I'm looking for a 4x4 utility side by side. I've looked at them all, but would like to here from people who have some seat time. here are some of my thoughts, are they accurate?

1. Kubota UTV: tractor like toughness, high torque diesel engine, expensive

2. Polaris Ranger: new model is fast with losts of ground clearance, pallet sized cargo box, belt drive
transmition, low torque engine.

3. Kawasaki mule: one of the originals, low speed

4. Yamaha Rhino: fast, narrow, sporty, can double as a trail machine for hunting and camping, lightest duty for work, low towing and hauling capacity.

5. John Deere Gator: Pricey, heavy, slow, diesel engine option

6. Bobcat: Heavy, pricey, front loader arm with quickmount attachment plate with aux. hydraulics

Any thoughts?


I'd even considering a Polaris ASL - a compact rubber track loader made by ASV - but I cant find one anywhere.

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(2) 2001 Polaris Scrambler 90 (kids)
(1) 2001 Polaris Trailblazer (wife)
(1) 2000 Scrambler 400 4x4 (mine)

http://photos.yahoo.com/ajo771

The 500 HO motor in the Polairs has great low end torque. They also just released a Ranger 4x4 XP with IRS and the 700 EFI powerpant

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-'00 Scrambler 500 4x4
HPD Exhaust, Custom clutching w/ HPD TEAM clutch, HPD Airbox Mod w/K&N, A-arm Skids, Renthals, DG Bumper, 55wt Lights, Shock Covers,
Handgaurds, Skull Shift Knob, HPD Chain Tensioner, Trailtech, 489 X/Ts, ITP T-9 Pros, Flame Seat Cover, Supercooler, Sunpro Gauges, Horn
-'76 H-D FXE Custom
With a few goodies
-'73 ProStreet Harley
93ci S&S, Supercharged, NOS

well u basically have all the info, so decide what ur gonna do and pick it. the ranger 700 is nice, but it has a touchy throttle that u get used to. id pick the rhino

Most popular in my area are the Mule, Gator, and kabota. Mainly because of dealer support. Gator's for those that bleed green. Mules because they were practically indestructible and at one time the leader of the pack. Now Kabota's are popular in our area because of a great dealer and their larger capacities, etc.

When you are shopping these machines, get one that does the job you want, don't cut corners to save a few bucks.

i would choose between the ranger 700EFI and the kubota... the kubota has hella engine breaking so watch out when u let off that throttle. the kubota is much slower then ranger... the ranger is a nice machine both for work and for a casual ride.

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Balls ta the Walls!

If it aint broke... shut up and ride

00' Suzuki 250 4x4 Exhaust Mods and 2"Lift
04.5' Polaris 500 4x4 2500Lb Warn Winch

The new Ranger specs say it's the 500 HO engine. Where are you guys hearing it's the 700EFI? Polaris website only shows the new Ranger with the 500 HO engine.

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(2) 2001 Polaris Scrambler 90 (kids)
(1) 2001 Polaris Trailblazer (wife)
(1) 2000 Scrambler 400 4x4 (mine)

http://photos.yahoo.com/ajo771

there is the 700EFI out there with IRS and higher ground clearance... do a search online for it

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Balls ta the Walls!

If it aint broke... shut up and ride

00' Suzuki 250 4x4 Exhaust Mods and 2"Lift
04.5' Polaris 500 4x4 2500Lb Warn Winch

its a limated production (its not going to stop being built, but its not mass produced)

its called the Ranger XP

its the same thing as all the other rangers but it has a 700 EFI motor, its detuned further then what the 4 wheeler engine is, so theres alot of power upgrades you can do to it.

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you may know this but the mule is also available in a diesel too, but we have a mule 3010 (gas burner) n we have had well over 1000 lbs in the bed n it didnt struggle at all to haul it. Also we have pulled alot of things with ours n it is really strong. My cousin has the new kubota that thing is about the same speed wise as the mule but id say its a lil stronger than the gas mule but i dont know about the diesel but u cant go wrong with hardly any of them. As far as the polaris they pretty much seem all speed to me.

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2004 Yamaha YFZ 450
HMF Exhaust
Jet Kit
Cam Mod
Razr 2 rears

2003 Suzuki Z400
Pro circuit TI 4 pipe
Dynojet Jet kit
K&N Air Filter
Pro Armor Skid Plates
Team Suzuki Nerf Bars and Heel Guards
AC Racing Bumper

2001 Honda 400ex (Sold)
wiseco 440 big bore
henson racing clutch
white bros r4 exhaust
renthal handle bars

Just remember the top speeds posted by the MFG's are not actual. The polaris ranger 500cc says it tops out at 41mph, and it is fairly close to that......about 37. The kawasaki mule 617cc motor says it tops out at 25mph, BUT it is govnered down. We have one for our ranch and we adjusted the govner and now it runs in the high 30's. The companies govern them down to limit their libalities.

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1. 1970's Kmart BIG WHEEL - cool
2. 1982 honda 200s
3. 1994 yamaha timberwolf 250 4x4
4. 1997 honda recon 250 2x4
5. 2004 kawasaki 700 prairie 4x4
6. 2005 kawasaki 750 brute force 4x4
7. 2007 polaris sportsman 800efi X2 DLX

"Can you feel that V-TWIN power???"

Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.

If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."

Quote

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Originally posted by: 700vtwinman
Just remember the top speeds posted by the MFG's are not actual. The polaris ranger 500cc says it tops out at 41mph, and it is fairly close to that......about 37. The kawasaki mule 617cc motor says it tops out at 25mph, BUT it is govnered down. We have one for our ranch and we adjusted the govner and now it runs in the high 30's. The companies govern them down to limit their libalities.

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my friend al has a ranger 500 for his farm goes a good 45 down the road

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Balls ta the Walls!

If it aint broke... shut up and ride

00' Suzuki 250 4x4 Exhaust Mods and 2"Lift
04.5' Polaris 500 4x4 2500Lb Warn Winch

Kubota, if it has a diesel engine, that means its built tough and can go longer with out a rebuild and or maitenence

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Sled:
2001 yamaha Srx700 Triple

Quad:
2004 honda trx450Fe

hi, my family has a mule. That thing is used constantly and works great. He uses it on the farm and plows with it on his mile long road to his house on a mountain. I would suggest the mule because they will last forever and are great work vehicals. just use low range and they can do tons of stuff.

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04 green Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4<BR>Maier Handgaurds<BR>2500 pound warn winch w/fairleed<BR>Quad boss front storage box<BR>EPI Black secondary spring<BR>48 in warn plow<BR>2 55 watt driving lights full length Ricochet skid plate<BR>25 inch deep lug mudlights<BR>kawasaki a-arm guards<BR>costom scratches

I have the kubota and im scared to take it off road its just not built for it, but on the farm you cant get a better machine. If your lookin to have fun off road then i would get the rhino great power speed and 4x4 the ranger is not bad its just to bulky.

Howdy,
look at this months Dirt Wheels magazine. It has a shoot out between the Rhino and Ranger 700 XP. The ranger didnt fare too well in the test with problems like smoking belt, engine braking that is dangerous going down a steep hill, and a piece of the foot throttle broke and was later fixed. I have had a Rhino since last May and it hasnt had a problem yet. I changed the c.d.i. and can now top out at 50 mph, checked by a g.p.s. Down here in Texas the Polaris brand isnt too popular. Have a goodun!!

OMG! Get a Gator!!!! The school has 2 Gators and when we ride our quads on the feild Gene Buckner comes out in his gator 4X6 and tries to chase us its soo funny! he even has a little police light on top of it!!!

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Black Raptor 660R
14" Shorty Muffler, Lid Removed on Airbox, GYT-R Jet Kit (160/155),Holeshot XCR's (Rear), IMS Direct Shifter, 12 Tooth(only used on slow trails)
Sproket,GYT-R Full Skid Plates, L&A One-Way Bearing

i have owned a 6x4 gator gas, 2x4 mule gas, and currently 4x4 mule diesel and kubota rtv 900. i havent ever owned a ranger but if i had the money now i would get the ranger 7000 efi, b/c the kubota is built very strong but has no power and is very slow and rough, the mule diesel has a lot of power but isnt built very strong, the gator i wouldnt reccamend to nebody, from my research the ranger is the best all around vehicle

hope this help

Surpised to see so many comments when you haven't said how the machine will be used. A lot of your satisfaction factor is going to depend on purchasing a machine that meets your needs... On one end, you have the Rhino that is a pretty decent fun machine and trail monster.. but on the other, you have the bobcat and Kubota which are designed for working.. If you buy one from the one end of the gene pool expecting to use it on the other and be satisfied with it.. you are going to set yourself up for a great disapointment.

You really need to decide the usage part first, then narrow your choices. To tell you the truth, although many here talk about top speed.. Many will never take a machine to it's limits more than once or twice. If all you do is heavy work around the house.. then speed is not so important.

I'll say one thing though.. although I really like the Kubota, and am amazed by the bobcat... I feel a small tractor would be much more efficient in many cases. Put a back hoe and a bucket on front and you have a very capable machine....

A modified Rhino is a great trail monster. Early models had issues with CV joints.. so don't buy anything prior to an 05. If you want speed, the C.D.I. from the Grizzley is substituted to allow for a higher top speed. You are seeing more and more "Stuff" coming out for them too. Look around, there are several sites on the web that cater directly to this class of machine and delve deeply into the meat of the subject...

Lastly, to the young man who takes great pleasure in tearing up the fields at his local school... I hope you reconsider your actions.... You are giving ATV riders a very big black eye with your hooligan antics...We are not impressed, and don't find the humor in actions like this. It is actions like this that get ATV's banned.. and turns public opinion against us all. Please stop!

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Lets just say these old bones have buckets of experience...
Yamaha Warrior
Yamaha Blaster
Yamaha Raptor 660
Yamaha Raptor 80
Honda Rubicon
Yamaha 450 IRS 4x4

i am so excited i finally got to drive the rhino today it was an 04 and well i drove the rangers alot. my findings is you want a clumsly lumber wagon to get around with but can haul a buick get the ranger you want something fun and you can still haul alot i believe 400 pounds and in the mean time have a blast on get a rhino you won't be dissapointed there is nothing a ranger can do that a rhino can't and yet have more fun on a rhino only downside is that even though more uncomfy a ranger can hold 3 and a rhino 2

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Arctic Cat 650
2500 pound warn winch
27 inch ITP AT589
ITP chrome n black rims
front brush guard
heavy duty rear bumper
hand guards
EPIBlack Spring seconday
EPI Pink primary
Dynatek CDI
2005 Yamaha YZ 125
1964 fj40 toyota landcruiser
2004 Ford F-150 FX4 Blk 4x4
99 ZR 600 LE

I had a little mule 2X4, single seater. It was nice enough but had no power but I liked it so decided to get a 4X4 mule. I got the top of the line at the time, it was a POS. We would drive it off the trailer and it would start making clunking noises that sound like they were coming from the rear end. It ate belts like crazy and also chewed up the clutch. The Kawasaki people tried to say we were abusing it. We drove it through deep plowed fields. Its an off road vehicle, seems like that is off road to me. I got no satisfaction from my dealer or Kawasaki so I called the AG and they said file a complaint under the Texas Lemon Law. I did and when we got ready to talk to a judge, I learned it was not covered under the Lemon Law because it is not a licensed titled vehicle or something like that. I knew some people at a golf course who had 2 or 3 mules and they told me they had similar problems and when they got it fixed after warranty was unavailable it was pretty high and wouldn't last. Kawasaki may have rengineered them, but I think the old mules were underdesigned. They were also really slow although as somebody said they were governed and could be doctored with to go faster, but that would void your warranty (which didn't seem to mean much for me) I traded mine in on a 6X6 Polaris Ranger which liked a whole lot more. That Polaris did have 1 problem the steering sucked. You had to do a lot of backing and turning. I kept that Polaris for about 3 years then traded it in on a 2003 model with Bench seat (I think it is rated as a 3 seater). They really did a good job improving the steering. The older gators were really slow, slower than the Mule, but that may have changed. I haven't messed with any of the others, but the Ranger is way superior to the Mule in my opinion.

I think with many of the machines you need to manage your expectations. You are basically looking at nothing more than hopped up golf carts when you look at older models... The new stuff coming out now is a whole lot better. I agree the Yamaha Rhino has sort of set the bar a whole lot higher than what it was before. The Kubota is a work horse for sure... but don't expect to be getting air with it.... In fact, it is a good idea to not think about getting air in any of these.

Buy them, and use them in the way they were designed, but remember they are NOT sport quads, Dune buggies etc.... Oh sure, you will find guys modifying them for more speed, better suspensions so they can fly and land safer etc.. but just remember when the parts start breaking.. that you have no right to complain when abusing the crap out of it and exceeding it's design capabilities.

If you are looking to be bashing around and pushing the limits.. .then the Rhino is about the only one that is made to take that... and make sure you get an 05... the previous ones had issues with durability of major systems like steering knuckles, and half shafts... Yamaha has beefed up the parts in later models...

Lastly, pay close attention to your purchase decision process. Don't buy one model because it is cheaper knowing full well that the word on the street is that it can't take it.... what makes you think your model is going to be any different. There is a lot of information available these days for you to educate yourself... take advantage of that and get the one that matches your riding characteristics, and the job function you need to use it for.... Not the one that some dealer will make you a "special" deal on...

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Lets just say these old bones have buckets of experience...
Yamaha Warrior
Yamaha Blaster
Yamaha Raptor 660
Yamaha Raptor 80
Honda Rubicon
Yamaha 450 IRS 4x4