Wrangler vs UTV

Looking for some solid input. The lease I am on is extremely rugged in South West Texas South of Ozona and West of the Devils River. We have lots of canyons and rocks no mud. Looking at getting a lease vehicle and about ready to pull the trigger and keep thinking I may need to consider a wrangler as well.

Thanks for the help.

I've had both but never in that rough.

I hate shifting (jeep).
Don't need a big trailer for mule

rugged but do you actually need 4 wheel drive? One of the places I hunt is down Pandale Road SW of Ozona, sounds like you described but we can get around in 2wd 98% of the time

I have had numerous jeeps in my life. 6 years ago I bought an Kubota RTV 900. After getting it I sold my last jeep. I use it more and it will do twice what I could do with a jeep. It will go where no jeep I have ever owned will go. It uses less fuel. It starts every time. It has never left me stranded. It is built like a tank. The only draw back was that it only had seats for 2. I just remedied that by ordering a new Kubota RTV X1140 that will convert to a 4 seat when you need it. It may not be as fast as some of the other makes, but look at all of them real close and judge for yourself which one is built the best. And it is a diesel so you don't have to worry if it will start after not using it for a few months.

I prefer a jeep 97-06 for hunting. $8K can buy you a jeep that will go places most people wouldn't even think about going.

maybe a stock jeep...

I opted to go the vehicle route vs the UTV route personally - picked up an older toyota 4runner on 35's for a fraction of the cost of a UTV. And I can drive it into town....

Bring your non stock jeep down here and see if you can follow my Kubota.

So Don can I bring my jeep down and follow?

Yes if you feel you need to tear it up.

UTV gets my vote.

I have a Ranger 570 Crew with only 25 hours that will probably go up for sale soon (bone stock except for a gun box mounted on the back)



Recently switched leases and can't justify it's use.

Both work just fine just depends on how you will or want to use it other times. Have done both. jeep can be drove to town heat and ac. Both have the ups and downs.

Ok....I quail hunt out of a diesel kubota rtv and while very reliable (and loud) it is a lead sled with no ground clearance. When some of the less traveled roads get soggy we dang sure don't take the Kubota.

Ok then you get to follow me Don. Lol

must be an older model - I have a new one and ground clearance is great and it is not loud. Great machine - plus I got the full cab with AC, Heater, Defroster, etc.

No you said you want to follow. Lets make this interesting. You bring $500 and I will have the same. You in a jeep and me in my Kubota. You follow me for 2 hours and go where ever I go and never get more than 100 yards behind. We have all heard than a Kubota is slow as a snail so that should not be a problem If you make it you get my $500. If you don't or quit I get yours. Sounds fair to me when do you want to be here?

Do I get to pick which jeep I bring?

can I come watch? I will pay for admission.

I'd take it on .then follow me to carnage canyon Beuno vista co and follow me.

Thanks for the input guys...... thinking long term it is easier to store the jeep, the jeep will resale for what I pay for it even though it is a little bigger than a 2 man UTV. I think it will come down to preference and cost as a new utv will run 10k and that will buy a solid wrangler that hasn't been modified too much. Again thanks for the input.

Jeeps have heat and AC... Just saying.

So Do Kubotas - just saying - lol

I know jeeps will climb in 4 WD. I have owned many of them. The Kubota is around 5' wide and a little over 6' long. I take it through cedar breaks that a jeep will never get through unless you have a chain saw with you. I have roads that the Kubota's wheel base will barely fit through with bluffs on the edges. If you have no reguard for paint, anything on the side of your jeep or if it rolls or turns over then yes you can bring any jeep you want. And take it from me. You or your regard for your jeep you will not last 2 hours. And I will probably never take it out of 2 WD. I will guarantee you can't make it through some of the cedar I can.

59" get thru those places? That is the width of my 47.

I would look for a Tacoma, ranger, 4x4 s-10, quiet, capable, small enough and have a bed.

AS you can see it is largely personal preference. To me, it depends on the terrain. If your place is a rough as your describe I'd lean towards the UTV. I have driven and ridden both around very rough country with lots of surface rock, and in my experience the jeeps beat you up worse than the newer UTVs.

UTVs are also more maneuverable (unless it's a Ranger crew) and that gives you options to go around many obstacles. I also like the ease of getting in and out of one for hunting purposes.

Just my $.02, you'd probably have fun with either. Go with your gut!

PS- Somebody please play cameraman for this little boondoggle between Don and NewJeep. Sounds interesting.

So you're just gonna drive through skinny spots the whole time to prove a kubota is more off-road capable than a jeep - makes sense....

Yes and make very sharp turns. I used to own older jeeps and know what they will and will not do.

well hell I'm just gonna start cruising around on my mountain bike then - that beast will go anywhere!

He just wants to drive between trees.

In my original post I said my kubota would go where no jeep I had ever owned would go. That meant getting into some very tight places.I have to sometimes when I dart Ibex and have to have something which is very agile and will go where a jeep won't. Sometimes that is in a cedar break and sometimes it is on the side of a hill with limited access. Like I said before I have owned numerous CJ 2's in my life and know what they will do and where they will go. So, like I said before if you think you can follow my kubota where I have to sometimes take it you will be the looser. I am sure you have some very nice jeeps and but everything has its limits of what it is capable of. My kubota has its limits on what it can do an I have my limits on what I will try it to do.

UTVs will get into some tight spots. You were right Don we were all wrong.

I'd rather have a 4wheeller if I wasn't hauling anyone.. UTV would be my pick over a jeep though. All will get the job done pick what suits you best... main reason I'd pick a utv over a jeep is because I can work on one better than a jeep.. just more familiar

NO, maybe when Sept. gets here. But no. Not right now.

No, just you were wrong

I have used both. A utv is more versatile and will go more places. A jeep is more comfortable on cold days or smooth terrain.

Hmm we are kinda opposite of the deer... they get along all summer and fight all fall/winter

I just got my new Kubota 1140. It does not have the turning radius of my old 900. So, though this is not an apology New Jeep. You may and I am not conceding, but you may be able to keep up with me.

we have a 1950 willis, 83 cj8 and a 99 tj, Kawasaki pro fx, Polaris 900, Kawasaki 610.
each has a place it out performs the others. if I had to pick just one for a hunting lease I would take my tj as it has always been the top producer for wildlife viewing probably due to rhino lined tub dampening the noise to a fraction of the others and will go anywhere the others go with the exception of width. If I was only running around and working out of one you cant beat the ease of getting in and out of the utv. When they are all parked there together and someone going rabbit or varmint hunting the tj is first out 9 out of 10 times. If I could only have 1 to keep I would take pro-fx as it is most user friendly and that means a lot to me as I get more aged.

What's so much easier about it? Insert key, start, and turn the steering wheel???

what's so much easier about it?
although the jeep and utv will both do all the things we want them for the utv is way more friendly when your are feeding, fencing, spraying or anything that requires getting in and out frequently and has been a great hit the younger family members that aren't big enough for full size yet.

After much research, looking and getting feedback went with a Honda Pioneer 1000. Way more machine than I need but it is built solid and is comfortable for a big boy with the steering wheel tilting out of the way.

I second this!

Your Kubota can't go into town to visit Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar. My Jeep can.