ATV recommendation

[Dan in North Houston]

In the market for a gator style side-by-side machine. Looking for something durable, economical,fairly simple and good
hauling/pulling capacity. Curious about personal experiences(good and bad) and what you recommend. Thanks.

Have a 2013 Kawasaki Mule, diesel 4 seater. About 2500 miles / 600 hours on it with just routine maintenance. Somebody here commented on not getting much mileage on the tires, but I'm still on the original set.
Daughter had a Polaris diesel, I didn't like it much. Had to give it a lot of throttle to get it started to moving.
I would never have guessed how handy it is.

 

[JMOR]

Have two of these Mules. Been rode hard & put up wet, but keep on ticking, i kept out of the "too soft to drive over".

https://imgur.com/wYnskSn

 

[Destroked 450]

My side by side is a 96 Chevy S10 4x4 we use on the farm, I’m still riding my 2003 Honda 450 Foreman ATV with nearly 6000 miles on it and second set of tires
As for UTV side by side brothers and nephews have owned Polaris, Yamaha, Can Am, Gator, Bombardier, Honda. Honda is the only one that hasn’t had engine or axle issues
Neighbor has a older Mule that keeps going but past experience with Kawasaki 4 wheelers would keep me from purchasing a Mule
Cousin has a Kubota 500 gasser, says it’s a bit under powered and slow
Wife’s uncle has a Kubota diesel model fully loaded, no way I’m giving $28-30k for a side by side
Bombardier was way underpowered and had to be pulled up steep hills that any of the others easily climbed
Can Am was the least dependable

 

[wh]

Have a 825i gator. Looked at all the others. i vote gator!

 

[Butch(OH)]

Not on the economical side but have two Kubota rtv 900s here on the farm with over 2000 hrs on each , tough machines , built for work. Will not be the cheapest for sure.

X2 on the diesel Kubotas, (not the 500s) My 2005 900 works almost every day. They won't win races but they are the only one a person could hook a plow on and plow the garden. The new ones now are quite expensive but I would purchase a low houred 10 year old Kubota before a new anything else.

 

[johnofnewhaven]

In the market for a gator style side-by-side machine. Looking for something durable, economical,fairly simple and good
hauling/pulling capacity. Curious about personal experiences(good and bad) and what you recommend. Thanks.

I have a 2024 Kawasaki Mule. Love it!

 

[RobCons]

Old thread but I will toss s vote out for a Gator. We have an older 2wd one with a powered lift bed. Handy as a front pocket on a shirt.

 

[JD Dave]

Gator. I have five TX's and they get used hard. No problems.

 

[Destroked 450]

Nephew bought a new Gator about 10 years ago, after 2 engine failures he traded it off
He has teenage sons that may have contributed to the engine problems

 

[jm.]

In the market for a gator style side-by-side machine. Looking for something durable, economical,fairly simple and good
hauling/pulling capacity. Curious about personal experiences(good and bad) and what you recommend. Thanks.

Hard to beat the KUBOTA RTV only thing is finding a cheap used one is tough. they are the number one selling side by side nation wide

 

[Pipestem]

In the market for a gator style side-by-side machine. Looking for something durable, economical,fairly simple and good
hauling/pulling capacity. Curious about personal experiences(good and bad) and what you recommend. Thanks.

In 2011 I was asking the same question as you for farm use. Was leaning toward a Gator or Mule. Wife’s uncle who owned a Gator recommended a Kubota and its transmission. Bought a RTV 550 gas and have been more than satisfied. It has never let me down even on sub zero mornings. Still has the original battery in it. However, if you are buying to trail ride at higher speeds it isn’t the machine for you.

 

[Tony in SD]

I have bought several JD Gators for specific purposes over the years. If you want to pull, make sure it has a low range, 4x4, and differential lock. We have had the following JD Gators; a pair of early 2x4, 20 + years old still running with good but slow, maybe 14 mph on a good day, rougher riding than the others; HPX, bought second hand, very good machine, quietist of the bunch, 4x4, does 30 mph, best one for farm yard work; RSX860i, bought new, street legal, licensed and insured, 60 mph at about 7500 rpm, it is very noisy, I have pulled a 5’ yard drag with it. All have required very little maintenance. Had a Bobcat labeled unit, made by Cushman, that the motor failed, did not like it for several reasons. No experience with the others. My 30 something year old neighbor just bought a new Polaris 4 door, fast, full cab, AC/heat, street legal, etc. it is basically a small pickup. Seems to me to be more fun than economical. My guess it is near $50,000 but then a new pickup can be over &100,000.

 

[bmack95hd]

I have a 2006 Polaris Ranger 700XP that I use on our property and up and down the roads. Only has 400hrs on it. I have a snow blade for it. Bought it from an older guy that used it to get his mail. Nothing fancy, would love one of the newer hot rods but too pricey for me.