UTV's and Side by Sides....any thoughts?

C

cmoney

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Invermere, BC
Hey Guys,
I have a small acerage in BC and I"m looking for a UTV to do all my work related stuff around the property but I want something that's good for hunting as well. I was looking at the Polaris Ranger and the John Deere Gator as my two top picks. Does anyone have one or have any advice before I go lay out 14 grand?
Cheers
Craig
 
Here in Quebec side-by-sides are not allowed on the provincial trails as they are wider then a quad. If you plan on riding trails also you may want to check out the rules before. On the other hand they are quite powerful. You may have more "fun" with a quad once the work is over. Power wise there are some pretty strong quads out there. We pulled a 1200lbs cow ( it's a long story but I shot it during deer season ) out of the woods last year with an artic cat 750 without any problems.
 
Take a look at the Kubota RTV 500. It is a very nice machine and built very well. It is also fuel injected so not worrying about a choke to start the machine. Hydrostatic trans as well no belts to blow up on you.

Jordan
 
side by sides are super fun - and with roll cage safer than normal quad. I driven polaris rzr's several times and they go where my offroad truck won't and drive easier than a car!
 
UTV's and side by sides are the fastest growing segment of the ATV world. Most of the major manufactures world wide now produce them in all sizes and with different purposes in mind. My advice is to decide what you want it for and then find the machine that you figure will do the job. IMHO both the ranger and John Deere are good products.
Just be aware that the vehicle can be prone to rollover if driven in a reckless manner. I myself have a cat but i researched before i bought.
Cheers
 
The farmer where our camp is has a Polaris Ranger we use from time to time. His is an older one - I think from the first year they came out.

It works good in the fields and on the trails but doesn't perform well in muck. I think his is a 500 and it is pretty gutless but I heard that the newer ones are more powerful.

Handy to have around. We use it pickup deer, transport stuff around and to do beer runs to the camp when we are hanging stuff in the barn :D
 
After working at an ATV shop I can tell you the following.

I am not a fan of the Arctic Cat side by side. The older 650's were difficult to select gears. the throttle response is very jerky when travelling at slow speeds. not a big deal but kind of annoying when pulling a trailer. The cats did not have side doors unless you put them on aftermarket. There were more cat side by sides in than yamaha rhinos for major fixes. (rebuilt engines, blown diffs, leaky oil seals) I left before they brough out the 1000cc Cat, so I cannot comment on them.

I am impressed with the Yamaha Rhino 700. However, it seems to be louder than the Grizzly 700 and they use the same engine? Also, theres no bench so only 2 people in it for both the cat and rhino.

The Polaris Ranger is much larger than the Rhino with a bench seat in the front or bench in the back if you choose the super tank model. I dont know much else aabout them.

Get a front and rear mounted winch,(3000lb minimum) pack a chainsaw for the overhanging trees and narrower quad trails.

There are tonnes of aftermaket hunting mods for these things.
 
utv

JohnC said:
anybody use the diesel Kubotas?
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A buddy of mine in Manitoba has the diesel Kubota with the smart 4x4 system, he and I did a bunch of grouse hunting out of it last fall. Also works great hauling boats in and out of remote lakes. I think he paid $7900.00 for a used machine that was 3 years old. Real good rig. FS
 
Yea I was looking at the Kubotas as well but all the reviews and blogs I read thought It didn't stack up too the Polaris Ranger XP or the Rhino 700? The HP on the Kubota Gas engine was 18 compared to 40 on the Polaris!!
 
Just don't ever buy a Tomcar. piece of junk. Might work well in the desert but don't get it wet. polaris RZR would be my top pick. Lots of extras available for it too. Everything from long travel suspension to supercharger or turbo chargers.
 
I would go with the rhino its not much wider than a quad so it will fit down some trails.And it will fit in a short box with the tail gate down.We compared it to a ranger and it was over four inches wider and six inches longer.I wouldn't want to try to load in to a truck.The other one I was looking at was the kawi treyx but it is four inches wider.
 
Arctic cat makes the best one in my opinion, two year warranty vs 6 month like most brands, the 700 has plenty of grunt and the most ground clearance, also the box is large enough to be usable and can tow 1500 lbs
 
i got a kawasaki Teryx. I have ridden in them all. Razor is to small for me(no cargo room), The Yamaha was gutless if larger tires were added, The kubota is a farm tank, and the teryx. So far this thing has done more than i expected. I have only had mine since march and i have put over 1000km on it and it has to be the most versatile thing i have ever owned. I rode ATV's since i was 14 and ill never go back IMO. Do your home work before you buy and see what will suite your needs the best. I went with the Teryx cause of cargo room, power and cause im a kawi guy.
 
Does that Teryx fit in the back of a pick up? I've just started doin my research and man there is a lot of info out there!! The Ranger XD is def bigger than a lot of the other models but makes up for it in speed, towing capacity, HP and cargo capacity. I would still like something that would fit in the back of my hunting truck but I do like the 3 seater option....I got two kids and this way they can still come scouting with dad. Keep the advice coming all you UTV owners......I trust the opinion of you guys
 
cmoney said:
Does that Teryx fit in the back of a pick up? I've just started doin my research and man there is a lot of info out there!! The Ranger XD is def bigger than a lot of the other models but makes up for it in speed, towing capacity, HP and cargo capacity. I would still like something that would fit in the back of my hunting truck but I do like the 3 seater option....I got two kids and this way they can still come scouting with dad. Keep the advice coming all you UTV owners......I trust the opinion of you guys
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It sounds like the Polaris Ranger is what you're looking for! I was actually looking at several models today. While I love my Polaris X2 and Yamaha Grizzly, there is something to be said for the comfort of a UTV, as well as the extra cargo carrying capacity they offer. It would make carrying a pack of beagles or a couple of Labs in dog crates to my hunting area much easier!
 
The Polaris Ranger is an excellent machine. I will pick Polaris over nearly any other model, any day, simply because they seem to have the best suspension and ride out there. Most of the other features are a wash imho with other makes, but the ride takes the cake. Tons of power and good top ends with the new ones, and they will fit in the back of any full size pick up truck if you're so inclined, just need to leave the gate down, can get a bed extender if you want but they're not necessary. They are, I believe, only 6 in wider then a quad, though I may be a bit wrong on that. No more restrictions in BC then for quads, so get one and enjoy. Best part of a side by side in my mind is the cargo bed and the ability to close it in if you want to use it in -30C. Get the Polaris, you will not be disappointed. And if you are adventerous, check US dealers in Washington State, Idaho, and Wyoming, you only pay GST at the border (no duty or other taxes, thank you NAFTA), the dollars are close, and you may end up saving yourself a bunch of cash.
 
I totally try to buy local but I've heard of some guys taking a day trip across the border and saving like 4000 on a new machine! The way the dollar is right now it might not be a bad idea......I wonder if the warranty is still covered?
 
If you have a local Kawasaki dealer check out the 610 Mule. Japanese quality, fits in the back of a pick-up, and very reasonably priced. They don't look like much on paper, but trust me, they work extremely well and are as reliable as a claw hammer - esp. when compared to a Ranger.
 
Warranty

cmoney said:
I totally try to buy local but I've heard of some guys taking a day trip across the border and saving like 4000 on a new machine! The way the dollar is right now it might not be a bad idea......I wonder if the warranty is still covered?
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Polaris warranty's are North American warranty's...the local dealer will acknowledge as such...same as Ford, Chev, etc...bought a Ford truck, and a 5th wheel in the states and saved a combined 37K, but not before both local dealers confirmed they would service them and the warranty's are good regardless of where they are bought. I like to buy local too when the prices are reasonable or at least competitive, but there is simply no excuse for the huge price differences we see on a lot of motorized vehicles, especially recreational vehicles.
 
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