Hellos, newbie on forum..

I am looking to purchase myself a 2009 Polaris, Most likely a 500 EFI something.. Just curious what u guys suggest for what model to get there's several variations of 500..

what plan on doing with it:
-Trail riding
-Snow Plowing
-work on family's ranch
-installing emergency lights for search/rescue

also in future like 1 year when I got it paid off plan on putting tacks on it, then can use it as a snowmobile/mud pig!... anyways u think 500 has enough power and good enough transmission for tracks?

Also what u all think about the Polaris Glacier Plows? good or maybe go with a different plow?

thanks in advance

 

Hey Deputy_Swan... welcome to the site.

As for your questions... (no pro here) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

The 500 EFI or HO (I would get the EFI) will be a nice Trail Riding machine. The front springs are a little soft (with no adjustment) so you might want to upgrade.

It will plow just fine for most situations. Again, the front springs are soft for plowing too.

Depends on what "work" you want it do around the ranch.

I'm sure you could install emergency lights within reason... the charging system on any ATV will only take so much.

It should handle the tracks, but I'm not sure on this one.

NOTE: Personally, I would NOT get the Glacier II plow system. I had one, and the mount frame is bent up beyond repair... and it didn't take much. There have been a number of others with the same issue. Some folks have been luckier. I think you've got a 50/50 chance that it will hold up. I would opt for the older Glacier I push tube system, or better yet and Eagle/Tusk push tube.

Good luck with your choice.

P.S. If I were you, I would consider the new XP 550. It is more money, but it is also a LOT more machine.

 

If you want tracks get the 800 or 850. I'll agree with the rest of what DCT said, except I won't recommend something I haven't tried yet. I have had the Eagle plow and Glacier II plow. Both used on big bore machines and haven't had a problem yet....except a few times on my P650 with the Eagle plow.......When plowing at an angle it would slip off the mounting pegs when I would hit anything somewhat solid (ice, drift, curb, etc...) I haven't had that happen when using it on the Sportsman 500 yet.

The glacier 1 plow is about 50 lbs heavier on the front end. Not sure I would want that without the Polaris heavy duty springs installed. That may be a good idea anyhow. I haven't a use for the heavy springs because my wife drives the 500. She likes it plush.


You may want to look into the X2 also. The new 800 6x6 looks like a good worker also with shaft drive now.

 

Trail riding Yes
Snow Plowing Yes, but a big no on the Glacier 2. I have a Warn plow and haven't had any problems.
work on family's ranch Yes, to a point, what kind of work are you thinking??

 

Here's some links to check out as far as the emergency lights go

Headlight or tail light Strobes

PM chuck_raduenz, he has a very nice led lighting set up

 

Thanks for the replys, probably will settle on the 550 XP....

as for lights can pick up some very low amparag LEDs from www.elightbars.org

the ranch work would be like fixing fence, chasing after cattle, hauling posts around ect. also be used with a 35 gallon sprayer that sits on back rack used to spray spurge "noxious weed" out in boonies

thanks for plow suggestions, will have to prob look for something a little more heavy duty, intend to use it to push up cow feed on bunk lines, and way plow sounds like bump into a rock when pushing a gravel driveway with glacier plow could bend the hell out it.

 

I could show you posts showing almost any brand of plow that has been banged up. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

Deputy_Swan,

Good luck with your final choice.

On a side note, when I picked up my ATV after my dealer straighten the frame from the damage that the Glacier II mount did, I had a talk with the mechanic. He said he took a quick look it his records, and found 6 Glacier II mounts on 500's that he repaired/replaced this year and several from last year. He also remembered 1 on an 800 and 1 on an XP that had only been used once. Sounds like the 500's are particularity susceptible to easy damage.

He also said he has seen the older Glacier I plows and plow frames get damaged and even the Moose systems (they don't sell Warn or Eagle), but he said that's usually driver abuse for sure, and is obvious. He only told me this, as I asked what he would recommend, as he sees hundreds of them. He asked me not to say anything to the dealer... and I didn't... I just learned from my lesson.

I left my Glacier II plow at the dealer... he is going to sell it, along with the mount that they straightened. (I almost feel bad that somebody else will be buying it)

Again, good luck.

 

hello there and welcome


i agree with Dave and i would at very least get an XP it is just a great machine. i personally would pay the extra money would go power steering especially with the tracks but thats just my opinion....i wonder what made you come to the conclution of a five hundred?
i guess me i'm just power hungry lol
i personally have a glacier plow and have had no problems but i live in the city and don't plow nearly as much as some of the others.....i don't hear too much good about them but mines good so far..one suggestion is to get a proper synthetic line on your winch meant for plowing only( i have broke my cable twice)

also you should look up the winch threads and form your own opionion..i would go polaris 3500 IMO but others really hate polaris plows..
also i think the stock tires just don't cut it so you might wanna look into the many dealers will credit you for them if you buy aftermarket ones from them

Happy hunting

 

Only to add a comment here, about the winch thing, just like the Glacier 2 plow getting a bad
rap lately so has the POLARIS WINCHES! Many of us who have WARN Winches are very happy with
them and have had alot less problems than those reporting issues of other brands.
Maybe Polaris winches issues have all been addressed now
I don't know? I only add that comment to add to your research!

Cheers,

R'