Let’s talk sxs

Will be in the market at some point probably at the first of the year.

I have experience with the Yamaha rhino and Polaris ranger and both have good and bad.

I like the idea of seating atleast 4 but my big issue is length that most get out to.

Where I hunt can be pretty tight at times and hard to maneuver. Thought about a Jeep but for the family I think a sxs will be more fun.

I’m starting to lean towards the Honda pioneer and a huge plus not being belt drive. Any others that are not belt drive? My dad has a ranger now and it needed a belt at probably 40-45 hours. Maybe not normal but definitely one thing he was told when buying it. They eat them up.

Kawasaki mule pro is same length 2 seat and 4 seat

Look at the Mule MX series...they are bit shorter in length and width. More of a midsize and come at a better price. Built like the FX but a bit smaller engine, smaller bed length and larger fuel tank.

RTV isn't belt drive, other than honda most will be belt drive.

Go with mule.....reason, look at warranty. mule 3 years, other 6 months to a year...that in itself should tell you something.
And full disclosure, I have a mule and have never had another brand.

mule pro

You mentioned the SXS would be more fun than a jeep so I take that to mean you will be playing with it so expect it to get torn up sooner.

If you leave it alone, the belts last a long time.
I have two Mules, a 2001 with 2235 hours and a 2005 with 1615 hours and am only on my 3rd belt on 2001 and 2nd belt on 2005 - and they get do get used.
If you put taller tires on there you put more stress on the drive train and belt is the weakest link already so naturally, it's going to go first.
Belts are easy to change and much less expensive to repair than transmissions, etc. - that being said, I've never seen or heard of a Kubota or Honda losing a clutch.
The Honda will be considerably more delicate than the Kubota so be aware of that if you plan to go where there are lots of rocks, logs, etc.
Hondas are made to do a job well while Kubotas are made to do the job well for decades.

Also if you listen to the Kawasaki dealers and keep it in low range unless you are going over 30, you will wear everything out quicker.
Yeah, I have three friends who have newer mules and that is what the dealers told all of them at 3 different dealerships.
If you are going under 5 MPH, creeping thru switchbacks and up and down hills, yes, keep it in low range and it's easier on belt.

Sure I would love a new Kubota or Honda but can't justify the prices when I can do same thing for a lot less.

Look at the Can - am defender. Best machine I have driven. I’ve had mine for 2 years with 200+ hours on it with no issues at all

The Honda’s are nice but they are very loud. My buddy has 4 and I can’t stand to drive in them. After driving a bet driven for 10 years the gear system seems antiquated as well.

Polaris isn’t what they used to be. The Vikings suck all the way around. Low, loud and they are underpowered.

The mules are good machines. Just smaller than what I needed but solid machines.

Can am or Kawasaki for my money.

Wound up with a Can-Am Defender Lone Star. My buddy with a Pioneer rode in mine and within the first 20 minutes said his wife is going to kill him when he buys a twin to mine.

Things break, it happens. Can-Am has two year warranties with a lot of their promotions and if you're really worried about it then extended warranties are offered for less than a grand out to 3-5 years. Go with what you like the best, suits the purpose, and puts a smile on your face (as long as it doesn't have bigger issues like engines seizing or transmissions going belly up).

Same thing here. I looked at them all and narrowed it down to the Mule Pro FXT and the Can am Defender max (6 seater). I ended up getting a Can am defender lonestar as well and would do it again in a heart beat. The main thing i didn't like on the mule was the size of the bed in the 6 seater position. It was something like 21" deep, front to back. The seats were also just flat bench seats that werent all that comfortable, to me at least.

The defender is a big machine, no doubt, but it would surprise you how sharp it would turn and what it's capable of.

Didn't get to ride in one but did get a good look at one of the Can-Am Defender Lone Stars this morning.
A buddy sold his older kidney jarring Kubota and bought one.
He said his son has one and he was visiting 1 weekend ago and rode around his place in the hill country.

He went home and put his Kubota up for sale and sold it on Friday.
Went somewhere this morning and brought it home.

Kawasaki!

They are short but don’t give up leg room or ground clearance. Durable as hell. I see lots of people getting 3,000-5,000 miles out of the factory belts. High speeds causes high heat and that what kills all

We have the Teryx4, love it, but wish it had the bed size of the Mule. It’s powerful enough to carry 4 adults and a cooler to the top of the 13,000 foot high mountains in Colorado and never miss a beat.

Don’t have any desire to do the mud scene at all. Cost to much to tear up on purpose. The rhino served well for 10 years and it needed things changed out fairly early in life. Ranger my dad has is all stock and just gets used to work. Belt system sucks. Will replace this one with a heavy duty and see if that works better. I’ll look at the Kawasaki and can am. Buying these are like buying a car anymore.

Now if not late already is the time to get last years model.

Timing isn’t really the best right now but a good deal could change that. I will have to start getting serious and start looking in person.

I can say Kawasaki has good durability.
We have a 19 year old Mule 550. Just replaced the rear axle seal, which was no big job.
Other than that no problems at all, and it had the original drive belt for 18 years.

I have owned a few Polaris rangers and never had a issue with them, that being said I have a can am defender hd10 max xt now and it’s a Cadillac compared to Polaris. The turning radius is amazing for how big it is. My buddy has a pioneer and loves it but we do our thermal hunts we take mine now cause the pioneer is int belt driven it has to hit a certain rpm to shift well that creates high revs which equals more noise. The defender is the quietest machine I’ve ever owned. The only complaint I’ve had on it is the max (4 seater) sits real low so I did a hd spring swap and some forward a arms and put some 32” truck tires on it. Still rides like a caddy.

I'm on my 3rd SxS, I'll probably never buy another one due to cost and the application for my use. Next waste of money will be a small truck, come out cheaper with a lot more AC, Heat, Cab, street legal, etc. If you can get by with a small truck that's my next route. I have 900 crew Polaris now that has an oil leak I think is coming from the oil cooler.

Bought a Honda (always have) as it is not belt drive.

I enjoyed wrenching when I was younger, not so much any more.
Bought a 2014 Honda Pioneer 700-4. Replaced the battery this past year and that is the only thing other than oil and filter annually.
Buy once, cry once.

Just rode in a new one that a buddy bought. Most comfortable and quietest ride of any SxS I've been in.

almost everyone on the lease runs Rangers and 1 guy runs a Honda. The ones that are run hard break fast and expensive. The ones run reasonably do OK and dont break much.

I have a Ranger and not a fan of the belt drive, and the way Polaris does the 4 wheel drive annoys me. Mine keeps running with minimal wear so I cant justify buying a new one.

Has anyone had any experience with the Odes X Force? I wonder if they are loud?
Would be interested in hearing about a review...
They come with everything including the Kitchen sink

I would do your research, everything I read is bad, no local parts dealers, terrible CS/support in general, extremely cheaply built..... but I haven’t owned one or riden in one,

I personally would buy down in CC size then go off brand.

Kawasaki Mules have seemed to serve my cousins well. I like what I've seen of the MX series.

Mule Pro DXT (diesel) is my right arm 52 weeks a year.

Have not stuck it in black mud.
It has operated from 7°F to 107°F
It climbed Brewster county mountains, and also did not become a run-a-way coming back down. 2 men, rifles, packs, cooler. Low range 4WD, diff lock.
The power steering is nice.
It literally gets 20 mpg.
Last week it pulled a trailer loaded with thousands of pounds of scrap steel.

I cannot say enough good about it. It was one of the best purchases I've ever made. But, like I said I use it all the time.

That will be my next one but not a diesel, done with Polaris on my second one 2014 900 its had an motor oil leak at 26hrs and was claimed to be fixed under warranty 4 times, now out of warranty and it still leaks. I believe the oil filter seat wasn't machined right from the factory and it causes a seep at the oil filter. PIA

My Can-am Defender has ~1500 mile on original belt. Has a bracket lift and 30's on it. All I have done is change fluids and work it. Been an awesome machine. This is my 3rd SxS and by far the best. Its is the HD10 DPS MAX

Can Am is making a statement, their new one with the flatbed and underbody boxes looks awesome

What model is that?

https://www.utvguide.net/can-am-defender-pro-hd10/

That's too much UTV for my needs. I have a Gator but not the bucket seats. I'd go with the Mule if I bought a new one.

Looks like the big Mahindra model, with a gas engine.

And 30 mph faster