Best side by side. UTV

[Russ McDonald]

I am looking for a side by side since I sold my boat.  I am torn between a Honda Pioneer or a Can Am Defender.  I am open to suggestions though.

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[Mudman]

Whats your inteneded use for it?  Dunes?  Trails?  Passengers?  I can already say Honda over Canam..  Teryx may be a good fit, that's what I have.  Price, power, people, reliability seems to be name of the game.  https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/snd/6017646660.html   This looks pretty awesome!  Spendy too!

[Russ McDonald]

No dunes.   Hunting,passenger and trails

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[carpsniperg2]

I bought a 2016 defender and it has been great. I got a killer killer deal on it and 6 years of warranty on mine. That covers just about everything but lights and tires. Great warrenty and they stand behind all there stuff. Unlike Polaris with 6 month warranty I got the 3 years as a promo and added the next 3 years.

Mine is the 800 non power steering model.

[elkslayer069]

I have a rzr 1000 S and love it it's done everything I've wanted and more lots of after market upgrades

[Russ McDonald]

No hi pro UTV's  I am looking for a work horse.  Don't get me wrong I am a Polaris guy but after reading and seeing all the recalls I am going to stay away from a Polaris.

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[Mudman]

No dunes.   Hunting,passenger and trails

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If price is important check out the Teryx.  I got mine a 2 seater for 9999$.  Full 3yr factory warranty.  Teryx a great trail machine and super tough.  Overall Pioneer 5 1000 seems a great rig for multi purpose and I'm sure its quieter than Teryx.  For the record my buddies Can am maverick is on its 2nd warranty claim in 6 months.  Power steering and now front diff.

[Rainier10]

I have a CanAm 800 commander and absolutely love it.  I wish I would have bought one years ago.  Thinking about getting snow tracks for it for next year.  I was looking at the honda pioneers and really like that they are not belt drive. That is the only thing that I don't like about the CanAm is the belt drive.  I got a great deal on it and the belt drive hasn't been an issue.

[Mudman]

I have a CanAm 800 commander and absolutely love it.  I wish I would have bought one years ago.  Thinking about getting snow tracks for it for next year.  I was looking at the honda pioneers and really like that they are not belt drive. That is the only thing that I don't like about the CanAm is the belt drive.  I got a great deal on it and the belt drive hasn't been an issue.

You don't have a locked front diff.  Tracks could be a big problem?  Might want to check into that first as tracks are pricey.

[elkaholic123]

I really like my Polaris 900 trail

[elkslayer069]

I don't blame you i guess I've probably put 5k into mine to make it bullet proof like it should have been from the factory

[Rainier10]

I have a CanAm 800 commander and absolutely love it.  I wish I would have bought one years ago.  Thinking about getting snow tracks for it for next year.  I was looking at the honda pioneers and really like that they are not belt drive. That is the only thing that I don't like about the CanAm is the belt drive.  I got a great deal on it and the belt drive hasn't been an issue.

You don't have a locked front diff.  Tracks could be a big problem?  Might want to check into that first as tracks are pricey.

good to know, I will check that out.  I thought when I flipped both switches it locked me into true 4wd.  I will definitely research it more before I buy the tracks.  Just started looking at them on Thursday.  Thanks for the tip.

[Wacenturion]

I picked up a 2016 Yamaha Viking VI for use on my property.  Reason I choose the larger 6 passenger is because it carries just about every family member if needed.  Had a chance to drive a Polaris Crew and the difference was night and day, as well as the negative comments on shop visits on Polaris products. 

They had a promotion and I bought an additional $1000 worth of options ( most of which I would have bought anyway) and took my warranty out to 5 full years.  A true 6 passenger unlike others as the middle seat front and back are recessed so everyone is comfortable.  It has a 700 engine which is a turn off to some, but like you I wasn't looking for a high performance racehorse, but rather a dependable workhorse.

I believe Bearpaw also has the identical one that I have, which is the Ranch Edition.  Might want to ask his opinion as I'm sure he has had much more diverse opportunities of use with his.   Comes with some extra stuff...fenders, nud flaps, storage, special paint, etc.  Bought mine at Desert Valley Powersports in Prosser, primarily because I got a good deal and it's just off I-82 on the way to and return home from my property in the Blues.

Desert Valley Powersports currently has one discounted.......I posted the link because of the numerous photos showing every angle and detail

http://www.desertvalleypowersports.com/default.asp?page=xNewInventoryDetail&id=2109427&p=1&at=motorcycle%20%2F%20scooter%7Catv%7Cutility%20vehicle&s=Year&d=D&t=new&vt=utility%20vehicle&fr=xNewInventory

[Russ McDonald]

Thanks for all the input so far.  A few other things that I should mention.  I plan on putting this in the back of my truck.  I have a 2013 Ram 8' bed.  So that throws out most of the 5 or 6 passenger rides.  Just the wife and I or another hunting buddy and me.  Most have measured out and would fit in the bed of my truck.  What do you all think having power steering to not having power steering?  Local dealer has a Honda Pioneer 700 in camo 2016 with no power steering at a awesome price

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[Mudman]

The T-rex is the same size 2 and 4 seater.  62" wide stock I think.  Honda similar.  10' long though and 76" tall.  You stuck with a smaller arctic cat wildcat or razor it seems.  It will be tough to carry in a pickup bed.  Maybe a cargo/camp trailer would work for you.  I bought a 7x14 extended height cargo for work and play.

[Russ McDonald]

The T-rex is the same size 2 and 4 seater.  62" wide stock I think.  Honda similar.  10' long though and 76" tall.  You stuck with a smaller arctic cat wildcat or razor it seems.  It will be tough to carry in a pickup bed.  Maybe a cargo/camp trailer would work for you.  I bought a 7x14 extended height cargo for work and play.

I have seen the specs.  Width wide might be an issue but I am only concerned with where the back wheel fits in my bed.  I might get a top box cargo rack.

[bearpaw]

I picked up a 2016 Yamaha Viking VI for use on my property.  Reason I choose the larger 6 passenger is because it carries just about every family member if needed.  Had a chance to drive a Polaris Crew and the difference was night and day, as well as the negative comments on shop visits on Polaris products. 

They had a promotion and I bought an additional $1000 worth of options ( most of which I would have bought anyway) and took my warranty out to 5 full years.  A true 6 passenger unlike others as the middle seat front and back are recessed so everyone is comfortable.  It has a 700 engine which is a turn off to some, but like you I wasn't looking for a high performance racehorse, but rather a dependable workhorse.

I believe Bearpaw also has the identical one that I have, which is the Ranch Edition.  Might want to ask his opinion as I'm sure he has had much more diverse opportunities of use with his.   Comes with some extra stuff...fenders, nud flaps, storage, special paint, etc.  Bought mine at Desert Valley Powersports in Prosser, primarily because I got a good deal and it's just off I-82 on the way to and return home from my property in the Blues.

Desert Valley Powersports currently has one discounted.......I posted the link because of the numerous photos showing every angle and detail

http://www.desertvalleypowersports.com/default.asp?page=xNewInventoryDetail&id=2109427&p=1&at=motorcycle%20%2F%20scooter%7Catv%7Cutility%20vehicle&s=Year&d=D&t=new&vt=utility%20vehicle&fr=xNewInventory

  We have two Viking VI, over 5000 miles already on one of them and no problems. I have tracks on mine and the 700cc motor is a bit under powered with tracks on, I wished they made one with a 1000cc motor. I was going to get a Honda Pioneer 1000 but have learned that guys running tracks are taking out the transmission in the Honda 1000, so I'll probably wait for Yamaha to come out with a Viking 1000.

The 700 does fine with wheels, I've often had 6 people in mine and it's fine, I've had 4 hunters and a whole 6x6 bull elk in back and still went as fast as needed, we even had 6 people this winter cow elk hunting with tracks on, but you can tell it's underpowered with that much weight and running the tracks, coming out we were loaded with hunters plus a cow elk in back. Nonetheless it still got us to where we needed to be hunting and we were successful. I have not had a breakdown yet.

Best thing we ever did was to get away from Polaris, they are powerful, ride great, and look awesome, but we always had broke down machines. We do not own any Polaris snowmobiles, utv's, or atv's now.

FYI: Yamaha also builds a regular cab Viking that seats 3.

[Happy Gilmore]

I have the pioneer 1000. The power steering is worth every penny. I've put 500 miles of desert off road/ no trails in the last two months. Quick end of day trips up the sand and rock washes. It definitely climbs better, has better balance and all around traction capabilities compared to the older Polaris Ranger and newer Ranger 700 my friends have. He's likely switching to a new Honda after playing on mine. He's got 2,400 hours on his Ranger. Been a good machine for him.

Never been on anything except a Gator, Ranger and Mule which my friends use here. They all are drooling over the Pioneer 5 seater.

[Mudman]

Good to hear!  I have thought about trading up for the Honda but have decided to wait for the new Kawa for 2018.  Love so much about the Honda and teryx.  Well built machines.  Tough and reliable and climb like a goat.  The 5 seat switcheroo is a nice feature!  Only faults I hear on Honda is clutches going out frequently but it happens when you put oversize tires on!  So stock sizes seems good.

[Happy Gilmore]

Anything you change from factory will wear stuff out from how I see it. Performance parts=more stress, bigger tires=more weight and load to move etc. M sure its true with all machines, cars, snow machines or whatever.

[bearpaw]

I liked the size of the Pioneer vs the size of the Viking VI, it all depends on how a guy will use the machine for which one will be best, some guys are taking out Honda trannies with tracks so I wouldn't buy the Honda if you want tracks. I also liked the Kawasaki's, I haven't heard any real bad reports on them.

Another brand to avoid is Arctic cat, a friend has an AC 1000, he burned up 3 engines in two summers and Arctic cat talked him into trading in on a new one last year, (they made him a good deal) but the new one already has broken down.

[Russ McDonald]

I think that has turned off Honda.  I would want to put tracks on my UTV.  I run them on the Polaris Ranger at work.  Never had a problem with the Ranger yet but it is a 2008 and doesn't get a lot of hours on it.

[bearpaw]

Another friend has 3 Rangers, he runs an elk ranch, they use them every day, he rarely has all 3 running at once. However, when I was in the dealership this winter (that dealership sells Polaris, Yamaha, and Arctic Cat) they were telling me that Polaris upgraded numerous things this year on the ranger and they think these changes will make the ranger more reliable like the Yamahas. It's too early to know if that will be true? 

[KFhunter]

I'd look hard at the wolverine if you wanted to track it.  It's smaller than the Viking line and lighter than most UTV's

[Mudman]

Track the T-rex.  Full lockers and very tough drivetrain-I would wager its the toughest of any machine.  Belts vs trans.+ Belts are easily upgraded with clutch springs and such to handle big tires and tracks.  Trans like Honda/Yam is not.  I don't like belts and don't plan to buy tracks ever but I admit belts do work well.