By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I was playing in the woods and ran into the farmer who owns them. He was sporting a new toy I hadn't seen, his JD Gator 6-wheel thing. He was hauling cut firewood back to his place to stack and cure so I gave him a hand. My Buffalo was able to carry LOTS more than he could, mostly due to the high stake rails on the Buffalo, the short metal box on the Gator couldn't stop logs from rolling off and falling on the trail. (B1/G0). After a few loads of wood, we played follow the leader. He quickly lost me on the winding trails as he just flew down them (B1/G1) much faster tahn I could. We then played on some ditches and hills, and the gator did really well actually, never got stuck. My Buffalo got stuck once, but a little winch action and it was off. I'd say this was a tie, no clear winner. I then dove straight into the woods and managed to squirm the Buffalo through them easily, he just couldn't do that with the Gator, and got wedged between two trees (I dragged his front over so he could get unwedged with the Winch). (B2/G1) The last thing we did was try and move his water wagon (usually pulled with a small tractor). His Gator moved it but it was straining and didn't sound healthy so we stopped. I then hooked up the Buffalo, and thought it would do the same, but to my surprise pulled it EASILY. I couldn't believe it, but it dragged it down the farm road and across the field without even rev'ing the engine. B3/G1. Overall, I think my Buffalo won, not by much mind you.

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Good comparison Chris. If I remember right, you are running racing slicks on your Buffalo. You can not expect any kind of mud performance with those. I'm surprised you don't get stuck in wet grass. Put some real tires on there, like the 26", and you will walk all over that Gator.
Same goes with pulling. You will lose traction before you lose power with those slicks. With 26" tires you will have lots more traction and could pull an even bigger load.

MaxRules

By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon, (LOL) Good memory. I'm not running racing slicks, just less aggressive tires. I'm running the Carlisle Chevron tires that are mostly bald with widely spaced chevrons on them. I'm surprised at the amount of traction that they have actually, I can go swamping with them and climb some pretty steep banks with no problems and very little tire spin (with care on the throttle). Maybe it's that all 6 are drive wheels, I don't know, but it claws its way through anything. What got me stuck was that I hung both ends up spannnig a ditch, not traction. Once I winched a little and the back dropped off the bank it climbed out without issue... all 6 wheels were free hangin in the ditch as the front and back were on banks. I should have gone in diagnally. I'd like to put more aggressive tires on, in some places they'd be great but in my yard area they're just not needed. (BTW: When the gator lost me on pure speed, I was contemplating running him over when I caught up.)

By Harry Dusseau (Dirtyharry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I was at my local Deere dealer the other day. As I walked back to my truck past their Gator line up, I got quite a shock. I spotted John Deere's latest machine, the new "Pro-Gator." Has anyone else seen one of these buggies?? The front end of that thing looks like it took some MAJOR styling cues from the R.I. Buffalo Truck if you ask me!

Harry

By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Yeah, I saw it too. It's a monster packing a hefty engine and a large price tag. Major corporations and such might be able to afford one, but not your average Joe. These even make a Max pricetag look cheap. They do kinda resemble the Buffalo truck, but is all just doesn't come together in a good looking package, it's kinda ugly but not ugly enough to be good looking. The buffalo truck is really butt ugly, I love it.

Anyone else out there have a Buffalo?

By Maxfun on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a new John Deere 4x6 Gator and a 2000 Max 2. There is no comparison with what a Gator will go through. They get stuck very easy compared to the Max. We use the Gator on the Farm for picking rocks and hauling tools. It is a very handy machine. I use the Max for hunting and fishing. I am very pleased with its performance. The bottom line is the gator is strictly for work and the Max is for hunting.

By Mike on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What are the pitfalls of the Gator other than that it does not float?

By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Maxfun, it's too bad you don't have a Buffalo to compare to the Gator. The Buffalo combines the fun aspects of the Max with the utility aspects of the Gator. I think RI has done a pretty good job with it, and it's meeting both fun and work needs of mine well. I'm sure I'll run into the farmer again with his Gator, we'll have another fun match sometime. How is a Gator in Winter?

By Maxfun on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Mike,
I really like the Gator for work, especially the hydraulic dumpbox. Some of the pitfalls are speed (20mph) and it is worthless in snow over 5 inches deep. My Max runs circles around it in any mud. I am sure the Buffalo is a great machine for work and play. Maxfun

By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Maxfun, how much can the Gator carry effectively? How much can it tow? I've seen them carry quite a load, but the one I've seen really couldn't seem to tow very well. It just didn't seem to have the low end torque needed, while my Buffalo did it with ease. I'm just curious about the Gator as that was the possible alternative to my Buffalo.

By Mike on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Maxfun, thanks for your thoughts. I guess the part about the snow and mud settles it for me. Snow and mud ability is a must for me.

By maxfun on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The Gator can easily carry and lift a box full of rocks. At least a 1000 pounds for sure. We built a three foot sidewalls on the box to increase capacity. As far as pulling power, it does bog down easily when towing something heavy. It has a 18 horse motor but I am not sure what kind. I think it is a Kohler or Kawasaki. It runs very nice.

By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

One thing I didn't mention in my post that started this; the Gator was MUCH MUCH MUCH more gentile on the ground. Both machines left little trace they had been there when just crossing fields, generally straight with little turns. When we went into the woods though, with tighter turns, the Gator was much less damaging on the wood floor. When we stopped back at the farmer's place for a snack, he drove his gator across his yard and parked in front of his front door, I wouldn't try that on my Max... unless he wanted to do a replanting of his lawn. I wish my Max was easier on the ground. Yes, the Buffalo is heavier and does more ground damage than the others, but the MaxIV that I tried here was almost the same. I have very little experience with a MaxII, so it might be better.

By ISAAC EISENMAN (Tropicjungleboy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

WELL.. all depend on the aplication to make desition where to go...both polaris 6 x 6 and jd gator 6 x 4 are easier to get in and out..also less damage on turf and soft bouncing due to shock absorbers BUT THEY DOESN'T FLOAT or have positive...full time 6x6 traction plus precision steer when soil/heavy load get real nasty..not to mention that all mechanical component are 100% away from dirt/snow/water.........

By Chris on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I hadn't thought of that last point you make, "all mechanical component are 100% away from dirt/snow/water..." That's a really good point to make, that should really extend life of the machine.

By Garry Graham on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The 6 wheel diesel Gator is a proper work vehicle.
The Max is a fun machine -a toy.