Best (reliable) utility vehicle for the barn?

[trail_blazer]

It looks like I’m going to be in the market for a new UTV for the farm. We started with a JD Gator many years ago and it was great while it lasted, but after multiple expensive repairs, we gave up on it. The current one is starting to spend more time in the shop than the barn.

I need something that can hold up to cleaning 16 stalls daily, so capacity and the height of the bed make a difference. Price also makes a difference - I’m not getting rich scooping poop!

I’d prefer to hear my fellow horseman’s recommendations than a salesman who has never gotten sweaty. LOL

Let me hear you!

[Jim_in_PA]

Kubota has a very nice line of these vehicles in several configurations.

[Guilherme]

I met a guy at a dinner a few years back who was the maintenance supervisor for a large, local rental company. We got talking about utility vehicles and he said his company rented both Gators and Kawasaki Mules. He said the Mule was head and shoulders over the Gator in reliability and cost of operation. This information is certainly dated and things may have changed. But you find a lot of criticism of the Gators on the web and not much on the Mules. So maybe it hasn’t.

Maybe calling a local rental company or even renting one for a weekend so that you can call as a “customer” and not a “stranger” would be a good investment of time and money.

Good luck in your search.

G.

[trail_blazer]

That’s very interesting Guilherme. We bought a new diesel gator 4x6 about 10 years ago and it was great for a while, but every time it had to go into the shop it was another $400 - $800! I did like the lower bed on it for dumping muck buckets.

We know plenty of hunters who have mules, but no one that actually uses them for “real work”. Thanks for sharing. I’ll check them out!

[tpup]

We have a JD regular gas 4 WD Gator that we love but only have a 4 stall barn. We use it to muck/haul/dump stall contents and we have a plow for it. We are very pleased with it and we’ve had zero repairs in 2 years. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it is SO LOUD. I am looking into getting something for muffler to quiet it down. I feel like I am waking up the neighbors when I take it to the barn early morning and we live on a ridge where everything echoes. A friend has the 4-seater Kubota and loves it.

[Bluey]

Whatever brand you get, be sure you have someone to service them close enough to you, because the best machine is not good if you have to go miles away to get work done on it.

[stb]

I’ve looked at the Gators, Kubota UTVs, and Mules. They are all loud, which kind of ruins my zen mornings of picking up poop. I’m currently using a golf cart with muck buckets in the back. One of these days I’m going to replace it with a Carryall type golf cart, which has a hydraulic lift for dumping the manure. I will stay with electric, since I enjoy the quiet. Also, we have had our electric golf cart for over 10 years and the only maintenance we have had is replacing the batteries (which isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to do it very often).

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=stb;8834702]
I’ve looked at the Gators, Kubota UTVs, and Mules. They are all loud, which kind of ruins my zen mornings of picking up poop. I’m currently using a golf cart with muck buckets in the back. One of these days I’m going to replace it with a Carryall type golf cart, which has a hydraulic lift for dumping the manure. I will stay with electric, since I enjoy the quiet. Also, we have had our electric golf cart for over 10 years and the only maintenance we have had is replacing the batteries (which isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to do it very often).[/QUOTE]

Which kind of golf cart, any link to your type?

[2miniB]

I don’t know how big they come, but we’ve been very happy with our Haulzall electric wheel barrow for manure removal. Worked very well, even on 10 degree days.

If you’re a average height or tall person, I could see using a Kubota RTV for manure removal. I’m just too short to use it for that. No complaints with ours for what we use it for.

[stb]

Bluey, my current golf cart is an Ezgo brand. It is just a basic model that we bought used. I believe the carryall is also an Ezgo. You’ve probably seen them on golf courses or used by trainers at football games. They often do not have a roof or windshield, although I would add both. I really want it for that hydraulic dumping feature.

[Manni01]

[QUOTE=stb;8834702]
I’ve looked at the Gators, Kubota UTVs, and Mules. They are all loud, which kind of ruins my zen mornings of picking up poop. I’m currently using a golf cart with muck buckets in the back. One of these days I’m going to replace it with a Carryall type golf cart, which has a hydraulic lift for dumping the manure. I will stay with electric, since I enjoy the quiet. Also, we have had our electric golf cart for over 10 years and the only maintenance we have had is replacing the batteries (which isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to do it very often).[/QUOTE]

I have the same set up. I love my golf cart. I use it to bring my trash to the curb, to muck stalls and to just ride around. The only thing is that I will (hopefully) have a sand ring soon and I am really wondering what to use to drag the ring. I guess my tractor is too big, the golfcar and the lawn mower are too small

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=stb;8835924]
Bluey, my current golf cart is an Ezgo brand. It is just a basic model that we bought used. I believe the carryall is also an Ezgo. You’ve probably seen them on golf courses or used by trainers at football games. They often do not have a roof or windshield, although I would add both. I really want it for that hydraulic dumping feature.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, that sounds like a good machine for so much around a barn, without the noise.

[OTTB2]

Not sure if it works for your situation but the best farm UTV I ever had was a old beat up jeep that was just used around the farm.

[stb]

Bluey, I was wrong, my golf cart is a Club Car, as is the carryall version.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=stb;8837406]
Bluey, I was wrong, my golf cart is a Club Car, as is the carryall version.[/QUOTE]

I figured that, since those are the ones with the dump on them.
Those, for just around the barn, would work fine.

[subk]

I use a hefty size four-wheeler for most of my farm chores. It pulls my spreader, drags my ring and I’ve got a dump-able trailer for it for hauling chores. I swore I’d never get one, but now I have no idea how I functioned beforehand. I also got a nice used golf cart with little bed in the back that I tool around on the farm in and do gardening chores with.

You can buy 2 used four-wheelers and 2 used golf carts and still have enough money left over for a big party for what a single mule costs. I personally think Mules and Gators are the most over priced farm purchase you can make!

[Graymaresrule]

[QUOTE=stb;8835924]
Bluey, my current golf cart is an Ezgo brand. It is just a basic model that we bought used. I believe the carryall is also an Ezgo. You’ve probably seen them on golf courses or used by trainers at football games. They often do not have a roof or windshield, although I would add both. I really want it for that hydraulic dumping feature.[/QUOTE]

I think that is what I have. Ill check the brand in the morning. It does have a dump bed but I use a manure spreader. I prefer to keep the bed clean for hay. I can haul 6 bales at a time.

It has rarely needed service. It’s gas and not too noisy

[DHCarrotfeeder]

I was reading this and seeing $10k vehicles listed, with concerns of cost and noise, I’m glad to see a golf cart finally mentioned.

Unless you are going to push snow, load with heavy payload, run steep hills, or scramble on loose uneven ground, why not consider a golf cart with dump bed. The electric ones are very quiet. Not to mention there are millions of them in the world and that keeps repair costs down.

[LLee]

Polaris is pricey but works well

We have a Polaris 4WD 500 (bought new in 2007) and it works well for around the farm stuff, up and down the hills, mud or no mud, has manual dump bed, does a bit of small hauling for us. However, it’s now 9 years old and we are on the 3rd starter, 3rd ignition switch, 2nd drive belt, 2nd brake master cylinder and will soon be on the 3rd set of brake shoes. And it gets “light use” according to our hours and type of use.
I would not recommend a Polaris unless you have lots of $$ to buy and maintain. Everyone I know with a Gator hates it after two or three years. Kawasaki is cute but I’m not impressed with how fast it will go :eek:…speeding around like a little hot rod is so not my cup of tea. There’s a new Mahindra dealer in town, I’ve read the brochure on their 4wd but not tested it.
We clean out stalls/barn aisle with our Kubota 2800D front loader. When we built the barn I made sure our tractor would go in and out with no problems due to door height, width, etc. We shovel the stall waste into the main aisle and then scoop it up with the front loader. Works for us.