Side by Side UTV
 

Hey Guys

My cottage is about an acre from my dock, now that I am getting older [fatter/lazier] its getting to be a pain to haul "boat gear" back and forth. I also have a few neighbours I like to visit using trails/rural roads, so, I have decided to look at a "side by side" UTV, I had 4 wheelers in the past, but, the side by sides are easier to get in and out of and I like the idea of the dump box for gear.

Any recommendations? My intended usage will be pretty tame, no serious off roading, so, I dont need anything built to plow deep into the woods to haul the bullet riddled carcass of a 2000lb deer or moose, lol

However, the trails and "roads?" around our cottage aren't exactly Interstate highways, so, I need something much tougher than a golf cart.

Been looking at Gators, Rhino's, etc.
As well as some of the crap ass Offshore stuff, which look to be pretty good for what I need, and cheap, but, I am not a real fan of supporting the "Wal Marts of the powersports world"

Any input appreciated! Thanks!

Michael

We have an '09 Rhino 700 Special Edition - its been a good machine with no problems. Just changed everything over to Amsoil and run high test in it and it always runs like the day we picked it up. Easy to service as well. Mostly stock other than the tires and K&N.

It had a recall early where they removed the rear sway bar and put a widening kit on the rear tires to improve roll over stability. We put the same block kit on the fronts an it made a huge improvement crawling over rock and all for stability - but ya' can get pretty dirty with the tires flicking mud back at the occupants even with the flares on the body panels ..

The upgraded shocks on the SE's are worth every penny as it is totally tunable. We went with 2" larger tires for more Ground clearance... and we have dragged out an 1100lb and a 900lb bull moose out in one piece with it - LOL. Wife likes the roof and the windshield.

Some of the Rhino's apparently had an issue with the clutches - needed more rpm to engage over a properly functioning one - Haven't come across it with ours but it can happen to them all I would imagine. Just something to ask about when shopping...

With any side by side, if you are getting a winch (recommended) BIGGER is definitely better. I have a warn RT40 (4000lb) and it works smartly. When I ran a demo at a dealer, it had a 3000lb winch and it would stall out with a touch of the brake which translated to me that I would be digging out of a mud hole. Synthetic rope/winch cable is almost a must. We do not go mud bogging or the like, just running the trails on or property our the back roads here.

The neighbor has the John Deer Gator - more purpose built for working on their farm with... not so much top end speed but will crawl over everything and is better on gas than the 700. If I was shopping again I would also look at the Can-Am side by sides.

One thing I would suggest - I had our box sprayed with Line X liner - worth every penny and looks 100% new - just power wash it out.

A fellow down the road has a Polaris and his box looks beat and is bleeding rust in the seams - never actually looked too much at it or any Polaris so I can't really give an opinion on it - just heard to watch out for their financing programs.. 1st year is apparently financed through Polaris at given rate then it is turned over to another company who charges different rates - as I said though, it is only what I have only heard.

My dad has an Arctic Cat and loves it on the farm. He was using a Cushman but the Arctic Cat is so much better at everything mentioned and smoother than the Cushman.

Both Arctic Cat and Polaris are ALL AMERICAN made now. Some time around 2004 or 5 they both dumped the import power they had been using and built there own. There has been a curve of development weaknesses that are nearly all resolved now.
The Arctic Cat shows larger displacement engines but the Polaris shows higher ratings for tow and haul.

I have a preference for the Polaris.

Good luck and show us what you get.

fixx
 

im in the same boat!! my!this is what im doing...first i quit smoking,then i got my fat ass to the gym,im on the ducan diet and lost 10 lbs in the last week..im shooting to loose 80 more lbs which should make me feel like im in my 20's again..
just to give you something to think about,never too old to get back in shape..

Polaris Rangers are nice and will do the job

I bought a 660 Rhino in 05 and have used it heavily for work and play and have had no problems . This machine will do what ever you ask of it . The Can-Ams are very nice also but pricey .

My father just purchased a new Gator for his farm. Its the big model and seems to have great power and ride. Not near as sporty as a rhino adn such but decent speed (40's) and pleasing ashetically to me.

Commander. Best of both worlds. Good payload, great suspension and decent sport performance.

we drive kawasaki mule's at work. Not as fast as the others. Made more for working, I'm on my 4th one now and the new ones are very nice, fuel injected, power steering.

Can any of them be made street legal?

Yes , but only certain states allow this . Pa. is not one of them...:angry-smiley-038:

I think they are legal in California, not sure about other States, I know "up here" they are pretty much illegal everywhere [like anything else thats remotely fun!] But, in the more rural area's the police generally "look the other way" as long as you aren't driving like a moron.

THANKS for the input guys! I am digesting it now and will keep you posted on what I decide, and I might post another question or two, feel free to keep input coming, and THANKS again!

Michael

This is a bit of a derail but it a tidbit about differences in the world... we spend a lot of time in Germany and there are a lot of ATV's over there (cheaper on Gas + giggle factor).

Crazy thing to see is that ATV's are TOTALLY banned from operating off road there. So you see people running tricked out quads and side by sides with full motocross gear running down the roads with stock tires worn bald. It's almost as common as seeing a Harley out for a cruise!

On the home front, we occasionally run our Rhino on the back roads going to the neighbours and what not, but we run with helmets, seat belts and the machine is plated. We have been stopped by the police and the MNR (same as DNR in some states) No problems - same as a spot check with a car - DL, Ins and Reg.
Could be just the officers we have been checked by being decent with us or the fact that we are sober. Apparently we have one of the largest DUI areas in the province for people cutting grass drinking or being picked up on beer runs with their Lawn tractors

We use several JD gators at work of different years/models and all of them are tough as nails. We've had mules and kabota's as well, but they did not seem to hold up as well as the gators have. For what it sounds like you are going to use it for, the Gator will last you for a long, long time.

Hands down the best performance model is the Polaris razor...they have a few models to suit any needs. Owned them snce 08 when they came out and let me tell you this is the thing I have had the most fun with in my entire life all year long...I dont think you can go wrong w one. Of course there are cheaper models out there...there are models that hold more farm cargo but the Polaris razor is of perf nature and can hold any boat gear i can think of as well as be comfortable doing so...when your not boating you can plow the driveway or take the kids out 4x4 in the snow!!!

I have a Polaris RZR and it will go anywhere. I also got the fever when I first got it and it has just about every available aftermarket part....HID's, windshield, brush guards, snorkled, roof with satellite radio and Ipod, heater/defrosters for the winter when it has the snowplow attached. Surprisingly they even have a 1500# tow capacity. The downside to them, not sure about newer ones, is the air filter system. I have an air cleaner assembly from Dragonfire racing that actually keeps dirt out of the engine.

+1, definately look into Can-Am, and drive one if you can.

OP is from Canada, so you're probably aware of BRP's reputation for quality, performance, and popularity. I've ridden them all. As mentioned the Deere/Mule/Rhino are more work oriented, RZR is almost purely sport, with little cargo capacity.

Commander is 85HP, (I've had it to 75MPH) has a dual-box bed that dumps, good weight/towing capacities, and handles like a rally car at high speeds. New ones have power steering, and a limitless book of bolt-on options.

Here's a couple videos from last December:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DciOH...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...skRpKATow&NR=1

Thanks Guys! I appreciate all the input! Looks like Polaris is gonna be my choice, I really like the Can Am/Bombardier but the are WAY too expensive, typical Canadians, lol!!

Thanks again!

Michael

I've worked on a bunch of them, razors and can ams seem to be the best built.
Here's a kawasaki i built for my buddy, big bore kint vent racing clutch, custom roll cage I did, shocks out of a monster edition bead locks etc. $8,000 for the machine $9,000 in upgrades lol

I have a Can-am and love it. You should really think it over.

I love the Can Am's too, had a Bombardier snowmobile for decades, until we stopped getting snow, appears to me that the Polaris stuff is on par and considerably less money, remember, I am only gonna use this for commuting, and launching Sea Doo's [eventually] So, pulling dead deer out of a ravine, or plowing though mud 3 feet deep isn't a huge priority, I sure appreciate the info guys, thanks again!!

We sell Polaris, Can am, and Yamaha. For utv Polaris is the best, the 900 smokes the 1000 can am and handles much better. They all have their problems but the can am cost more to fix and is harder to work on. I have 4 techs that work on them and they all say the same thing, if you want a 4 wheeler Can am or Yamaha, but Polaris has the utv down. Now one of the others we dont sell might fit your needs better but thats how we see the ones we sell. Just go drive them, you will see.

Michael, if you are not in a hurry to buy and would possibly be considering a used one - later in the fall there is usually more listed in the Motorcycle/Atv trader version of the Auto trader.

Seems to happen just after hunting season when everyone wants to gear up for a snowmachine and not have a ATV/Side by side taking up space in the garage all winter. Just something to consider....

Sounds to me that a Ranger will be better than a rzr for what your doing, the can am you have to put the seat belt on and window net or it will run in limp mode and will burn up the belt. We have had people override it and mess stuff up, plus the shop you take it to has the right to undo what has been overridin and charge you without calling first. I am getting a Ranger 500 with power steering for my house, I would love a bigger one or a rzr but wanna be able to haul a 55 gal tank of fuel down my dock and the rzr won't hold it in the bed or the can am and the bigger Rangers are to wide.

The window net doesn't limit performance. The seat belt does, but you can buckle it underneath you if you're not doing anything crazy. I normally click mine under me when i ride through my neighborhood with my son. When we get to the trails, it's put on correctly.

I do agree, the Can Am is harder to work on, but for me, it wins for what I use it for compared to Polaris'. The seated/driving position in the Can Am is better, turning radius is much better than the RZR. Sure, it's 3 mph faster, but at 70, who cares? All I know is that between my Commander and my friends 900XP, I have to carry everything (tools, first aid, straps, etc), since all he can carry is his small cooler.

My best advice as an owner of a UTV is to go and drive all of them, and look them over very well to see what fits YOU the best. I love my Can Am Commander, but you may have different desires and find something else better.

The Can am bed with the under storage is cool, I am about 6'5" so none of them have great seating for me. We dont have enough room in our lot only about 60-70 yards to drag race them then a big grass hill to run up. When running a 900xp a 800 and Can am 1000 both Polaris beat the Can am, the 900 by about 20 yards it kills them both, and thats with different drivers and units over time. We had the Can am truck there doing demos and I called them out. They said no way it would beat it, after 4 races they had nothing to say. Yes at 70mph who cares I was more talking about low end grunt. Kinda like a 496 ho vs. a 600sci. Like I said before if using it for more utility you might want to look at a more utility one, sure the sport ones are all cool in there own ways but it's not as easy to get in and out of or have as usable bed. I hate to say it but with all the brands we sell 6 total you look at our lot and its full of Can am Spyders, Sea doo's, and getting more Comanders, they were slow to start selling around here. I have been working on this stuff for 25 years and the Can am's by far have the most problems, they dont test the stuff enough before the put it out. The Spyders are the worst.

What problems are the Commanders having?

+1

Belts, axles, computer problems and sadly motors because they suck to get out and the warranty won't replace stuff that's just worn it has to be unusable before they will replace it. We have had 3 motors in the year and a half they have been out and only one Polaris and they sent us a new long block ready to go. Look you can go buy whatever you want I am not a salesman just the shop foreman and I am just telling you as I see it. If I was going to buy a 4 wheeler it would be a can am but utv Polaris it's just how I see it, again been doing this for 25 years and I have nothing to gain by not telling you what I think. Go talk to the techs who work on them, nobody who just spent big bucks wants to think or say he got ripped off.

No sense in getting bitter, it was just a simple question.

I never think anything is better or best because I sell or own something. I own a Commander, it works for me, I was just curious at what type of problems you've seen, IN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AS A DEALER. On that note, I believe all brands will have their own problems, especially in the ATV market. ATV/UTV's take more abuse then anything out there in the general consumer market.

Not bitter,You know how some people will only buy a Chevy or a Ford and no matter what its the best. and yes they all have problems from scooters to full dress. I have my favorites in all brands. A lot also has to due with where you ride them. East Coast wheeling can be some muddy rutted up stuff and sometimes you gutta go pretty fast. Like I said in one post my big problem I have with Can Am now is the way warranty decides what gets replaced, I have had cylinders and heads that are worn from the oil psi failure that took out the crank and they will look at it and say its useable and they arnt getting a new motor. One had 4 hours on it look like it had 500 and we had to just replace what it needed to run. They are the worst to deal with and it wasnt that way 2 years ago, I dont know if they are having money problems or just dont care but it's hard to get them to pay for stuff they should.

Any opinion on Kawi Tyrex's ? Mine has about 130 hours and so far pretty reliable.
Last service they told me to clean the dam air filter More often.

I only drove one that we put a plow on last year, it drove better than a Yamaha to me and was faster but didn't spend more than a few minutes with it, there was a problem with the plow mount he brought in but it wasn't kawis fault. We don't sell kaw at my store and the other store that does is in the city so they never took on the utv line, they won't make you sell them if you don't think there is a market, so they don't have hardly any off road stuff there. But like anything make sure you keep up on maintenance and lube stuff more than you think you should and keep a good air filter in it and it will be good. The kaw is a lot like the Yamaha in that they don't have too much computer controlled stuff to go wrong.

I will say I have a guy who just moved in near me and he has a Cub Cadet utv, I dont know anything about it but it seems nice can barley hear it run and he pulls a 23 foot boat around with it and launches it, our ramp is not steep but he has no problem. My son rode in it and says it rides like a caddy.

We bought a John Deere 825I. It is very quiet, but has some punch. There were no 625's to be had in our area, so they were giving really good deals on the 825. Suspension is quite good for a stock rig.

I test-drove the 855 diesel, and it was really a dog in comparison. You had to really keep your foot in it to keep speed up.