Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear UTV: Polaris or Can Am?

No, it's not. I need the crew and the smaller version, wife won't let me have both. The crew, if you intend to keep it decent looking, can't go where a 4wheeler will take you, but then again, it doesn't ride like one either. It is like having a late 80's Toyota 4 wheel drive vs one of todays tacoma's.

The answer is HONDA!

The Honda's load box and back seat didn't work for me. As you let the seat down and use the extra box, you can tell things will fall through, seeds/fertilizer/screws, etc./ It did have a decent ride though, I don't remember the horsepower or anything.

A bed mat is a cheap fix for most that, but it is still a dirt bucket under there when you raise the seats to use them, after being down a while.

My brother just bought a hd10 monday. He had a ranger 800 crew. He hated the way it sounded and it took a lot of room to turn. I have a general 1000 and love the power,the ride and suspension

Well, went with HD10. Put the deposit down and should pick up in 3 weeks.

Deciding factor between the Polaris and can am was just reputations. Seemed like 9/10 can am owners loved their machine but 1/2 of those who had a polaris either regretted it or had some kind of complaint.

Went HD10 just to get extra clearance. The 2k ish price difference also came with about 15 extra hp. Shouldn’t ever need it but never hurts to have. Probably gonna keep it til the wheels fall off.

Hope you enjoy your rig as much as I have enjoyed mine

My advice, just .02, wish someone had told me stories

Read some of the manual, it has a lot of features you won't believe, especially the modes
Make them go over the whole thing with you before you leave, showing you all the features --- they did, but I was excited and ready to roll.

Check all the fluids, etc. -- mine was ready, some I've read, the dealerships didn't do a good job of it.

Make them open the hood/cargo at the front and latch it several times, that thing can be a bugger

Make sure you clip in the driver seatbelt, it won't go over 13mph without that clipped in

Also, if you are going to just run trails slowly, hunting/whatnot, anything under 20mph, just put the thing in low gear.

#1) Make sure you have a trailer big enough for the thing, it is huggggeeeee - especially with the winch/bumper and a round type bumper added in the back

If you can afford it, get a defroster added if you get a full front windshield, you will thank me later on cold/semi-cold mornings and it starts fogging up --- I finally bought one of those cheap defrosters on Am#$%^ that have huge negative reviews (it has worked this deer season when I've needed it, at least enough to get me to stands)

Thanks, I’m going to take your advice on the walk through with the dealer. They mentioned it, but to be honest, I usually just don’t care. These are a bit out of the norm for me, so I’m going to take my time as they walk me through.

What size trailer you normally use? I am borrowing my in-laws 16’ tandem axle but was looking at buying a tandem 14’. I imagine I’ll figure out if the 16’ is too long or not when I pick it up, just don’t want a bigger trailer than I need.

I’ll look into the defroster but to be honest, I never even thought about that. I’m gonna do a bit of research on them. I didn’t think an open cab would fog, but if it stays out all morning, I can see it happening .

I just bought a Polaris 1000 and can attest to buckling the seatbelt. Just realized mine wouldn’t go over 15….you can get a cheap seat belt clip on amazon to override it. I got a 6x12 trailer and it fits mine fine…yours should be fine with a 6x12

Front and rear windshield is a must. Defrost is a life saver. I have a 14’ and 16’ foot trailer and I prefer to haul my ranger crew on the 16’ tandem. Leaves a little room for coolers and climbers.

You went with the Hd10, just the single seater, you should be fine with a 12, but if you put a back bumper on it and a tilt cargo hauler, you may want the 14 just to give you added clearance.

First, my SXS stays in a garage, it isn't out in the open until use. Defroster and open cab, hahahaha, it will fog up in a heartbeat. I bought the front windshield that will tilt up a smidge, a lttle and all the way out (the three-point one), it's fine for letting air in, it will not do squat for cool/cold mornings and fogging. I tried a bunch of stuff off the internet: Clean it thoroughly, then----- i tried vinegar, vinegar and dawn, hunters soap, just a bar soap, etc., none of that stuff worked. Now, you can't use lens cleaners and you certainly can't use RainX on a polycarbonate windshield, so ---- You are down to a small fan or that little bitty defroster I mentioned. I even bought a windshield cover, like they use for snow or frost up north, I found a way to really latch it down for transporting, and it does help with the defroster. Just get there a few minutes early and let everything do its thing for a bit before heading out.

Gobble 4me mentioned a seatbelt clip, I can't find one that will work with my seatbelts, it will latch in, but it will not override the sensor. I just have to buck it behind me. I leave it buckled 24/7, so no biggie. I wish I could find one that worked.

Extreme heights, yep, Front and rear windshields are a must. Also, I'm with him, I had to buy the 16' trailer for my can am defender max crew.

I ended up with the HD10 Max XT (seats 6). We got it we the vented front windshield and back glass. I’m going to see how it does on the 16’ trailer when I bring it home it’s about 12’ between axels, so I figure a 14’ will be close by the time you try to center the load a foot or two over the trailer. For the buckling, I’ll probably just leave it buckled. It’s what I’m used to on the in-laws teryx.

Thanks again for all the info guys, keep it coming. Going to be getting it right at the end of our season and I’m already tagged out on bucks with a full freezer, so I’m going to just get it rigged for next year.

I’ve got an HD9 that I’ve had for a few years and love it. As far as the speed being limited by the seat belt I bought a bypass that just plugs in under the seat to override it. Actually forgot I had done it until it was brought up several times in this thread.
Bypass plug

I didn’t know if the bypass plug would really work. Hmm

Yeah i put one on my 18 Ranger right after i bought it. Same one posted above

Those are nice machines! We have one at work and it drives like a Cadillac at 55 mph! One big difference in the Can Am is the quality seats.

Davy has some excellent advice. I'll add a couple more from my experiences.

1. Buy some axle straps from China Tool and some heavy duty ratchet straps. Towing down the highway and bumpy back roads will eventually pop your synthetic winch rope when used to secure the rig to the trailer.........Axle straps to the front bumper leading to a ratch strap. Rear end has a couple of holes in the frame near the trailer hitch where ratchet strap hooks fit perfectly.

2. I know the windshield folks say that their latch is secure to highway speeds, but looking in the rearview mirror on the interstate - as the windshield wiggles around - doesn't give me a lot of confidence. I secure the windshield latch to a handle bar inside the cab

3. I bought after market fender flares that extend out further than Can Am OEM fender flares. That extra inch or two really makes a difference in the muddy/wet areas I duck hunt.

4. Light bar is a must, and I have gone from cubes on the front bumper, to 12" on the front bumper, and now to a 50+" across the entire top. Bigger really is better, and the cost has been manageable.

5. The Boss Audio sound bar I got has been enjoyable, but I still can't get the red/green/blue lights to shut off like the owners manual says it will. Those lights are a pain. If buying again, I'd pay more just to not have the lights.

6. Factory tires didn't cut it in flooded rice fields. I went overboard and added paddle tires. Others have gone with the All Terrain car-type tires and still have a smooth ride at lower speeds where my ride is a little bumpy. But I haven't high-pointed the frame any more.

I'm sure there's more. I'll add when I think of them.

6. If you travel as much as I have with your rig on a trailer, be prepared for the door netting to wear out quickly. I'm ready to just do away with them completely.

If you’re not driving any asphalt, I like the system3 xtr370. They are great in mud unless you’re mudbogging and they won’t sling mud all over you like some of the others.