Rodeo Drive

Oct 1, 2007 10:16 AM, By Karen McMahon

On a sunny summer day, Team FIN farmers gathered to test-drive nine utility vehicles in our third UV Rodeo. Once again, the UV field improved and our test-drivers encountered several surprises

Cub Cadet 4x4 diesel
A first-time participant in the rodeo, Cub Cadet brought a 4x4 diesel UV powered with a 20-hp, 3-cyl. diesel engine. Drivers wrote positive comments on the vehicle’s styling and comfort.

“The yellow Cub Cadet felt nice to drive,” Brown said. “I liked the ride and performance until I put some weight in it and then it fell down a little.” Other drivers also noted that the vehicle seemed underpowered. One driver suggested increasing the horsepower to 25 or 30 to solve the power issue.

Clark McPheeters liked the diesel engine. “I had thought all the diesels would be loud and not a lot of fun to drive,” he said. “But they were actually all pretty quiet. The Cub Cadet was a nice machine with good suspension. Overall it was pretty decent.” However, he noted that the accelerator pedal was too short and his foot quickly tired.

Suggested price: $10,799
Engine: 760 cc, 20 hp, 3 cyl., liquid cooled
Cargo box: 900 lbs.
877/282-8684
www.cubcadetuv.com
Score: 3.95

Bush Hog Trail Hand TH4400
The Trail Hand was the first Bush Hog vehicle to be tested in the rodeo and it delivered a solid performance. “The Bush Hog is a good, rugged vehicle with adequate power,” Brown remarked. “It is something a farmer wouldn’t mind owning.”

The vehicle is powered with a 24-hp, Honda V-twin engine. Drivers commented that the suspension was comfortable but that the vehicle felt big and bulky to drive.

Two features drew the most comments: the plastic cargo bed and the glass windshield. The plastic bed was quiet and the glass windshield would not scratch as quickly as plastic, most drivers said. But one driver thought the windshield trapped dust and didn’t want it.

The debate over the perfect seat continued with the Bush Hog. Some drivers liked the bench seat because they could get out on either side, while others preferred a bucket seat. A couple of drivers remarked that it was difficult squeezing between the wheel and armrest on this vehicle.

Suggested price: $9,399
Engine: 670cc, 24 hp, V-twin, air cooled
Cargo box: 1,000 lbs.
334/874-2700
www.bushhog.com
Score: 3.75

PUG Frontier 4x4
Feterl Manufacturing purchased the PUG line of UVs a year ago and started redesigning it. They participated in the rodeo as a test of their product line and left with a lot of suggestions from the drivers.

The Frontier 4x4 is powered with a 20-hp, twin-cylinder engine. Most of the drivers thought it was underpowered for an off-road course but would work fine on a flatter terrain like that in central Illinois.

They also thought the suspension needed redoing. “They need to get rid of the leaf springs in the back and get some struts,” Clark McPheeters suggested. “And they need to do something to eliminate the dust that billows into the cabin area.”

The drivers liked the tilt steering wheel and low step-in height of the vehicle. They mentioned that the gas pedal and brake should be closer together because they had trouble moving their foot from one to the other.

“I certainly admire them for jumping into such a competitive market,” Clark McPheeters said.

Suggested price: $9,565
Engine: 614cc, 20 hp, twin cylinder, air cooled
Cargo box: 1,000 lbs.
605/421-1664
www.feterl.com
Score: 3.39