Soooooo, what’s your favorite side by side?
- Thread starter Thebartman
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Mine is used for work around the 13 acre homestead. It's just a little Gator 550 XUV. Not very exciting but it does what I need it to do.
I've rented a polaris 900 for a day of riding by Zion National Park in Utah. Had a blast. I've ridden in a friends Polaris 900. A fun ride.
I own a Honda Pioneer 1000 it's the 5 seater version. Nice. Dependable. Fun but not as much fun as the polaris.
I've owned both Kubota RTV 900 and Kubota RTV 1140. I sold them but have the need for the handy hydraulic dump bed to spread gravel on my back trails. So I'm leaving shortly to look at a Kubota RTV 1100 with enclosed cab. Heat and air. I hope to bring it home with me today. Pics coming later if I do.
I own a Honda Pioneer 1000 it's the 5 seater version. Nice. Dependable. Fun but not as much fun as the polaris.
I've owned both Kubota RTV 900 and Kubota RTV 1140. I sold them but have the need for the handy hydraulic dump bed to spread gravel on my back trails. So I'm leaving shortly to look at a Kubota RTV 1100 with enclosed cab. Heat and air. I hope to bring it home with me today. Pics coming later if I do.
I have a Yamaha S/S with an enclosed cab, a load bed in back. Gun Racks, winch, totally loaded. Bought it last summer and it will see use this winter in my Ozark place. I had a Honda rancher but the wife didn't like it. I did but,,,; This is for her
Here a pics of my favs. honda Pioneer and Kubota RTV x1100c. Both are fun. Honda can run the trails with the big boys. Kubota is a work horse and can do trails but the inbetween rough parts where others get up and go the Kubota tops out at 25 to 28 depending on terrane.
If looking for fun on trails and comfortable bucket seats Polaris and Yamaha are both good picks.
I added the Kubota to my stable today. Enclosed cab with heat a a/c. I think I'll get used to that real fast. LOL
If looking for fun on trails and comfortable bucket seats Polaris and Yamaha are both good picks.
I added the Kubota to my stable today. Enclosed cab with heat a a/c. I think I'll get used to that real fast. LOL
This one was destroyed a forest fire, 1994 Suzuki 3 cylinder 650cc 64 hp, hi lo transfer case with lockers, I am going to build another soon. I think the next one will be a dump bed and A/C in the summer is nice to. I will also track the next one as where it is used its mandatory. ( no chains and belts in the drive system, everything built like a full size truck but smaller.) If taken care of they will go 200,000 miles and the same size and weight of a Polaris ranger.
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Mine is an old CJ5 Jeep. It is not all that much wider, but quite a bit heavier than a typical 2 place UTV... No trailer required, just license like any auto. I have a roll bar, bikini top, hard top for winter.. It has a winch on the front, a 305 V8 under the hood, 3 speed trans. It can tow a boat to the lake if required lol.. I paid $3K for it back in the day, and yet today I believe I could get $2,500 for it. Lots less expensive to own. But is isn't all that pretty to look at either lol...
Sorry but this is much more practical and useful for what I do, and the way I use it... In winter it is a snow cat I prefer lol...
Of course your mileage may differ....
Sorry but this is much more practical and useful for what I do, and the way I use it... In winter it is a snow cat I prefer lol...
Of course your mileage may differ....
Thebartman
Active member
Just play.
Thebartman
Active member
I have a small fleet already. Just adding to the inventory. The dirt toys include a CJ5, Suzuki Samurai, Super Duty Power-stroke, and a ‘16 Polaris Sportsman 570 Sp Touring. The side by side is more for fair weather trail riding, and the wife’s (and dog’s) comfort. Jeep’s are great but let’s see ya do 80 miles in a day on Jeep roads. In the snow it’s Imping.Mine is an old CJ5 Jeep. It is not all that much wider, but quite a bit heavier than a typical 2 place UTV... No trailer required, just license like any auto. I have a roll bar, bikini top, hard top for winter.. It has a winch on the front, a 305 V8 under the hood, 3 speed trans. It can tow a boat to the lake if required lol.. I paid $3K for it back in the day, and yet today I believe I could get $2,500 for it. Lots less expensive to own. But is isn't all that pretty to look at either lol...
Sorry but this is much more practical and useful for what I do, and the way I use it... In winter it is a snow cat I prefer lol...
Of course your mileage may differ....
I like to take mine down some tight trails. For side by sides, width is a factor. Sure, Polaris rzr and arctic cat wildcat trail models are nice because of their width being somewhere around the 52" width but they don't have a dump box. Mine is 58" wide and can fit down some very tight places.
Thebartman
Active member
Those sure are fun. So do you have a lot of snow to play in? Have you got stuck yet?
Thebartman
Active member
Already got the windshield, lower doors, passenger grab bars and top. Putting on a winch and air horn now, waiting for a light bar. Probably still going to do some kind of bumpers, back window, and side door enclosures with a heater. No snow for catting so I’m riding this instead.
Thebartman
Active member
Nort Woods
Member
I have always been partial to Yamaha‘s fit and finish. I have a 2014 “Viking” (I always tend to throw up a little in my mouth when I say that word as I am a Packer fan.) and have zero complaints about it. I am thinking about something new and at this point it will be a Can Am Defender, as Yamaha hasn’t moved up in size from the 700. Not a fan Of Polaris or Arctic Cat.
Since my last post I got rid of the Gator XUV 550, gave it to my S-I-L, and got a Kubota RTV x1120. The Kubota is a completely different class of machine. It's no speedster but at my age, neither am I. I did take it out on the road and thrash it all the way up to 30 mph. It went up to 26 mph in a reasonable time and crept up to 30 mph over the next day and a half.
That doesn't bother me too much as I bought it to be a workhorse and that it certainly is. I haven't been able to bog it down anywhere on my little kingdom while toting all kinds of stuff. I do believe that it will outlast me.
That doesn't bother me too much as I bought it to be a workhorse and that it certainly is. I haven't been able to bog it down anywhere on my little kingdom while toting all kinds of stuff. I do believe that it will outlast me.
Nort Woods
Member
The Kubota is probably the best machine out there if it is going to be used for work and not trail riding. 3 cyl. diesel engine is definitely a workhorse! Like you said ETF, it’s not fast but it certainly gets the job done. I think you made a great choice. On another note, the cab enclosure (with doors) on the Gator is very nice. Up north the cab enclosure is always something to keep in mind (especially in the winter). I didn’t have that forethought when I bought my Yamaha. They have no total enclosed cab options other than the crappy aftermarket vinyl door systems that Velcro on (POS)! congratulations on your new toy, I mean work equipment.Since my last post I got rid of the Gator XUV 550, gave it to my S-I-L, and got a Kubota RTV x1120. The Kubota is a completely different class of machine. It's no speedster but at my age, neither am I. I did take it out on the road and thrash it all the way up to 30 mph. It went up to 26 mph in a reasonable time and crept up to 30 mph over the next day and a half.
That doesn't bother me too much as I bought it to be a workhorse and that it certainly is. I haven't been able to bog it down anywhere on my little kingdom while toting all kinds of stuff. I do believe that it will outlast me.
I have an old Cushman truck for hauling things around here. Starts and runs every time. 20 hp. Kholer 3 forward gears with reverse. Tops out around 30 mph. Enclosed hard cab and doors with wipers. Has a payload of around 1500# ( heavy frame and suspension, built for industrial use ) and pulls a small trailer. Only one drawback is its on the heavy side and it doesn't take much to get stuck.
I have had a few side by sides. Love my Honda Pioneer. It will get up and go. It's fast and dependable and will seat 5. but my favorite is my RTV x1100c with the 3 cyl diesel. Enclosed cab!!!! I was looking for the RTV 1140 with two bench seats for hauling more people and gear to our boat docks at rear of property. The guy with it would not come down. In the mean time a friend posted the RTV x1100c. It was his wfes dads machine. He had passed and they just wanted to sell it. I got what I think it a great deal on it and I'm so glad the guy with the open two bench seat model would not deal with me. The enclosed cab is da bomb this time of year. Love it.
Thebartman
Active member
I've toyed with the idea of upgrading my cfmoto uforce 500 to something a little bigger but I take mine in some tight spots where I have only a couple inches to spare with the mirrors folded in. It does a respectable 52mph. I gave it a 2" lift and bigger 27" swamplite tires last fall. Doing that gave me an additional 4-5" clearance over the stock 10.2" clearance. Stock width is 58" wide making it not much wider than atvs. Because of the increased height, it became unstable at higher speeds so I installed 1.5" wheel spacers to widen then tire stance slightly. It helped and no longer fish tails but is still narrow enough.
As for reliability, I now have close to 3000 miles on it without a single mechanical or warranty issue. I love the dump box option as I use it for hunting, work around the yard, and firewood. It's a 2018 model. Other than the upgrades I've done, I have only had to replace one battery.
As for reliability, I now have close to 3000 miles on it without a single mechanical or warranty issue. I love the dump box option as I use it for hunting, work around the yard, and firewood. It's a 2018 model. Other than the upgrades I've done, I have only had to replace one battery.
Nort Woods
Member
LOL Northern Redneck! I hear what you are saying about tight places. It’s beneficial to have a little narrower machine sometimes. I have gotten my Yamaha stuck between 2 trees More than once (thank goodness for EPS!) But you know, you always have that positive moment, “I can get through there”, but you can’t!
J5 Bombardier
Active member
DAMN! A 2000 mile ride with a dementia patient. Impressive. I'd have thought her Dad would have been pooped out after the first 20 miles.