Looking to buy my first UTV

[Airsense00]

Hi y'all,

I'm looking for recommendations on my first UTV. What I am looking for: Light duty around the house, snowplowing, taking 2 adults and 2 young kids for a ride to the bus stop or down the street. I would consider a 2 seater if I could add a rear facing seat in the back. Trail riding would be very occasional. My wife wants something quiet so the neighbors don't get annoyed. Not sure about electric since battery replacement scares me. Also looking to spend around 10k new or used. So far I've researched the Mule, Ranger, Tracker off road, American Landmaster, Pioneer. 

[kodaclr]

Hi, I'm looking also for the same reasons. I'm liking the Pioneer, Ranger or Landmaster the most right now.

 

[Travis]

There are several places online that sell rear seats that bolt onto the bed for the ranger, Most Mules are 2 seater (seat 2 comfortably) unless you get one of The newer Teryx or Pro FX  which cost some $$$, 

There are snowplow attachments for virtually every UTV.

[Willy M]

Auctions are a good source for used and many have very low mileage on them.  Why pay dealer prices?  I had bought a new Polaris Ranger and 3 months later a 3 year old 1000cc Polaris with under 200 miles sold for less than my 500 ranger.

[Airsense00]

46 minutes ago, Willy M said:

Auctions are a good source for used and many have very low mileage on them.  Why pay dealer prices?  I had bought a new Polaris Ranger and 3 months later a 3 year old 1000cc Polaris with under 200 miles sold for less than my 500 ranger.

Is there a website to see where the auctions are? I'm in Michigan. 

[Airsense00]

11 hours ago, kodaclr said:

Hi, I'm looking also for the same reasons. I'm liking the Pioneer, Ranger or Landmaster the most right now.

 

I like them all and those too. I like the Landmaster Cruiser but not liking no efi and I've heard the suspension/travel is not as good as others. Also I don't know much about the reliability. The mule I like the price and warranty but it is slow. The Pioneer is a Honda which is nice but pricey. The Ranger is at the top of my list right now. Maybe adding a bolt on seat to the rear like Travis mentioned. The glacier plow system is 2 grand! I'd have to shop around for an aftermarket plow system that is crazy expensive. 

[Willy M]

1 hour ago, Airsense00 said:

Is there a website to see where the auctions are? I'm in Michigan. 

You would have to google local auctions and keep looking until something  comes up at auction. You can enter search terms and online auction sites email you when a 4 wheeler or anything you are looking for comes up in local auctions or auctions in a wider search area.

[Willy M]

1 hour ago, Airsense00 said:

I like them all and those too. I like the Landmaster Cruiser but not liking no efi and I've heard the suspension/travel is not as good as others. Also I don't know much about the reliability. The mule I like the price and warranty but it is slow. The Pioneer is a Honda which is nice but pricey. The Ranger is at the top of my list right now. Maybe adding a bolt on seat to the rear like Travis mentioned. The glacier plow system is 2 grand! I'd have to shop around for an aftermarket plow system that is crazy expensive. 

Always test drive 4 wheelers on uneven ground, not pavement. You will know the ride quality only when taken off road on bumpy ground, Polaris to my knowledge has very smooth ride with good suspension.  The first 4 wheeler I bought I only drove it on the paved lot, what a mistake, the worst off road ride and you could not drive faster than walking or you'd hit your head on the roof the suspension was so stiff. The thing beat you up when you drove it.

[Nate T.]

Mule.  Last forever.

[Bluegill]

Why not go with Massimo?  Sold by tractor supply. Has everything you are asking for plus efi. 

[Nate T.]

Massimo is hit or miss according to the reviews.  I think all those box store brands, minus American Landmaster, is a Chinese Hisun coming out of an assembly plant in Texas.  QC seems to be spotty and based on whether or not the QC specialist had a rough night at the bar.  

[Dan B]

The Coleman (US brand) is a Hisun (Chinese) in disguise.  A few, but certainly not all Japanese and American brands use Chinese parts including the engine.  One model of the Kawasaki and John Deere UTVs uses a Chinese engine.  Never know what we're getting unless we do some deep, deep digging and researching.

[Travis]

Some of the newer Kawasaki come with the Chery engine... Which doesn't Joyner use too?

[Willy M]

If you plan on keeping your UTV past 5 years then buy a well known brand. Do not buy from Home Depot and others that sell no name or unknown name UTV's. Why, because they do not stock parts past about 5 years. If you look closely they source cheaper parts from several manufacturers. Stating "assembled in the USA" means only the parts have been bolted together.

I had a serious problem after 5 years the gas shocks lost their gas on two. Steering/handling so bad you could not use it. No where could you find shocks that fit the mounts.

I sold it at a huge loss. Now with a new Polaris I can always get parts and the ride is 500x better.

[Dan B]

12 hours ago, Travis said:

Some of the newer Kawasaki come with the Chery engine... Which doesn't Joyner use too?

Yes it does.  Pre 2014 Joyner Renegades had the 3-cyl 800cc engine.  Went to the 4-cyl engine 1100cc in 2014, same engine in the Trooper..  That engine is more common in South America, Africa and of course Asia.  Larger engines (1600+) are more common in automobiles in those areas.

[cardboard]

Where are you going to ride it, what kind of riding or work you going to do.

Where can you get parts for it ?

 

Where can you take it in and have service done.

What kind of warranty comes with it.

All this should be taken into consideration.

Or it might be sitting  in the back yard not running. 

[Verno]

Ive put 1800 miles on my 2017 Cub challenger from yardwork to Colorado mountains.   Built like a truck.  Nice price range, loaded with all you need.  Go for the 2019 and up to get the upgraded exhaust.   Only downside is top speed of 45 mph.

[cardboard]

Man I got a 19 ranger xp 900  on sale in dec of last yr.

I got 21 hrs on itm

I've hit 70 mph on the hardtop road.

Know it would go faster with 68 hp

 

With knobby tires on it, I didn't  want to go any faster.

 

I really like my 19 and the motor in back of the ranger.

 

 

 

[OldGoatLover]

I suggest not buying a Massimo Buck 400.  

It is rough to drive and steer.  Probably okay for a tough guy but, not a woman.  I have to use this thing on my farm. 

It is terrible to shift.  The right headlight is halfway gone out.  The charger port for a cellphone (?) doesn't work...

Wish I had done more research and comparison shopping.

 

[Joe Breaux]

STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING FROM MASSIMO ..trust me on this , or you will regret it

[Thomas osterhout]

On 11/12/2019 at 9:58 AM, Nate T. said:

Massimo is hit or miss according to the reviews.  I think all those box store brands, minus American Landmaster, is a Chinese Hisun coming out of an assembly plant in Texas.  QC seems to be spotty and based on whether or not the QC specialist had a rough night at the bar.  

I have a 18 cubcadet same engine junk from the first day nothing but problems burns oil 1600 miles

[Joe Breaux]

At least you got it to 1600 miles.. I have a 2017  Massimo I bought in march of 2018 BRAND  NEW from TS.. it broke on the first day....it now has 312 miles.. and its in the shop for the 6th time since February of this year...  THEY ARE ABSOLUTE CHINESE JUNK ... Dont buy one even if its 50% off ... YOU WILL REGRET IT .. I saved an email from the Factory Service REp admitting these  engines are garbage , ...they had to source another Chinese engine maker and they are refusing to fix these .. 

[OldGoatLover]

We, Amercan citizens, are paying very dearly for corporate greed and our own personal greed.

Our country is doomed. 

We have destroyed ourselves.

 

 

[Travis]

2 hours ago, OldGoatLover said:

We, Amercan citizens, are paying very dearly for corporate greed and our own personal greed.

Our country is doomed. 

We have destroyed ourselves.

 

 

I try to Buy American whenever and wherever I can... It may cost a few bucks more, but it sure is worth it...

 

[Dan B]

On 7/12/2020 at 9:13 PM, Travis said:

I try to Buy American whenever and wherever I can... It may cost a few bucks more, but it sure is worth it...

 

That's almost impossible.  It may be made in America from parts obtained on the world market (China mostly).  John Deere is an American company.  Their Gator engine is Chinese.  Japan's Kawasaki uses a Chinese engine in one of their models.  Wal-Mart should be renamed "China-Mart".

[Travis]

15 minutes ago, Dan B said:

That's almost impossible.  It may be made in America from parts obtained on the world market (China mostly).  John Deere is an American company.  Their Gator engine is Chinese.  Japan's Kawasaki uses a Chinese engine in one of their models.  Wal-Mart should be renamed "China-Mart".

Hit the nail on the head!

[Treeman1942]

I started with a new 1997 Kawasaki Mule , which was bullet proof reliable with much hard work, then moved to a new 2013 Kubota RTV900 diesel which I just sold because it was too noisy.  I'm now leaning toward a new 2021 Kawasaki Mule Pro FXR or possibly the Honda Pioneer 1000.  Kawasaki Mule's have a 3 year warranty, the best of all RTV's.  Yes, the Mule Pro FX's do have the Chery Chinese made engines but if you research them, it's almost impossible to find poor reviews.  Regarding, the 2021 Mule Pro FXR, they are not even announced yet, other than the diesel model.  I have a gut feeling that the 2021 will have major changes, possibly that new Kawasaki twin cylinder presently in the Tyrex (?) model.

[Farmhand]

Treeman1942 saw your post.  I was caught in the stop sale for 140 days waiting on delivery of the 2020 Kawa Pro- FXT.   I am pretty much a newbie.  I wish I had gotten an Owners Manual and read what the service requirements were to satisfy 3 yr factory plus the 3 yr extended warranty I bought.  There are so many service items that require taking the unit to a Dealer or performed by someone equally competent.   Who is equally competent?  Farther disclaimer "Kawa cannot assume any responsibility for damage resulting from incorrect maintenance or improper adjustment".  If I follow taking the unit to a dealer as required to keep the warranty by the time the 6 years are up I will have taken it to the dealer about 40 times.  That is not bad if the Dealer is a block away, I have a 54 mile round trip to take it and 54 miles to return to pick it up.  I really don't blame Kawa, I understand their position and likely I would still buy the ext. warranty.   How would you more experience guys handle this?

[Treeman1942]

Hi Farmhand,

I totally understand where you are coming from.  I just bought my buddies 2018 Mule Pro FXR, 200 miles on it, 47 hours.  I gave him $12000, and he bought a 2020 FXT, mainly because he is wealthy and likes new stuff.  In 1997, bought a new Mule 2510, which is now the 4010.  I used that until 2012 when I bought a Kubota RTV900, which was just too noisy but bullet proof reliable. That Mule 2510 was totally reliable in the 15 years I owned it, and it was driven hard, hauling wood, abused by the grandkids, etc.  I've researched the devil out of the FXR and almost impossible to find negative remarks.  I would not pay for the extended warranty! I will do all of my own maintenance, oil and filter, transmission, etc.  My closest dealer is 50 miles away round trip.  Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Farmhand]

Hi to all that answered this, lot of knowledge and experience out there.  Treeman1042 thanks for your thoughts.  My mule and my dealer are all OK so far??  You and Nate T feel the Mule is good for the long haul.  I also agree with Willy M, without parts support there will not be a long haul.  

AirsenseOO, likely you have already gotten a unit.  After going through just buying a machine I would say to buy from a big name brand for long term parts support, tech support, recalls, safe design, nation wide dealer locations and more likely they will be in business when you want service, repair or just to trade up. 

Second, unless you are going to move before your unit gets old,  your dealer and relationship with them can be a curse or a blessing.  Hopefully you may have a choice, I had four dealers all at about the same distance.  I chose the lowest price dealer, it was a significantly lower price, or I might have spent a lot more time researching the 'best' dealer.

Finally on the bolt in seats.  I explored that option because I thought I could get into a lower priced two passenger unit and add seats for passengers.  I found that the weight of the seats and passengers, even kids, will alter the unit's center of gravity far beyond its design specifications making it highly unstable.  That said I see a lot of units with bolt in seats?

What ever you do I wish you well.

 

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