Went ahead and pulled the trigger on a 2018 Honda Pioneer 1000. My trusty 2015 Pioneer 700 has been absolutely problem free, but a buddy completely ruined me by tossing me the key to his new 1000. The powertrain is a completely different animal, 6 spd DSG transmission, lots of torque, and very smooth. Top speed of 67mph is largely academic for the type of riding that I do, but it putts around effortlessly. Suspension is pretty good with almost a foot of travel, and 12.8" of ground clearance. The bed is huge compared with the 700 and with a 2000lb tow capacity, and 1000lb load capacity, should be sufficient to do what I want it to do.

Getting old and stupid. Posted this in the wrong forum, and too late to delete.

Interesting to me even if it isn’t in the right forum. Did you check any of the other Japanese makers for comparison

I did. The Honda suits me best, plus this will be the 4th Honda in a row for me, the first three have been flawless.

Seems to be a theme, not the fastest, but likely the best and rock solid

I've got two Honda four wheelers and a honda outboard on my boat.

If it's something I rely upon away from civilization then it had Honda stamped on it.

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a Honda. I bought a 2016 Rancher 4x4 and I’ve been extremely pleased with it. My wife and I want a Honda Pioneer. That thing is a beast!

So far I couldn't be more pleased. I did install some mud tires because the issued tires are more suited to trail or dry conditions. I have to deal with steep hills and red Ga clay. This thing is a monster, abundant torque and the 6 speed transmission shift logic is very good. Tops out at 65 mph too so it's no slouch. Direct comparison to my Pioneer 700 that I had is that it has superior ground clearance and suspension, a lot more beans to keep those mud tires clean in the thick goo, and is more comfortable overall. I like the turf mode that minimizes damage to my yard when turning. Only downside I've found so far is a slightly bigger appetite for fuel, to be expected with the larger motor and weight. 1700+ lb vs 1400 of the 700. Yes, i stuck it in the creek and had to winch out. Nobody else made it through either

My 2 friends that raise cattle in Alabama have one that is 3 or 4 years old, it is literally caked in mud, gets average maintenance and runs like a top.