I have a Honda Pioneer. The shifting has gotten MUCH smoother with use. FWIW... My only gripe is that they came out with the 1000-4 less than 2 mos after I bought a 700-4.after 5 years with my ranger xp the only knock is getting a flat spot in the belt which then needs to be changed. This typically happens by punching it on ice in 2 wheel drive. I did not like the shaft driven hondas as the gear shifts up or down about gave me whiplash.
Really hard to recommend something to someone without really knowing the property and real world uses for the unit. There are a lot of really nice UTV's out there now. We have a Kubota RTV-X900 for our property. It is a great UTV for what we need. I really wanted a workhorse for our projects and something we could drive around the property. I wanted a mechanically reliable unit that could haul/tow a good amount and something that had engine braking due to one of the properties we hunt having very steep hills and logging roads. The last and one of the biggest criteria was I didn't want a race horse because I knew my kids (16 and 18 now) would be driving it. Many of the UTV's go 50+ mph. I have no use for that kind of speed in a UTV and didn't want the kids in a machine that was capable of it. I am a big Honda fan and like their Pioneer 1000, but for us the Kubota was a perfect fit.
I also have the Kubota RTV900. Diesel5610 is correct. I chose the Kubota for the same reason. It is a work horse. The diesel engine is powerful and solid. I love the hydraulic bed. Mine does a lot of firewood hauling. The Ranger was my second choice. I bought the Kubota from a friend who was a Kubota and Polaris dealer. The decision came down to work or play.
Diesel, tried my best to briefly speaking to property and real world uses in the very first post in the thread. Challenge indeed without writing a book, but with so many great and useful suggestions (and all truly appreciated), probably a good time to chime back in with some follow-up info.Really hard to recommend something to someone without really knowing the property and real world uses for the unit... I really wanted a workhorse for our projects and something we could drive around the property. I wanted a mechanically reliable unit that could haul/tow a good amount and something that had engine braking due to one of the properties we hunt having very steep hills and logging roads. The last and one of the biggest criteria was I didn't want a race horse because I knew my kids (16 and 18 now) would be driving it. Many of the UTV's go 50+ mph. I have no use for that kind of speed in a UTV and didn't want the kids in a machine that was capable of it..
His wife or the UTV ??!:)Don't make her mad.Looks like a real clean unit.Get a windshield and rear windshield and you will be set
As a follow-up on the post finally sealed a deal yesterday on a low-hours 2012 Mule 4010, and didn't settle on the choice lightly.
With my complete willingness to keep driving my 2005 Nissan Titan truck into the ground, my wife really didn't want me to put any limit on the UTV price so I went to dealerships and drove lots of models. Thing I struggled with the most was lots of units either felt a bit too small for me to cart buddies visiting around my place whereas units more focused on sitting more than 4 or 5 folks felt TOO big and I could tell I would be sacrificing nimble turning and handling.
Found a pretty darn clean 2012 Mule 4010 for sale and the minute I took it for a spin it felt like it hit the right sweet spot size-wise. Clean, but not SO clean that I feel I need to baby it and worry about scratching it throwing firewood in the back. And really loved the savings that buying it used offered (in addition to significant savings that went with going with the smaller 4010 versus the Pro-FX series).
To MoBuckChaser's recent post about having the best wife in the world, will say this about mine... while she would NOT take kindly to going out into the snow FOR anything (she HATES the cold), she's uttered 4 phrases that made me feel crazy blessed... 1) "We really need a bigger TV", 2) "We need more guns", 3) "You really need a UTV", and most important of all and the first one she actually said, 4) "I do!"
And she does a better job staying in shape than this Marine does... pic taken when she was half way between 40 and 50. She wasn't too happy about me taking this picture without warning, but... well... again think it speaks to me being blessed FAR more than deserved! :)