I'm completely ignorant when it comes to these things. I'm looking for an older UTV to use around the property and take on hunting trips. I'm not looking to climb up a vertical slope or zip around at 65mph.

Based on my cursory research, it looks like I could get an older Polaris Ranger, Kawasaki Mule, John Deere Gator, or Yamaha Rhino. My budget is around $4k, so I'm not expecting anything super clean or fancy, but I do need something reliable with a dump bed.

Of those UTVs, do y'all have any experiences, advice, warnings, etc? Or is there something else I should be looking at? I would go with a 4-wheeler, but I have three kids and a wife that like to ride with me around the property.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I had a 2012 polaris ranger that I bought new and used at my farm for quite a few years. Stuff break and fuel pumps go out etc. Parts were readily available and it was fairly easy to work on. If you are mechanically inclined I would recommend getting something that you can still get parts for.

My gut is Polaris will come in on the high end of the used price range even though I own one. I would look at the Mule. They are not fancy or fast but are reliable as all get out and get the job done. May be the best bang for the buck of all of those

The kubota 900 listed in the classifieds is about the best deal I’ve seen in a while. Those kubota engines will last forever if taken care of.

Thanks for the advice y’all. That Kubota would be nice, but my budget is pretty tight.

I've had 2 Kawasaki Mules, a 2510 and a 4010 trans Mule. I absolutely couldn't kill the 2510, believe me, I tried. The 4010 was also a great machine, a little more temperamental though. I sold it to a widowed family friend and she loves it. She putters around her 30 acres picking up tree limbs and feeding a few cows. Both were very low tech and all mechanical, very little electronics. Especially on the 2510. Cabela's used to sell a small jump seat that was removable for the bed, I hauled my 3 kids around that way. Sounds like this is your ticket.

I also inherited a fairly new JD Gator when my dad passed, and I despised that thing. Constant fuel issues, and parts were always higher than a kite. I couldn't sell it fast enough.

I currently own a 2019 Ranger Crew XP 1000 and a 1999 Ranger 500 6X6 and love them both. 6X6 is the beater machine and takes the brunt of the dirty work. Sounds like the Crew is more than you're looking for, but I would buy the 6X6 again if I could find one.

*On edit, a quick search on FB Marketplace turns up several 2510 well within your budget. Just be wary of scammers!

I concur with the Mule suggestion above. Those non-FXT models (although they're great too, just expensive) are almost impossible to kill. They ride rough, and don't go fast, but they just don't stop.

Mule it is! Thanks again y'all.

On a related note, how much of an issue is it if there's not title. I would say most only come with a bill of sale. If I'm not driving on public roads, I would need to register/title, correct?

I've owned or have close friends that have owned Honda, Can Am, John Deere, Kawasaki, Kubota, Polaris and Yamaha. We all now ONLY own Kawasaki because they are simply the BEST. But, if you like to work on machines, get a Polaris!

I've ran mules since the original 2510 and can assure you the 610s and 3010s are BULLETPROOF!!!

We run 5 FXT Pro's (3 of them have over 3000 hours each on them) and a new FXT Pro 1000 here on the ranch and they just simply go and go.......

Still rollin in an 07 Mule 3010 4x4. Starts and runs every time I need it to. Sometimes it sits for months in shed, I have a red top Optima battery in it and even after sitting 6 months will fire it right up.

^^Now that's impressive. And I don't own a Mule.

I run nothing but super unleaded with Marine Sta-bil. I add 1 bottle of Seafoam every year before season to a full tank of fresh gas. Other than that, all I do is abuse it.

What's your opinion on super unleaded getting old 'cause too many folks are too cheap to buy it?

Go to a busy gas station. Should be fine.

Better yet get ethanol free if you can find it.

Yep. We got a QT in the area a few years back that sells ethanol free. I started using that in everything that's not a car. Miraculously, all of my fuel related problems have gone away.

I battled the Walmart weirdos yesterday for some. The tension at those pumps is off the charts.

We have a new Cefco with ethanal free fuel. I may switch over to it.

Non ethanol is all we run in ATV/UTV/Chain Saws/Weedeaters/generator/etc and it eliminates a lot of problems

Would y'all be hesitant to buy a UTV that didn't have a title? I'm not planning on making it street legal. Just to be used around the property. Most I'm seeing don't have titles

Problem with not having title, can't prove it's not stolen. Boats & trailers are the same way. Get the best paper trail you can - doesn't mean you must title it.

I would only buy a used one, without a title, with a notorized bill of sale. As for condition, take a look at who is selling it.

Mine are adult owned and I keep them in good shape.

BTW, if you or anybody has a problem, don’t expect the dealers to have mechanics. They only have Make Ready people. I had a problem with one of my Hondas. After it got to operating temp, it would die and not restart without a long cool down period. I walked back to the house several times. I took it to 3 Fort Worth area dealerships that took my money but couldn’t fix it. Of course, I found out the hard way that the problem remained.

Then I took it to Mikes Off Road in Haltom City. Ike immediately said it sounded like a solenoid problem. He changed the solenoid, took it home with him and rode it around his rural property. No problem and no problem for me since.

As for loading, I have 8 ft ramps. They make a difference. Also, if possible. I find a place that allows me to cut down on the slope.

BTW, have extra keys made and test them.

[quote=BTW, have extra keys made and test them.[/quote]

When we were shopping for one about 5 years ago I didn’t make much of a fuss worrying about title or not. We ended up buying one with a title. Last year that Polaris was stolen from our camp. So I’m sure that Ranger has passed through multiple hands and probably a great story about why no title each time it was sold. There is a minimal charge to change the title of an off road vehicle.

I will try and buy with a title only in the future after going through all that.

I've bought a couple of dirt bikes without titles before. I always have them send me a picture of the VIN plate. You can call any law enforcement office and have them run the vin to see if it's stolen or not.