Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Thinking about buying a Side by side ATV

Thinking very seriously about buying a side by side ATV. Looking very closely at the Polaris Ranger. It is wider than the Yamaha Rhino. I am big enough that the bench seats and additional room are pluses for me. I'd be glad to hear your collective experiences in this area.

How fast do you want do go, Joel? If speed isn't a concern but brute strength and ruggedness is, buy a Kubota and don't look back.
We have had ours for six years now and still love it. Sips fuel, loads of torque, seats two BIG people comfortably or three normal folks who like each other.

Ed

Kubota is the best (a little pricey), Yamaha's are TOUGH (especially the 450), Polaris is comfortable (but it's a Polaris...good luck.). I have no experience with the the new Honda. Lots of guys use the cheaper utility vehicles that so many people make, with few complaints.

Crimson Tide,
The guy I share a camp with bought a gas Ranger, it is VERY loud. He bought the electric version and it is great!

ROLL TIDE!!

Speed is definitely no concern. I am more of the putt around kind. Just want to make the strip job runs, and use it during deer season.

I don't think anything comes close to the Kubota. Have had every diesel version they have and like the 1140 the best. Converts from a 2 seater with long bed to a comfortable 4 seater in about 2 minutes. Runs about 18 hrs on the hr meter on a tank of diesel(less in low gear/4x4). They have engine breaking so when you go down a hill you don't need to engage the breaks. They are built like tanks.


Second choice would be a Kawasaki Mule. Excellent machines with good reliability. Last choice would be a Polaris. Read up on the forums. I want to use my machines, not deal with repairs.





Not the best picture of it converted to a 4 seater but you get the idea,

Crimson, another to consider would be the John Deere gator XUV 855d. I didn't think this would work for you because they always had bucket seats but when I looked it up they now have bench seats as an option(no cost upgrade). My neighbor has one for his heavy equipment business. They run gas lines for gas companies and work in real rugged terrain. They use the Gator to get back and forth when out on the job. I've ridden in it a half dozen times and am amazed by it's power and low center of gravity. My neighbor is 73 years old and scarred the heck out of me by the way he was driving along the edge of hills but it never came close to tipping. He knows what he's doing after driving heavy equipment for 50 years but I didn't like it one bit. Gave the old fella a chuckle seeing me sqirm.



It's truly an amazing machine and I'd buy one in a heartbeat now that it has a bench seat but I'm happy with the utility of my 4 seater.

Okay, I'll play Devil's Advocate - why buy one of the UTV's, when you can get a decent street-legal jeep or Bronco for less money?

I wouldn't go diesel. Slow - - - - - Gators are sporty now. Thinking the 825 would make a nice one, and not that pricey for what you get.

we have to use 4wheelers or ATVs on our lease. I use a golf cart but tried one of my students Polaris Razor. That thing had some kind of hop up kit on it and said it would run 80. Scared the crap outta this old man...

I have the Honda Big Red. Only complaint is they made it exactly 60 inches wide so it won't fit on my 5x8 trailer. Other than that, it's been tough and the tip able bed holds a lot of stuff.

I do like that it has the automotive type transmission, rather than those belts some of the side by sides use, that slip if they get wet.

Have a 2008 Rhino and a new diesel Gator. The Rhino has taken a beaten and is good machine but am loving the gator diesel. The Rhino is great for playing and the Gator is comfort without the noise.

You said you are a big guy, makes sure you sit in one for a while before you decide on it. My dad has a Mule, and I can barely ride in it or drive it because the leg room is terrible. Great machine, but the design of the floorboard where the front wheels are is horrible.

Yep!!! Or what I did...a GEO Tracker 4x4 for 2500 bucks...street legal

I love my Rhino 660. Had it sine 2006 and absolutely no problems. Rides great, good clearance and very maneuverable.

Why? Much shorter wheelbase means very small turning circle and approach/departure angles are also better unless you get into big tires and lift kits, a hydraulic dump bed that has ALL kinds of uses, accessory hyrdaulics to run other gear if you want/need to, better view of the ground all around the tires for maneuvering around obstacles, no real emissions crap to contend with (less parts to break)and just a much handier platform to work out of.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...

Ed

I've had the kawasaki teryx for a few years and so far have no complaints, no breakdowns, no issues. i put a removable bench seat in the back for the kids, 4 bolts and it's out for working the lease.

If they have brake lights, a mirror and a horn, they can be registered and plated here for street use. I guess a UTV would need seat belts as well, but I suspect they have those.

go drive a Can-Am and then drive the others and you will go running back to the Can-Am. the commander is in a league of it's own


http://en-us.can-amside-by-side.brp...amp;utm_campaign=ATV/SSV%20Spring%202011

The Kubotas are nice machines but they are way to heavy for rough-duty stuff like a regular ATV can handle. I have ridden/driven most of them. If you can keep a Ranger running and from breaking, they are pretty nice. For agility and handiness, the Razr is the top. If I were to buy a new one today, it would be the Teryx or Can-am.

We can register pretty much anything with wheels here as long as it has brake lights, mirrors and a horn...