Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum SXS Advice

Mule profxt

I was looking a short time back:
1 - caution buying one that you don't know because it may have been underwater at some point
2 - there are cheaper mfg out there, but most of them haven't been on the market long enough to know reliability

Everything that I read said buy good quality new or you may be wasting your $. New quality SXS are $$$.

I ended up going with a club car golf cart. Much easier for wife to drive.

Can am is great. ! We had a HD9 and want for nothing else. Power steering is a must.

Pay attention to bench seat vs bucket seat. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. With a bench you can fit a person in the middle if needed.

Polaris Ranger XP1000
Make sure it’s the XP model.
Bama Buggies in Tuscaloosa usually has the best price.

X2 on the power steering
Flip up front windshield. Don’t skimp on the quality of this

My 2013 Polaris ranger bas been solid for me. Has never let me down but im also a stickler when it comes to maintenance. I think a lot of the bad stories you hear about every machine out there comes down to how well its taken care of. No matter what brand you get make sure it has power steering and dont go cheap on the windshield.

You can get a mid size Polaris 570 for reasonable.
Next I’d look at the Kawasaki pro’s.
Both new, yes.

I've only had polaris. RZR and now a general. Love the power speed and ride of the general. My brother had a polaris ranger but it was the double cab that took a 40 acre field to turn around in. He sold it and now has a can am. Polaris or can am would be my recommendation. Whatever you decide go with the 1000cc engine.

Can haul the 65 gallon sprayer with no issues. Also has 1500 towing capacity

Is that a Plott blaster sprayer? You like it?

Polaris has a 1000xp with heat and ac for bout 21k. No way I would look at anything else.

It is. I like it. Takes a little getting used to as far as how fast to drive while spraying

I have a Honda Pioneer 700 4 seater, zero issues, does have the motor under the front seat but there are simple inexpensive ways to reduce the heat issue. Towing is not an issue. A roof, two piece folding windshield and a winch is a must. The Honda does not use a belt driven transmission Polaris does. Local service and parts need to be considered.
Look at the width for your use, some of the SXSs are wider and taller than the trails.
Power steering is a must, rattling is an issue that utility farm vehicles will have, it is not a road vehicle.
Tons of information out there and accessories available.

Polaris over Honda for ride quality.

Honda over polaris for reliability

I have the Polaris 570 also its a 2015 only thing I have done is regular Maint.

I have a Honda Pioneer 1000-5 and like it a lot. Plenty of power, dependable, true transmission (no belt), comfortable but hell to service.

I had a Yahama 700 Viking 3 seater and would have one now if I could have found one close by during covid. It was very dependable (engine and belt system is the most dependable in the business), enough power for me, very nimble and light. Only issue was there was no turf mode that unlocked the back diff. This is a huge plus on the Honda 1000 (Its not available on the Honda 700)

This is coming from experience in all three things with three different sxs brand. Regardless of what people will say, stay away from JD gator and Kubota sxs, they make fine tractors but crap sxs. Have a Honda pioneer I farm on and hit the hunting club with, it rides good, has a tight turning radius, cab gets hot, bed rattles, transmission shifts in and out good bit in the pasture. Leave in manual mode you just ride around revved up high in first gear. Had a single van Polaris 900 before it, transmission bolts come loose in it and it got loose.

Got a 4 seater ranger 1000 on the farm. This is what you gonna want I think, it has plenty of room, we get 6 deep when riding to the catch pens with help. It rides smooth, I tag 150 calves a year off it. Plenty of room for grand kids, smooth ride, and make sure you get power steering, it’s worth in the pasture. A lot of nice aftermarket stuff for the ranger also. 25” stock tires are plenty of clearance for the pasture but low enough to use the front winch to pull a calf also. Done that with it as well. It’s handy as shirt pocket, buy what you want friend, but the 1000 2 seater Polaris sure fits your style I’d think.

Kubota makes their own engines. The 3 cylinder diesel Kubota used in their SxS is one of the most reliable engines on the planet. In our extended family, we have one that dates back to 1998, and another from 2012. They range in HP from 15 to 26, depending on the final configuration, and are used in everything from SxS, small tractors, mini-excavators, to generators. If the Kubota diesel wound run 45 MPH on the road, that's all I would own.

The Chery engine in the JD Gator is shared between at least one Kawasaki and 4-5 other brands.

All the frames/roll cages are the same tubing, same profile.

Deere XUV835 Gator is governed to 43 MPH, and will do 30-43 for hours without overheating. That's our relaxation time after a long day. Cooler of drinks in the Gator, and ride for a few hours with the windshield open, just enjoying the sights and having a few cool pops.

Both of the above. I have a Polaris General, which has bucket seats. It rides like a Cadillac. The Ranger is more of a workhorse - has more cab room, more bed room, etc. If I had it to do over I’d buy the Ranger. Just more practical.

If the grandkids will be there a LOT then get the 4 door version. If they’ll only come once in a while, get the regular cab. And buy new if you can afford it. Good luck with it and have fun with it