Jimny / UTV buggy options

[Joe]

Have been considering a UTV for a while, mainly down to safety concerns with young worker and elderly father using the quad a lot. Land here is reasonably dry and can travel more or less all year round in the defender which is on 285/85/r16's
Been looking at different buggy options, but all seem very expensive for what they are so started looking at alternative options. Suzuki Jimny raised on off road tyres looks a realistic option but I was wondering if anyone actually running one for sheep work, so pulling trailers and snacker's etc and how do they find it. or are there any other alternatives I haven't thought off?

 

[GTB]

Old defender running on red would be the most practical solution IMO. The old 200/300 tdi engines are pretty reliable and the parts are readily available and fairly reasonable. Set of 31x10.50x15 or 33x12.50x15 tyres and Bob's your uncle.

 

[Joe]

Old defender running on red would be the most practical solution IMO. The old 200/300 tdi engines are pretty reliable and the parts are readily available and fairly reasonable. Set of 31x10.50x15 or 33x12.50x15 tyres and Bob's your uncle.

Would weight not be an issue, 90 would come in over 2 ton vs a Jimny at 1 ton - no?

 

[GTB]

 

[GTB]

Would weight not be an issue, 90 would come in over 2 ton vs a Jimny at 1 ton - no?

Yes that's true but red diesel is much cheaper than petrol. Good wide chunky Tyres make a big difference.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Have been considering a UTV for a while, mainly down to safety concerns with young worker and elderly father using the quad a lot. Land here is reasonably dry and can travel more or less all year round in the defender which is on 285/85/r16's
Been looking at different buggy options, but all seem very expensive for what they are so started looking at alternative options. Suzuki Jimny raised on off road tyres looks a realistic option but I was wondering if anyone actually running one for sheep work, so pulling trailers and snacker's etc and how do they find it. or are there any other alternatives I haven't thought off?

I wouldn't entertain a buggy. With a petrol one they are quite thirsty and I've yet to hear of a good experience with a diesel one.

 

[Joe]

Yes that's true but red diesel is much cheaper than petrol. Good wide chunky Tyres make a big difference.

that's true and I am a fan of Defender's and love my TD5, but are expensive hard get a good one for any sort of decent price. Must keep an eye out for a pickup and see if one pops up anywhere

 

[GTB]

I wouldn't entertain a buggy. With a petrol one they are quite thirsty and I've yet to hear of a good experience with a diesel one.

Plus a new diesel Gator/Mule type is about 13k for a basic model and nearer 16k with cab, canopy and slightly bigger wheels (more ground clearance). Actually those figures are about three yrs out of date.

 

[GTB]

that's true and I am a fan of Defender's and love my TD5, but are expensive hard get a good one for any sort of decent price. Must keep an eye out for a pickup and see if one pops up anywhere

How old is your TD5? Is it too good to go on red? Might be easier to buy a pickup for 'best' and use your TD5 for farm work. Either way I wouldn't reccommend buying an old banger for farm work. You want something fairly safe and reliable. You'll use it far more than you ever thought so it almost needs to be something that's 'too good' initially iykwim.

 

[Green farmer]

Thinking along the same lines as yourself Joe, 1k would buy you a jimny just for on farm use. if you wanted to push the boat out 3k would get you something clean and modern from the north. With a small sheep farm I couldn't justify spending 16k on a gator. My own family car ain't even worth that.

 

[Sheep92]

Had the opportunity to use a neighbours brand new gator during the summer for weedwiping, well never have i drove such a dead yoke as that, our home farm is hilly and everytime i met a hill i had to put the foit right down to get it to crawl up, not a safe thing going doen hills either, it seems to have no engine breaking either, will be sticking to atvs on this farm

 

[GTB]

Had the opportunity to use a neighbours brand new gator during the summer for weedwiping, well never have i drove such a dead yoke as that, our home farm is hilly and everytime i met a hill i had to put the foit right down to get it to crawl up, not a safe thing going doen hills either, it seems to have no engine breaking either, will be sticking to atvs on this farm

We ran an old diesel mule for a while. It was secondhand when we bought it but it was the most unreliable heap of shite that's ever been on this farm. Parts were bloody expensive and difficult to source and like you say gutless going up a hill and no engine braking coming down. I was really glad to see it going down the road. Changed it for a quad!

 

[hally]

Plus a new diesel Gator/Mule type is about 13k for a basic model and nearer 16k with cab, canopy and slightly bigger wheels (more ground clearance). Actually those figures are about three yrs out of date.

Our last gator was kicking 14k and truly is a pile of s**t and will be our last I guess unless they improve them. New Can Am atv here today after 30 years of Honda so we'll see how it does.

 

[TALDLONKTUP2]

Have been considering a UTV for a while, mainly down to safety concerns with young worker and elderly father using the quad a lot. Land here is reasonably dry and can travel more or less all year round in the defender which is on 285/85/r16's
Been looking at different buggy options, but all seem very expensive for what they are so started looking at alternative options. Suzuki Jimny raised on off road tyres looks a realistic option but I was wondering if anyone actually running one for sheep work, so pulling trailers and snacker's etc and how do they find it. or are there any other alternatives I haven't thought off?

Yes I've got a Suzuki lj410 with 31 x 15.5 x 15 tyres, amazing machine. There's pictures on here somewhere

 

[GTB]

Our last gator was kicking 14k and truly is a pile of s**t and will be our last I guess unless they improve them. New Can Am atv here today after 30 years of Honda so we'll see how it does.

Honda must be starting to feel the pinch now surely? Five years ago, nothing but Hondas around here. Very different now.

 

[llamedos]

Landmaster? http://www.kapsuzuki4x4.co.uk

Not cheap, but far less expensive than a Gator, and engine breaking far superior, it has taken me ages to get used to the EB on the Gator, you really do need to put your foot down to get it to kick in. My Jimny in low box is far better.
No idea how they would compare on fuel.

 

[hally]

Honda must be starting to feel the pinch now surely? Five years ago, nothing but Hondas around here. Very different now.

Yeah mine was 10 years old 3000 hrs and cost the sum total of a new battery, couple of starter bushes and bushes in the front end and still got 2k for it. However after a demo with the new Honda 500 auto I was not impressed with jumpy gearbox compared to our hydrostatic and it was £1500 more than the 450 can am pro, but only time will tell if it's the right decision, it'll get plenty work as we have semi retired our gator before it bankrupts us.

 

[llamedos]

Yes I've got a Suzuki lj410 with 31 x 15.5 x 15 tyres, amazing machine. There's pictures on here somewhere

I started off with a Rhino many years ago, had a SJ413 a SJ413 lwb and now the Jimny, all far superior off road than any LR I have owned. Non have been anything other than road spec either.

 

[alwayslearning]

2nd hand gator for 3grand.
Diesel, light, easy to Drive reliable with easily sourced parts.
Granted dear parts.
My gators 5 year old with over 5000 hours on the clock.
Costs around a thousand a year to service and maintain including Labour.
Saves a thousand a year on fuel compared to a quad.
Depreciation is killer at over a 1000 a year. (but won't be if you buy 2nd hand)
I have a quad as well but take gator every time apart from lambing time or chasing cattle

 

[hally]

2nd hand gator for 3grand.
Diesel, light, easy to Drive reliable with easily sourced parts.
Granted dear parts.
My gators 5 year old with over 5000 hours on the clock.
Costs around a thousand a year to service and maintain including Labour.
Saves a thousand a year on fuel compared to a quad.
Depreciation is killer at over a 1000 a year. (but won't be if you buy 2nd hand)
I have a quad as well but take gator every time apart from lambing time or chasing cattle

Changing them around here every 2 years is costing between 6 and 7k, which is about 3 times the depreciation of a bike but your right the fuel use is very low.