It's big, but has a very good suspension, and power is way up.
https://m.kawasaki.com/product/details/2017-Mule-PRO-FXT-EPS-LE
It's worth a look.
I drove one.
N
I have spent several years surveying Rights-of-Way on UTVs and ATVs. Here are a few more things to consider:
-How will your field crew treat the equipment? If it's in the shop more than it is in the field, it will never make you any money. (I once had a party chief get named employee of the month at the local Polaris dealer)
-What is the terrain like? If it is very wet, you might want to stay away from anything with a belt drive (i.e. Polaris Ranger) If the belts get wet, you can't drive it until they dry out. If you do, they will shred and you will be dead in the water. I recently had a chance to use a Yamaha Viking and loved it. I had water almost up to the seat with no problem.
-Don't go out and get a lift kit and huge knobby tires put on it if you are going to be on solid ground. The big treads will rattle the suspension apart.
-If you buy a trailer to drag your machine around, buy one that is full width, but try to steer away from dual axles. It is a huge pain to be driving down a one lane road and have to back up a mile to turn around after you find a locked gate.
All that being said, UTV or ATV, they are both great. You just have to figure out how you can fit them into your work flows to get the most efficiency
I have this in the back of my mind to supplement my Foreman ATV:
Pioneer UTV: https://powersports.honda.com/pioneer/700/home.aspx
Brad Ott, post: 414258, member: 197 wrote: I have this in the back of my mind to supplement my Foreman ATV:
Pioneer UTV: https://powersports.honda.com/pioneer/700/home.aspx
i don't know about currently, but i used a pioneer on a couple jobs two summers ago. only problem was seco and whoever didn't make anything that would work with the pioneer. but again- that wasn't a big deal, i just made a rig out of some stuff readily available at home depot. guess it could be a problem if you're not as handy or don't wish to DIY on rod/antenna mounts.
flyin solo, post: 414259, member: 8089 wrote: i don't know about currently, but i used a pioneer on a couple jobs two summers ago. only problem was seco and whoever didn't make anything that would work with the pioneer. but again- that wasn't a big deal, i just made a rig out of some stuff readily available at home depot. guess it could be a problem if you're not as handy or don't wish to DIY on rod/antenna mounts.
Excellent points.
C Billingsley, post: 414239, member: 1965 wrote: Since this is a utility project, I would recommend checking the contract before making a purchase. Most utilities I have dealt with are going to a policy that only allows side-by-sides. Would hate for you to purchase two atv's and then find out you can't use them.
On the positive side, when I was looking for a new SxS Kubota was willing to sell me one at a greatly reduced price because of our railroad contract. The rate was the same they give the BNSF and UP. I ended up going with the Tyrex because of ground clearance issues, knee deep mud and snow on the particulary project, but now I wish I had gone the diesel route.
flyin solo, post: 414259, member: 8089 wrote: i don't know about currently, but i used a pioneer on a couple jobs two summers ago. only problem was seco and whoever didn't make anything that would work with the pioneer. but again- that wasn't a big deal, i just made a rig out of some stuff readily available at home depot. guess it could be a problem if you're not as handy or don't wish to DIY on rod/antenna mounts.
I have not had any manufactured ATV mount hold up well. I have several remnants in the basement.The dynamics just plays hell with them. On the SxS I made my own mount that affixes to the roll cage. 1000s of acres later and they still hold up. And on the plus, the home made mounts are also considerably cheaper if your handy.
Make sure what ever you buy, add a good winch. Get winch rope, not a metal cable.
John Putnam, post: 414264, member: 1188 wrote: I have not had any manufactured ATV mount hold up well. I have several remnants in the basement.The dynamics just plays hell with them. On the SxS I made my own mount that affixes to the roll cage. 1000s of acres later and they still hold up. And on the plus, the home made mounts are also considerably cheaper if your handy.
i couldn't ever figure out why there isn't a constant self-leveling antenna mount. so i made one. works like a charm. of course, all the pictures i have of it aren't anywhere near this hard drive, but it's gonna hold up just fine too. i've never even messed with the manufactured stuff.
All that shock and vibration has to go somewhere. Are your homemade mounts built to offer some give or are they rigid. Consider that the manufactured components rattled to pieces and now all of that shock is going to the equipment instead (again, unless you have some shock absorption in your mounts).
John Putnam, post: 414262, member: 1188 wrote: but now I wish I had gone the diesel route.
I rode around in one of the Kubotas a few months ago for a day. Well built. But according to the guy who owned it, those diesel rigs are pretty heavy compared to the gasoline counterparts. He wished he had something else because of that. He was also a John Deere Tractor salesman and didn't really recommend the Gator because he felt a person could buy more for less with one of the competitors.
On a 4-wheelers when using it to topo the natural ground, it's a good idea to measure the antenna height with the driver on the 4-wheeler.
Before you go all wild, check your local rental yards!! If you guys are not going to use this atv or sxs much, or ever again, look at renting one from nations rent, or US Rental, or someplace like that. Then you have no maintenance issues. Charge the rental cost to the job. Everyone has made real good points, and I have nothing really more to offer, except... (no, I won't mention using a horse) If it is really steep, or muddy, you might consider an Argo. They go anywhere, as long as they fit.They cost more than a SxS, and are slower. Oh, another point I wanted to mention, some places, especially if crossing government lands, may require operators of ATVs to have licensing or training, but don't always require SxS to have the same. Just something to consider. We have had Rangers in the past, but found the radiator kept getting stopped up with grass seed and such. We now use a suzuki samurai, has same footprint, no belt drive, a real clutch, can be used on the road, can be towed all 4 wheels down, was about half the cost of the ranger. We also have several ATVs. Fit in back of a pickup, can haul gear, can carry you miles and miles before they break down.
I would look at a Honda Pioneer 500 if I were you. It's a two seater and small as most 4 atvs. It has a rack in the back and you can buy a bed for it with sides. If you didn't have a tool box I believe it would fit in the back of a truck. It's not belt driven like others which is a plus in my book. I believe cost is around 6500 for base model
Shawn Billings, post: 414271, member: 6521 wrote: All that shock and vibration has to go somewhere. Are your homemade mounts built to offer some give or are they rigid. Consider that the manufactured components rattled to pieces and now all of that shock is going to the equipment instead (again, unless you have some shock absorption in your mounts).
here's the quick sketch i did of what i wanted to make. the antenna eats like zero energy and stays nice and level.
If you are going to have to carry a bunch of stakes at a time, plus equipment, get a sxs. I have a Polaris 900 Ranger. Yes, it's almost the size of a pickup, but will go down the roads you describe. Will also run 65 mph down a paved road if needed. The original tires didn't last long, so I put a set of 10 ply Kanati Mongrels on it. Much tougher and much smoother. Carries 2-3 people if needed.
I also made a gimbal mount like Flyin shows that I used with a 360 prism on a 4 wheeler.
I found this comment to be of particular interest, "Don't go out and get a lift kit and huge knobby tires put on it if you are going to be on solid ground. The big treads will rattle the suspension apart."
We tend to assume our gear is tougher than it really is. Slow down or get tires better suited to your standard working conditions, not the conditions that may happen on rare occasion.
My experience came from roading a combine with rice tires too fast for too far. Next thing I know, I have a broken axle. That is a horrible experience for anyone who knows much about combines. That means that big ol' tire/wheel assembly is no longer attached to the rest of the machine, so the machine must immediately drop to the ground on that side. That plays heck with the header, plus, in my case, the steps leading to the cab door attempted to come into the cab with me as the tire/wheel assembly bent it skyward. That could make the operator's shorts turn brown.
tomchurch, post: 414198, member: 10174 wrote: We are about to start a big utility line project that is about 17 miles long. The terrain is rough and washed out, sometimes steep, and often overgrown. While a 4x4 truck will get to some of it we'll need something else for the majority of it. I've never bought a side-by-side or quad before so I would appreciate any advice or experiences. Specifically any thoughts on using two quads vs. a side-by-side along this type of terrain? Features to look for? Amount of suspension? Brand recommendations?
Polaris Ranger. Get the 4 seater. Get as small of one as possible like a 500. You'll never be upset with this purchase and you can throw that 4 wheeler away.
Ours is the two seater and when we work three men it's very cramped and someone is riding in the bed of the ranger. Two people though it's fantastic.
JPH, post: 414199, member: 6636 wrote: I don't think it'd be worth the money for only a 17 mile line. I don't know what you're doing on the project, though, so you'd have to judge that for yourself.
The power lines I've worked on always had some access roads and enough cross-roads, that driving the truck or walking always worked fine.
Not at all. A 10 mile pipeline we staked paid for ours, which we bought it for that project. That was 7 years ago now and the equipment is still going strong.
I have an 825 Gator. It paid for itself on one large boundary and topo I did a few years back. I will admit it's better suited to farm chores and carrying pretty heavy loads like firewood. I have an old beartracker that I have been working on and will probably use it a lot when I get it into service. It's small and I can go a lot more places with it. When I was a teen I took it places I would never try today so I know it's capable. It depends wins again.
