Need input on a JD Gator

[peternap]

Since the warranty company is paying me for my ATV, I decided to look for another...BTW, they told me I could have the old one too

Anyway, they're paying me $3,000.00 and today I ran across a place that grows plants that has a Gator for sale. He has 27 of them and replaces them every two years.

It seems like it is in new condition and he told me the seats were cracked and he just replaced them this summer.

He wants 3,700.00 for it. 4x6 with dump bed and liner.

I don't know much about them except they're expensive. He had the local dealer go over it and it has a clean bill of health. The dealer has done all the service and maintenance work as well.

The thing looks handy as snuff in a rag, any input?

[muldoon]

I don't own one, but a buddy of mine does and uses it on his place - 58 acres in east texas, piney woods layout.  He (err we?) are in the clearing stages and alot of chainsaw/dragging work going on - also clearing for a 4 acre pond so thats ALOT of dragging going on.  Another guy on my old deer lease bought one for that place- mostly filling the 18 feeders on the 6500 acre ranch.  (200-300 pounds of corn per feeder every 2 months and some protein cubes as well).  Also use it to drag the large hog panels around for boxing in the feeders and even drug a deerstand out with it.  I have put some hours on both of them and would say hands down they are solid machines that work really well.  When I go out to west Texas I dont even use my truck in the pastures anymore, I get the gator if I can.  I dont even hunt out there anymore but I sure love the place. 

does the one your looking at have the electric bed lift?  Thats an extra option, but well worth it in my opinion.  Especially for moving rocks or gravel..  Also, is it the diesel?  I have not been on a diesel one but understand they make(made?) one with obviously more low end torque and strength.. ie the type of power you want in the woods and on a farm.  If it doesnt have the rollbar, thats another option that is useful for obvious safety reasons and for hanging extra lights if you need them.  Both the ones I have used were hydrostatic transmissions - no shifting needed - I'm not sure if they all are, but it's a nice feature over working the gears. 

One thing to keep in mind is that you dont want to be forging creeks or any kind of open water in it, it has an open drive belt and will slip... ask me how I know this 

I think you'll be quite happy with it.  I sure as hell would be.  I didnt realize they had come down so much already.

[peternap]

Thanks Muldoon!
It is gas and dos have the bed lift and has a liner. No roll bar or Windshield.

I don't think they have come down much. He has several hundred acres that he grows unusual plants. Customers drive up and park, then take one of the Gators and pick up what they want. Drive back and pay.

Because of that he likes them to look pristine. Somehow, he wangles his taxes to allow for the loss when he sells them. Makes for a quicker sale, especially in a bad economy.

[Redoverfarm]

Peter sounds like a "No Brainer" to me.  I think you will probably get more use out of it rather than a four wheeler. 

[glenn kangiser]

I have the Bush Hog which is similar and I highly recommend that type machine.  Way more useful than a small 4 wheeler.  I  can haul 1000 lbs in mine - a pretty serious stack of firewood.

[peternap]

Thanks Guys!

John, you're right. I would be foolish to pass it up. Especially since I've already gotten (Non-Scam) calls on the old one and no one seems upset at paying $700.00 for it. That would mean I'd have to pay about a hundred bucks out of pocket.

I'm going to run over tomorrow right after I take Zeus to the Vet for his shots.

[Windpower]

This sounds good

where are they selling these ?

might be worth the trip to get one


We a had a great weekend at the farm and a run-around rig would be a great vehicle (and the colors would match the 855 tractor)

we were considering a golf cart or some-such but these sound much better

[peternap]

Well...I went and looked at it. 4 bald tires and the pully the drive belt was on wobbled. Needed a new tailgate and one front fender was epoxied on. I passed.

Then I looked on Craigs list again.

A new ad just popped up and he had a 600 Grizzly for 2500.00

I looked at it and the fellow was in his late 60's, bought it new and used it to hunt on a couple times a year. It was clean but not so clean as to be suspicious. It Started right up and the engine was cold. I rode it for a good while. 4WD was good, 2WD was Good, steering fine, shifting was fine, electrical was fine...etc. I just couldn't find anything to complain about.

I'm taking it home tomorrow!

[rick91351]

Peter - Wow that is a great buy on the Grizzly or at least for around here it is, especially that close to hunting season.

600 is nice machine and has loads of power.  If it has a winch and you have snow problems in the winter put a snow plow on that you can really throw snow with one of those and hardly bog down.  I have a different brand but comparable in power I love it.  I think you will really enjoy it.

I realty am not surprised at the Gator being 'somewhat less than pristine' for $3,700.  Looks like there $3,700 would turn into $4,700 + real quick.

 

[peternap]

I thought it was a good price too Rick. I was pretty sure I wouldn't get it when I went to look. I was expecting a clunker parked behind a tarpaper shack. Turned out the fellow that owned it was a CPA turned gun dealer. He got up in the Bloomburg sting and got out of that. He just got a sour taste for guns and hunting and took up fishing.

Hopefully, I won't have any problems for a while but darned if I could find any while I was checking it out.

Like most things, there is a learning curve with it. I just read it has a wet clutch and oil changes have to be a wet clutch compatible oil. I dounloaded the service manual but can't find an owners manual yet.

It doesn't have a winch yet but I'm going to put the WARN off of my old one, on it.