Gator/Rough terrain utility vehicles ???

[Pilatus]

Is the strength of build,reliabilty about the same for all makes (Deere,Polaris,Kubota etc etc) of gator /rough terrain vehicles available in the uk? From what I have heard they all seem to be not that reliable and they aren't built strong enough for how they are used on estate and farm work, very expensive machines to run.

 

[box]

They're nothing but an overweight & overgrown ATV, but people expect them to do the work of a pickup truck/small tractor.

Reliability and running costs come down to the IQ and mechanical sympathy of the driver. I've seen 3 year old machines that have been used and abused to the point that they may as well be turned into scrap metal.....usually ones driven by farm workers. Funnily enough, they're also the ones that are getting trailered off to the dealer sick bay every few months because they're "poorly made rubbish".

I've seen 10 year old machines which are perfect and have cost nothing more than basic scheduled servicing.....usually the ones paid for and driven by the owner.

Are there any particular models you've got your eye on?

 

[deleted user 837354]

I guess the problem is that these are sold in droves to good-lifers. They all seem insane money for what they are when a second hand small SUV type thing could be bought for not much and probably be kept in MOT worthy condition for not much.

A Toyota RAV4 can be had for 2K or less and will leave plenty in the budget for a service and a set of half decent off road tyres?

 

[Al R]

If I was buying it would be Polaris - Kubota - Can Am, JD. Unsure if the Kawasaki mule and the Yamaha equivalent are like these days...
Very happy with the Polaris I’ve got as are many others, there has been a lot of disgruntled JD users the last few years, even more so when they see how slow and pathetic the JD has become
@Fendt516profi

 

[Classichay]

After seeing the steering spline on the rack on a gator strip this week can’t say my money would be going on one of those 1400.00 for the new steering rack. Crazy money for an overpriced big quad, you almost need to Rev the balls off to get to move.

 

[Hilly]

Pickup derived Jimneys

 

[Hilly]

After seeing the steering spline on the rack on a gator strip this week can’t say my money would be going on one of those 1400.00 for the new steering rack. Crazy money for an overpriced big quad, you almost need to Rev the balls off to get to move.

I had one they are absulote shyt man yet they still buy them , no money in farming you know

 

[deleted user 837354]

Pickup derived Jimneys

Just buy a RAV and remove the back seats and you would have plenty of space for anything and it would be kept in the dry as well?

 

[Fendt516profi]

Had Polaris 18month now no real issues that have stopped it working. Going to see what it will cost to change for new at two years but not scared to keep it if the deals not right. I think it's one of the best for pulling and 2nd best on top speed as far as I'm aware but the bonus of diesel over others been petrol/gas was in auction with it yesterday and just walking away from it and a chap walked over and said what do you think to that I've got a gator I started laughing while he reeled off all the gator issues

 

[Fendt516profi]

Plus point of the gator is it's the only John Deere that doesn't blow the turbo

I'm getting some wear out of this

 

[Henery]

Honda Pioneer..... has been little bother compared with the previous Polaris... yes it’s Petrol but goes like stink when you need it and seems very solid... near 4 years work now... 3 year warranty on a new one.

 

[Fendt516profi]

Honda Pioneer..... has been little bother compared with the previous Polaris... yes it’s Petrol but goes like stink when you need it and seems very solid... near 4 years work now... 3 year warranty on a new one.

The new Polaris is better than the old one goes as fast as the honda just not up hill tows more and has a bigger load bed and cab

 

[texelburger]

In the past we've had a Mule (06) which always had uv joint and propshaft problems followed by 3 Kubotas (12,15 and 18 plate) which were of a superior build quality but not very fast.Recently had a Polaris Ranger diesel which,to date,has only covered 220 hours.Early days,I know, but so far so good.We bought it for extra speed when moving sheep and it has been good.Will it stand the rigours of time ? I hope so

 

[Pilatus]

Thanks for all your posts.
I only asked the question as my wife is a farm secretary and quite often mentions the horrendous repair bills they get for repairing the rtv/ gators that are on farms.
I am surprised an enterprising agricultural engineer/ farmer has not built a gator type vehicle that “Really Is Fit for farm/ estate use”.
From what I can make out the mass produced Gator type vehicle are suited for use by councils, golf courses and holiday home complex maintenance staff where they are used to carry a strummer,chainsaw etc on tarmac surfaces or short grass golf greens!!!!

 

[michael N123]

Just buy a RAV and remove the back seats and you would have plenty of space for anything and it would be kept in the dry as well?

First gear is a bit to high in a rav4 and don’t think they ever made them with low box

 

[Al R]

Thanks for all your posts.
I only asked the question as my wife is a farm secretary and quite often mentions the horrendous repair bills they get for repairing the rtv/ gators that are on farms.
I am surprised an enterprising agricultural engineer/ farmer has not built a gator type vehicle that “Really Is Fit for farm/ estate use”.
From what I can make out the mass produced Gator type vehicle are suited for use by councils, golf courses and holiday home complex maintenance staff where they are used to carry a strummer,chainsaw etc on tarmac surfaces or short grass golf greens!!!!

I know some that have gators and reckon their brilliant etc but they seldom do any “work”.... My polaris works, pulling the rappa race around, 400 litres of water in cans in the back and very seldom slow.

 

[neilo]

Just buy a RAV and remove the back seats and you would have plenty of space for anything and it would be kept in the dry as well?

@Hilly has got sheep though. If he’s picking up a dead ewe, or has a couple of stinky sheepdogs, then a separate compartment might be very welcome.

 

[Drillman]

Had a Polaris Ranger here for a few months. Spent more time on the trailer been taken to be fixed than we did using it so sent it back.

 

[Richard Devon]

we have an 855D Gator here with 5000hrs on the clock......used to go around checking sheep every day and its all steep ground that it has to deal with - carrying fencing stuff, mineral buckets, bags of barley etc. It gets religiously serviced every 200hrs as we would be lost without it.
We also have a petrol Jimny on knobbly tyres for comparison and althought the Gator is slower its certainly a darn sight safer on the hills (plus it has a built-in roll-bar) than the Suzuki!...and for someone who is 6ft2 the driver's space is positively cramped - I really can't see what all the fuss is with them, personally.

Our only real gripe with the Gator is the cost of the parts, it really is downright obscene!.......the l.h. door is 870 quid! (JD parts dept really milking the insurance money!)....but you can buy a kit with BOTH doors and all the fittings for 880!
The starter is a Denso, off the dealer was near 300 pounds, got the same of a factors for 140.
Glow plugs were also cheaper from elsewhere. I believe the knobly tyres have to come from Deere as well......Last winter I totally rebuilt the front suspension and remember thinking that it was a rather "spendy" exercise.

 

[Longlowdog]

My gator is 18yrs old and has done a front wheel bearing and a tipper hose. That's it. It has done its fair share of drifting round sheep and doughnuts in the snow, fetching firewood and carting blocks to a building site. I can't fault it.