08 Polaris Crewcab vs. Kaw 3010 Trans Mule

[radman1]

The polaris ranger comes with an additional key that will limit the speed to 25mph to control younger drivers. Hide the faster key for yourself. On the farm, we will go 3-4 miles down the road, through pastures with roads and other areas. 40+ mph is great for open roads or trails. Heck, we have tractors and combines that will go almost 25mph. The polaris ranger will soak up bumps that my ATV will bounce over. I was really surprised after driving my friends polaris ranger over areas where I drove my 2001 Yamaha Kodiak ATV. Some tractor models will go over 25mph. Can't get passed by a tractor in my UTV!

 

[Tractors4u]

The polaris ranger comes with an additional key that will limit the speed to 25mph to control younger drivers. Hide the faster key for yourself.

At one time the speed key was only available of the non-fuel injected models. My 700XP did not have that option.

 

[radman1]

Too bad it is not available on all models.

 

[jcmseven]

D-

I am getting the PS for my Gator XUV diesel due to the front plow I run in the winter, the ITP oversized mudlite tires and the amount of slow work I do around the house where having steering assist would be helpful. The kit is in, just have to mount it. My dad owns property in the Northwest NC mountains and uses his vehicle around the yard and recreationally. He does not do a lot of heavy hauling but takes deer feed, etc. around his property and that of his neighbor. Really, either JD or Polaris would be fine for him at this juncture, but he prefers a bench seat and a little more speed than the gas Gator can give him on his hills. He has had and likes Polaris products and thus likely sticks with them.

John M

 

[Robert_in_NY]

For some of you guys who do not understand "why" the Ranger needs the 40hp and 44mph it is to help them compete in this market. The Ranger is the only UTV on the market that can appeal to guys who want a UTV to work as well as the guys who want a UTV to play. Its work numbers compare well with John Deere, Land Pride and Kawasaki and yet its power and speed let it compete with the Rhino and the other sport UTV's. I have no idea how many of these machines Polaris sells but I would think they have to be near the top if not the top of UTV sales.

I have not had a chance to run one yet but there are three things that I find attractive in the Ranger. The 44 mph top speed for when I am driving down the road between farms and fields, the suspension because of my back now and the crazy amount of storage the Ranger has compared to the rest of the UTV's. Well, there is a fourth thing I find attractive and that is the Browning edition Ranger

I do hope they still have a way to go with the lock out key for the high speed on them when I finally buy one (well if I buy a Ranger). That sounds like a great system for people who have kids and less then ideal farm hands.

I still can't believe how many different types of UTV's are out there. It doesn't seem like that long ago when you had either the Gator or those Pug type of machines that would go in ponds also. Now you have two seaters, 3 seaters and 4-6 seaters in just about any setup you can imagine.

Threads like this one are not good though. I had just stopped thinking about UTV's for a while because I can't try any of them till I am cleared by my doctor then you guys have to bring up a thread about them

 

[ddivinia]

D-

I am getting the PS for my Gator XUV diesel due to the front plow I run in the winter, the ITP oversized mudlite tires and the amount of slow work I do around the house where having steering assist would be helpful. The kit is in, just have to mount it. My dad owns property in the Northwest NC mountains and uses his vehicle around the yard and recreationally. He does not do a lot of heavy hauling but takes deer feed, etc. around his property and that of his neighbor. Really, either JD or Polaris would be fine for him at this juncture, but he prefers a bench seat and a little more speed than the gas Gator can give him on his hills. He has had and likes Polaris products and thus likely sticks with them.

John M

Good call on the PS. I am thinking keep my gator HPX and get a ranger crew. Next baby is due 3/5. I suspect I have a number of months before my wife will be running around with both kids in it.

D.

 

[bigdeer2000]

i just recently purchased a ranger xp700. i looked at the ranger crew but decided it was just too long to put on the trails. the trans mule was shorter but did not have the independent suspension that i wanted on a sport utv. i also have an rtv1100 that i absolutley love but the suspension is so stiff for work applications that it has a rough ride on rocky terrain. i have not found anywhere that the rtv could not go. you just have to go slow over the rough ground.the xp700 covers that kind of ground much faster and smoother.if i had to pick one it would be the rtv.bottom line if you want to cover rough terrain quickly then go with an independent supension utv.

 

[jcmseven]

I am not trying to plug the XUV Gator here, but bigdeer summed up one reason I bought the Gator. It seems to do everything pretty well. It is not as fast as the Polaris, but faster than the Kubota. The diesel has equivalent power to the Kubota. It has "true" four wheel drive and IRS. It does not haul as much as either the Kubota or the Polaris but is close to both. It has a diesel option--which I like. You can now get power steering in kit form. All in all, I felt it offered the least compromises for me and my personal use, which is leaned more toward work but also involves some jaunting into the woods and on my dad's property. As for the Kawasaki, I have personally never been too impressed by them, but they are amazingly durable. My parents' next door neighbor has one. He owns a grading business and uses his A LOT. I believe my dad said he had over 3000 hours on it without a problem. It is a little slow and dad says underpowered (my dad is a 77 year old hot-rodder) but plugs right along with little to no maintenence. (His neighbor says if it blows now he'll just get another one.)

John M

 

[CJ4]

Thanks for all of the comments. I feel better about my decision. I'm gonna take the plunge in the morning and buy the Ranger Crew cab. The biggest issue seems to boil down to the turning radius and I'll just have to live with that. There just isn't a perfect machine but this one looks close for me. I'll let you all know i'm sure!!

My next decision is a winch. I'd like to have one that will move from front to rear via a receiver hitch hookup. I'll have to try to research where to find one. I'm also debating on whether to have them go ahead and put a power bed lift on it. They want $600 but not sure how much labor. I don't think it'd be hard to put it on myself.

 

[ddivinia]

Thanks for all of the comments. I feel better about my decision. I'm gonna take the plunge in the morning and buy the Ranger Crew cab. The biggest issue seems to boil down to the turning radius and I'll just have to live with that. There just isn't a perfect machine but this one looks close for me. I'll let you all know i'm sure!!

My next decision is a winch. I'd like to have one that will move from front to rear via a receiver hitch hookup. I'll have to try to research where to find one. I'm also debating on whether to have them go ahead and put a power bed lift on it. They want $600 but not sure how much labor. I don't think it'd be hard to put it on myself.

Just have the dealer trick it out - screw it.

D.