[wildbranch2007]

Most of the year I can drive into my yards, but early spring forces me to walk in, my knees are not what they used to be. any one have any experience with side by side atv's?

I'm looking at all of them, john deer gator 625i has reported many problems with gas in the oil that the dealers attribute to not working them.
articat prowler 500hdx, only carries 600 lbs, 6 month warranty
kawasaki 4010 gas or diesel, only 8 in ground clearance, gas engine has same problem as 625i, gas in oil but has 3 year warranty, slow but seems to have enough power for the load. I can't find much info on the diesel, but they stopped making them last year, most dealers still have some.
every one seems to have polaris rangers, but the bed isn't large enough, and they seem to have had alot of problems with the engines since building them in Mexico.

anyone have any that they like or don't have any major problems with, else I guess I'll buy a small tractor with forks on it. thanks for any input

 

[funwithbees]

Mike, I was thinking the same thing today when a land owner felt sorry for me and gave me a lift into the yard with his atv. Problem is they are not good when there is more that 8 inches of snow on the ground, not bad in the mud.
Here in CNY we need something with a track and a foot of ground clearance-like a snow cat that they use at the ski areas

 

[kelkenberg]

We just got a new kubota rtv 500. Not the highest clearance or smoothest, fastest ride but built like a tank. More of a work vehicle than most. Some of the others might be better in mud but we needed something solid and dependable. Got rid of a polaris that was nothing but trouble. Nice simple machine with out all the gadgets, hydrostatic drive. All depends on what you want to do with it.
















more of w\

 

[LHL]

We are just getting started with bees, but have 10 poultry houses, a 20 acre vineyard and assorted other things going on. We have two Kubota RTV 900's. They are diesel with hydraulic dumps and four wheel drive. We use them constantly for daily chores. During grape harvest they routinely tow trailers weighing 4500 lbs. They have 1400-1500 hours on them with absolutely no problems. I don't mean to sound like a Kubota salesman, but in my experience, you can't do much better. The only downside is they are not cheap!

 

[wildbranch2007]

thanks kubota was on my list for today to go see.

 

[Beelosopher]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4brx4UY4UI not exactly an equal side by side comparison

 

[LHL]

I agree not exactly side by side. But, I admit the Ranger looks impressive. I also agree with Kelkenberg's earlier post, it depends on what you do with it. We rarely go very fast, but typically haul and pull much more than rated. Not so much in snow,but a lot of mud. For us the kubotas have been bulletproof. Thanks for the info.

 

[Lburou]

This input may be too late for your consideration WB2007, but I have the 2010 model of a yamaha rhino knockoff, made in China. A 471cc engine. It has seen hard use. It will climb in situations that exceed my nerve. It is sturdily made in the frame, but cheaply made in the seats carburetor, dump, and CV joints which have needed several repairs, but parts are available -motorcycle engine is bulletproof. New units may be a bit better, but still basically a cheap imitation of the now old Yamaha design.

My neighbor just bought a honda pioneer or something that sounds like that. It is a beautiful machine. Its light years ahead of the drive train on my rhino knockoff with an actual three speed transmission! They are going to make a smaller (billed as a 500) unit too that starts at $8600......Hands down the best unit for me, I plan to buy one when they finally come out.

 

[MTN-Bees]

We have a Polaris Ranger mid size 500cc. Does everything we need it to do. I don't think you can go wrong with the Polaris Ranger. Polaris does make a commercial side by side called the Brute. That was out of my price range.

 

[wildbranch2007]

That was out of my price range.

after a while I figured the same, so I bought a small tractor with a snow blower and front and rear forks. only problem with it is the rear wheels, they put to much air in, it's not as good in the mud as I would like, but will get me there, a bit slower. now if we have a couple of years of good flow's may go back and get a side by side.

 

[sqkcrk]

Move your yards closer to the road.

 

[KQ6AR]

I've been considering the kubota diesel also. Any others using it?

 

[mathesonequip]

I've been considering the kubota diesel also. Any others using it?

I have not used one but have built higher sides for firewood for some owners. they are good mechanically. the dump-box is rather small and to increase its size you can only go up. the floor of the box is higher off the ground than you would think. ok to move supplies or a hive or 2. not convenient to load hives on. not much of a smooth low gear. the way they are built you would think they would be tippy but they are not too bad. fun to bounce around on and to rip up and down the road between farms. frieghtening price for it's actual utility.

 

[mrqb]

Bobcat

 

[wildbranch2007]

I looked at the bobcat, but it's made by polaris and the polaris was less money, but the bobcat dealer actually knew more about the unit than the polaris dealer.

 

[wildbranch2007]

I've been considering the kubota diesel also. Any others using it?

The kubota seemed to be the best of the lot when I was looking at them, but also the priciest. actually went to buy one and the salesman talked me out of it, said under a heavy load going uphill the hydrastatic transmission has a relief valve that will pop if its overloaded and then you are stuck except for backing down.

 

[LHL]

I'm surprised by that. As I said earlier, we routinely overload ours and have never had a problem. During grape harvest we pull trailers weighing 4500 lbs.

 

[sqkcrk]

Mike, seriously, wouldn't moving your yards closer to the road solve your problem more easily than hauling around a tractor or an atv?

 

[mathesonequip]

mark you are missing a big factor: big toys for big boys.

 

[sqkcrk]

Right Don, but I'm not getting stuck either. Bigger toys mean deeper ruts and when you are stuck you are really stuck.