I have had a couple of Kawasaki Mules. They are great machines and one still sees almost daily use at the workshop by employees.

Also have a Yamaha Rhino that is a pretty good machine that gets used for farm use.

But what I currently use personally and what I would buy again in a minute for my own use is a Polaris Ranger 900 with power steering. The only thing I might like it better is if it had the 3 cylinder engine John Deere uses in their Gators (The Ranger 900 uses a 2 cyl).

It is very smooth running. Engine is placed to the rear under the bed so it is both quiet and smooth. Engines up closer under the drivers seat tend to have more vibration and noise).Suspension on the Polaris is great which is very important to me as having back problems makes a smooth ride. The older I get, the more important that is. Kawasaki Mules will haul a big load because of the tires and suspension they use (great for picking up rocks out of farm fields), but they will beat you to death on rough ground. I've pulled thousands of soil samples on rough fields with one. The Polaris rides great. I would never have bought one with power steering. But one test drive by my wife and she said "this is the one we want". After having the power steering, if I get a replacement some day it will have it too.

Those are the three brands I have had experience with. To be fair, both the Mule and the Rhino are older machines with carburetors so the respective and comparable machines to the Polaris 900 would be much nicer. Electronic ignition fuel injected is the only way to do. No choke. No lean running, cold natured EPA mandated mal adjusted carb. Hit the key and it goes. I still have one carb motorcycle and the rest are fuel injected engines are SO MUCH NICER.

That is my input.

Oh, as far as Diesel. We have probably thirty or fourty Diesel engines on the farm. All the way from 40 to 550 hp tractors and several Semi's and well as combines, sprayers, etc. Diesel is the only way to go in heavy duty engines. Having said that I have owned Diesel pickups and I have no desire to own another. Same way for utility vehicles. They are fine machines, but for the cost difference and the way the new electronic ignition and fuel injected gas engines start and run, I have no desire to own a Diesel pickup or UTV. Just my personal preference. Lots of people think differently, and that is ok too.

Last edited by snrub; 04/01/16 09:54 AM.
John

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