Honda owner thinking of turning to Polaris

[64moosecall]

I have a 06 Honda Rubicon, bought it new and it's been a great machine but am thinking of getting a used polaris six wheeler, but am leery of what I've heard is a maintenance heavy bike. Can anyone convince me it's worth it? I'll be running some pretty rough and mucky trails pulling in a camp

 

[BTK]

How much maintenance did you have to do on your Honda per mile? I have about 1050 miles on my six wheeler and have replaced all fluids multiple times , outer tie-rod ends, front axles, four a-arms bolts, an a-arm, brake reservoir cover, headlight, front bearings, and?? I rarely go out of low gear, so more hours than some. The high-beam light cover is fogged and cracked--I think from boiling gas outlet under it. It has hauled two moose and done some exploring. It really can go places, but it's hard to truly relax. I always keep a pair of dry socks and good walking boots with me. It's never been in water over the top of tires, never been in silty or salty water, just some muddy stuff, but I hate getting stuck so I stick to drier trails.
My Foreman and Rincon needed oil changes and one tie-rod when a rock got hit.
I will probably sell this and get the can-am when I feel flush. I think when it's running right, the six-wheeler will really impress you with it's capabilities. Figure half it's payload is spare parts though

 

[AKmud]

I'm not sold on the new Big Boss 800. I had an '04 500 version and loved it. Keep the chains tight, bearings greased, and run in low whenever you are pulling a trailer, on steep hills, and in anything very muddy and it is fine.

 

[thewhop2000]

My question is are 6 wheelers so much better than 4? I'm asking but I see where a four wheeler is so much easier to handle, transport and still get the Job done. Anyone disagree? Convince me cause I don't own a 6 wheeler

 

[jkb]

I can't speak on the new big boss. But my old 1999 big boss was where everybody would put that extra stuff they didn't have room for. It never left me broke down, I never was not able to back out of any mud hole I could not get thru.
Double the maintenance of my 4 wheeler, but when you can put an entire forked horn moose in the bed its well worth it. I don't hunt with ATVs much any more but I have no doubt a new battery and the old boss would be ready to go.

 

[theultrarider]

I started my atv career on 3 wheels. Then a 6 wheel Argo. Then 4 wheelers. Then onto sportsman 6x6 and now a Ranger 6x6. Ill never go back to 4 wheels. Not for a hunting rig anyway. When hauling heavy loads, climbing or a swamp full of hammocks you cant even begin to compare them. Yes. They require more maintenance than a honda 4x4 does. But nothing outrageous either. Well worth the maintaince given where they go and what they will pack.

 

[64moosecall]

How much maintenance did you have to do on your Honda per mile? I have about 1050 miles on my six wheeler and have replaced all fluids multiple times , outer tie-rod ends, front axles, four a-arms bolts, an a-arm, brake reservoir cover, headlight, front bearings, and?? I rarely go out of low gear, so more hours than some. The high-beam light cover is fogged and cracked--I think from boiling gas outlet under it. It has hauled two moose and done some exploring. It really can go places, but it's hard to truly relax. I always keep a pair of dry socks and good walking boots with me. It's never been in water over the top of tires, never been in silty or salty water, just some muddy stuff, but I hate getting stuck so I stick to drier trails.
My Foreman and Rincon needed oil changes and one tie-rod when a rock got hit.
I will probably sell this and get the can-am when I feel flush. I think when it's running right, the six-wheeler will really impress you with it's capabilities. Figure half it's payload is spare parts though

Change the oil every couple yrs and that pretty much covers it. I've hunted with a buddy thats got 2 six wheelers and have seen what they can do but I'm not a mechanic and don't want to take it to one when something other than basic maintenance problems pop up

 

[64moosecall]

Went to the polaris shop in Frbks and they're not making 6wheel sportsman or Rangers next yr. Honda has a 700 side by side that's supposed to be pretty nice

 

[theultrarider]

Went to the polaris shop in Frbks and they're not making 6wheel sportsman or Rangers next yr. Honda has a 700 side by side that's supposed to be pretty nice

Thank our gov't for that. The EPA has deemed that engine a polluter. Polaris is skipping a model year while they stuff the 900 motor into the 6x6 and they will be back bigger and better than ever.

While I will freely admit Honda makes a great wheeler their side by side is a joke! Ive never seen one other than on a showroom floor. There is a reason they dont sell.

 

[Arrowchaser]

I first learned to ride on a Honda Big Red 3 wheeler. That hooked me on Hondas. I bought a 2003 Foreman new and still have it
12 years later. I haven't had to do anything to it except change the oil. I use it for plowing snow, skidding logs and hauling
cart loads of wood. I don't think I could buy another brand.

I don't have a lot of experience with Polaris. My brother bought one years ago and stored it at my place. It started having
little issues. He ended up selling it.

I don't really understand how people can have such good luck with one brand and then buy another brand later. My brother
had a nice little Honda Civic Si years ago. He put over 200 thousand miles on it without much effort. Then he ended up buying
a Ford.

I guess if Honda doesn't make a 6 wheeler and you want a 6 wheeler. Then you can't buy another Honda.

 

[Boater]

I have a 800 Big Boss and love the thing. In a nut shell, 6 wheelers go where 4 wheelers can't. I went 37 miles down a trial two years ago with a 4 wheeler for a week long hunt. I could barely get my gear plus extra fuel on the 4 wheeler. Another guy had a trailer for meat. I got back there but only after having to be pulled out of too many holes by guys in 6 wheelers. Lotsa bad bad words that trip.

Next year, same trail, I had a new Big Boss. Plenty of capacity for my gear, fuel, and a dead Caribou on the way out. This year it was my turn to pull out the guy that came with a 4 wheeler. 4 wheelers have their place and I'm not bad mouthing them. Just sayin', if you need to haul gear, meat, and want to know the machine will pull you through the ugly stuff, the Big Boss will get it done.

No maintenance problems for me yet.

 

[cwoods]

Bought an 02 Foreman 450es new, pulled several moose/caribou and a few bear out of the woods until selling it last winter to a friend. It had over 3000 miles on it and the only thing I "HAD" to replace was the shift motor that went out on me on the last hunt I took it on but did NOT leave me stranded. I was always doing routine maintenance on it to give my hunts the best chance at being problem free so I'm sure that helped.
I bought an 03 Foreman 450s as a backup years ago and still have that one with only 400 miles on it, it is now the go on trips with the Wife ride. I bought a 13' Big Boss for hunting and did quite a bit of sorting out weak points on it, it is my hunting trip ride exclusively. ..no joy riding on that one. In the 2 years it has pulled out 2 bulls and 2 bears without a hiccup and roughly 350 miles on the odometer. No its not Honda quality, just isnt. But 6 wheels spinning is so much better than 4 in every situation I have encountered and the cargo capacity is niiiiice.

 

[akriverunner]

Stick with the Honda, not a fan of Polaris wheelers. They do build good sleds though.


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[cwoods]

My personal opinion is with preventive maintenance and caring for your equipment the 6x6 will treat you just fine. Although I know Hondas to be very durable from almost 4 decades of owning and riding them I still service mine quite often, it's only smart when you take off to get as far as possible from any other party putting yourself at risk or at least in a bad spot should a break down occur.
Buy a Big Boss, get familiar with it and ride it sensibly as possible and enjoy the added traction/comfort/load capacity over your 4 wheeler....that's my 2 cents anyhoo

 

[Alaska Power Sports]

https://www.facebook.com/160433194054763/photos/pcb.708578932573517/708578449240232/?type=1&theater

Here's a few pics of the 2014 Ranger 6X6 with a winch and 26" Rip Saw tires.

 

[shayno]

I would stick with the honda. theres no doubt that a 6x6 knocks a 4 wheelers [email protected]#k in the dirt all day. The unfortunate part is that your only option for a 6x6 sxs is Polaris. Personally I would never own one, for that kind of money I would step into a argo and do it all and carry even more gear (trailer). But that's just my .02$.. good luck!

 

[MacGyver]

I'm not a mechanic and don't want to take it to one when something other than basic maintenance problems pop up

64moosecall said he not a mechanic, If you own a Argo you better be a good mechanic or have a lot of money to pay someone to fix it for you. IMO

 

[fullkurl]

Stick with the Honda, not a fan of Polaris wheelers. They do build good sleds though.


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Yep......................

 

[Anythingalaska]

Stick with the Honda, not a fan of Polaris wheelers. They do build good sleds though.


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Agreed. I would stick with a Honda 4x4, although Yamaha Grizzlies have proven themselves as well. Not a fan of Polaris or Bombardiers myself.

Then onto sportsman 6x6 and now a Ranger 6x6. Ill never go back to 4 wheels. Not for a hunting rig anyway.

I guess it depends on where you live. Those huge 6 wheelers won't make it anywhere down here in Southeast on our logging roads. 4 wheelers and even Saavy dirtbike riders will make it way farther than any 6 wheelers will down here.

 

[theultrarider]

I guess it depends on where you live. Those huge 6 wheelers won't make it anywhere down here in Southeast on our logging roads. 4 wheelers and even Saavy dirtbike riders will make it way farther than any 6 wheelers will down here.

Agreed. All depends on where you are and how you use them. Single track goat trails of Montana the 2 wheel drive Rokon bikes are the only way to go. But in South Central or interior alaska the Ranger 6X6 makes sense. I can certainly see se. Being different!