Out of the gate, it has a 854cc liquid cooled diesel engine that, while rated for top speeds of 25 mph, in all actuality can top out close to 45 mph. While only boasting a power output of 18.5, it is a true 4 x 4 utility all-terrain vehicle made predominantly for hauling grain and tools about. That hasn’t stopped this UTV from gaining the attention of everyone from ranchers to the United States military as there seems to be a lot of promise in what it can do. It makes sense. The HPX Gator is a powerful utility all-terrain vehicle that packs a lot of great standard features with the option to customize and modify as necessary.
With a payload and towing capacity of 1,400 lbs – it’s an ideal choice for anyone needing to transport things or people a short distance. The cargo box on the back can hold a max weight of 1,000 lbs. Additionally, with true four wheel drive, it’s able to handle a variety of terrains and mud. Even with a standard unleaded engine, these Gators still have an enormous ability to adapt to a variety of situations.
One accessory for them is the Warn® winch system – perfect for hauling up to 3,000 lbs. with the addition of a receiver hitch for the front mount. You can even add glass or poly doors, a deluxe cab with seat belts or even a stereo mounting kit.
With some models, they even have rubber tracks for movement in the snow. Man, look at that thing move. Not interested in outfitting it with treads for snowy weather? Not a problem. The HPX diesel still manages to plow through almost a foot of snow and drift like it was icing on a cake.
Military Uses for the Gator
While the HPX turbo-charged diesel is a great choice for agricultural purposes, John Deere also received a contract from the United States Department of Defense for use of its diesel Gators in Afghanistan and Iraq. Turns out, it’s more fuel efficient and useful for all the small jobs that need doing around base rather than loading up a fully stocked HMMWV or MaxxPro. That investment paid off because for on-base uses, the John Deere has all the safety features one would expect of any motor vehicle going beneath 35 mph – the speed limit on most active duty posts in a war zone.
While almost none of John Deere’s diesel HPX Gators came equipped with a machine-gun mount, most military and contractor Gators came with key safety features such as:
• Deluxe Signal Lights
• Horn Kit
• OPS Poly Windshield
• Safety Belts
• Rear and Side Mirrors
It was also an ideal vehicle to get materials and personnel quickly onto the flight deck. Especially in places like Kandahar, where for quite a few years troops came and went with extremely fast frequency, the HPX Gator was one of the main personnel carriers for servicemen arriving to their units after R&R and leave.
And as bases gradually sprawled out further and further, the need for Gators only increased. In Bagram Air Force Base, the base itself had turned into a small city by the time US Forces begun to draw down in 2014. That meant in order to get from one side of the base to the other, a soldier or airman either had to hop a bus or take a unit’s diesel Gator. John Deere certainly had a central part in keeping servicemen and women driving around in style a long way from home.
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