Diesel Powered ATVs
 

Anyone here own one? I want an ATV, and the thought of a diesel powered one seems enticing.

Light weight is good on an ATV, for ease of handling, steering, extrication and floatation on soggy surfaces. I doubt that a diesel ATV would be very light. While most ATV's have electric start, they also have a pull-cord backup to lessen the chance of a really long walk. I don't think that the higher compression ratio of a diesel is very pull-cord friendly.

I haven't seen a fuel station that DOES NOT sell gas. I have seen many fuel stations that don't sell diesel. Note, we are talking of highway fuel stations only. This makes me sometimes get fuel at a certain place instead of trying to find another stations that is cheaper. Sometimes the variance is up to 20 cents but I digress. Your ATV will be for riding in the sticks. I have seen some fuel stations that are little more than a 55 gal drum of fuel. What happens when you run low? You run the risk of running out of fuel and not being able to get any more. Now, if this is a farm vehicle, no problem. When you take it trail riding, it becomes a huge problem if you cannot get fuel. You can't exactly call 1-800-FOR-MERC to bring you 3 gals of diesel.

Personally, if you ever think you might bring it off your farm property, it is a huge risk.

This would likely serve more as a "fun farm" vehicle more than anything else. I don't exactly see myself using it to catch airtime on a track or crossing bogs in it. Given that it is a diesel, should I use it for recreational purposes on the trail, the diesel's natural ability to get better fuel mileage than its gas counterparts would mean that it would run out of fuel at a slower rate than its gas counterparts. Running out of fuel in the sticks is a problem for both diesel and gas ATVs. If one feels that they'll run out of fuel, they can always secure a 5 gallon jerry can of fuel (either gas or diesel) to the front or rear rack, correct? Finding diesel in the area shouldn't be a problem. Most of the pickups and tractors out there are diesel powered.

Here's a review I found of the Arctic Cat 700 Diesel.
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/trucks/0708dp_700_diesel_atv_lombardini/index.html

gas/diesel
 

Here at BHF, almost all of the iron is diesel-powered...the JD2040, my D20P dozer, the little BX1800 Kubota tractor and of course, all the Mercedes and the PowerSmoke. But, Dad's Kawasaki Mule and all the chain saws and brushcutters are gassers which really becomes a PITA at fueling time...particularly the Mule which is damned awkward to refuel from a 5 gal jug. A trip to the filling station with jugs in the back of the truck...yada, yada, yada. I wish it was all diesel-powered.

I guess I'm spoiled by having 150 gallons of diesel in the pickup's bed tank with an electric pump and nozzle.

I suppose for that reason, it would be fine if you wanted to have it just to have bragging right.

MAYBE so but is it significantly different? The article also mentions that it is 110# heavier than the 700cc unit. Gas is about 700# so this would be 15% heavier. Sounds like a push or a slight gain for diesel at the best. Not really that much.

True. However, when you are trail riding there are some fuel stations around. Also, if you are that bad off, someone might lend you some fuel. In either case, it is easier to find gas than diesel.

Like I said, in the last few years, I have stopped at bars which are on the trail and some of them sell fuel. Haven't seen a one that sells diesel yet. Sure, they have containers you can bring along but my experience is that most of them leak. The only one that I have bought that has NOT leaked is one from Kolpin. http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/fuel-pack-alternatives.html. They are red for gas or white for water. The other ones you get at the store have always leaked. No ands, buts or ifs.

We bought a Kubota RTV900 diesel 4x4 three years ago (it was a new '07) for the hunting camp, over my objection. Too loud, too heavy, gets bottomed out crossing rr tracks, vapor locks, eats batteries.

Oh, and get your wallet out!!

I thought you were talking about something like a JD HPX or whatever it is. 4x4 side-by-side. Very nice but those are some big bucks right there. 11k+ :eek:

Yeah aklim, it'd be for bragging rights, I guess you can owe that to the dieselhead in me. I'm going to look for a used one. I've priced the new ones and they're very pricey.

Couldn't be any worse than our $9k Bad Boy buggy. What an over-priced POS.

When it was 6 months old, I had to rebuild the front end because the front hubs weren't properly torqued at the factory and it trashed the hub bearings. At 4 years it already needs CV boots. About a year ago, I was taking some folks around the farm and the damned left rear axle broke (the factory wheel spacers were an inch too wide and it put too much stress on the axle at the splines. Factory support is non-existent.

Batteries are $220 each, there are eight of them and I've already had to replace one that got a loose connection and burned a terminal right off the battery. I'm constantly having to rewire some part of it because the corrosive vapors from the batteries corrode the ***** out of every terminal and connection anywhere near them.

It's not like we abuse the thing either...we pretty much creep around where ever we go.

I was gone two weeks and come back to the thing being stone dead and won't charge. While I was gone, one of the main wires from the charge receptacle rotted off from the acid on top of the battery.

It's definitely a love-hate relationship...it's saving grace is that the thing is silent as a Los Angeles class sub and doesn't smell like an old outboard motor when you use it.

I wouldn't. Even the gas ones are often not well taken care of. Diesel units, unless I know the person, I wouldn't even dream that they maintain it properly or even have a clue. Who knows what sort of fuel they will try to add in to make it work. I am even leery of used ATVs. I wouldn't buy used with a diesel ATV.

The Kubota was about $15K, iirc, new. It was supposed to be one particular members personal but we let him insure it through the camp and it was handy for hauling cordwood, spreading gravel in the potholes and placing stands. He went bust two years ago and we bought some of his stock back in cash and took the kubota for the rest (again--my vote was nay). It is actually very reliable other than the cold starts, but I had gotten rid of my 4 wheeler thinking I would use my '53 M34 as a trail vehicle:rolleyes: and neither one will go over the two RR (non-blocked) crossings (the M34 will go over, but tip going down the other side of the raised bed:D). It won't get stuck, but like you said, will rattle your teeth out at 5 am and I am not so sure diesel fumes attract deer.

The thing that POs me is that in the UK and Europe, Deere and others market both diesel and electric versions of their ranch utility vehicles.

Can we get something like that here? Nope.

Why do you think we cannot get it here? IF they were convinced that enough people wanted it, why wouldn't they do it? Honda has a habit of waiting for innovations. I bought the 05 Sportsman 800 because it had run a couple of years back with EFI and I thought it was stable enough. It was several years after that before Honda brought out EFI. Grizzly also had power steering. If that improved their sales, I'm sure other companies too will add it to their line up. Problem is people in the US don't want to buy it except for a few people like you.

Take the diesel powered ATV. Do you see them taking off like hotcakes? If so the other companies will follow suit. If not, it will die.

Polaris makes a multi fuel ATV, it is available on the civilian side as well.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/09/28/polaris-delivers-atv-with-multi-fuel-patriot-engine/