Outer tie rod issue on my 2016 Gator XUV 825i upgrade options?

[gatorwrenchtime]

Hey folks,

So, I had a bit of bad luck with my 2016 John Deere Gator 825i. Last weekend, while I was moving firewood, the outer tie rod just broke clean off, right where the threads meet the joint.

I called the local dealer, and, as I expected, they only sell the whole tie rod thing (both sides) as a kit, and it costs around $350!

I've been trying to find just the outer rod or maybe a stronger replacement, but so far, no luck. The original ones seem a bit weak for what we use this machine for on the farm.

Has anyone found a good, strong tie rod option? Or maybe even switched to a different brand's parts that fit? Any tips or part numbers would be awesome if you've dealt with this before.

 

[Muddyanddirty]

I believe it's a common failyr point, especially for heavy loads and hauling. The good news is that there's an upgrade and you have the option to choose between Moose Utility and All Balls Racing. There are others, but these are the two that I know of

 

[Sedez.tm]

I feel like this is an old complaint by now, swap in heims or a beefier aftermarket setups from UTV parts suppliers. SuperATV and Kryptonite have some stronger tie rod kits, though fitment might take a bit of measuring, sometimes Polaris or Can-am rods match up close enough with a little modification

 

[cookie&tea]

@gatorwrenchtime yep, this is a common issue with the Gator tie rods. The best solution is to completely ditch the stock parts and go with a heavy duty aftermarket kit.
Brands like idk about Kryptonite, but I like SATV, it makes a full tie rod kit with stronger materials and heim joints that are a direct bolt on replacement.
It's a much tougher setup and will handle the abuse of hauling firewood way better than the factory parts. It might cost a bit more than just one side, but it's a permanent fix