Ok everyone, I have been using a BATTERY powered 1987 golf cart with a utility bed on the back for years. It has really done everything I needed it for EXCEPT it only carries 2 people and I want to carry at least 4 + a utility bed area. Does not need to tilt but would be ok if it did. I want GAS POWERED now so no more charging and replacing batteries. Just this weekend I went and priced Polaris,kawasaki,john deere, and Kubota and some Chinese brand ATV"s and honestly I just don't have any intentions on spending 10-20,000$ on one. Looks like gas golf carts are a LOT LESS expensive!! Any suggestions, pros and cons. I am going to sell my Ford 3000 diesel tractor and my golf cart to help offset expences. Just don't know who might be using what I am looking for and may have some advise. I need to do something very soon. My batteries on my cart are about gone. Thanks in advance
I know a couple of guys who have tried the Chinese and they didn't hold up at all. And for less than $10,000 I doubt that you will find a 4 wheeler. I'd probably look for a gently used golf cart.
Dave I definantly did not like the Chinese ones. I have experience with getting parts for them. Bad experience. Thank you Zep for the listings. I actually drove a used Polaris ranger yesterday. A 2015 model with 500 hours and 1500 miles. The belt was slipping but I can buy it for $7000. What do you think? They said water got in on the belt. What I have found used in a Kubota diesel have been $14,000 but its really what I want.
I’d wonder how water got on the belt.
Dave, They said they had put a new belt on it and the gasket must have leaked. We did just get another 2 1/2 in rain but that does sound fishy. I have been a mechanic most of my life. Even owned a small engine repair shop for over 30 years but I did not work on 4 wheelers or motorcycles so don't know a whole lot about them.This was was fully loaded in camo color,hardtop,windshield,winch,seatbelts,etc. Looks like it would clean up to look like new but if I have motor problems a rebuilt Polaris engine is about $2500. My thoughts was that would be a worse case scenario and would still be a lot cheaper than $18,000 for a new one like it. Just thinkin. I have a Polaris dealer I am going to this week to look around and another Kubota one. Also found out once I get into the duell bench seat gas powered golf carts with a utility bed,they are as expensive as the ATVs. That sucked.
Flame, after owning two Polaris side by sides I believe their motor is a good motor. I have never had a motor issue other than when they built them with the motor under the seat. Over heating was a problem in our hot summer months with that model. I don't think they make that model now. Most of my expenses have been for things like axels, bearings, axel boots etc. Now, as far as Kubota with the diesel engine, I own that tractor but I still don't like diesel's. You ever stick a diesel powered truck in the mud? Just go ahead and call someone to pull you out because that diesel truck won't get you out without a winch. And diesel's are expensive for fuel and upkeep. We have a Honda but it's too new for much of a report other than when comparing it to the Polaris. It's like comparing the ride of a Cadillac to an old model T ride. The Honda being the Model T. I will say the Polaris has been fairly expensive to keep up but we use it as a work vehicle and put quite a bit of hrs on it. This is all just an opinion and we know everyone has one of those
Thing about a UTV is they can either be treated kindly and last a long time (if they are any good to begin with) or be driven like holy hell and abused to no end. A previously abused one might be something to avoid. Any chance on getting a phone number of the previous owner? He might give an indication of its former life.
I really like my two Polaris Ranger 900's but as I have stated before I kind of baby them. If the water is over about 10" deep in my creek crossing, I simply wait for the creek to go down. I know some the guys that will drive througuh water as deep as the machine will go through. That is fine if that is what they bought it for - their machine, their money, their usage. But if I were to buy a used one, I want one that comes from someone like me, not someonen who pushes the machine to mechanical limits.
Now when I pass them down to farm use they get used harder, but any serious abuser of equipment around our place quickly finds themselves out of a job. I like stuff to last. So the machines simply do not get driven to hell.
Point is, when buying used, its previous life has a lot to do with how much life is left in the machine. I really like our Polaris and will buy another in a couple years. But my experience does not reflect reliability of a machine run in excessively demanding circumstances.
We have a Honda but it's too new for much of a report other than when comparing it to the Polaris. It's like comparing the ride of a Cadillac to an old model T ride. The Honda being the Model T
...that's surprising because I am a huge fan of Honda just about anything....but still interesting and helpful.....smoother ride is important to me.
Flame:
Since you said a golf cart did everything you wanted except you wanted 4 seats and gasoline powered, consider what I saw inside a Bass Pro store last night:
$8000 new :
https://ezgo.txtsv.com/personal/express-s4Back seat will fold down to make a platform to haul tackle box, chain saw etc.
I have a Polaris Ranger myself and love it, but I make it do a LOT more work than a golf cart can do.
Red
I was pretty much anti Polaris (because of reliability issues of some of the early models) and pro Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki Mule. I had all of those brands and had been well satisfied with all of them. Only on suggestion of an employee that currently had a Gator but previously had several Polaris suggest I try out the Polaris did I even go to the dealer (that retired employee now is back to a Polaris and his son has the Gator).
I have had three back operations and still have to be careful of what I do. One drive of the Polaris was all it took. One drive of my wife and electric power steering became a necessity rather than an option.
I have a Polaris Ranger myself and love it, but I make it do a LOT more work than a golf cart can do.
is the Polaris Ranger not really a gas powered golf cart? The reason I ask is I bought a souped up 4 wheel drive hunting golf cart last year....tried it for a few weeks and sent it back.....it looked great....but the ride was rougher than hell and the roof squeaked no matter what we did. Are there relatively smooth riding side x side UTV's? The hunting golf cart I had was much rougher ride than my Honda ATV's. Is just the nature of a side by side UTV going to be a rough ride even in a semi normal gravel, twigs, small bumps setting? One guy told me that some UTV's are built more on at ATV frame and have better suspension than the golf cart type UTV's. I guess my question is....is there a real difference in say a hunting golf cart and a ranch UTV?
Zep, like John, I have the ranger 900. The ride with power steering is so smooth I don't think you will find a smoother ride. But I guess I am one of those ruff riders John talks about. I take mine everywhere and my bottom land can get pretty wet and muddy this time of the year. And that most likely why I am replacing axels, bearings and such. I have a real problem keeping the axel boots from being ragged. lol I would be the first one to tell you I use mine for everything including disking food plots where I can't get my tractor to.
That is good to get those kind of reports on reliability under tougher use. I just wanted to be clear that I was not a good source for that information.
Our older 900 does get lots of use picking up rocks, checking crops in sometimes muddy fields, fire control with a heavy water tank and pump on the back, etc. So it does get some hard use. But not what I would call abusive use which a UTV might encounter being used as a hunting transport for instance where it might be crossing creeks full of water, getting winched out of mud holes, etc. Nothing at all wrong with that usage if that is what a person buys it for and good to know how well the machine holds up under such conditions even if a person does not intend to use it in that manner.
Zep, like John, I have the ranger 900. The ride with power steering is so smooth I don't think you will find a smoother ride. But I guess I am one of those ruff riders John talks about. I take mine everywhere and my bottom land can get pretty wet and muddy this time of the year. And that most likely why I am replacing axels, bearings and such. I have a real problem keeping the axel boots from being ragged. lol I would be the first one to tell you I use mine for everything including disking food plots where I can't get my tractor to.
You might check after market parts. Seems like I saw some better bolt on boot protectors to help with the rubber boots getting torn.
That is something I am very cognizant of when traveling in freshly harvested corn fields with the stalks sticking up. I try to run where a wheel track is because that constant poking of stalks I could envision ripping the rubber boots open. Once the boots are torn, water could easily damage internal parts if the machine was driven through water.
No, the Ranger is much more capable off-road than a gas powered golf cart. Smoother riding, mud, HP, speed, water, etc. But you're gonna pay for it!
The axle boots need to have trash guards - on my 2008 Ranger they were standard. I think on some of the newer ones the guards are optional.
Edit - I love my Ranger and will probably always have one. I am in an 800 duck club with lots of swamp and also have my own 120 acre hunting tract with my newish 2 acre pond. But if I build a cabin on the 120 acre place I will probably get an electric golf cart as a quiet mode of buzzing around the place to the deer stand and dock.
John, I am betting you are diving in the Carb. right now.
We spent some vacation time down there every year for about 20 yrs and now I can't seem to get my wife away from the grandkids. So I spend a lot of time at the farm and it's cold at the farm right now. Happy for you!!
I had 2 of the Chinese dune buggys a few years back. The worse part about them is the wiring. They use really small gauge wire so it works at first then becomes a nightmare. After a one or two winters it cracks and then you have a motor and frame. Beware if you like nightmares go ahead my advice is to stay clear of them. Buy and good brand that you can get parts for. I would rather go with a used good brand than a new junk.
Dave, They said they had put a new belt on it and the gasket must have leaked. We did just get another 2 1/2 in rain but that does sound fishy. I have been a mechanic most of my life. Even owned a small engine repair shop for over 30 years but I did not work on 4 wheelers or motorcycles so don't know a whole lot about them.This was was fully loaded in camo color,hardtop,windshield,winch,seatbelts,etc. Looks like it would clean up to look like new but if I have motor problems a rebuilt Polaris engine is about $2500. My thoughts was that would be a worse case scenario and would still be a lot cheaper than $18,000 for a new one like it. Just thinkin. I have a Polaris dealer I am going to this week to look around and another Kubota one. Also found out once I get into the duell bench seat gas powered golf carts with a utility bed,they are as expensive as the ATVs. That sucked.
James the son in law has the Kubota side by side and it has to be the smoothest ride of any I have been in, the diesel is loud and not fast but very durable.4 seater with hydraulic dump bed in Cano runs 16,000
Thank you to everyone!! I have a lot to think about. I will let ya'll know what we end up with. Thanks again
John, I am betting you are diving in the Carb. right now.
We spent some vacation time down there every year for about 20 yrs and now I can't seem to get my wife away from the grandkids. So I spend a lot of time at the farm and it's cold at the farm right now. Happy for you!!
You guessed right. Daughter down for a couple weeks. Just got done diving and having a little lunch in the open air kitchen.
Description: Lunch in the sunny south
Thanks for rubbing that in john
If you do not mind driving you can find large volume dealers with much cheaper prices on new ATVs and UTVs. For example, take a look at
www.brookhavenhonda.com and a little far for you
www.abernathys.com. It is not unusual at all to see people travel 10-14 hours one way to Abernathy's.
I highly recommend Polaris full size rangers for all the reasons above. That being said I would advise buying the Kubota you really want. Price is important the day you buy something, but long term satisfaction comes from how it fits your needs and desires. UTV hold their value very well, cost per year of ownership might be less than you think with a UTV. Golf carts tend to depriciate rapidly around here.
Flame,
Don’t know if you’d consider used, but that’s what I did. I found a 2012 Honda Big Red. It only seats 2, but I put a second seat up in the bed that folds up out of the way when not in use.
It is shaft drive as opposed to belts, fuel injected single cylinder 650 cc engine used on their motorcycles for many many years. It has proven to be very (Honda) reliable. Goes anywhere. At least I haven’t been able to get it stuck yet, and hauls everything I need. Not all that fancy to look at though.
Roundy, I believe we have come to the same conclusion that UTV's will hold their value and do a lot more work than the Golf cart types for the same money. I am going to a Polaris/Kawasaki dealer this Saturday that I was refered to only 40 miles from home. Will be able to take the wife and we can test drive some new 2019 models.
I'm confused Zep. What do you meen uh...no? I went to Polaris website where you can build your own and did just that. I then compared it to what my local dealer quoted me and my dealer was $1,000 cheaper. Plus with my ag exemption I save around $1000 on sales tax!! Things are looking a little better.
Flame....did you not click the link?...."uh no"...
that the tricked out Polaris shown in the link I provided is too crazy even for me...lol.
No worries man I think Polaris is a great brand.
Here's another crazy looking one...
amazing what a custom shop can do with these mudding units,
but not practical for most of us for sure.
Roundy, I believe we have come to the same conclusion that UTV's will hold their value and do a lot more work than the Golf cart types for the same money. I am going to a Polaris/Kawasaki dealer this Saturday that I was refered to only 40 miles from home. Will be able to take the wife and we can test drive some new 2019 models.
I just bought a Polaris and need to steer you away from the dealer I used. Actually, if you are looking 20 miles outside of the metroplex you are good.
I did click the link Zep. They do get wild. I thought you were trying to reference what I was talking about resale values. You gotta realize...it don't take much to get me confused!! Hah
This the 900 I purchased recently.
Odd around here people with Polaris side x side they are always broken...... hmmm
This the 900 I purchased recently
Very nice Lance. If I go with gas that's pretty much what I want. Any feedback thus far? How do you like it? How is the ride? Noise? Power Steering?
I kind of want an electric UTV because electric works perfect for what I will use it for.
The problem is I can only find one company that makes a full size crew 2 bench seat UTV that is electric.
The company is
Huntve based in Fort Worth and all they make is electric models. So I would hope they know what they are doing as far as electric UTV's.
However a few years ago they did not have great reviews.
I may go pay them a visit in Cowtown.
This the 900 I purchased recently
Very nice Lance. If I go with gas that's pretty much what I want. Any feedback thus far? How do you like it? How is the ride? Noise? Power Steering?
I kind of want an electric UTV because electric works perfect for what I will use it for......
The ride is incredibly smooth and its quiet compared to the Kawasaki Mule I have at the farm. Both front and back bench seats have three seat belts. Love the power steering. Haven't had it long enough to give a reliability report. Again if you were to think about going that route I would want to steer you clear of the dealer I went through.
Whats the advertised run time on one of those electrics?
Tbar, that 900 is what we are looking at. Only option I want is the hard top and nothing else. Their options are way too exspensive for things I can aftermarket and install myself. Don't need doors or even a windshield actually. If its too nasty weather I won't be out in it anyway. Light, winches, mirrors, etc...I can do myself.For what I'm going to use it for I'm not even going for power steering. That's $2000 extra!! My dealer said later if I want it he could install me a aftermarket power steering for $800. Wish me luck, I'm going to the dealer today!!
Zep. my first Polaris was one of those tricked out mudders seen at our yearly sports show here in Shreveport. You know those shows where bass boats are lined up everywhere and the UTV's/ATV's are on the other side of the show.
It was an 800 Ranger with those aggressive mud tires and all jacked up. It was fun to drive but I broke a few things because it was built to the extremes. kept it a couple of years and then bought the new 900. I bought it stock with the camo colors and it is more better lol
Whats the advertised run time on one of those electrics?
It varies by model depending on the battery pack and other conditions. The best range in electric is the Game Changer edition and its 260 amp hour rated battery pack, up to 25 miles in moderate terrain. The lowest range capability is the hybrid Switchback in all electric mode at 15 miles but you get the benefit of gas engine generation that will take you another 50+ miles. Range is reduced as the battery pack ages, in hilly conditions and in extreme temperatures as well. Remember to always “mature” new battery packs by not exceeding a 50% state of discharge within the first 15 charge cycles. When 4x2/4x4 switch is available, always drive in 4x4 mode in off road conditions to maximize efficiency and protect motors.
Q: What is the life expectancy of the battery pack and cost before they need replacement?A: Under normal conditions, the battery pack can last up to 4 years before needing replacement at an approximate cost of $1,500 for 8-battery systems. Note that the battery pack capacity will start to decline in year 3 and is a candidate for replacement during this time, depending on how many cycles the batteries have been used and what distance is required.
Zep. my first Polaris was one of those tricked out mudders seen at our yearly sports show here in Shreveport. .... kept it a couple of years and then bought the new 900. I bought it stock with the camo colors and it is more better lol
Tracy I don't blame ya bit....the 900 is so much more practical at places like ours.
Good reviews on this diesel powered 'jeep' look-alike made by Mahindra. It is turning heads at the Detroit Auto show and is made in MI.
They will add auto-transmission this year and are working on an electric model. top speed 55mph!
ROXOR UTV fun in Detroit
cool
canyoncreek....
there is an abundance of neat really different options out there today.
https://www.massimomotor.com/products/WARRIOR 
Well guys, I pulled the trigger today on a brand new 2019 Polaris 900 Ranger Crew that seats 6 and has a full tilt utility bed. Darn thing is 150 inch long!! I had the hard top put on it and that was the only option. I drove it all over my place today. Too late to call the dealer but temp gauge kept getting up to 206 and back down to about 185 and then back up. It never got over 206. But is that normal? Seems hot to me but maybe they all run hotter than a car or truck. Anybody else have knowledge how hot theirs are running? Should I be concerned?
Congrats Flame....I just ran across this about the new 2019. Looks like they are making some great stuff.
Re-Invented 2019 Polaris
Hope you enjoy it James
Google temp. An see what the range is
Congrats!
I bet that temp is normal. But for this and any other question this forum will be able to answer it:
Polaris Ranger Club:
https://www.prcforum.com/forum/forum.php
Thank you everyone!! I am very proud of my new machine and Red, I will be joining another forum looks like for my Polaris help. Thanks for the heads up!!
Good reviews on this diesel powered 'jeep' look-alike made by Mahindra. It is turning heads at the Detroit Auto show and is made in MI.
They will add auto-transmission this year and are working on an electric model. top speed 55mph!
ROXOR UTV fun in Detroit I saw the ROXOR yesterday at the Shreveport sports show. I liked what I saw but would be more interested when the automatic transmission comes out. And I am not all that crazy about the diesel engine but all in all it was priced several thousand lower than the top of the line UTV's and I saw some other benefits like larger beds, larger seating area. If it came in a gas engine, with auto trans I would be all over it.
Zep, I looked at a couple or the intimidator models yesterday also. I remember seeing the bodies were beefed up and looked to be pretty sturdy. I also recall the seats were nicely done. I don't look much at the electric ones because about 1/3 of my property is bottom land and can get pretty wet with shallow water holes scattered around. And some of the best deer hunting comes around or near that bottom land they use as a travel corridor. I'm not convinced elec vehicles and water goes well together. And as far as battery cost goes, if that is the only cost of upkeep then that would be ok but if other expenses like I have experienced come with the battery purchases then it might be to costly for me anyway. However the intimidator was a good looking beefy ride.
I wished I was not so much down with diesel engines after all my Kubota tractor has no problems at all. The Roxor looks like a good work vehicle for the farm.
Tracy...I wish I would have been there with you. Intimidator primarily makes gas and diesel models. I think they only make one electric model. I am going to test drive a gas and an electric one sometime.
I wished you had been there also. There were most all of the UTV's around to see. I was looking at the intimidator line because I was not familiar with them. We had a jeep pickup at the farm and used it quite a bit, so that may have been the reason I liked the Roxor. I am happy with my 900 but it's nice to look and wish