My wife and I are thinking about getting a side by side for trail riding here in MN. Nothing crazy. No super steep inclines or rock climbing.

The RZR 900s with EPS is moving to the top of my short list.

Any opinions? Must have options?

Thanks!

Polaris Ranger owner here.

Mrs. JRC and I enjoy trail riding around central MN (we're probably neighbors ), but they're mostly straight and flat converted railroad grades, with some scenic and somewhat more "technical" ((varying from easy to "oh shit!") loops stemming off from.

We like the more upright seating of the Ranger, vs. the more dune-buggy like reclined feel of the Razor. Visibility is better, too, I think. We see lots of deer. Our Ranger's top speed is above 50. Plenty fast for where we ride.

The Ranger's dump box has more room and capacity, which we've found very helpful around the house and neighborhood, and our black lab typically occupies that space on outings and such, along with a cooler and other gear.

I have a RZR 900 EPS Trail, the 50" wide one. We really like it! Our use is sport more than utility so the RZR is better for us vs the Ranger. They are dusty, especially if you add a fell windshield and no back window. I had the 570 model but the 900 is the way to go. I'll be adding a plow to this one as well. Had a plow on the 570 and it was great, the 900 should do even better.

Either way, I won't own one without power steering. The newer ones have good engine breaking too. The Rangers are easier to get in and out of and easier to put a full hard cab on. If you don't have a can, don't bother with the heater but they do make electric seat heaters.

I'd add a winch, I have a Superwinch Terra 35 R with synthetic line and a short synthetic lift line for the plow to save my 50' line from wear and tear. A roof is a must, I have an UTV Giant brand aluminum. It's less expensive and needed a few shim washers to space it just right to avoid rattles. But it's low profile and easy to install. The height helps if you buy an Enclosed trailer. I'd get a windshield, at least a half height, and a rear window to keep the dust down and the muck from the rear tires out. I bought a Polaris rear and a Sidebyside brand glass windshield so I could get a wiper. The Lexan can scratch easier. I also added an Assault Industries fire extinguisher and mount four safety and a rear rack with spare tire carrier rather than strapping the spare in the bed. A cooler and a few hand tools and recovery gear and we're set. I may add full doors and will add an LED light bar and maybe harnesses rather than the three point belts. I did go a little crazy but we sometimes ride by ourselves. It paid off when we buried it in what I thought was a puddle. The one time I didn't check depth. Haha.

Ask away.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Riley,

One of my friends has two and loves them...one turbo and one not. Look up destination polaris and watch the rocky point mexico video, he and his wife helped organize that whole thing and they said hanging out with other owners was as much fun as riding

Ranger EXP 900 owner. My son had a RZR and he preferred my Ranger for many of the reasons others stated. Seating, visibility etc.
Mine has the full cab with heater and stereo.
I take the doors off when I trail ride in the summer and doors on in the winter for ice fishing trips. It's the hard cab only way to go imo.

I have a plow as well. Another option it doesn't pay to go cheap on. I plow all my neighbors if I have time it's that much fun when you have the right equipment.
RZR's are nice but the Ranger will do a anything a RZR will do but the RZR won't do most of the things a Ranger can do.

Oh don't forget the LED light bar! The money spending never ends with these things! Worse than guns!

^^^^

Thanks for the input. Keep it coming!

I should have mentioned that I already have a Polaris Sportsman 6x6 with the dump box and a 3/4 ton pickup with a 9' V-plow. The RZR doesn't need to perform in either of those roles.

Own both. A Ranger and a RZR. The Ranger is a work horse but at times can be a little sketchy on some trails due to the height, suspension, and center of gravity. The RZR is better for play IMO. Make sure you pay attention to width and what trails you want to ride as some are too wide. I have a 900 XC and love it.

quote:

Originally posted by JRC:Mrs. JRC and I enjoy trail riding around central MN (we're probably neighbors ), but they're mostly straight and flat converted railroad grades, with some scenic and somewhat more "technical" ((varying from easy to "oh shit!") loops stemming off from.

It sounds like you're referring to the Soo Line trail that starts in Royalton. How is the traffic on that one? My goal is a nice drive out in the woods without the need to put on full gear. I think the trail itself, a side by side design and my driving style would be safe enough for that, but lots of high speed traffic changes the risk.

In an effort to make a better decision I rented a RZR this Summer for a day. It broke down and we had to self rescue about five miles from out truck. It was fun, while it lasted.

The transmission failed and we couldn't put it into drive without the engine stalling. When I described my experience to a friend, who used to own one, he said, "The bands broke". Others, diagnosed the same cause for our breakdown. Apparently, this happens often enough to be a recognized weakness.

It was a lot of fun but the walk back to the truck was pretty much a buzzkill.

^^^^

Any idea what model year it was?

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by JRC:Mrs. JRC and I enjoy trail riding around central MN (we're probably neighbors ), but they're mostly straight and flat converted railroad grades, with some scenic and somewhat more "technical" ((varying from easy to "oh shit!") loops stemming off from.

It sounds like you're referring to the Soo Line trail that starts in Royalton. How is the traffic on that one? My goal is a nice drive out in the woods without the need to put on full gear. I think the trail itself, a side by side design and my driving style would be safe enough for that, but lots of high speed traffic changes the risk.

The Soo line is near me. I've used it for snowmobile and utv. it is mostly a get from point A to point B trail and most people are flying on it. Depends what part of it your on for traffic density.
There are many nice trails in MN but you have to study first where you are going because a lot of trails only allow certain traffic and may exclude your utv. Many are blacktop and only allow hiking and bicycles and snowmobiles in the winter and no 4 wheel traffic anytime.

Many of us cross the border to Wisconsin. There you just drop on a trail and go no worries about trail designations. Mn has gone way overboard with this and have chased may of the utv and snowmobilers away along with all their money. They cater to the bicyclists which don't have to pay license fees nor do the traditionally spend the money in eating and bar establishments as the snowmobilers and utv crowd do.

I had a RZR S back in the day. We had a couple of nice ATVs that we'd take out to the MT mountains as much as possible during the summer. We thought a RZR would be as much fun and less work by only taking 1 rig out every time.

While the RZR was fun, the public trails in MT are usually gated and will only fit an ATV - the RZR was too wide for the trails and could really only be used on the mountain roads. For this reason, it only lasted about a year with us and saw more use toodling around town to the store for some open air riding (ATVs can be street legal in MT) than fun trail riding in the mountains.

I stopped by the Polaris dealership today to take a look.

Positives:
I like the overall size and comfort of the RZR-S.

The EPS is nice. Not much turning effort at all, even on pavement.

Negatives:

The engine sounded a bit rougher (and louder) than expected. I guess not much cowling.

The one I test drove had the 900 engine and seemed underpowered. Not sure how much the 1000 would help.

Lots of decals in the color scheme that might be prone to peeling.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
^^^^

Any idea what model year it was?

I'm sorry, I have no idea the year.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

It sounds like you're referring to the Soo Line trail that starts in Royalton. How is the traffic on that one? My goal is a nice drive out in the woods without the need to put on full gear. I think the trail itself, a side by side design and my driving style would be safe enough for that, but lots of high speed traffic changes the risk.

Yes, the Soo Line Trail. We spend more time on the South Trail, but have also ridden the North Trail from Pine City to Reemer. We'll typically get on in either Isle or McGrath, and ride NE towards Pine City, taking in some of the side trail loops along the way.

We haven't found the traffic too bad. Mostly ATV riders and UTV folks. The speed demons tend to be the guys on Razors. We'll typically travel along at 20-30 MPH (although our Ranger will do 50, I find that a bit too "spirited" for a gravel trail, albeit straight and flat).

Great burgers and fries at the bar in Durham, and the bridge over the Snake River just east of there is a great scenic overlook.

Good luck!

So 50- to 60 mph is under powered for one of them

If willing to spend close the $15k for one of these things take a look at the Yamaha Viking. Supposedly a nice ride. Best Transmission setup. Again supposedly. Good combo for ride, sport and utility. Proven engine. Great manufacturer. Well under that price too. Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
So 50- to 60 mph is under powered for one of them

Oh heck no! I'll be putting along like a granny.

I just thought it seemed a bit weak getting started from a cold stop or climbing the very shallow bumps. It may just be the nature of the design.

I am not sure if the ranger and rzr share the same drive system but in a Yamaha video they show a tidbit from a Polaris owners manual that talks about needing to let the Polaris warm up for a minute in normal temps and up to 3 mins in cold temps to insure the belt system is working properly before taking off

My wife and I have an 800 RZR limited Edition.
We love it. Took it to Utah a few years ago and had one of the best vacations we have ever enjoyed.
So far no problems with it.

If I didn't need the 50" width , I'd buy a 1000cc Yamaha with the 5 speed transmission. Bigger, faster and a regular transmission. The belts do take a little bit of care and it seems best to get on it rather than try to ease into the throttle. Basically a snowmobile style drive system. They do run better after they warm up.


If towing is a concern I think the Rangers are rated for more. I still really like my RZR.