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SXS comparison questions

8.1K views 25 replies 25 participants last post by  MARK MACALUSO  
#1 ·
I'm fixing to be in the market for a new SXS. Currently have a ranger 500 mid size ive had since 13. Haven't had a single issue outa it other than the cv joints going out (which I've heard this is a very common issue with rangers). Right now I'm looking at a new ranger 1000 crew and single bench seat as well as the new mule pro fx/pro fxt. Ive heard really really great things from many ppl about the new mules. Even to the degree of major ranches swapping over all their rangers for mules. However, my ranger never failed me one single time. Its been a phenomenal machine. My hunting is mainly hill country so lots of rocks and rough terrain.

Now for the 2nd part....... is it worth going to the 6 passenger buggy over the 3? At times I could use the 6 seat capacity but I think the majority of the time it will go unused. I definitely don't want to turn into the lease chaperone either [emoji23].

Anyone that has had both or ridden in both have any insight? Pros and cons on both? Thanks yall

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#4 ·
I’ve had two Polaris Rangers , basically the one you currently have and then upgraded to the crew, I needed it due to a wife and two kids. The crew was also nice at the lease when it was just the guys, we could ride around together and not have to each other’s dust. So get what fits your needs honestly.

With this being said, I’m in the market for another smaller one, if your gonna sell the 500, I may be interested....


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#7 ·
I’ve had two Polaris Rangers , basically the one you currently have and then upgraded to the crew, I needed it due to a wife and two kids. The crew was also nice at the lease when it was just the guys, we could ride around together and not have to each other’s dust. So get what fits your needs honestly.

With this being said, I’m in the market for another smaller one, if your gonna sell the 500, I may be interested....

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I'm going to be putting my Polaris 400 Ranger up for sale soon. I can send you some pictures if interested. It has been absolutely flawless which makes me nervous about selling it, but I am going to need something bigger with taking more people.
 
#6 ·
We looked at the following in detail and test road them before our purchase 2 months ago.

Ranger 1000 (3-seat)
Ranger 570 (3-seat)
Yamaha Viking 700 (3-seat)
Honda 1000 (3 seat)
Bass Tracker 800 SX (3-seat) (Made by Arctic Cat and sold at Bass Pro Shops)
Kawasaki Mule Pro 800 FXR

We settled on the Kawasaki Mule Pro 800 FXR and love it. The rides the best, the low end torque is fantastic and fit and finish is great. Plus it comes standard with a 3 year warranty. The others you get either 1 year or 1.5 year and have to purchase extra if you want it.

We've used Kawasaki's for the last 23 years and never had any problems with them.
1997 Mule 2500 almost 5000 hours and only two belts.
2004 Kawasaki 700 Prairie over 700 hours and no issues.
2004 Kawasaki 360 Prairie over 500 hours and no issues.
2005 Kawasaki 750 Brute Force over 1000 hours and no issues.
2015 Kawasaki Mule 400 with over 600 hours and no issues. Just sold that one.

Mainland Cycle was the best price and most pleasant place to purchase from. No hidden fees like most. The MSRP was $14,999 and he is selling them for $12,999 plus TT&L and prep fee of about $400. We have farm exempt and so that saved us over $1K.

The Ranger 1000 road great too and the power was excellent. However, you don't get the hard doors, no roof, plain wheels and plain tires. To upgrade to the XP was about $2000 more.
 
#10 ·
The crew cab is the way to go no matter what brand you buy. Better to have the extra room and not need it than need it and not have it.

But I would also consider the CanAm Defender. I just switched over from a Polaris Ranger to the CanAm last year mainly due to the supposedly better reliability. The CanAm is quiet, smooth and has a little bit more ground clearance stock than the Ranger. I had two Rangers before I switched over and mainly used them in the cow pastures along the San Bernard river bottom and about 65 days a year in the mud duck and goose hunting. I can’t complain about the Ranger, but so far with one full season under my belt I really like CanAm. The Mule is a nice machine too, but they are more suited for dry conditions. We had some old mules in the 90’s and early 2000’s that were tanks, but they rode like one and were heavy as one too. I know the newer ones are much smoother and faster now, but they are still heavy and sit lower. Not good for what me and the boys need in the marsh and rice fields.

Stay away from the cheap cabelas & bass pro buggies.
 
#11 ·
I’ve had good results from Polaris. Had an 07 ranger 500 three seater. Then upgraded it to a 2015 900 six seater because I needed more space. The crew cab ride was better but if you ever had to turn around it was a PITA. I sold it and went back with a 2019 900 3 seater, all the time I thought I needed all that extra crew cab seating I never had more than 3 people in it more than twice. I enjoy being able to whip it around and in tight spots that the crew wouldn’t have made it thru.

Best deal I found was thru Polaris fun center in Bryan. They’ve made it worth the drive for me on my last two and another for my in-laws. Chad Spears is who I deal with now.


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#12 ·
I hear all these Polaris horror stories and honestly they leave me shaking my head. I’ve enjoyed very good service from my 2013 Ranger 800 Crew and 2016 Sportsman ATV. I do not baby them but I maintain carefully and avoid water when I can. Not sure how I could ask for better reliability given the muddy conditions encountered waterfowl Hunting and rough country turkey hunting. Yeah, I go through CV joint boots, same as other brands, and had to spend about $1000 tightening the front end steering and suspension on the 800 Crew last year...thanks to lots of rocky roads on the turkey lease. My next six-seater will be another Crew, maybe next year.
 
#13 ·
We have always been a a Ranger family. We currently have 6 Rangers, 3 - 3 seaters and 3 crews that are from 2004 to 2020. We still drive and use each regularly on our Hill Country Ranch In Rocksprings. I would never own another SxS. Rangers are absolute beasts and if you service and maintain them regularly, they will last forever.
 
#19 ·
Loved all three of my Rangers over the years. The newer models are just awesome. I'm a 6X6 guy, lots of heavy loads duck hunting. They quit making them in 2017. I pick up my new Can Am Defender HD10 6X6 this afternoon. It's a bad bad boy!

2013 6X6 Ranger will be in classifieds shortly.
 
#22 ·
Lots of problems with the Ranger new 1000s right now. I would go Honda Pioneer, Kawasaki Mule Pro, JD Gator, or Can Am Hd8 or 10. The Honda Pioneer doesn't have a belt drive which would be a big benefit in hills. The Mule Pro switches from 3 to 6 people and also has a shorter wheelbase so it doesnt feel near as big as the other 6 seaters. The Can Ams do have a nice interior with lots of storage. The JD Gator is also nice and can be the best of all worlds.
 
#25 ·
Love my Mule Pro FXT - the ability to switch from a front seat to a front and back seat in about 2 minutes is awesome. When it's just me at the lease, i run the single seat with the big bed so I have plenty of room to load up feed, wood, etc. With the kids and dogs cruising around the neighborhood, convert it to the 6 seat configuration and rock and roll.

Last weekend I had 700 lbs of protein and corn in it, plus me and the rest of my gear. Barely even noticed it was there. Warranty is awesome, have used it a couple of times with zero issue from the dealership or Kawasaki. Bought the extended 3 year warranty without thinking about it because it is worth it.

I will have to replace a rear CV boot this weekend though, looks like I got a small hole in it somehow, likely from running through some brush and a stick punched it. I have front CV guards, probably going to spring for some rear ones now just as insurance.

It's not without faults, but overall I was more impressed with it than any other model. We have 5 of them running on our deer lease now, and we put them through their paces.
 
#26 ·
Just depends on what you want to do . I have had Ranger crews for a long time and just bought a 1000 Crew 2021 and have been flawless. You have to maintain them just like everything else and it will treat you well. I have looked at the Mules to but just did not have the carrying capacity and comfort for me. Go try them all and just get what fits you the best and do maintenance and I dont think you will have a problem with any of them