Polaris UTV reliability...

[7mmDakotaHunter]

Been thinking about upgrading from an ATV to a UTV side by side. Mostly for pushing snow with in the wintertime and then taking with camping in the summer. What’s everybody’s experience with dependability/ issues ? Never been a fan of Polaris atvs but they seem to have the market on UTVs. I have had Honda and Kawasaki atvs before with no issues.....would I regret buying a Polaris?

 

[StetsonAnderson]

You wouldn’t regret buying a Polaris side by side imo. The one we’ve owned we’ve had for 5 years and it’s been awesome. Quiet. Extremely rugged. Smooth. We’ve taken it places we shouldn’t have and it’s performed flawlessly. We’ve even put it on its side twice and it’s still square and solid frame wise. Happy hunting!

 

[KChunter71]

Get the 1000. I have the 18 900 and @mcseal2 has the 1000 that’s newer. It has updates from my model. No issues from mine except my cross treading the engine oil drain bolt. electronic steering is great for a lot of low spear. @mcseal2 uses his daily on his farm.

 

[mcseal2]

The 1000 has been far lower maintenance.

 

[elkguide]

My son just put a motor in his Ranger with 2200 miles on it.

Honda Pioneer 1000 for me. (and my son as soon as he can sell his Polaris)

 

[Brooks]

The Ranger is a good one. I’ve got an 08 Ranger HD 800 with 3900 miles and other than general maintenance nothing’s gone wrong with it. Also have a 2003 Honda Foreman ATV that just won’t die. I think if you take care of them they’re all good. Most ranchers around here have Polaris Rangers.

 

[2ski]

I think there's a reason that you see so many Rangers and RZRs out there. They're the standard and they do what they are supposed to do.

My family bought a Ranger in the mid 2000s, and used it at least 12 years. We hauled rock, lots of rock. Overloaded the bed really. Towed boats that were over the weight limit of what you should tow with it. Put it through the paces. We decided to replace it 2 years ago with a 6 seater Ranger. We've had it up in the snow getting high up on snowy roads this spring that were open but still had lots of snow.

I would love to buy a General if I could afford it right now.

 

[sf jakey]

Buy a Honda

 

[IDLassie]

I wouldn't touch a Polaris anything.
The new Honda pioneers are good.
CanAm's are good.

 

[Unclemoe]

Polaris are amazing machines and hold up well if you take care of them, you will see a few people bashing them with stories like "i cant believe it after i put a 6 inch lift 33 inch tires and drove it threw 3 feet of water at 60mph my belt broke what a peice of crap!!!"

Remember when looking into them polaris sells a ton more then any other company so if 1% of every companies utvs have problems you will see more people bash polaris.

 

[Tikkamike]

I have had a few Honda ATV’S they were 100% dependable but ride terrible. I then went to a canam commander 1000xt rode waaay better lots of power and lots of fun. I put around 2000 miles on it and sold it after 5 years. I was going to try something with better suspension like a RZR or an X3 next but for various reasons ended up buying another ATV this one is a canam outlander 850xt and I really like it. I do feel like the Polaris UTV require more maintenance than the canam for a lot of people but I’d still buy one. I’m not hard on my machines though.

 

[Jsn_leonard]

My Stock 570MS broke a cam retainer bolt and destroyed the whole top end. They had to pull the motor and split cases to find all the pieces. It was Past warranty and Polaris wouldn’t cover it. Dealership said it was nothin I did. $2500 later, I got it back.

 

[Unclemoe]

I would also add dont go rzr if you go side by side the beds on them are not ment to haul stuff and almost all of them get very very hot

 

[tanker]

I have an 18 570 full size Ranger. It is used daily around the farm and have had no issues. My nephew has a 19, same model and uses it as much no issues there either. Would not hesitate to buy another.

 

[LostArra]

Hijack: Could someone explain why the trend for side by sides to have doors open from the front rather than the back like a truck? My Ranger has no doors but using my buddy's Can Am has them "backwards".

I think the reliability of any side by side is inversely proportional to the number of teenage boys living in the house.

 

[CApighunter]

My limited experience with Polaris is a buddy had a brand new RZR burn to the ground a couple years ago. I think there was some sort of recall. Got some friends who run hounds for hogs and they only buy the Kawasaki Terex, everything else they’ve owned has been a maintenance nightmare and didn’t last more than a year or two. The Terex ride awesome for a utility side by side and will go anywhere you point it.

 

[NJDiverDan]

I have a 2012 Ranger 800 xp. It has been completely reliable. Very smooth ride and is balanced well that it sticks to the ground when climbing hills better than my quad. My only complaint with Polaris is their 4 wheel drive system. The rear wheels need to slip BEFORE the fronts kick in. You cannot lock in all 4 wheels to drive. This works fine most of the time, but in really slippery conditions, the back end is constantly kicking out if you are spinning going up hill. Also, no 4 wheel engine braking on the down hills. My solution to this is to chain up, which makes the Ranger a tank that I have not had any issues going through anything. But not chained up in the mountain on greasy snowy trails its not much fun.

 

[sf jakey]

Polaris owners are very defensive. They all tell you, if you take care of it, and don’t abuse it, they are fine. Well, I abuse my Honda’s and don’t take care of them and I have NO issues. I have an 07 Foreman Rubicon and a 16 Pioneer 1000. I’ll give up creature comforts and squishy ride for bulletproof reliability any day. Especially when I am 20 miles from the truck. And personally, I hate belt driven vehicles.

 

[jmez]

I had a Ranger XP for several years and didn't have any issues. It was a good machine. I stretched a belt on it once but that was my fault. Going up a steep hill and had to stop for some reason for one of my kids. Belt stretched when I started to go again. Still got me home but pretty loose!.

You tube and about half hour and I changed belt. New belt was about $100 which I thought was excessive.

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[PMcGee]

I had a Polaris for 7 years used and abused and had zero problems. That was a sportsman xp. I know several people with rangers and rzr’s and I can’t think of any of them having major problems. It’s kind of a Ford/Chevy thing. My 4 wheeler was stolen and I wasn’t riding much anymore so I didn’t buy a new one. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a Polaris again.


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