Big Red vs. Ranger 4x4

[TheZombieAK]

Really the Big Red and Ranger 4x4 are the only true work UTVs out. The Rhino and Teryx are more sport then play.

Just wondering why Big Red owners chose it over the Ranger 4x4?

I like the styling of the new Ranger, it is a good looking machine, much nicer then the Big Red.

I'm not wild about the AWD on the Polaris and since my dad has a Ranger 6x6 I'm just not wild about thier reliability.

But what made everyone choose the Big Red over the Ranger 4x4?

[sfrankland]

I liked the bench seat and the styling of the Ranger XP and that was a biggest draw for me when I was looking at buying a UTV. More so then all the other brands. But the more I read the more I heard about transmissions failing and other drive train issues like belts and the sorts.

In the end I narrowed it down to Honda and Yamaha based on past company history of building reliable machines. I went with the Honda mostly for the years of trouble free riding we had put on our 350 Fourtrax and 450 Foreman. The Big Red while ugly at first glance has grown on me and I like it for some strange reason now. Having put over a 1000Km on my bike so far I am very happy with it and don't regret buying it.

If I was in the market again I would look at the Teryx, Ranger XP or the Honda. I have heard that the Ranger now as a better tranny as of 09 which would get me back in the showroom again.

[Cenflrider]

For me, I have but one regret. Not checking on some of the Sate of Florida’s backward thinking (Big Red is too wide for most trails here). Big Red is big but having driven the Rino and the Mule I went back to the Honda. Polaris appears to have nice features on their machine but I have been on more than one ride in the past where the Honda was last in the pack going in and the only one able to tow them out when they break. Not saying that Polaris doesn’t make a nice machine, and I’m not trying to win people over to Honda just conveying my experience. I also own some older wheelers and when it comes to parts, it’s far easier to get parts for a Honda that some of the other brands.
Speaking of styling, there is a saying in the car industry “Chrome don’t get you home”. BR may not be the best looking machine but I believe they were looking for function during design. That said I will compare reliability stats with anyone and I would be willing to bet Honda would be in the top two. Spending this kind of coin on a machine that you ride on weekends, you want it to stay out of the shop except for the normal maintenance (and mods )

Enjoy

[OFRC boy]

Can you spell T R A N S M I S S I O N? That was why I chose the big red.

[Cenflrider]

Yes Sir, I like the transmission!

[sfrankland]

Nice trailer centflrider. Mine is great for hauling the bike but I find it to high. I am thinking about either a spring under setup or a drop spindle axle swap. The trailer currently has a set of mobile home axles under it now. My bike had no problem pulling the trailer with the Jeep on it once I got to its finial destination.

[TheZombieAK]

I would agree that the non-belt drive transmission is a huge factor over the Ranger but since I have owned this transmission since it came out, late 2002 as a 2003 model, I can tell you that it does have it's limitations.

Mainly, unlike a belt drive there is really no way to gear it down. So if bigger tires ar in your future then this transmission is not for you. I can go the HighLifters forum all day long and find guys that swear thier Rincon, with original gears, can spin 28" Outlaws all day. BS!

Now with the Big Red gear in my Rincon, yep I probably could but since there is no gear fix for the Big Red and it weighs more then twice the Rincon, you may be screwed with big tires, could be wrong you never know.

Don't get me wrong the Big Red is a nice machine and I do love the transmission that it has but it does have serious limitations.

I really wish that they had put a Hydrostatic transmission like what is in out Rubicon in the Big Red. That is a true work system that ould have been a much better fit then the 3 speed Rincon system is.

[Cenflrider]

Sfrankland, Really nice trailer! Wow! Is the trailer about 20 feet long? On the road so I don’t have a picture to share. I use my old work horse Astro van so I can toss all the riders (5) and gear inside. One day I will get a truck, I want to return to the Hatfield McCoy trails in West Virginia http://www.trailsheaven.com/ . Great place.

[TheZombieAK]

Off topic but how do you post a picture? Do you have to use an online photo server? Life Photobucket or the like?

[sfrankland]

I use photobucket and then just copy the IMG link into your post.

[Rookie]

There are a lot of reasons that I chose the Honda. Transmission, Automotive brakes crossed for equalization of braking force, fit of the mechanical parts together, But most of all the height of the roll bar. I am tall, and I hit my head on the back bar of the roll cage in the Ranger.

The wife also liked the doors, she is sort of a safety nut and thought that doors would keep me from throwing her out.

[sfrankland]

Originally Posted by Rookie

There are a lot of reasons that I chose the Honda. Transmission, Automotive brakes crossed for equalization of braking force, fit of the mechanical parts together, But most of all the height of the roll bar. I am tall, and I hit my head on the back bar of the roll cage in the Ranger.

The wife also liked the doors, she is sort of a safety nut and thought that doors would keep me from throwing her out.

I found the same thing because of my height but I think the cage could be 2"s lower and racked back a few extra degrees.

Our wives must be sisters. She loves the doors and the net and the seatbelt. Cannot even drive across the yard without all three secured.

[xtremerancher02]

Originally Posted by TheZombieAK

Mainly, unlike a belt drive there is really no way to gear down. So if bigger tires ar in your future then this transmission is not for you.

As for there is no way to gear it down I might have alil something up my sleeves for that and my big red completely stock I was able to turn 30" mudzillas and 31" outlaws

[sfrankland]

Originally Posted by xtremerancher02

As for there is no way to gear it down I might have alil something up my sleeves for that and my big red completely stock I was able to turn 30" mudzillas and 31" outlaws

Okay I want to know how to do this. Not that I really need it but it just sounds cool.

[BigLakeBR]

I have owned two Polaris 4-wheelers and I work on them at work and they are S^&*!!!

[Dr_Al]

I don't think the Honda and the Ranger are the only two work horses out there. Kubota comes to mind and then there's the mule (that has a diesel option).

Why I went with Honda is simple. They are the number one mfg of engines in the world. What does Polaris make? Snow machines and.... Honda makes everything from cars and trucks down to some of the best small engines. If you notice ever since Honda came out with it's engine design all of the other small engines have also switched to an OHV angled cylinder?

No doubt the Ranger is a good machine. But it's belt driven, thanks but no thanks. I've replaced too many belts on snow machines to now have to on a UTV as well, nope. Plus I use mine around the house and at the low speeds I run at sometimes in the middle of summer would burn up a belt.

[chele]

Its simple......:IT's a Honda" they invented atv;s and are a proven winner (a civic owner)....wide 64" width less chance on my mtn to flip over,,sure it requires my car trailer to hull its wide butt around lol..transmission needs to be smouther shifting...shaft drive much better than a chain that streches or brakes ....ill admit imho it does need a bigger engine as its a heavy sucker...

[kk]

I had a 2009 Polaris Ranger, I loved it, the low range was great, lots of storage. odometer and Speedometer. But before I had it a year (3000 miles) I had spent $2000 in repairs, About half were while it was under warranty so I didn't have to pay for that part. I just couldn't afford the repairs. So I sold it and bought the Big Red. I have had it one year, and not a problem, I like the Polaris better but the big red does the job and is cheaper to run.

[Chunz82]

I picked up a big red because it's a Honda.... No belt, and very dependable... I waited for the 2011 for the bench seat...