Polaris Ranger 6x6

[yooperdave]

Does anybody here have a newer Polaris Ranger 6x6?

http://www.polarispowersports.com/ranger/6x6.shtml

Is the Kubota better yet for traction, available options & price?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

 

[jfdlaw]

I had one. I'm actually sorry I sold it. The comparison to the Kubota is tough. They are really different machines.

The Polaris is a big ATV. It is fast, fun, comfortable and can go just about anywhere that doesn't require tracks. It also can do work.

The Kubota can do a lot of work, and can get you places you most places you need to go. I don't think its as comfortable or as capable on extreme terrain.

IMHO Polaris is fun first, work second. Kubota is work first, fun second.

I know I'm going to get blasted (this forum seems very heavily RTV biased) but I think the Polaris 6x6 can go places the RTV can not go. I also think its more stable on hills. It's hard to beat a third axel and set of wheels when you need that extra couple inches of wheelbase or side stability.

I replaced my 6x6 with another Polaris (4x4 professional series). I went Polaris over Kubota primarily because it can seat three adults in comfort and is more fun. If you are buying a 6x6 to cross tough terrain, go for it. If you are buying it to do chores around the house understand that its turning radius is big, and it will tear up the grass.

My wife misses the stability of the 6x6, but I like the agility of the 4x4.

My tractor dealer (I also have a B2410) says Kubota has had a lot of comments regarding the lack of a full width (3 place) seat. Hopefully they will address this in the future. If they do I'll try to convince my wife we need two UTV's.

As to price, I think the Kubota is more expensive than the Polaris, and it should be. The polaris has a gas ATV engine. The Kubota a diesel tractor engine. Kubota HST, Polaris belt drive transmission. Kubota is much more involved and detailed machine and should be priced higher. In fact I think there should be a bigger differential than there is.

If you are looking at Polaris, don't pay list. Get quotes from all your local dealers. I found substantial price discounting when I bought my second machine. You have to ask, and may have to travel. I saved about $2,000 off list, but had to go about 120 miles.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

John

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I know I'm going to get blasted (this forum seems very heavily RTV biased) but I think the Polaris 6x6 can go places the RTV can not go.)</font>

OK John, you know this blasting is coming /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Just kidding.

Dave, check out this thread. We talked about the Ranger vs. RTV.

 

[Rip]

Dave, I have an '04 Ranger 6x6 and love it! Runs really well over a wide range of rugged and steep terrain both with or without a sizable load and at a good clip. Very smooth at all speeds and conditions. Plenty of power also.

The comment about large turning radius is valid. I swapped out the solid rear gear case (no differential) with the exact same case from the '04 4x4 with a lockable/unlockable true differential. Made a BIG difference!!

These are not really comparable machines however, even though there is some good overlap in capabilities. The Ranger is a real serious workhorse ATV while the Kubota is a light pick-up style tractor. Each will do certain things better than the other.

I also have a Power Trac 1845 for serious work so the Ranger is more for serious fun although it is also set up to carry a 60 gallon CAFS (makes 600 gal of class A foam) first responce fire system (800 lbs loaded). It can get to remote places faster than anything else around.

What did you get tractor wise? I know you were looking at the PTs for a while.

 

[yooperdave]

Hi Rip,

I would still love a power trac 425, but did not like seeing the large price increases over the last year or so. I know steel prices were a major contributor. I may still call Power Trac to see if they are delivering anywhere near me to save on some shipping costs.

I own property in Michigan's U.P. and my girlfriend here owns a farm. They are both very hilly, with woods and some swamp. I want to use the machine for mostly recreation 12 months a year, and want traction for hills, snow, mud, etc.

I hope to almost eliminate the need for a snowmobile to get around the property in the winter. Snowmobiles are so expensive and I could only use one a few months a year.

Am I on the right track here? Will a 4x4 still do what I want, or will the 6x6 do much more?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

 

[Rip]

Dave,

The new Ranger 4x4 with IRS is a real nice machine from all I have heard and certainly would be a good choice in my opinion. The 6x6 like I have offers somewhat more capacity and ultimate traction and floation for about $1k more. The ride is incredibly smooth although it may not seem like it should be.

Mechanical tracks (that replace the tires & wheels with a sprocket-driven rubber track system on all four corners) can provide extreem performance for all types of snow on a Ranger 4x4 for around $3 to 3.5K.

Check out http://utilityoffroad.com (Staging area and Ranger tech in particular) for a lot of good discussion and first hand info on these machines. A good number of the board members have tracks on their Rangers or Rhinos and over a half dozen have extensive recent reports and photos of their rigs in action. Quite impressive IMO.

I used to have an ARGO 8x8 with 18" SuperTracks and it was quite the snowcat, but was less than ideal as a dry-land ATV, so I sold it for the Ranger. While I do not have tracks for it yet, I am thinking seriously about them for next year. While a number of folks have Litefoot or Kimplex, the Tatou HD tracks seem to be the "best", at least for the 4x4s. Even with just tires, the Ranger will do quite well in snow with the 6x6 having an edge in flotation.

The easiest and cheapest tracks for the 6x6 are the TruTrax ( www.trutrax.com ) which wrap around the two rear tires on each side rather than replace the wheels & tires like the mechanical types. They also have a couple of options for the front wheels.

As I mentioned, in stock configuration the 6x6 has a solid rear drive axle with no differential so it does not like to make tight turns with out a lot of tire scrub and/or protest. I swapped in the lockable differential from the '04 4x4, and solved that issue. The 4x4 comes with a lockable differential, so no problem there (Rhino has no rear differential by the way). The switchable Polaris "On Demand" All Wheel Drive system has worked well for me also.

I know what you mean about the PT price increases, but most other similar items jumped up during that period as well. Pts use a lot of heavy steel too. I got my 1845 used and it has met my expectations and needs quite well. They have been having a winter "sale" of sorts with a few percent off which would perhaps cover shipping and then some. Used 425s are periodically available if you keep your eys open.

In summery, the Ranger 4x4 will do very well as it is and you could add tracks if you want. The 6x6 will do somewhat better as is, but you may want to do the differential swap for best handling (about $1K). A set of TruTrax will turn it into a real snow machine if you find the need.

 

[Dargo]

Rip,
Does your Polaris have fuel injection? I'm really curious as to how the Ranger 6X6 with the new 700 fuel injected engine works out. I was set to buy an '04 Ranger 6X6 until two buddies of mine who own Rangers talked me out of it because of durability / reliability issues they have suffered. I bought the Rhino to go along with my RTV based on their experience.
However, I still think the Ranger 6X6 has the best layout and I'm still convinced that 6 tires pulling is a great idea. I really like my Rhino as it is a true beast and is fast. However, if the Ranger 6X6 with fuel injection proves to be reliable and Polaris has addressed some of their durability issues, I'm certainly not opposed to adding a Ranger to my small fleet of UV's. My biggest complaints with the Rhino is the time to warm it up in the winter before being drivable, and (as you mentioned) no rear differential. Let us know how your Ranger works out. I'm still waiting and watching. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Rip]

The '05 Ranger 6x6 and 4x4 still use the 500 cc carburator engine, only the limited production (at this point) 4x4 700 XP has EFI. I am sure that EFI is the future for most larger ATVs and RUVs from most manufactures.

So far I have not had any problems with my Ranger in cold (but not super cold) weather. It starts easily with the choke on first or second attempt and needs a little tending for the first minute or so, then is pretty much good to go.

 

[Dargo]

I think I got spoiled by having diesel Gators for the last 5 years and now a diesel RTV. My Rhino always starts easy with 3 pumps on the throttle and full choke, but needs about 3 to 5 minutes running time before it drives normally. I went riding today, around 50 degrees outside, and it still took the same time to warm up and run properly. Having EFI and a rear differential would make the Rhino ideal for me. Away from my yard, the lack of a rear differential is no big deal, but with my yard being soft right now, it sure rips up my grass. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I'd think that if the 700 EFI works out as I think it would, surely they would install it in their 6X6 Rangers. That would be something to compete with anything on the market now without a doubt. A small complaint about my Rhino is also that it cost me nearly $1650 in aftermarket accessories to get the way I want it. First I added the BlackRhino Products (BRP) CDI unit to remove the speed limiter and improve performance. (now runs 54mph according to my GPS) That was $250. Then, I added the full aluminum skid plate package; another $250. The protection package wouldn't be complete without $100 worth of Stick Stoppers to protect the axles and CV boots. I then added a Warn winch $350. Then came the need for the center console, glove box door, under seat storage compartment, and improved air intake; $220 more. Finally I added larger tires and fender extensions to the tune of $450 more. Oh yeah, I also needed to add a switch to be able to turn off the reverse speed limiter; another $20. I wonder how many of these options the Ranger 6X6 would come with from the factory, and how many of them would have to be added at extra cost? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Rip]

Well, the biggest thing I spent was for the rear diff, but that would not have been an issue on the 4x4. Otherwise, the main things I have added were a folding rear seat which was about $275 (seat from Cabela's, seat belts, steel and bolts), RangerWare rear wheel well liners ($75) and an aluminum rear roll cage/top (went a bit overboard on this - over $500 'cause I had to get someone else to do the aluminum welding).

Depending on how this next wildfire season looks, I "may" set the CAFS system semi-permanatly directly on the 6x6 rear frame for instant access and get a new '05 4x4 (500 or 700?) with the IRS and quieter ride for "fun". Would move the seat to the new unit, but may have to modify the top to fit the new rear bed.

So I have spent about as much as you have on extras, but in different areas. In any case I really like the Ranger and have no regrets. Several friends have the Rhino though and they love theirs as well. They used a motorcycle helmet stretch net for leg minders.... seems a little light, but may well do the trick. Hope you have something on yours so you do not add to the roster of the "Rhino-Bitten".

Good luck and Enjoy!!

 

[Dargo]

Rip,
I just returned from about 5 hours of riding with my kids and their friends at some property I own. The general consensus is that nobody wants to have to ride the RTV after riding the Rhino. I'm going to have to drop by my local Polaris dealer tomorrow to see the 700 EFI unit. Do you know by chance if it comes with a power lift bed? If so, it may be really tempting to sell my RTV while it is still like new and get another "fun" side by side, that can also do work.
I've heard that the Ranger 4X4 is wider than the Rhino? I'd really love to have the Ranger 6X6, but the big attraction for me is the EFI 700 engine. After having the power of a slightly hopped up Rhino, I'm afraid that the 6X6 Ranger will feel sluggish. Besides, I really want EFI. I'd have to assume that the 4X4 Ranger will run with the Rhino. I'd hate to see my RTV go, but it just could... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Rip]

I believe a power bed lift is still available for the new Rangers... I know it was available in '04.

The Rangers are about 5' wider than the Rhinos, but I have not found it to be a problem and it makes for a very stable vehicle. The rear differential in the Rangers is nice too.

From what I have heard, the 700 is very quick off the line, but is factory limited such that a stock 500 will keep up with it or even beat it under most conditions. I also hear that there are easy ways to unleash more of the 700 potential which is certainly more than the 500 could muster (although the 500 can be opened up as well).

As I mentioned, I may be looking at a new 4x4 in addition to my 6x6, so will be considering both engines.

 

[yooperdave]

One of my local Polaris dealers wants $14,500 + tax for a demo 2004 6x6 with a soft cab, doors, and a plow.

One of my other local Polaris dealers wanted $10,200 + tax for a new 2005 6x6 - no options. He later lowered his price to $9,600.

Is the independent rear suspension quite an improvement for the 2005 models?

Are these prices in line?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

 

[Panache]

Polaris of Chatanooga Tn has them for $9083 out the door. Probably not an option for you but gives some idea of their cost.

 

[Rip]

Dave, The '05 6x6 still have the same front & rear suspension as the '04 & '03. Only the '05 4x4 got the all new rear IRS. The 6x6 has an incredibly smooth ride along with matching traction though with full independent mid-axle and swing-arm rear axle.

The new models are quieter, have the new style cargo box (nice, but weaker tailgate hinge), a 2" hitch receiver instead of 1 1/4", and a 250 lb higher overall weight rating although I think this is just a numbers adjustment as the older ones would carry more than they were rated for in the first place.

If it were me (and I have both an '04 6x6 and a '05 4x4), I would be happy with an '04 6x6 for the right price.... you are not gaining much with the '05 on this model. The Curtis or Glacier plow is pretty good, I would be warry of other brands.

The cabs on either will make for a noisier ride inside with the hard cabs being worse. This is nothing unique to Rangers, just the various accoustic laws at work. On the other hand they make riding in cold or bad weather a better experience.

They are both real nice machines for work or pleasure.

 

[Burt_Fuller]

This is my first post, so please be understanding if my "forum edicate" is not what it should be.

I have a 2004 RTV WS and a 1999 Ranger 6x6. We operate a catfish farm and a day-hunting & fishing operation.

If you've got tough places to go the Ranger is the ticket. Mine is very old (650+ hours), but we still use in to get to the really muddy and steep places. It rides much better than the RTV; no comparison at all! And it's much faster. It is a work horse. We tow and haul just about everything. But it does have its downside. Belt drive; it is shaft drive AFTER it is belt drive. The shield around the belt leaks (even after being replaced, twice!) and cause the belt to slip. It doesn't turn very tight. And it's almost impossible to find a competent and honest mechanic.

The RTV is nothing short of incredible. We bought ours in December, 2004 and now have 120+ hours on it. No major problems have occurred. There is an issue with the locking differential and a small hydraulic leak on the dump mechanism. I'm planning to replace the WS tires. They are tough, but woefully inadequate for farmlife; no traction in the mud. The RTV is strong, but slow. We have pulled a feed buggy with over 2.25 tons of feed over uneven terrain without any problem.

I love the Ranger, but if you need a machine that will work (and play a little) then you need the RTV (but get some ATV style tires, not the WS). Polaris has probably addressed some of the weaknesses with the Ranger, but until they get rid of that belt and train some mechanics (at least in this area), I will not recommend or consider purchasing another Ranger.

Hope this is of some help.

 

[arkieshooter]

I have both the Polaris 6X6 and the new Kawasaki Diesel mule 3010. The mule is a great little flat ground machine, but it won't go where the polaris will. 42 hrs on the mule and it is really stingy on fuel. EPS is nice also. The only problem I've had with the polaris has been the wiring harness for the throttle position senson. Wiring is too short and it was pulling apart inside the plastic connector causing all manner of crazy symptoms. removed the connector and wired/soldered things back together and now no problems. The Ranger isn't as quiet as the kawasaki, but will carry and pull lots more. Lots harder on fuel than the Mule. Ranger is a better machine, especially with the bigger tires and wheels. If you add a winch, make sure it's at least 4000 # and use snatch blocks.

 

[farmboy12]

A bit of a late reply, dont ya think?

 

[rox]

arkieshooter, Welcome to TBN! I did the same thing when I first joined. Trust me I was pulling up tons of old threads and jsut replying not noticing at all the dates. Hey it is still a good topic, right

 

[Cord]

A bit of a late reply, dont ya think?

Not as late as this one!!! lol

I thought these had a swing arm in back with solid axles until I looked at their website. When Polaris go to independent suspension?