More UTVs roll into the market

For a variety of farm jobs, there’s nothing like a utility task vehicle (UTV), and the used market shows it. These handy machines are relatively affordable options that can increase your efficiency regardless of your operation. 

“When the farm economy is great, farmers look at big equipment and new pickup trucks,” says Redo Celli, owner of Celli’s Cycle Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. “When the farm economy is not as great, they look at buying UTVs.”

Celli says he’s seeing more used UTVs than usual come through his shop this year. 

“A lot of people bought UTVs during COVID for something to do, and now some of them are deciding they don’t want them anymore, at least on the recreational side of the business,” he says. “Our farm and ranch customers tend to trade on more of a cycle, so those sales have been fairly steady.”

He says prices for used machines have risen over the last 10 years, as did new-model prices. But he forecasts that prices may start to fall a little over the next few years. 

“Some of our dealers are telling us to be cautiously optimistic with ordering new stuff so we don’t run into big inventory issues,” Celli says. “If they start offering rebates or incentives on new UTVs, used prices tend to fall to maintain that cushion between new and used.” 

Caleb Cleek, manager of Jeff Boone Auctions in Markleville, Indiana, east of Indianapolis, says their UTV buyers are a mix of farmers and general consumers, with John Deere Gators and Kubota units being more popular for the farm sector. Features adding value for farm users include enclosed cabs with heat and air conditioning, four-wheel drive, power steering, and electric dump beds.  

“Used UTVs sell well, especially for good, clean units,” Cleek says. “We have four big sales a year, and we consistently have 25 to 50 UTVs on each one.”

Recent sales data

A search on auctiontime.com for 2021 and newer four-wheel-drive UTVs returned 147 recent sales. The lowest price was $4,100, for a 2022 American Landmaster L5W, in New York, and the highest was $35,530, for a 2023 John Deere Gator 835R, with only three hours on the meter, in Wisconsin. The average sale price was $18,975, with two-thirds of the listed units selling for more than $10,000. Gators brought an average $23,765, while Polaris models averaged $18,154.

The most popular make was John Deere (53), followed by Polaris (34). The remainder were Kubota, Kawasaki, Can-Am, and other manufacturers.  

Highest-selling machines had features one would expect: very low hours, and creature comforts such as heat, air conditioning, and Bluetooth radio. Also popular were working accessories, including custom tires, winches, automatic dump beds, and grill guards. However, nice, lower-end units were available with only a few hundred hours but lacking some bells and whistles.

What to look for

HVAC-equipped cabs provide refreshment during hot and cold weather. Customizable cargo boxes help with a variety of tasks around the farm. Work lights brighten up after-dark tasks. 

Cleek cautions buyers to look carefully at a used UTV’s undercarriage to determine how previous owners may have handled it. 

“People use these recreationally, and sometimes the idler arms, axles, and suspension bushings can be damaged,” he points out. He also recommends checking out wear on the tires. 

To see how well previous owners cared for their machines, Eric Halfman, John Deere go-to-market manager, recommends asking them for service records. He also suggests looking at the tires and seats. 

“Seats can tell a story,” he says. “If they are torn or stained, or even have foam coming out, that can be an indication of how the machine was taken care of.”

Useful features

Many farmers look for a dump box and a thoughtfully designed cab, says Chris Hendricks, Polaris Ranger product planning and strategy manager. He says Ranger seats are designed for easy entry and exit, and for sliding across. He adds that doors are designed for farmers and ranchers. “They open backwards to how your pickup truck doors would open,” he explains. “That allows you to exit to the front of the vehicle quicker than anything else on the farm.” 

Other features, such as front racks, winches, and interchangeable hitches, are also useful. Hendricks notes that Polaris’ Trail Boss model comes standard with a power outlet in the box, and wiring to the dash to run a sprayer, very popular with farmers. 

Some Deere Gators have customizable cargo boxes, using conventional lumber to help with fencing, soil sampling, feeding, and spraying. 

“Farmers can use plywood and 2x6s they already have on the farm to help get the job done,” Halfman says. “There’s actually a tiered level — you can divide the cargo box from top to bottom and have a second tier.” A number of D-rings inside and outside the cargo box assist with securing loads.

Guidance and technology

Polaris’ Ride Command navigation system includes off-road maps, land boundaries, and property ownership information, Hendricks says. It also has a backup camera, plus the ability to communicate between vehicles so equipped, even when cell service isn’t available. 

“You can also use Ride Command to drop way points and mark locations on your property, and even plug in an SD card to look at your trail cameras,” he adds. Ride Command is standard on some models, and available on nearly any Polaris UTV. 

The latest John Deere Gators (XUV 845 and 875) share a Green Star-ready option, making them plug-and-play with Green Star displays and Star Fire receivers. That makes them helpful for boundary mapping and other activities, Halfman says.