In the market for a used UTV primarily for my families lake house, mostly just for maintenance around the property. Only problem I'm having is finding information on the type of grade each one is able to climb comfortably. The hill that goes down to the dock is pretty steep, and I'm worried that a standard Kawasaki Mule (or similar) won't be able to climb it. Not sure on the exact grade of the hill but it is very easy to flip lawnmower on. Does anyone have any make/model recommendations I should look into? Obviously 4x4, really just need 2 seats with a dump bed, diesel would be nice but not essential.

Younarent going to find info on max grade on any UTV as it will vary according to a host of factors.

If you are that concerned, get one and then get some Mattrax for it.

I had to drive up to the top of this ridge for work. I'm already 2/3 of the way up there and the steepest part is behind me. 4x4 Polaris ranger utv. A Honda would be just fine, too.

Here's the view on the way down. I'm holding the camera parallel to the road so you can see the degree of incline! My truck is parked waaaayyy down there at the bottom of the hill a few thousand feet below me. That was a very cool drive up that mountain! edited to add that you can see the road on the right side of the photo.

I climb some pretty steep grades in my Honda Pioneer. I would recommend the pioneer over most of the competition since the Pioneer has a geared transmission and not a CVT. Much better to drive

Just use low gear in 4wd. You will be fine

I don't think our mule would have any issue with anything that wouldn't flip you over

That's steep! Any of you remember "the Widowmaker Hill" competitions on ABC Wild World of Sports.

Just below the cluster of trees in the top center of the last pic (which is a ranch headquarters, barns, sheds, houses, etc.) is a very thin sliver of green pointing towards that ranch. That's where the creek empties out into the desert from where I'm at at the headwaters of that creek!

This is where that creek empties into the desert.


This is where the road starts out to climb up onto that mountain. It's a huge gain in elevation as my ears were popping when I got up there. It's high enough that the aspens are beginning to turn yellow. Awesome country! There were a couple places on the decent when low gears and brakes were barely enough to prevent the utv from sliding down the hill with the wheels locked.

Sorry for the derail. The Polaris did just fine. I'd rather have the Honda, but I really like an Arctic Cat Prowler because of it's better clearance. I can't speak to the Prowler being better, but I've put a Prowler to some very serious use on and off some extremely rocky and rugged terrain and with little maintenance and it just kept running hard.

I recommend a Yamaha. It will climb the hill but more importantly in my opinion, it's engine braking for descending the hill is far superior to others.

I'd like a good Jake brake on a utv! One important factor in your choice is whatever your local utv repair shop will service.

Speaking of brakes, it'll need a good parking brake as well. Probably some chocks wouldn't hurt.

Hoyt Ag said:

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Just use low gear in 4wd. You will be fine

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I haven't had any problem with going up or down hills in my Mule PRO. Rarely even need 4 low at my buddy's place in the hill country.

Odds are the OP is really overthinking this.

schmellba99 said:

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Hoyt Ag said:

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Just use low gear in 4wd. You will be fine

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I haven't had any problem with going up or down hills in my Mule PRO. Rarely even need 4 low at my buddy's place in the hill country.

Odds are the OP is really overthinking this.

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I think your UTV driving opinions are still revoked per Rule 44 Section 4 Line F of the Texags OB charter given your recent incident. Please go back and sit in the dugout until your name is called.

Hoyt Ag said:

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schmellba99 said:

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Hoyt Ag said:

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Just use low gear in 4wd. You will be fine

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I haven't had any problem with going up or down hills in my Mule PRO. Rarely even need 4 low at my buddy's place in the hill country.

Odds are the OP is really overthinking this.

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I think your UTV driving opinions are still revoked per Rule 44 Section 4 Line F of the Texags OB charter given your recent incident. Please go back and sit in the dugout until your name is called.

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Daaaayyyyuuuummmm....that incident was 2 years ago, give or take. Probation is over vato!

I'm overthinking this for sure. Didn't really think about the front axle pulling the buggy up the hill.

Maybe an Argo, six wheels and a low center of gravity should help with traction and resistance to flipping over. Bonus is that they float so if someone crashes into the lake, they'll just go on a little boat ride instead of sinking and flooding the engine.

You are way overthinking it. Pretty much any side by side would climb just about any hill you'd be comfortable actually driving that side by side on.

Perhaps this is in order:

My Polaris Ranger climbs anything and will climb to the point of tipping over if I wanted to.

Here you go!