SxS vs Jeep

[2MANY]

I have a 2019 Honda Pioneer 1000-5. Heater and aftermarket canvas enclosure. It gets used everyday, all seasons, when my family of 4 are in Idaho. During the middle of winter the heater is sub par. During summer the engine heat bakes your butt and the dust is gnarly. Mechanically is has been bomb proof with or without tracks.
Soooo I've weighed my needs and will be buying a new fully enclosed, heat/AC SXS once they can actually be delivered.
The question is which one.
Polaris or Can-Am?

[Mudman]

I have a 2019 Honda Pioneer 1000-5. Heater and aftermarket canvas enclosure. It gets used everyday, all seasons, when my family of 4 are in Idaho. During the middle of winter the heater is sub par. During summer the engine heat bakes your butt and the dust is gnarly. Mechanically is has been bomb proof with or without tracks.
Soooo I've weighed my needs and will be buying a new fully enclosed, heat/AC SXS once they can actually be delivered.
The question is which one.
Polaris or Can-Am?

OH BOY!!  I owned 2021 Defender max lmtd.   I sold it.  Nice in many ways but....  I broke front axles like a fat kid eats cake.  3rd time was the charm. Diff went as well.  AC is good enough.  Heat and other is great.  Nice utv but not built strong enough imop.   Polaris Northstar riding partner has 2019 with around 3k miles.  It has been through clutch, 2 front diffs, rear transdiff 2x's, drivelines and many belts 2 axles.  2021 Rangers have adressed these and are much better which garnished my attention even though I not Polaris fan.  Much improved and better then Canam now.  I would 1000% buy the Po Po pooper!    However they not taking orders for it and are 12months behind in delay.  None in USA dealerships except 2 I found in Cali.  I refer to Northstar 6 seat models.  I can steer ya to San Diego dealer who have 2 but California has put stop sale order on em due to emissions or sumthing??  It possible in future to maybe get 1 of only 2 left in USA, so I was told and found to be likley true.

[Magnum_Willys]

Yokes  mudman you are scaring me! Hoping your problems were due yyour handle - mudman.  I know running thru mud holes and hills will destroy stuff.  Hoping yours didnt fail with normal hunting use

[Mudman]

Recreational trail riding.  Not extreme abuse.  Naches trail for example, up top before the meadow and cabin.  Snap.  Can Am visco lok diff system is total complete garbage imop.

[Magnum_Willys]

Recreational trail riding.  Not extreme abuse.  Naches trail for example, up top before the meadow and cabin.  Snap.  Can Am visco lok diff system is total complete garbage imop.

   Awww cr@p!   Thanks for heads up.

[Caseyd]

Coyne in San Diego has some Pros.

Just like everything else, it’s getting to expensive. Buddy picked up a Turbo S last week and it was 49,500 out the door. 

[Mudman]

Make damn sure they sale at retail MSRP.  Some dealers are purchasing units only to resell at higher markups because it isnt "new" any longer.  Few in Oregon doing this---CROOKS!

[CarbonHunter]

I have both as well, an XJ 4 door with a 5.5 long arm and a Northstar. So far the jeep only wins when it comes to ground clearance, less dust and being street legal on all roads. The SXS is easier to get in and out of and to see out of as well plus they are very roomy if you get the 6 seater utility and not a sport model.

The 2 main reasons I prefer the SXS is the better fuel mileage and the fact that I can put it in a toyhauler when I go hunting. With the jeep you are left towing a car trailer and using a tent or having a hunting partner toy the camp trailer.

I had the jeep as my hunting rig for 14 years before I bought the SXS. Now the jeep barely leaves the shop.

[Alchase]

I have both and they are equally valuable for different reasons. Jeeps are more comfortable, enclosed and warm but its really handy to have a SxS in camp, where legal, for things like fetching firewood, winching game up on the pole between trees and other camp chores.

I can see how useful one can be. And the fun factor as well. Many of my neighbors are seriously into trail riding their side X sides.

I could get into it,  it I can have fun just riding my zero turn.

 

[HillHound]

Hopefully mud man just bought a lemon, built after lunch on a Friday 
. I have a 2021 defender limited, not the max only the two door.  I’ve had tracks on mine both winters I’ve had it and boy has that been a game changer. I’ve only done light trail riding during the summer but I haven’t broke anything yet.  But if and when I do I plan on replacing with heavy duty aftermarket parts so hopefully I’m not continuing to replace the same ones. Just had my old ford pick up as my hunting rig before and the side-by-side has a much smoother ride even at twice the speeds. But forest service restrictions and towns that just don’t like people having fun that restrict them are a negative for them and a positive for jeeps or  pick ups. But I do take mine in places I would never try to take a stock jeep or pick up so that’s a pro for the s x s. Like someone already said just get both

[Mudman]

You will find out.  Sorry.  Design flaw.  Circlip on axle is 1/4" from end of shaft.  That quarter inch will sheer off shaft.  Bonus is it stays inside your diff requiring you to remove and teardown diff to fix.  New axles are $250 and nobody aftermarket wants to make one cause of design flaws inherit to Canam.  The newer smartlok 30 spline is a better system.   Also the visco will wear out afte few years and you will be left with 3 wheel drive which I suspect you already know if you run tracks on it.  I had the heavier 6 seat Max so that adds stress.   Shame cause I really like the Defender otherwise.

[Moose Master]

We have a 2017 can am defender 4 seater.  Fits in the toy hauler 14.5 garage.  Last trip was pipe stone east of butte.  Up and down some serious slopes with big rocks and washouts along with mud holes 1.5 ft deep.  Only problem was a broken tie rod which wasn't bad to change once I got one from Bozeman.  WHAT DID I LEARN

S/S is street legal important for this state and when we travel.  For Peace of mind wherever you are at spend the money on a utv pass or quad pass.  Ranger was pleased to see our Montana pass and opened up about other sites around the state. 

Going to change the suspension for more travel.

Already have bead locks for rims

Already have a winch which got used several times with a block.

Going to add metal skid plates

Change shocks for more travel.

We are in our late 60's and  early early 70's.  She will kill me with that disclosure.  We bring up the rear most of the time because not interested in speed more seeing the sights.  Also use quads 400 and a 500 depending on trips.  Grizzly and big bear

They have worked fine for our needs, and family also uses them.   If you can afford both great but if not I would go with the S/S.  Good luck and have a good upcoming hunting season.

[Magnum_Willys]

Researching there does seem to be design flaw related to axle design.  Ultimate  Fix is $5k for aftermarket axles and heavy duty locker replacement.  I’ll just cross fingers til first failure then upgrade unless Electric comes out first.  The electric Can-Am will be incredible - and silent.

[Mudman]

I will share again...  My expierences...  Moose dont do alum skids.  The UMHW 3/8 or 1/2 are lighter and smoother over stuff.  With bigger wheels/tires it = weight which is harder on axles.  Suspension travel will stress cv angle on axles.  Once again these axles are weak.  If ya go wide (spacer or wheel offset) it will increase suspension travel some due to larger drop angles.     As far as lockers DONT do it.  I did as last resort and it made breaking much worse.  When axle is locked on the viscolok it will only engage the infamous 1/4" of the end of axle shaft.  Breakage continues only easier.  I had superatv pin locker. Passenger side likely to break.  Again.   Halo is the same.  Leave it stock or upgrade to the 30spline canam smartlok.  Best option and a decent system.  I learned hard way.  I was very disapointed in canam and thus I sold it back to dealership.     Smartlok upgrade(there is a kit 4 sale) and 29" tire with 1.5" spacers/wheel and a tuned ecu are great upgrades without causing issues with clutch eng axles.     Adding if ya do skid plates you will have to drill out about 10000 stupid garbage rivets which will rattle inside frame when done.  Air hammer/chisel works best.  Directions to drill are a joke.   Im not trashing just trying to help others know what is up.   Defender is ALMOST a great UTV and I miss much of it.

[Mudman]

I saved 1 as momento...