not disputing they are handy bits of kit, its the financial aspect of it that makes my mind boggle. you could actually run one of the brand new arctic trucks pickups properly engineered on 35" wheels for cheaper than a UTV, including the purchase cost.
Gator cost
- Thread starter Banana Bar
- Start date
- Location
- Yorkshire
We have some 8miles away and Polaris is faster than land rover as if you meet anything on road can just keep going rather than wait for them to reverse
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
Everything is going up rapidly in price. On utvs if you want one and can afford one, get it. But there is no way it stacks up financially against most of the alternatives. But understandably sometimes there isn’t an alternative.
Have used rangers in the past and more recently a Honda pioneer. They simply can’t handle hard daily use on a livestock farm without a good amount of money spent on them annually. They can’t haul or tow much. Whatever the hauling and towing limits are they should really be about half if you want to do them every day in rough conditions.
I view them as an older farmers run around vehicle. Cab with heat and easy to get in and out of. But costly and unreliable if you genuinely use them every day for livestock activities.
A full spec gasoline ranger one of the guys here just bought was about £17000. Not sure when it was ordered but he just got it.
Have used rangers in the past and more recently a Honda pioneer. They simply can’t handle hard daily use on a livestock farm without a good amount of money spent on them annually. They can’t haul or tow much. Whatever the hauling and towing limits are they should really be about half if you want to do them every day in rough conditions.
I view them as an older farmers run around vehicle. Cab with heat and easy to get in and out of. But costly and unreliable if you genuinely use them every day for livestock activities.
A full spec gasoline ranger one of the guys here just bought was about £17000. Not sure when it was ordered but he just got it.
- Location
- South West
We pouched a Mule, full cab set up etc, similar £ but it's worth it as it we use it a lot. The diesel engine and extra power compared to a petrol polaris is night and day.
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
older farmers runaround, cheeky pup
Next door bought a Kawasaki mule it will be 12 months old , he’s just 60 if that matters , we farm at 1,000 ft in the Pennines and run the moor above
He is out daily in his mule , it’s got an alloy canopy, I used to take the pee and call it the pope mobile, he lambs outside and is adamant he won’t go back to a quad
Our Corvus arrived this afternoon, I am 57,again if that matters
We used the kioti to cart small bales in the snow , a snacker when feeding on the moor and it would take 30 5’6 fence posts in the tray to those nasty spots that need fencing by hand
I’ve ridden motorcycles all my working life and am screwed with joint pain from my work in engineering
The buggy works for me , I’ve said in other posts I think they are expensive and weak from a build point of view , but I maintain we have ground where the choice is a quad or a buggy
In one spot whilst topping rushes we had a tractor sunk to the door bottoms, I drove past that spot in the kioti yesterday checking the sheep
Horses for courses
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
No doubt, if it’s right for you then enjoy them. I think they are great and if price was no object I’d have several.older farmers runaround, cheeky pup
Next door bought a Kawasaki mule it will be 12 months old , he’s just 60 if that matters , we farm at 1,000 ft in the Pennines and run the moor above
He is out daily in his mule , it’s got an alloy canopy, I used to take the pee and call it the pope mobile, he lambs outside and is adamant he won’t go back to a quad
Our Corvus arrived this afternoon, I am 57,again if that matters
We used the kioti to cart small bales in the snow , a snacker when feeding on the moor and it would take 30 5’6 fence posts in the tray to those nasty spots that need fencing by hand
I’ve ridden motorcycles all my working life and am screwed with joint pain from my work in engineering
The buggy works for me , I’ve said in other posts I think they are expensive and weak from a build point of view , but I maintain we have ground where the choice is a quad or a buggy
In one spot whilst topping rushes we had a tractor sunk to the door bottoms, I drove past that spot in the kioti yesterday checking the sheep
Horses for courses
We were trying to feed a bunch of calves with the Honda year round and it couldn’t do it. When we had the rangers and tried to run nearly at capacity every nearly every day same thing but that’s 10 years ago now. I think a kubota could do it but they are or were heavy old machines.
Age definitely matters, you are usually smart enough at that point to know better. Would not catch many 60 year olds on a 4 wheeler out here when it’s -25 with a good wind setting up fences, moving herds, chopping ice and calving. It’s rough. My dad thinks I’m a complete idiot.
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
Don’t get me wrong , the quad will run rings round the buggy when gathering sheep out on the moor, mind you saying that it’s remarkable how our dogs have adapted to the buggy
But for our day to day jobs especially in winter the buggy works well
As an aside it was one hell of a decision to stump up the cost
Some tell me if it’s used daily and works then it’s not expensive.. the jury is out on that one
Stw88
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
Buying the first utv is the worst. Once your in the system its no bother. My last 2 or 3 have been around 7k to change at 2.5yr. Bearing in mind i save over 2k a year in fuel its not bad. Im warm and dry, safer on the road for the dog and can carry all my gear with me rather than having to go back to base when something is wrong.
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
We go up a main road for a mile , it’s an uphill drag , then a right turn in to some land
The buggy has a bit more presence on the road… didn’t drop four silly sods passing the tractor as I was indicating to turn right though
- Location
- The North
That’s insain!
Usually if it’s dry enough I got round in an old pajero if it’s wet quad, for that I could afford an old disco 4 lux watch tv while I go round sheep in my heated leather seats
Usually if it’s dry enough I got round in an old pajero if it’s wet quad, for that I could afford an old disco 4 lux watch tv while I go round sheep in my heated leather seats
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
What would be a standard mileage year for you guys running utv s. ?
gpcwm
Member
- Location
- welsh border
Our ranger diesel does about 5000 miles per year in 900 ish hours
- Location
- Somerset Devon border.
I was going to look at one next week, lots of negative comments on UTV's in general in this thread
.......... I'm still going to have a look though. Polaris gets lots of mentions, has anyone actually got a Can Am Traxter (HD7) that would like to comment on it ?? (not comments on their cost or justifying it)
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
Not been in one , but there’s one local to here, it seems fairly quiet compared to our diesel Corvus and bloody nippyI was going to look at one next week, lots of negative comments on UTV's in general in this thread
- Location
- Somerset Devon border.
Won't be doing any road work so not worried about top end and seems 4/5K cheaper than a Corvus.
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
Is that the base model?
- Location
- Somerset Devon border.
Yeah, It’s the smallest engine of the 3 options, all bodies physical size the same. I wouldn’t go for the base, the T has alloys, power steering and Winch (really don’t need a winch but it comes with). 52bhp, not sure on top speed but not really a consideration.
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
I was thinking more of what cab options for the price , our Corvus was £18995 exactly 12 months old , with full cab, heater , tilt front screen and I twisted the dealers arm to throw in the rear canopy, in this weather where we farm if it didn’t have the cab etc I may have well stuck to a quad
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Them 4x4 Suzuki carrys look like could be made well handy …
- Location
- Somerset Devon border.
Not had a quote yet, think it’s about £13.5K plus vat and extras. Say £3k ish for opening screen/roof/rear screen and half doors (don’t need full cab and heating).