Part of the ever-growing commercial equipment market is utility terrain vehicles – smaller four-wheelers used for work and play. The GIE+EXPO 2014 power equipment show in Louisville, Kentucky, in October showcased many examples.
The EXPO highlighted UTVs this year with its first-ever outdoor UTV test tracks. The Kentucky Exposition Center features 19 acres of outdoor demo area, giving companies plenty of room to set up exciting UTV test tracks.
New offerings at the show:
Polaris: GEM eM1400
Built to be a customizable work vehicle, Polaris’ light UTV is the first GEM model completely designed and engineered by Polaris. The eM1400 features a 1,400 lb payload capacity, a 1,100 lb rear cargo-carrying capacity, and can tow up to 1,250 lb.
The eM1400 has a top speed of 19mph, and as an electric vehicle with zero emissions, it can be driven both indoors and outdoors. Suggested applications for the vehicle include facilities and grounds maintenance, indoor warehousing, lawn and landscape, farm utility, hospitality, and property upkeep.
The GEM eM1400 comes with a 7hp AC motor that has a range of up to 45 miles-per-charge, depending on temperature, grade, payload, and driving style. Although the eM1400 is a GEM vehicle, it supports Polaris’ Lock & Ride and Lock & Work accessories, allowing the accessories to be installed or removed quickly and easily without tools.
Along with the eM1400, Polaris’ outdoor demo area also featured the company’s BRUTUS and Ranger UTVs.
Ariens/Gravely: Atlas JSV
Ariens’ Gravely division chose to title the vehicle a “jobsite” vehicle, with plans that it will change the way customers look at the vehicle and its capabilities.
Ariens worked with Polaris for two years to put the product together by conducting focus groups to find out what consumers want in a jobsite vehicle. The company designed the Atlas specifically to fit the needs of operations management teams who are on jobsites every day.
The vehicle has a 1,900 lb payload and 2,000 lb towing capacity. The MX-18 JobBox, all made of steel, features a 1,250 lb capacity. The 48" x 57" cargo bed is also on an electric lift, which is standard for all Atlas vehicles, and the bed can fit a full-size wooden pallet.
The company has four models available, with two fuel options: EFI and diesel. The EFI features a one-cylinder, 570cc Polaris DOHC gas engine, and the diesel features a three-cylinder, 1,028cc Kohler diesel engine. Each is also available as a three-seater (the SSC-3000) or six-seater (the SSV-6000). The vehicles can reach a max speed of 35mph.
John Deere: Gator UTVs
The company is offering two special edition Gator Utility Vehicles: the midnight black XUV825i and midnight black RSX850i. Both models feature custom matte-black paint schemes with charcoal-gray graphics.
The XUV825i has an EFI 812cc gasoline engine, sport steering wheel, power steering, high-performance exhaust, and poly half doors. It comes with either sport bucket seats or a bench seat.
The RSX850i is a recreational vehicle, with an EFI 839cc gas engine. Some of the highlights include a special edition door closeout panel, PreRunner bumper, a Warn 3,500 lb winch, and a full underbody aluminum skid plate. The RSX850i comes with high-performance sports seats.
Kubota: RTV-X Series
The new product line features three models: the RTV-X900, RTV-X1100C, and RTV-X1120D. All three use four-cycle, three-cylinder diesel engines, and each has a 60/40 split-bench with underseat storage. Air conditioning, heat, and defrosting are available standard on the RTV-X1100C, which has a enclosed cabin, as well as a speaker system and pre-wiring for a stereo.
When it comes to work capacity, the RTV-X900 carries a payload of 1,598 lb and can tow up to 1,300 lb. The RTV-X1100C’s payload capacity is 1,510 lb with a 1,300 lb towing capacity, and the RTV-X1120 D has a payload capacity of 1,629 lb and a towing capacity of 1,300 lb. All three feature a cargo bed lift capacity of 1,102 lb and all come with three tire options: heavy duty worksite, ATV, or turf.
Polaris Industries Inc.
www.polaris.com
Ariens Co.
www.ariensco.com
Deere & Co.
www.deere.com
Kubota Tractor Corp.
www.kubota.com
About the author: Katie Tuttle is the associate editor of GIE Media’s Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at ktuttle@gie.net or 216.393.0285.