Big decision guys! I am looking for a 6x4 utility vehicle in the "cheap" price range! lol I have found several in my price rane and quite honestly, I am scared of the Gators due to seeing a lot of them with engine issues. They were all 18 HP Kawasaki twins. They even have a conversion available for a Honda 20 HP motor available! OR...... I found a Cub Big Country ( quite frankly looks the same, but yellow!) that comes stock with the Honda 20HP engine. Any thoughts?.........

What about the JD Diesel engine in the Gators?

 

You're on a diesel forum and are asking if you should get a diesel gator???

Comon now lol Get the diesel gator, put a stack on it, turn up the injection pump, then throw a turbo on it, then bigger injectors LMAO

But yea the 3cyl diesel gator is SWEET I have driven a few and they have alot of torque but then again there are alot of other utility vehicles out there that have a diesel option also.

 

Why the need for 4 rear tires? The JD diesel is good, haven't heard many complaints about the gasser either. Two of my close neighbors have gas Gators and love them.

What about Kubota?

 

Just a word of caution, the Gators are loud. Espescially if you get one with the cab. We have them where I work (the ones with the cab), and I usually wear some form of hearing protection.

 

If I had room in my stable I'd get one of these. They can't be stopped! They are pricey though....well worth the money considering you can using it for your boat also.


http://www.maxatvs.com/index.php?sub...s&link=Buffalo

 

a while back my uncle had a gator (gas) for his farm me and my cousin used to wheel it in the woods we sent it to heck and back and it held up great to my knowledge he still has it and uses it, one of the 2 vehicles to survive me and my cousin out of MANY... i can only imgaine the diesel being better. just a little info on some 1st hand exp. with them help ya make a decision.. good luck and im sure you will like which ever you choose

 

Which one is going to hold it's value better? The time proven and ever popular gator? The vehicle that has been cloned time again by so many other manufacturers? (like the cub cadet) or a knock off?

Go to an auction and see what sells for more money used, the John Deere stuff or everybody else.... That to me says what is a better value.

Disclaimer:

I sell John Deere for a living, so of course I have a bias, but the above statement certainly does ring true.

 

tool......you see many engine issues with the Gator? Gas or Diesel? Several I have seen listed have had issues. Maybe they are just selling them for good cash even needing engine work, but it concerns me. The Cub units are substantially cheaper and already have the Honda 20HP engine on it. Several adds on Ebay to retrofit the Honda to the Gator also concerns me.......they don't even make the FD620D Kawasaki engine anymore either.......

 

I'll ask around,

The short answer is no I don't see a pile of Gators in the shop with much of any issues at all to tell you the truth. I typically sell the big stuff so I'm not super famillair with Gator issues but the guy in the next office would be.

I'll let you know what I find!

 

So I went and talked to the service manager and asked your question on the Kawi Gator engines.

He looked puzzled and said he had no idea what I was talking about, went back and talked to the mechanic who works on the gators and he said they have been virtually Flawless. They seldom ever see them back with engine issues at all.

The diesel engine is a Yanmar and has been bullet proof.

Apaprently the most common engin dammage has been caused by being submerged in water while running crossing rivers etc.

So anyway, take it for what it's worth, but I know I don't see a big pile of Gators lined up behind the shop back for Warranty or repair.

Which is another reason why I support the Gator in this decision, huge dealer network, far better parts availabillity, common machine.

I don't even know where my friendly Cub Cadet dealer is???

My father does have a Cub Cadet mower, I think it's a 23 HP model an other than breaking a lot of blades he has been happy with it.

 

Thanks tool, I appreciate the info. The Gators definately hold better value! Thats probably the way I'll go, simply for that reason too. Seeing the prices of "junk" ones on Ebay has convinced me on their value! Look forward to owning one!

 

I have a 25 Horse Kawi on my Cub Cadet M-60 Tank. I love the engine, over 2200 flawless hours

 

My friends have both and honestly neither are anything to write home about. Barely get out of there own way and god forbid dont try to drag anything with them. Totally gutless and are mostly for driving down the farm road to get the mail. If it was me I would be looking at the yamaha or kawasaki. Just my .02 and im only going off of what they have, unless JD makes a nicer more powerful model or somehting

 

u used to work at a john deere dealer
i worked on a couple of gators they take alot of crap, most of them had alot of hours or where abused people trying to jump stuff and breaking the u joints but their good for hauling stuff we never pulled anything so i don't know how they pull. the only thing i don't like about them and i think they loose power is they are belt driven tranny.
other then that their pretty good last a long time

 

I hope you are not planning to get one of those 6 wheeled ones and have any hope of turning them in the mud.....