ATV vs. UTV

We go to the national tractor pulls in bowling Green Ohio nearly every year. In the pits there are more Kubota rtv units than any other. Some stock, some custom painted to match their pulling trucks / tractor. I've talked to a few as to why the Kubota vs any other. Because they almost always just work without issues.

 

And their owners are diesel junkies too.

 

I went through the same quandry a couple of years ago. At the time I was using an old riding mower that I had beefed up and put ATV-type tires and a small box on to haul saws and tools into the woods, pull utility trailers, etc. It works pretty well for that, but the wheelbase is too narrow and the front tires are too small. After a couple close calls and one rollover, I decided to invest in something better. It still does occasional trailer duty in the yard and woodlot where it's somewhat level, but it's no longer a woods buggy.

My dad had bought a used John Deere Gator 2x4 some years back, but I hate that thing with a passion because even though it's a pretty big, handy hauling machine UTV-wise, the non-adjustable seats sit so close to the dash that anyone approacing 6' tall will have bruised knees from banging on the metal dash after just a short ride. And I'm 6'2". What a stupid design! Did I mention I hate that thing?

I thought about an ATV, because you can still find older ones with very simple transmissions and drivetrains fairly cheap, but I wanted a little more room to haul woods and fence tools without pulling a trailer, and as I'm getting older with developing hip problems I thought that investing in someting I had to mount/straddle every time might not be the best choice. And, sometimes we get into projects on far ends of the farm when we need tools and multiple machinery, so having a room for an extra rider to go back and get the skidsteer or whatever sure beats walking.

I did want something smaller for woods convenience, as many here have already pointed out, and I wanted an air-cooled engine because I've experienced cooling system problems on several fluid-cooled UTVs including the Deeres and Kubotas. So I ended up with a very low-hour 2005 Kawasaki Mule 610 that I found at a decent price. It has turned out to suit my needs very well. It already had a cab cover and windshield, and it's very easy to step out of or into as I'm opening gates and such. This model is a smaller one (max 52" wide, I think), but plenty big enough for me and the dog, or even the wife, and it's handy in the woods. There are Mules that are much bigger, but I appreciate the 600/610's compact size that suits my needs. This one has a 1200-lb. or so trailer capacity if I remember right. I do use a utility trailer often but if I'm pulling anything approacing that weight I have other equipment better suited.

I didn't think I would need 4WD, but this model came with selectable 4WD and rear differential lock. I hardly ever need either, but have used them both in the recent multiple snows we had this winter. And speaking of snow - I had bought an old snow plow blade that fit some other ATV and adapted it to fit my Mule. I also had to add a winch to make it work. That set-up that I put together "just in case" has been a real life-saver this winter and worked far better than I thought it would. I highly recommend a snow blade if you have any potential at all to need it, whichever machine you choose.

Sorry this got so long, but I wanted to give you my thought process since I just faced a similar decision. What I needed may not be the same as your needs, but at least it will give you something to think about. Good luck!

 

Some are. There are far more alcohol running pullers at that event than diesel.

 

Pretty slick!

 

Yup, if all you have to cut is toothpick trees, that's
But the trees we cut would blow the tires off that thing, with one log!

 

We put a turbo on one this summer. Got it up to 34 mph on the asphalt.

 

If we get a new SxS, an RTV X1120 is on the list if we know we aren't going out trail running beyond our property and the neighbors 134 acres. If we decide we want to venture out beyond that, we will go with a Honda pioneer 1000 two seater. I definitely like the fuel efficiency of the diesel and I have a bulk tank of it here because I have a tractor. That's part of the decision as well. In no hurry though.

 

Hey Eggshooterist post a thread on it when you do.. my buddy down street is thinking this bulk diesel tank is a good idea

 

Will do.

 

Don't buy too big...this modern low sulfur diesel doesn't keep well...I'd say to make sure you use at least 1 tank/year.

 

Ok thanks for the tip

 

Mine is inside the garage. I haven’t had issues with 2 year old diesel fuel.

 

After my dad got older, and ALS started to make his legs less and less effective as time went on, he could not use the ATV anymore and needed a UTV.

 

If you really want to go big and utility wise, get a bobcat toolcat like my one buddy has. It's kind of the ultimate UTV for firewood work. Bucket fel on front and a dump bed in back. 4 wheel steering AC heat, big diesel engine. Big bucks though.

 

It's a crap shoot...sometimes it's fine, sometimes it's full of slime...indoors certainly helps though.

 

Higher than normal temps (tank in the sun) while stored coupled with a biodiesel mix is a recipe for the black algae. Seen it in truck bed tanks before. That's assuming farm diesel is mixed with some bio.

 

8 ply tires. 2,500 lbs per tire. 4 tires = 10,000 lbs. Tires will be just fine. LOL

Max load is 3,850lbs, which is not bad at all. Hauls WAY more than what one could skid with an ATV. It even has it's own propulsion, so it can help propel itself.

 

I had a quad or two since the mid 90s. Didn’t use them very much so thought I had no reason to get a side-by-side. Grew a wild hair one day and bought a Ranger. I use it almost every day now. The four wheeler was a 500 sportsman which is a fine machine by all accounts. But the sxs is much better for doing work in both traction and power. Not to mention not needing to drag a utility trailer around

 

I've never had a slime issue from algae in the 10-12 years I've had the tank. It's a 50 gallon unit. Up until all these trees got knocked down at our place it would average 2 years to need a refill. Sometimes a bit longer. I've seen what happens to the tanks setting outside. Black snot. Nasty stuff. Once I have all the trees cleaned up, I’ll be back to a couple years per fill again.

If a person is concerned you can treat with a diesel fuel algacide product that prevents that problem.