TEST RIDE: 2015 John Deere Gator 825i

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Dirt Trax Television Co-Host Luke Lester evaluates one of our favourite side-x-side vehicles - John Deere's Gator 825i featuring a 3-cylinder Chery-built motor and a list of cool features.

[@jbbakerstein5421]

Has dirt tracks ever released a bad review on anything?

[@cwirtz1854]

My grandparents have had one for 2 years and they are great all around. They haven't had a single break down and the winch you can mount on the front or the back is very handy.

[@DeepSouthHomestead]

Now thats one fine ride.That would do a great job on my homestead helping us with all our chores.Thanks for the video.

[@dirttraxtv]

It sure would! Thanks!

[@shamekawatson1366]

@@dirttraxtv welcome not thanks

[@Gooooch]

I like the sound of the three cylinder engine. Has a nice raspy sound that a straight 6 would have.

[@calebgovan5881]

Can you do a review on the kubota rtv x900

[@ludwigvanosselaer4179]

I have a question : can I compare a gator 825i with a quad for making off road trips ? For exemple with a yamaha Grizzly 350 4WD. I would think that a gator must be better . Please your opinion.

[@dirttraxtv]

+Ludwig van osselaer Obviously two very different vehicles, but if you're looking to venture into the SXS world, this Gator is fantastic. Might not have all the speed in the world, but it runs and rides great and is great for work or play.

[@Stu650Zuk]

Thanks for the video. i will have to go test drive one. I like many people have sold my atvs and am gravitating to the sxs market. I seems like a crossover type of sxs, just what I am looking for. Sure everyone likes high speed machines, but as you said, trail riding, that 60+ top speed doesn't make much difference. An enclosed cab would be a nice aftermarket item for this also. Be great for deer season and many other things.

[@cadenjoyner27]

Polaris rangers are nicer

[@16B9]

+C Mud It depends what you call nicer. I looked at the Ranger before I bought John Deere. The frame of the Polaris isn't as well built as the JD. I didn't care for the single cylinder engine either. The Polaris is a smaller machine. Remember the 825i is a crossover rig. I serves two functions, work and play. The Polaris is more the play toy.

[@neilb505]

I'm sure you mean 75amp alternator not 75 watt right?

[@V3ntci]

DAYM THIS IS GOOD.i waiting for money from E.union for fruit growing and will take one of theese.very much like them :)

[@happynow01]

My Gator 850i RSX was finally fixed by JohnDeere, props to them for standing behind their equipment!!!! The new clutch install was a first for them. WARNING: the breakdown was NOTHING like the book, even in their book, lol so don't do it yourself if yours goes out!!!.. they had to order a special tool from JD to get it done.. and drop lower frame!!! wow major work.. but, now, it is very enjoyable to ride in, doesn't overheat anymore. Now the real ride issues I have, 1. it will fry your legs like a freaking egg!! Really hot, it gets super hot and shoots the heat directly onto your legs.. so jeans might be a good idea, it was very uncomfortable... very, if your not hitting cold mud, lol.. 2. real design oddity, I noticed this last cleaning... the front trunk with a gasket on it, as if to keep something dry.. will not work, it has holes inside the box, inside seal through the fuse panels? lol Yes, they stuck a gasket on the hood, put the fuse panel and main pc in there.. and you can look THROUGH the wire hook up to the ground? odd.. I still only have done really light mudding, and you see the front had flooded? so don't put anything that can not get wet up front... 3. Gas gauge is not accurate, we only filled it maybe 4 times so far, so take a can lol, 4. This is loud, so get a helmet and ear plugs, it is louder than the ones with more power, oddly enough? 5. every time I wash it, fog shows up in headlamps and digital display.. prob going to be an issue down the road. Besides that, we think it's solid. The power is better with new clutch, so we are thankful in the end to JD, and will be riding again soon!! #johndeererocksagain #johndeere850iRSX

[@tonylomas3712]

Jay jay dynomite d

[@markwalker2637]

I've posted before and was thankful for your response. how is the vehicle handling long term any response will be greatly appreciated thank you in advance

[@lukeworrell8479]

Wow bravo John Deer

[@happynow01]

I know, I posted this on other video's.. but I feel like I should... In my well treated baby super toy, the clutch is gone, and less than 30hours on light ride time.. so disappointed.. when it runs, I loved it, but that is waaaayyyy too early to go out... and I noticed the lights and dash and all enclosures would leak when I washed it off? You would have fog in the lights... and dash... so, not sure about quality... anyway.. just warning... I am never messing with them again, because it costs $1100 to fix... Never had a " toy" for fun and work like this ever go bad like this... just sucks, heartbreaking... so please look around before you think this is the one...

[@sled_neckx9972]

just your average John Deere lol try a can am maverick 1000R turbo

[@happynow01]

+XxdarkwolfxX lol, well now, they opted to pay to fix clutch! I was impressed! Haven't got it back yet, so who knows wha tit will be.. I hope better! It's odd that in the Manuel it says it isn't mad to ride for long distances at a certain speed? Odd.. I'll check out the one your talking about, prob out of my price range! Lol but thanks for letting me know!

[@mcfly682]

Had my 70hr 2012 825i clutch repaired 3 times. Every time it was covered under either warranty or a PIP(Product Improvement Part) for the known clutch issues. When it went out the last time, I took it back to the dealer 4 years later and they gave me purchase price on a new gator. Thats standing behind your product. Happy so far with the new 2016 825i.

[@markwalker2637]

and is the 860I the same for wheel well position?

[@markwalker2637]

how tall are you and how is the foot space with the wheel well location im 6'6"

[@dirttraxtv]

+mark walker Luke's over 6.

[@barneyneal9026]

mark walker I drove one today (I work at a dealer) and it's brilliant. I'm 6'5" and I never got close to not fitting

[@barneyneal9026]

Alessio Roloff I think polaris do a 6 seater ranger

[@barneyneal9026]

Alessio Roloff there is a four seater John Deere gator but god it’s ugly

[@Stu650Zuk]

I like the idea of the wrap around bumpers. Great feature actually for JD for saving your fenders. I'm looking to trade for one of these or the newest single row seat Kawasaki Mule Pro FX. I may be wrong, but I believe both models the JD 825i and Mule Pro utilize the same engine? I have a like new 2013 Kubota 1120d with an all position 72" Curtis plow and other extra's. It went really cheap for what I was getting so I bought it two yrs. ago at an estate auction. While great on fuel the inline 3 diesel in the Kubota is only 24.5hp and 50lb. ft. of torque. It is very slow in other words, but does plow the snow for me very well. We use it in my son's and mines business for tons of things. Speeds of 25mph aside my big gripe with Kubota is its shifting gears. They really need to refine that system. Being basically a hydrostatic tractor, then add in a separate shiftable L,H N R transmission and the high pressure from the hydro makes shifting very hard to do at times. It is supposed to release pressure when you push the foot brake via a cable to the hydro in the back. It only works about half the time....Its either a big waiting game and pushing the brake pedal as hard as you can. Or just shut off the engine completely and then shift it to neutral. It needs a start in gear feature as well. Kubota is coming out with a new RTV this year with I believe has a parallel twin engine made by Subaru and of course a gas engine. I think the Kubota concept and diesel is a tough well made machine. Fix the shifting woes,,,I'm not alone,,,and simply add a turbo to that great little inline 3 Kubota diesel to give it good acceleration. Bad acceleration is not your friend for trailriding. I don't have to tell you guys that..Thanks for the video..Gotta see what kind of trade in JD would give me, and find out if there is a way to put a 2" receiver hitch onto a JD or Kawasaki Pro to hook up my Curtis elec/hydraulic plow. Oh,,,the dump bed on the Kubota is fantastic having its own hydro pump separate from the transmission..sorry for the long post. I hope to see you guys test more machines like these as they are what most people really need or want over most high speed racing/trail models..for me at least.

[@ddnmd]

if you guy's like this why not do a review on the new mule pro fxt? ! it has the same motor. I would like to know what you think about it. I have a 2015 mule pro and it does play and work fairly well.

[@dirttraxtv]

+Bruno DeFrancesco We have ridden the MULE and also love it. Same engine as this Gator. We have not yet had one to evaluate on our own turf though. Still working on it.

[@ddnmd]

Thanks for the return statement. Totally different machine than the gator.

[@MrAmeyk]

very nice ride of gator 825i..Awesome and very sturdy!

[@David-ll8bt]

I was beginning to think the only thing it could do was drive thru muddy water.

[@JacksonPolyp]

What are the engine hours/odometer miles that you can put on this model?

[@dirttraxtv]

Man, that was a while ago. Don't have those numbers for you.

[@BarackObama-yc1ey]

Dirt Trax TV yall still respond to comments on a video That is 5 years old. Props 👏

[@blueridgedairyandcustomharvest]

We have 27,000 miles on one our 825s

[@NorthGaLife]

Great review

[@joshlengkeek6261]

Not anything about the exhaust note haha , I think they sound pretty cool

[@bobbyharvill4225]

These are so big and heavy you might as well use a small truck or jeep. As far a using for work get a small tractor. I had an 825 for two years. My jeep would do the same stuff and take me to town.

[@21005554]

No way I can take my Landcruiser where I take the Gator.

[@TheCamaro5]

glad you are doing different sxs's. My dad is fixing to get one in the next couple of months. He was looking at Mahindra's for some reason they terrible but I havent seen anything about them.

[@cadenjoyner27]

Tell him to look at a 2015 or a 2016 polaris ranger 900 or 570 mid/full

[@dobradurasloucas3623]

like

[@kolbybecker]

I have a question to we just ordered one and how long does it take to get it??

[@dirttraxtv]

+Kolby Becker - Dependent on the dealer. Sorry we can't help more.

[@kolbybecker]

+Dirt Trax Television u guys should do a John Deere gator s4 review

[@jackfoley2192]

How the best way to get used to the pedals

[@sootrattlerolloff-road1415]

no comparison...have both the 900 xp polaris, as well as the 825i gator, and the Gator is the one we fight over at Hatfield & McCoy trails. More stable on sketchy sideways inclines, leaves your spine in one piece after several hundred miles of coal roads, and that Chinese Chery motor is far better technology and is used in several automobile makes around the world because of it's reputation for quality and bang for the buck. Deere didn't rub our patriotic emotions while, "chery-picking" THAT motor to use in this machine, for no reason...they knew exactly what they were doing, and knew the emotional sacrifice would be well worth the final outcome when folks put that motor to the dirt...much better engine than the Liberty engine in Polaris. Sometimes, and especially in a mostly utility vehicle that ALSO plays well, you have to get past ultimate speed for what will stay the course. Hit something stationary with a front wheel and you will see the next place the Deere far exceeds the polaris...the Polaris will fold a control arm, rip the ears out off and bend the frame, and pretzel a tie-rod, and the deere could hit the same object and do nothing more than launch your eyeballs out your head from inertia, and not even need an alignment afterward. How is this so?...lay a Ranger frame, and an XUV frame side x side on the ground, and let that answer your question...the Polaris frame is pathetic, and will bend if you look at it rough. The deere frame is hydroformed heavy tube, vs Polaris ultra thin-walled channel. Call me crazy, but give me a few extra pounds on a utility machine, so it doesn't fold up like a cheap toy. Been there, done that a few times on my Polaris'. If I want to go fast, I will buy a Canam. If I want to go fast enough, and know I can work the snot out of the machine and be comfy doing it, I will take the Deere. Meanwhile, I have my final Polaris Ranger for sale. It's like new, but on it's third frame.

[@gregrowe1168]

+David Ramstien The new 860i looks like something that could give the Ranger 900 a run for its money on performance as well. Its disappointing in that Polaris frames in their atvs are noted for their strength. I guess as you said sometimes extra weight isn't always a bad thing. All utvs except for the 50" trail machines are relatively heavy anyway. 1300 lbs vs 1500 lbs isn't really that much of a difference.

[@williamtarr9758]

how much for one

[@macauleyhaywood8643]

William Tarr I'm not 100% sure but I believe 13,000

[@joemusic2882]

I just minutes ago saw this for sale on Facebook marketplace for $1,400 with 0km . How can this be?

[@sinfuldebauchery]

The warranty is better at kubota.