Best side by side for hunting

[morphiend]

Ok so I was looking at getting a quad but am now leaning towards a SxS. What are others using? Recommendations? Units to stay away from?

[Darksith]

Yamaha rhino hands down

[325]

I have a 2016 Honda pioneer 1000-5. Over the summer we used it lots at our cabin, and this fall I've used it tons for hunting. It already has over 2000km!! So far I have to say I'm impressed. It's been super reliable and is very comfy. I'm a Can Am guy, and wanted to get a Defender, but my wife liked the Honda better. I'm optimistic it will turn out to be a good purchase

[Summit 512]

I have a 2014 Honda 700 with 10,600 km,still running like a top. Just change the oil and your good to go.

[srupp]

Seen a LOADED Honda..like in 50k..amazingly equipped. .nice looking but $$$$$
Never ever heard of a Honda problem....ever..
Steven

[markathome]

Suzuki Sidekick.

[tipper]

Suzuki Sidekick.
I know guys like the sidekicks etc but they can't go half the places a narrow sxs can.

[Gateholio]

Seen a LOADED Honda..like in 50k..amazingly equipped. .nice looking but $$$$$
Never ever heard of a Honda problem....ever..
Steven

Wow! What did it have????

[srupp]

Hmm Gate..doors, hard top, glass, upgraded higher suspension. .bigger rims tires,50 inch led light bar front,20 inch Ridged light bar back , I think there was a fancy stereo. ..didnt see anything that wasn't primo..guy who owned it gave me the 50k figure..nicest I've ever seen.
It was at WL HONDA
steven
Oversized winch...fibre cable

[madshawn]

My father in Law has been using Polaris Rangers for the past 5 years. I am still shocked at what they are capable of. With enclosed cabin, tip out window, electric windows and a heater it cost over $22,000. Its super pricy but I can imagine hunting in a different rig. I have seen others but I don't think anything quite compares to it.

[gcreek]

Suzuki Samaraii

[Rotorwash]

Lol jeep cherokee 4.0
But seriously I saw a canam commander 1000 go through 2 feet of snow, hook up to and drag a really really big moose back through. With 3 guys and gear in it. One guy standing in the box.
Pretty amazing. If I get the go ahead from my wife that's the one I'll buy

[combine pilot]

One suggestion. If you are planning on doing any hunting up north the designated trails into the mountains such as Halfway or Redfern trails have a 500 kg weight restriction. In recent years they have been enforcing the rules (they quoted me $280 fine and they have made people chopper out their machine). On the Yedhe trail they sit at the bridge and charge anybody caught being over weight. I personally own a Polaris RZR 570 which is one of the few side x sides light enough. It is awesome, I have packed out a whole cow elk in the box. My buddy bought the Ranger 570 it is also light enough. Bigger box for carrying gear and stuff but not as much fun when out playing in the mud. Both are excellent machines.

[Drillbit]

Honda 1000

Or

Jeep Rubicon with plates

[.308SLAYER]

So many back country trails cut out for quads these days better buy a chainsaw if you don't have one to go with it

[morphiend]

Combine Pilot - these are the two units that I have been mainly looking at, Ranger 500 and RZR 570. I like the big box on the Ranger but also like the sportiness of the RZR. Would you say that the smaller box has limited you at all with hunting?

[huntinnewbie]

We had the use of a friends RZR, think it was an 800. We found it very noisy. Having only a front windshield it created a vortex on dusty roads and sucked dust in through the back and every drain hole on it. Also didn't like having to ride the brakes going downhill as no engine brake on it. Also the mesh screens at the bottom of the doors only detach from the seat end so would catch your feet when trying to exit quickly if game was spotted. We ended up zap strapping them down to keep them out of our way. We enjoyed the comraderie of a side by side and the use of the machine. It went pretty near anywhere we could go in our quads but if we were to buy one I don't think it would be that one.

[AgSilver]

I like the idea of the narrower ones...the Honda Pioneer 500 has my eye.

[25-06 Tikka]

I have a 2014 Honda 700 with 10,600 km,still running like a top. Just change the oil and your good to go.


Wow thought my 08 Foreman had high km's at 9650 km. Except for wheel bearings and oil changes it's been flawless. Confirmed Honda guy here.

[czechsanchez]

Search tomcar, they are imported to bc from Australia,

[combine pilot]

No restrictions what so ever. Like I said I have carried a full cow elk in the box. There are also many different options you can get for the Polaris products such as a front rack or a rack that bolts to the roof. I have installed a heater in mine which is nice {I now need doors}. I do not know if they make it anymore but I bought a Kolpin storage box that bolted on to the front. Carries small shovel, come along, axe, saws, spare oil and filter etc. I would highly recommend the Polaris RZR 570. The original 800 RZR had a very small rear box but the 570 had a different configuration with motor and transmission so the box I believe is 8 or 10in larger than the 800 was. My 150lb dog rides in the box with no issues. A lot of times we strap backpacks to the roof with a ratchet strap. Like I said before the 570 has not restricted me in doing anything I want and I would highly recommend it.

[Good2bCanadian]

Looking at the Yamaha Wolverine myself. Just enough sport and utility, not to mention the Yamaha dependability.

[Rotorwash]

Gotta admit that honda builds great stuff. We have a 1990 honda 300 at work that has a billion miles on it. Oil change whenever someone remembers and a new battery every so often is about all it gets. When i started working there i looked in the diffs they were dry and probably had been for years. Thing still fires first kick when the battery is dead and purrs along like it was only a couple years old.
Amazingly tough units

Oh and if your having issues with dust and a full windscreen. Invest in a half windscreen. It prevents the low pressure behind from sacking dust into the cab

[tipper]

Looking at the Yamaha Wolverine myself. Just enough sport and utility, not to mention the Yamaha dependability.
I have been looking at these as well. Pretty nice having the cargo box that will fold up if you need to carry more passengers.

[Darksith]

As you can see there are a million different suggestions...some of the better ones from a guy that owns a rhino...staying under the 500kg gvw if you ever might get say a bison draw or hunt up north is a great thought. Ones with a box are more versatile than the more sportier ones, able to haul more gear, pack out a full moose (I've done it easy). Honda and yamaha ate the most reliable, with Polaris close behind. The rest of the stuff (heaters, windshields...etc) are just mods done to any machine. If you run a full windshield you must have a back wall behind the seats or you will suffer from dust. SxS are sweet for hunting, and fun. Don't buy the hype that trails are cut out for quads only, rare have I ever had to turn back

The smaller machines like the rhino 450 or ranger 570 will use less gas which means you need to pack less...they all tow a trailer. Pay attention to putting heavy loads in the box behind the rear axle...changes the stability of the machine

[Buckmeister]

One suggestion. If you are planning on doing any hunting up north the designated trails into the mountains such as Halfway or Redfern trails have a 500 kg weight restriction. In recent years they have been enforcing the rules (they quoted me $280 fine and they have made people chopper out their machine). On the Yedhe trail they sit at the bridge and charge anybody caught being over weight. I personally own a Polaris RZR 570 which is one of the few side x sides light enough. It is awesome, I have packed out a whole cow elk in the box. My buddy bought the Ranger 570 it is also light enough. Bigger box for carrying gear and stuff but not as much fun when out playing in the mud. Both are excellent machines.

But what happens when you get an animal and the machine is now over that 500kg restriction??? My atv weighs 600lbs dry, I'm 200 lbs, and my cow elk was 400 lbs. Throw in fuel and gear too. That's over 1200lbs all together which translates to 544kgs....on my ATV.

[Buckmeister]

My choice

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/48rollbarin.jpg

[Barracuda]

But what happens when you get an animal and the machine is now over that 500kg restriction??? My atv weighs 600lbs dry, I'm 200 lbs, and my cow elk was 400 lbs. Throw in fuel and gear too. That's over 1200lbs all together which translates to 544kgs....on my ATV.


the 500 kg limit is for the vehicle only

[Bugle M In]

My choice

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/48rollbarin.jpg

That's nice!...my pick or an old Scout

[Darksith]

But what happens when you get an animal and the machine is now over that 500kg restriction??? My atv weighs 600lbs dry, I'm 200 lbs, and my cow elk was 400 lbs. Throw in fuel and gear too. That's over 1200lbs all together which translates to 544kgs....on my ATV.

That doesn't matter, as long as the stamped gvw is under 500kg you can load as much gear or mod up the machine as much as you want. It's a completely ridiculous rule but it's still a rule

[bcsteve]

We got a stopped by the CO on my Argo 6x6 during the bison hunt a few years ago. The CO pulled out a little book with all the ATV/UTV GVW's, it even had my Argo. We were under so it wasn't an issue but they do check.

[Gateholio]

Is this 500kg rule something that needs to be revisited? I understand why the rules were brought in, but is there a real difference between someone using a 500kg or a 800kg machine?

[KodiakHntr]

I think it was implemented before side by sides became mainstream, and was there to prevent guys from trying to take their Toyota's and Suzuki's in on some of these trails.

[Darksith]

The rule does need to be revisited...500kg vs 800kg...yeah there is a huge difference BUT my rhino is 510kg...if I put the tracks on it it is much softer on the ground than a 350kg atv...800kg is gonna let a bunch of samurai on the trails

[todbartell]

Yamaha 700 can fit an entire elk no problem. 3 wide bench seat. Best? Not sure but it works good

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14319891_10153991961097992_4550044022199256531_n.j pg?oh=4ba2f807924f2645ec1bd7f05dadb7f8&oe=5888FBA1

[morphiend]

Todbartell - is that the Exo K2 bag in the back?

[lambchop]

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z385/lambchop4/IMG-20131012-00022_zpsnfcpsijk.jpg (http://s1187.photobucket.com/user/lambchop4/media/IMG-20131012-00022_zpsnfcpsijk.jpg.html)

[sparkymacker]

I would get a Jeep and armour it up rather than buy a side by side. To start spending over 20K on a UTV is crazy in my humble opinion. The track of a jeep is not much wider that a UTV from what I can tell?

[TCMX]

Yamaha Viking

very durable
good on fuel
get a winch and windshield

[325]

Yamaha Viking

very durable
good on fuel
get a winch and windshield

My only complaint with the Yamaha for hunting is that they are noisy. My Pioneer is much quieter

[todbartell]

Todbartell - is that the Exo K2 bag in the back?

yes sir 3500

[AgSilver]

I would get a Jeep and armour it up rather than buy a side by side. To start spending over 20K on a UTV is crazy in my humble opinion. The track of a jeep is not much wider that a UTV from what I can tell?

Depends if you get a 50" one or not. About the narrowest Jeep/Samurai/etc that I looked at was 60".

[Xenomorph]

Depends if you get a 50" one or not. About the narrowest Jeep/Samurai/etc that I looked at was 60".

CJ5s and Willys can be narrow. Definitely if nostalgic or just for shits and giggles, for less money than a well equipped UTV you could build yourself a classic, road legal and outdoor worthy CJ/Willy.



Willys MB


Willys MB Ford GPW


Weight
2,453 lb (1,113 kg) empty


Length
132 1⁄4 in (3.36 m)


Width
62 in (1.57 m)













69 3⁄4 in (1.77 m)









CJ-5


Willys CJ-5/Jeep CJ-5


Dimensions


Wheelbase
81 in (2,057 mm) (1954-1971) 83.5 in (2,121 mm) (1972-1983)


Length
138.2 in (3,510 mm)


Width
68.5 in (1,740 mm)

[AgSilver]

Those would both be pretty cool. There is something about being able to fit on 50" trail, though. I know I've even been in some spots on my dad's quad that were dicey at quad width (48"'ish, I think?). Just kinda depends how far you want to go before you have to start walking, I think.

[Xenomorph]

Those would both be pretty cool. There is something about being able to fit on 50" trail, though. I know I've even been in some spots on my dad's quad that were dicey at quad width (48"'ish, I think?). Just kinda depends how far you want to go before you have to start walking, I think.

Chainsaw and move, and if you'd see my full size SUV you'd know I'm not afraid to get ...aham! ...deeeeeeep!

[264mag]

Left foot and right foot are the best side by side for hunting, by far!

[AgSilver]

Chainsaw and move, and if you'd see my full size SUV you'd know I'm not afraid to get ...aham! ...deeeeeeep!

I can imagine!

[pnbrock]

My tracker fits down most quad trails have the pinstripes to prove it.

[Barracuda]

that's just it quad trails or any MV trail for that matter are already established and my tracker goes most anywhere any normal person goes quadding . no they will never go where a quad or a sxs goes but in reality for 90% of the trails out there a samurai or tracker will handle them without issue as long as you don't worry about the body. the most important thing is to keep it as light as you can .

[hawk-i]

I've got a '16 polaris ranger 570 midsize with glass windshield, wipers/washers, rear glass window, heater kit, 2" lift, and 27" tires....awesome hunting machine and it still fits in my pick-up truck.:)

Done the jeep, samurai thing....absolutely no comparison where it will take you. SXS wins hands down. :)

[spikeforklake]

midsized ranger, good on gas, gets in the tight spots, fits in box of your truck, you can buy one brand new for 10k, few sheets of plywood gets you a roof, doors, etc. tough as nails, been using them for years

[rockrabbitt]

Honda Pioneer 700 fits in the back of my truck haven't had any problems on the quad trails I have been on, has all the power I need plus I can take my grandkids hunting with me.

[albravo2]

Love my Rhino. Have a glass window and a heater. Very reliable and it has gone some amazing places.