Interesting thread TJ. I went through this same thought process. Folks that I had talked to said that the mini trucks felt under powered. I never actually drove one of the mini trucks but I looked at a couple of them. My parents bought a Polarius Ranger 500. It was the previous year model that was still on a dealer lot. I believe they paid about $7,000 for it. It is an amazing vehicle. Four wheel drive and in low gear setting it will climb very well. The dump bed comes in very hand for hauling brush, etc. We don't have an enclosed cab though, ours has a fabric top and a windshield. I would think that in this economy you might be able to find a good deal on a UTV.

JHAP
~~~~~~~~~~
"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."
...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)