ATV to a SxS Who’s made the switch?

[Elkhntr08]

At 63, I’m thinking about switching from my Rancher and Sportsman to a Rzr 570.
Riding very far kills my back, I cringe when I take my truck on a forest service road and loading them in the trunk is starting to bother me.
Figure I can run it down the road 10 miles to one of my hunting spots, run it from the cabin to any of the trail heads and haul all my gear to the trail head for a couple days of camping. My bride can also putter around the property planting and watering flowers. Plus, we can run down the road to the roadhouse about 4 miles away. I already have a trailer that will fit the SxS, so that’s not a issue.
Has anyone made the switch and regretted it?
Is there something I’m missing?
Do you use it as much or more than you thought you would?
Thanks for any advice and tips.

 

[Howdoyoulikemenow]

Had both. Currently have Kawasaki Tyrex SxS. Seats four (kinda) Definitely more comfortable or as comfortable as one could hope to expect. Downside is I feel it’s more of a pain to load/unload on trailer. Not quite as “agile” either but they’re two separate machines.

 

[hiker270]

Bought a Yamaha 225 3-wheeler atv in 1983, bought a Yamaha Kodiak 400 in1996, bought a Yamaha Kodiak 660 in 2004. In 2012 bought my first SxS a Yamaha Rhino 700. Put over 7000 miles on it and in 2020 I sold it to a buddy and bought a Yamaha Wolverine X2 R-spec 850. Currently with 2700 miles on it. I still have the Kodiak 400 and it runs just fine but it rarely comes out of the garage. The SxS's are just much more comfortable to drive and the ride is better with the longer wheelbase and improved suspension. Not to mention with the windshield and roof more comfortable when its cold or raining. Guess the only drawback on a SxS is the price. Seems like most Atv/UTV's are mostly reliable with recommended maintenance. Had to replace the fuel pump on the Rhino and new tires on them all. The recurring Yamaha brand is a friend of mine has a Yamaha dealership less than 5 miles from my place.

 

[GunsAreFun]

One other benefit of a SxS not yet mentioned is safety, if you use the seat belt/harness. That with the roll cage is a big difference from an ATV.

 

[The_Jim]

I switched to a sxs to haul my family after we started having kids. Most people seem to like the sxs over a wheeler. Its much easier to haul extra gear. I live in a town we can license sxs’s and I just prefer to take my truck. I have mine for the same reason as you - I do not like taking our vehicles down forest service roads. I’d much rather tear up a sxs.

- the ride can be rough on a utility machine, if your not hauling a lot of weight consider after market suspension.

- it took me a minute to get used to the tippy feeling on different angles.

 

[cmahoney]

I went form a 4 wheeler to a side by side which was a plus with my 2 kids. I have moved onto a JLU Rubicon which is even better. I hated the dust in the side by side and the trailer. The heater is a plus too.


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[cnelk]

I don’t have a SxS but I have spent plenty of time in one.

Dusty is an understatement!!
Anything inside the cab is covered.
Guns, bows, clothes

I guess they make a ‘dust kit’ that kinda helps.

 

[TimberRunner]

I did. But use mine predominantly in flooded grain fields for duck hunting, so not sure my experience is relevant.

I don't know about dust, just mud.

 

[KenLee]

I went back to a 4 wheeler. SxS suck trying to get through the woods.

 

[The_Jim]

I don’t use a windshield or doors because of the dust - I forgot about that.

 

[riversidejeep]

We went from a rancher to RZR-900 trail. I kept the rancher for when I'm by myself and and in real rough / steep stuff, other than that its the sxs all the time. 10 miles on the rancher and your beat. 125 miles on the RZR and you think about getting back to camp. The noise is my biggest bitch on all the sxs as they all run at 4000 or so rpm with the belt drive. I would look at the Honda Pioneer with a real transmission if your looking at a utility type machine.

 

[Weldor]

I have both, atv wrecks my back 63 also. I kept the polaris 500x2 for dragging the front pasture (small) works great for that. Can am pro xt for the rest. much better on the back. It's nice to have a spare atv around though just in case. I use my JKU also, but AZ trails are pretty hard on body parts.

 

[LostArra]

I don’t have a SxS but I have spent plenty of time in one.

Dusty is an understatement!!
Anything inside the cab is covered.
Guns, bows, clothes

I guess they make a ‘dust kit’ that kinda helps.

Does an ATV solve the dust problem?

 

[MuleyFever]

I had a 4 wheeler and went to a Can-Am Commander and really liked it. With a windshield the dust was bad though. I got a Polaris Xpedition Northstar a few months ago to mitigate the dust issue. I may buy another 4 wheeler though as they have their place, especially if you are going to use it on narrower trails.

 

[cnelk]

Does an ATV solve the dust problem?

The atv allows the dust not to be trapped inside the riding area

 

[GunsAreFun]

I don’t use a windshield or doors because of the dust - I forgot about that.

The windshield and doors make the dust worse?

 

[Caseknife]

Any of the RZR's are a PITA to get in and out of quickly. RZR 570 is NLA, would have to be used. Ranger 570 would be a viable option, easier ingress/egress, easier to seal up, still not "dust-proof". The best for sealing out the dust are the Ranger XP1000 Northstar with a/c, then the cab can be pressurized.

 

[MuleyFever]

The windshield and doors make the dust worse?

Yes, it creates low pressure in the cab area and the dust gets pulled in. Putting up a rear screen or full rear windshield can help keep the dust from getting pulled in.

 

[The_Jim]

The windshield and doors make the dust worse?

Definitely, I just let it blow through the cab.

Everything in the bed still ends up covered.

 

[cnelk]

For those that have a SxS be sure to get some of these and stick them on the dash or front windshield.
They’re even helpful in your truck too.