Thread: 2017 Tuatara UTV - Any feedback

We have been running honda at work which we have had a good run if you are servicing, my boss is going to try a cf moto sxs mainly because going to a new honda 1000 is $35k
You can get a new cf moto between $15k-$20k
I cant see it working out but time will tell.

Have just put another engine in one of these at work, owner had to import it himself, it has the 1100cc chery engine in it, parts are non existent, the tuatara dealer didn't really want to be of any help sourcing anything for it. I believe the earlier ones had a cooling system issue which was solved by fitting a header type tank.

Originally Posted by MSL

The 520 is 480kg?


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Yeah, correct.

I was comparing like for like-ish. i.e 800-1000cc engine powered side x sides vs a Tuatara with a 1000cc engine

Originally Posted by bigbear

We have been running honda at work which we have had a good run if you are servicing, my boss is going to try a cf moto sxs mainly because going to a new honda 1000 is $35k
You can get a new cf moto between $15k-$20k
I cant see it working out but time will tell.

I audit some outfits that have gone from Honda/Yamaha to CF Moto. They end up chewing through the price difference in 3-4 years with the more frequent failure rate of parts, higher wear and tear etc etc.


My Honda quad still has the same brake pads and wheel bearings it came with 14 years ago. Gets used most weeks on the farm, and we have steep country. The dual clutch system in a manual transmission is really good for engine braking.

Having said that, the Canam side x side is a dream to cruise around the farm, or go hunting with. Quieter and more comfy all around. A certainly capable in steep terrain. And you can throw the doors on when the weather is shite

Yep and thats the reason we went from Polaris to honda, He didn't learn.
Servicing price on honda is 1/3 of a polaris

The brother in law has had canam, polaris, some other oddball brand and they all were a bloody disappointment to be fair. Hes now got a Honda and a little Farmworker ute - that thing is bloody gold. Covered in cab, quiet, heater for winter, comfortable and pretty stable all things considered but it is taller than the sxs equivalents. The benefit of the farmworker is the parts come from anywhere and are pretty much all automotive-type parts not name brand sxs at huge $$$$. Servicing and maintenance on the little ute is way cheaper and easily done on the farm by him, it's basically the same as a little Jimny as far as servicing if it have it right, been a while since we talked about it. His one has a tipping deck and lockable diff/part time 4x4 so pretty much as good as the sxs for soft terrain and rough areas, but I would be a bit more careful about sidling etc just with the taller ride height. That does give you good ground clearance and entry/departure/ramp angles though. He's got it on ATV feet so no issue with grip, and probably lighter than the sxs's. Commonly found second hand at around the $$ mentioned too. As far as the sxs - the vote for unkillable goes to the Kubota's as they are damn near indestructible, it appears to be metal cancer and wiring issues that gets them in the end.

Originally Posted by XR500

As @Gibo has pointed out, they are BIG coin for a Chinese manufactured sidexside.

They are very heavy. A tonne for the petrol and over 1100kgs for the EV

Honda pioneer is 650 ishkgs, sameish as farm versions of Canam and Polaris side x sides

Yes, the Tuatara will go places due to their dimensions,gearbox etc etc. But so will the others if driven by someone competent.

Honda has a name for reliability, and well deserved I must say.
Canam is OK, bloody comfortable and quiet compared to its competitors
Polaris takes the pip for performance, but at a lesser reliability rating.

Diesels in something that small and you can guarantee needing earmuffs if using it all day.

Backup is important. Something the Chinese could learn from the West...

As XR500 has alluded to weight, it is important for feeding out
Our can am is 700kg without the mods
Farmers run into trouble with feeding out baleage on hill country with sxs, a baleage bale at 500kg plus the feeder soons leads to the sxs getting bullied about.
Something for them to consider Gibo if baleage is something they are going to feed.


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Have you thought about one off the quad trucks iv got one that I use full time fencing alot off the farmers are amazed where I go loaded up with post & gear I did set mine up on ATV tires to start with but wasn't that happy with & iv put mine on to skinny tractor grips but run duals & that's made a big difference with the steep hill country that I work on how it compares to a sxs I don't know haven't used enough sxs to say & I'm not sure how they get on towing I didn't fit a towbar to mine it cost me bot 12k to buy & set up & it cheep to service it costs round $200 for parts & oil iv been using mine for bot 5 years & have only done a starter motor & the sense play up for the rear diff lock so I've locked the diff permanently and I'm surprised I haven't done an axle or a CV the sxs would have alot more power tho

Sort of like what the BIL has...

Not tried Tuatara
Always like the look of them too
Used quads a lot
Friend has just gone to a 2nd hand suzuki jimney flat deck
Has a heater and a cab and nice seats and a stereo
Road legal if you need it
Similar money
All the plus of a shopping cart and a quad
Uses it for feeding out and general farm stuff
Raves about it

Originally Posted by hunt08

Have you thought about one off the quad trucks iv got one that I use full time fencing alot off the farmers are amazed where I go loaded up with post & gear I did set mine up on ATV tires to start with but wasn't that happy with & iv put mine on to skinny tractor grips but run duals & that's made a big difference with the steep hill country that I work on how it compares to a sxs I don't know haven't used enough sxs to say & I'm not sure how they get on towing I didn't fit a towbar to mine it cost me bot 12k to buy & set up & it cheep to service it costs round $200 for parts & oil iv been using mine for bot 5 years & have only done a starter motor & the sense play up for the rear diff lock so I've locked the diff permanently and I'm surprised I haven't done an axle or a CV the sxs would have alot more power thoAttachment 226138Attachment 226139Attachment 226140

Just the ticket!

I have the EV version that we use on the dairy farm mainly for rearing calves towing a 1000l 80 teat calfateria. Had it for two years. Takes a bit of servicing, but so does everything, costs less than my can am quad. The lack of a local dealer/service agent is a bit of a pain, I get it serviced by a local mechanic. Geoff from Tuatara has always been good to deal with and I haven't had any problems getting parts.

Rich

Originally Posted by Gibo

Awesome, any mechanical issues that you now of?

there is one parked up in shed of big station with lots of money to spend as they got sick of fixing it....

@Gibo I have one a friend of mine brought a petrol and another a ev had no issues so far all 3 of us hunt for a living so they get used a bit. The price of 42k seems a rip off as I brought mine just over 6 months ago for 10k less, they are quiet, fuel efficient and can carry a bloody good load, I don’t know where they live but if it’s cold they can get full doors so they can crank the heater up in the cold

When I was shepherding on high country station we feed out with the tow behind feeders with older Utes one Ute was set up with tractor grips on the other had mud grips & chains they both had air lockers & they went everywhere we needed we where feeding out on steeper cultivator country. The other thing some farmers use in my area for towing feed out buggys is using 30 - 40 HP 4wd tractor so there lots to think bot to find the right option to work in you operation