was wore plumb out and a complete piece of rattling, noisy, slow, hard shifting junk, and a Polaris Razor that you had to stand on the brake with both feet and force it into gear with a great deal of wailing and gnashing of synchros. Owner said that was normal???

I guess all the Big 3 motorcycle manufacturers are making UTVs now, so looking for experience, advice on models, guesstimates on what I might have to pay, etc. etc.

There are two classes of SXS. There is the "sport rider" version that is for trail running, and the "utility" version for farm work, etc. The sport version is nice and fun, but the disadvantage is typically they are more $ (or have been thrashed to shit) and have real seats with harnesses, rather than a bench, and doors. The utility class is designed for easy entry and exit with flat bench seat and no doors. There are also two drive systems; CVT belt and geared transmission. I believe that Honda is the only geared transmission version, but I could be wrong.

I have a diesel Kawasaki Mule 4010. It's a beast. 2 or 4 passenger (depending how I set the convertible carry bed) 4wd, locking rear, carry 1500 lbs. or tow 1500 lbs. It's not fast. Governed to 25 mph or so, modest ground clearance. It's also hard to find and pretty $$. The Mule 610 is the base, gasoline, 2 seat 4x4 utility mule, and it's a GREAT little vehicle. My neighbor just bought a new one, and I have driven it a couple of times.

ETA: the 610 is now apparently the "SX".

Polaris is also a big manufacturer, and Kubota and John Deere both make lines of this vehicle. The new JDs are much nicer than the old Gators that had no suspension. The Kubotas look nice, but I have heard horrible things locally about their reliability.

On balance, I think a Kawi mule would probably suit you best, and is also probably the most likely find in the used market.

You might also consider a gas golf cart. We picked one up last night for mail duty. It's a 1996 Club Car dump bed, with a 4" lift and serious knobbies on it. Only 2 wd, but I expect it will go through most of what I will need it to do, which is sugar sand, dirt roads, mud puddles, fields and woody tracts, etc. without complaint. Was $2500 and dead simple mechanically. Might not be a bad option for you.

Big-ass Mule:


Itty bitty Mule:


Club Car Rolling Redneck:

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ArtieS,

Hmmmm. Guff Kart. I'd forgotten about them. I've seen a few with ATV tires/wheels that look pretty capable.

I have two 4WD tractors for actual work, this would just be for running around on improved roads/drives/trails.

I'll look into that, thanks!

I've got a Kawasaki Mule 4000 2wd that we use as a neighborhood cruiser. 2wd versions are hard to sell and often discounted and since we will seldom be off the pavement no need for 4wd. $8999 + $99 doc fee and sales tax. Kaw gives a 3 year warranty.

I have the Kawasaki Mule Pro FXR. Bench seat. dump bed. Plenty of grunt & grip in snow or mud. High/low range, two or four wheel drive, & on-demand locking diff. It ain't fast, but it's rock steady & reliable. I use it mostly for work up at the cabin, hauling tools, fence materials, & firewood, as well as a generator & pipe fusion machine when we all replaced three miles of 4" HDPE pipe. I also drive it around on the mountain for general joyriding & it suits me fine for that.

There have been a few threads on this subject:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/8120051674/p/2
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/5800015124
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/2040080874/p/1
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/6350050264/p/2
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/3820087024

We had a Kawasaki Teryx4. It was just okay....way, way to noisy. We had to wear headsets to make it the least bit enjoyable.

I have a Polaris Ranger XP 900 and it’s been flawless over 4 years. With 9 acres you might be surprised how much you use a dump box. It’s nice to load up the bed with yard debris and then drive it into the woods and just dump it out.

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:

There have been a few threads on this subject:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/8120051674/p/2
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/5800015124
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/2040080874/p/1
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/6350050264/p/2
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/3820087024

Well, poop. Never occurred to me to search, should've known better. Thanks!

I was looking to buy once. I ended up with a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000 Deluxe. It pays to shop around. The local dealer would not come off the price at all.
I called around and found a volume dealer 4 hours south and saved almost $3000.00. I added a OEM roof and Warn Axon 45 winch.
I use the winch all the time for a number of tasks. I would buy this machine again.

One more thing I'd add is this:

I didn't think I'd care one way or the other about the dumping bed, but it really has come in handy when moving firewood, rocks, & even branch & shrub chips that I've run through the chipper for ground cover.

Kawasaki makes a good SxS.

I wouldn't eliminate a contender if it had a dump box, winch and hydraulics, but I certainly wouldn't pay extra for it.

I have two 4x4 tractors, one with a loader, and a dump trailer for such tasks. The SxS would be primarily for scooting down to the mail box and maybe bopping around on a trail.

In fact, the more I look at SxS prices the more a golf cart seems like a viable option.

The Rolling Redneck is pretty useful for most tasks.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I have two 4x4 tractors, one with a loader, and a dump trailer for such tasks. The SxS would be primarily for scooting down to the mail box and maybe bopping around on a trail.

In fact, the more I look at SxS prices the more a golf cart seems like a viable option.

Paul,

Considering the fact you have a couple of 4x4 tractors and what you would be using it for, a golf cart does seem like a good option.

I've got them all...gator, RTV (kubota), mule, golf cart (club car), sxs (yamaha), ATV, dirt bikes and probably something I'm forgetting.
If all you want is to scoot to the mail box its really hard to beat the golf cart. That of course assumes you are in weather and terrain that makes a golf cart usable. I live in Maine and all of that stuff goes into storage except the Kubota with a cab and heat for the winter. The convertible mule is nice since you can make up a 4 person (or 6 with small people like kids) for 'tours' and events. Just make sure if you buy an older one you never, never, ever get a carb gas one. On price the golf cart is a huge winner.

We have two, diesel John Deere Gators. One of them is 21 years old and is still running strong. The other is a 4 seater and I would not be without it. They are the most useful tool on the farm beside the tractor.

Tell us your budget. buying used utv's is a recipe not getting something that really meets your needs. Many of us know how this works.
A trip to the mail box made me laugh when that is what you told us.
Save your $ and get an old single speed bike with a wire basket on the handlebars.

The two SxS that seem to meet your needs are: Kawasaki's smallest Mule SX (or previous version 600 2wd or 610 4wd. Single cylinder 14hp engine with low and high range CVT, locking rear differential, bench seat so easy in and out. They do have a dump bed. New they price around $6,800 for 2wd, carbureted, up to $8,000 for 4wd FI. It will go 24mph absolute top speed, less up hill. But they'll go about anywhere, loosing traction before power.

Or Honda's Pioneer 500. Single cylinder but 27 hp or, with wide ratio 5-speed auto clutch, auto/manual shift transmission, bench seat, and rather than a dump bed it just comes with a rear rack. About $8,500 new. 40mph top speed, the P500 has an always locked rear diff in 2wd, or 4wd.

I believe a used Mule 600 or 610, or one of the newer Mule SX would be ideal for your intended use. Be aware these little SxS's hold their value well, especially in the covid caused shortages plus high demand.

Do not ever, ever, ever buy a mule (or anything else for that matter) with a carb...

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I wouldn't eliminate a contender if it had a dump box, winch and hydraulics, but I certainly wouldn't pay extra for it.

I have two 4x4 tractors, one with a loader, and a dump trailer for such tasks. The SxS would be primarily for scooting down to the mail box and maybe bopping around on a trail.

In fact, the more I look at SxS prices the more a golf cart seems like a viable option.

I bought an old Jeep. It was cheaper than a SxS and the repair parts are cheaper.