Looking for a fun summer toy. Does anybody have one of these and or opinions on them.
Thanks;
Rob
Want a fun summer toy, get a CanAm Renegade 800R. My friend has one and it is the most bad ass 4-wheeler by far.
http://en-us.can-amatv.brp.com/showroom/category/Renegade-800R.aspx
We have a Polaris Ranger at the farm, not sure what size or anything, but the independant suspension rides like a dream. The first time I rode on it I was not driving. We headed towards section of gravel road with potholes that would beat the hell out of you in a pickup truck, so I braced for impact. I was suprised when I couldn’t hardly even tell we drove over a hole. They ride extremely well. The off road capabilities are also pretty incredible. I have driven a Ranger up some STEEP slopes and it just chugs right on up. I dont know if Polaris makes a diesel version or not, but I know the one I use is a gasser and it has plenty of power. For what they are, side-by-sides are very capable.
Not that model but we have six Polaris Rangers at our test range…they are thoroughly abused and have been tough so far. They do ride very smoothly.
We have a Ranger 800 Crew at work…it’s a rugged vehicle that answers the mail in just about every way.
BIL’s kid brother has a RZR…my BIL says it’ll climb better than anything he’s ever seen, and is easy to drive fast on trails as well.
I saw a comparison test in Car and Driver a few months ago…
That would fit the bill for sure. Those RZRs are awesome.
The only downside to them is the size. They are generally wider than most trail systems will allow. Most managed trail systems have limits on how wide a machine can be. This limit is typically 50 inches, sometimes even narrower (there is a popular trail system near me that has a 48 inch limit). The standard RZR is right at 50 inches and will be able to access more trail systems than the S models. If you have access to a trail system or property that does not have width limits, then go for it.
Another option is a 4wd utility ATV, like a Polaris Sportsman or the Yamaha Grizzly in my avatar. Almost all of them are under 50 inches wide and usually quite a bit cheaper than the RZRs.
Went out riding with a group of friends last week. We spent most of our time navigating and spotting trails the razor could fit through. The guy driving spent most of his time worried about scratching it up and getting it stuck. It all depends on the kind of riding you want to do. If is is open farm/ranch land or sand dunes, go for it. If you are going to be trail riding with friends on 4wheelers, you will be very popular for all the wrong reasons.
I hit 55mph in a Polaris Ranger in Iraq. Good times. Like others said it was very comfortable and smooth.
They are amazing machines we use ours to haul cinder blocks accrossed the beach. I have had the bed filled up to the cab with block and it never stuttered once even in the sand.
Hey Rob-
We’ve been using the 800 Ranger to haul dead deer, firewood, and other junk around our property for a few years. It’s a ton of fun on the dirt roads too.
I have a Outlander 800R XT it is a blast. The first ATV I ever owned that was almost to fast.
I am hearing good things about the Can-Am Commander from some of the fellas I work with. I believe there is a shoot out on the Can-Am website that is fairly detailed with video and such.
KC
My brother has a RZR.
I it is okay if you have a significant other who doesn’t like to drive her own ATV.
Pros:
-It is fun on easy/wide trails.
-You can haul food/drinks/junk in it easier.
-It goes fast
-It has a comfortable ride. Especially compared to an ATV with a straight axle.
-You can put a radio/cd player in it.
-Anyone who can drive a car, can drive one.
Cons
-It won’t go the places that you can go on an ATV (too wide).
-You don’t have the control on it that you do in an ATV because you can’t lean or shift your weight around like you can on an ATV.
-It is usually cheaper to buy 2 ATVs for the price of one RZR.
-My brothers has had to be in the shop 2 times since he bought it. Once for a CV joint and once for an accelerator issue. Towing his ass all the way back to the truck was not alot of fun.
-Riding on a the bank of the Mississippi and having to try and squeeze by a snag sticking out of the bank while simultaneously trying not to tip over into the river is not a fun way to spend an afternoon.:fie:
-Anyone who can drive a car can drive one and get themselves in a position that they can’t get out of.
-That roll cage seems to give people an unwarranted sense of safety that people on a open topped ATV don’t seem to have and are more careful…
My advice is to find someone who has one and try it out with whoever you are going to ride with and then compare that to getting two ATVs. That is what we did and we have his/her ATVs. (Although do insist your significant other gets a 4X4, even if it seems too big, pulling out stuck wives is only fun the 1st couple of times.)