Anybody running a RZR?

[NM_Shooter]

I'm not a fan of most ATV use.  Maybe it's just that I've seen bad apples on campgrounds that let their kids run around in circles all day.  Multiple kids on ATVs, no helmets, constant noise.  I've no patience. 

Anyway, during this last elk hunt, if we hadn't had an ATV, we would have been in a world of hurt.  I decided to ease up a bit and start shopping around.  There is no way I can get my wife to drive an ATV, so I decided on a UTV, and focused specifically on the RZR because of the narrowness of the frame.  I found a good deal on a used one in Colorado (2010, 120 miles on the odometer) that I will be retrieving shortly. 

I am a little spooked by the roll over potential, due to the narrow frame that I also want... but most of the videos that I've seen for rollovers happened because folks were operating them in completely unsafe ways.  I think 50% of the rollover videos have drivers that were holding a beer at the time 

I'm intrigued by the snow tracks that can be added.  Seems that they do really well in powder. 

So... does anyone here have experience with the Polaris RZR?  Any advice?

[MaineRhino]

A friend of mine has the new RZR 4 seater model. Kinda looks like a sandrail type of buggy. He loves it!

I've met several RZR's on the trail while riding my Rhino, and the occupants always looked cramped. They all say the ride and handling is great, but limited on rear storage bed capacity. I don't think the bed dumps either...

I prefer the Rhino for what I do, like hunt and ice fish. I may haul a little firewood with it too. I think the Rhino may have a higher center of gravity as well, and may be prone to tipping in some situations. I have not rolled mine, and do not plan to any time soon. I have, however, rolled every other 4-wheeler i've owned!

[NM_Shooter]

Thanks.. you are the guy with snow tracks too, right?  I've seen some amazing videos of those.  Folks on the UTV with tracks step out and sink up to their belts.  I've heard the big problem with the tracks are shallow buried trees.  The track tries to go under the tree rather than over it, and when you try to back up, the snow lodges behind you and you get stuck. 

I'm okay with a little cramped... no, the bed does not dump, and it is very short on storage / hauling capability.  I'm hoping that it makes it up on fun factor and trail maneuverability.  I have a ton of old logging roads on the ranch and I plan on clearing them a bit to make trail riding a bit more fun. 

I went for a test ride at a Polaris dealership a couple of months ago, and I was pretty impressed.  The owner of the dealership took me for a ride, and the first thing he did was scare me.  Sort of like a Land Rover demo I guess.  I hopped in, and he immediately floored it through the parking lot, driving right over the concrete parking curbs.  The suspension just flew right over the top.  Then he nailed it again, went over a dirt hill in the lot, and I was again surprised at how well the suspension worked.  He also gave me a braking demo.  I thought that we were going to end up on the road, and I was spooked because we were running along a fence so we could not see traffic.  It stopped very, very quickly. 

I don't like that it only has hydraulic brakes.  I'm a bit nervous about the narrowness.  But it does seem that folks who get them love them.  The local dealer has sold over 300 in the past two years, and I never see them come up for sale on Craigslist or in the paper.  Given some of the videos that I've seen, I was nervous about a used one.  The one I'm buying is from the original owner in Fort Collins who is 70 years old.  He bought it for himself and his wife, after she quit being able to use ATVs due to macular degeneration.  He's had it a year, and has only put 120 miles on it.  (Just my luck this guy's last name is probably Kneival, and it has spent twice as many miles in the air).  Anyway, I'm taking a chance on a used one since I'm getting it about $3k less than new.  Bonus for me is that it is the green body, which I wanted.  I didn't want to have this thing stick out, as I am going to be using it for hunting / fishing and wanted it to be less conspicuous.  He claims never wrecked, garage kept, and just like new.  We'll see soon enough!

Here's a Darwin example of the one I don't want to buy used....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_51Han53OZk&feature=related

[NM_Shooter]

I gotta post this one too.  You can just hear the banjo music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZcffkgE__Y&NR=1

[MaineRhino]

Wow, sounds like a great deal! They are very nice, i'm sure you will enjoy it!

Regarding width, the Polaris Ranger is too wide for our local trails, but the Rhino is OK. I think the RZR is even narrower.

Those videos are too funny!   I like my stuff too much to do stupid things like that.

I like the bed of the Rhino. After all, where would I put the lawnchair without it?

[peternap]

Girly trucks! JUst kidding...

I'll stick with my Grizzly though.