Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Older Ranger 500 6x6?

Looking for used/cheaper SxS options for utility and hunting use on the farms......eastern mountains, mud, trails, fields, etc....ran across some used 6x6 Polaris stuff I hadn’t seen in a while. I’m guessing they’re harder to maneuver, but how much harder? Any other input on use, quirks, maintenance, etc appreciated.

Any Polaris seems to require more maintenance than a Honda or Yamaha. I have a 2001 Polaris 6X6 with 900 miles on it 20 miles in the last 5 years. I still spend a lot of time on maintenace and its still runs great. The 6 X 6 is a must for knee deep mud for miles on our moose hunts. Harder to manuver but you have a tire grabbing traction in the rough stuff. For utility and farm use probably better served with a 4 x 4.

When I talk utility/farm stuff, I usually mean ‘how much [bleep] can I get on it, and get through the swamp and over the hill, in one trip’. LOL

I like the apparent ability to go heavy and bulky in the box, with the 4 tires under it, for mud and hills under load.....but 2 might be fine most days, as well. My thing with any UTV is that, should I get stuck, it’s winch/self extraction, because I’m likely the only vehicle, and my land cruiser or 4wd tractor ain’t gone get there, if I was taking an ATV/UTV to begin with.

Bit bigger turning radius, but not horrible. Longer, so won't fit in some areas. Extra set of driven stuff, so more maintenance there, but also more carrying capacity. One thing to know is that for the older 6x6, parts are getting harder to find. The more recent ones, like the 2014 I've got, you can still get parts for with no issues.

Like everything, they've got issues....seat heat for the ranger, etc etc. All of which can be dealt with, even though it' s a PITA.

The only reason I'd sell mine is to get a newer or bigger one.

The 6 X 6 side by side is big and heavy in mud you have to keep the forward momentum going! If you get them stuck with no tie offs around you better be good with a deadman or have an anchor. Where I ride you keep wrapping around bushes untill one holds. Best to not get them stuck.

Yeah, winch, anchor, block, etc....part of too kit for most of the UTVs these days, or even the bigger ATVs. Everything is heavier these days. I’ve usually got trees around, at least where I’d get stuck in my country. If I go to the delta with it, that’s another story.

Thinking of getting an older, light 250-350 ATV for running around and fair weather hunting, as well. This needs to haul stuff.

I have the 6 x 6 big boss and a Suzuki 450 4X4 use the quad for solo trips and snow plowing. Easier to get around in also.

Well, I tripped over a deal from an acquaintance on a 2004 Rhino 450, that’s been babied, and I couldn’t pass it up. Probably less draft horse than I was leaning towards, and more quarter horse....but I can’t really think of much I NEED, that it won’t do. Tilt trailer with it, so that’s a plus.

Thanks for the input. Might go bigger in a couple of years, and re-visit then.

Can Am makes a current 6x6 SxS vehicle. FWIW

Congrats on the Rhino, I've got the 700 version and it's a damn reliable machine and will go just about anywhere you point it. I've got a close friend that has one of those Polaris 500 6x6 side by sides and it's a tank, has a helluva big turning radius and IMO is underpowered for such a big machine. He bought a Can Am 6x6 wheeler 2 years ago and a Polaris Ranger 1000 this year so the old 500 sits in the back yard under a tarp.