I'm looking to purchase either a 2007 Artic Cat 700 Diesel or a 2008 Polaris Sportsman 800. I did the research and found the Cat diesel is rated to pull only 1050lbs where the Polaris is rated for 1500 lbs. The Cat has a 2" hitch and the Polaris a 1" or 1 1/2" hitch. I thought the diesel would be rated to pull a heck of a lot more than the gas powered Polaris. I test drove both and the Diesel Cat didn't seem to want to get out of its own way.

I am looking to pull logs and trailered firewood out of the woods. I thought the diesel Cat would be the way to go for a work horse but now I'm not too sure. Any suggestions?

Thanks

ZZ

 

go for the polaris. more power, you wont be sorry.

 

go with polaris. as a work horse ,yes the diesel it the best option but like you said its slow and if you ride trails you wont like it. They dont even make it anymore either. It can pull more weight than its rated but you have to consider ,the brakes may not stop you, the weight your hauling can push you(if it weighs more than the bike), the tires may not hold up,(stock tires are not the best) ,and if the manufacterer said it can haul 1500 pounds and you go haul 1500 pounds and get hurt, well then they may have a lawsuit. i had a 300 and it pulled 4000 pounds. shocks bottomed out,tires looked like they were going to blow,and in the end i ended up with a bent frame, But hey I pulled it!! just so you know. You dont nessesaraly need an 800cc to pull loads of wood and do heavy jobs. there are 400s and 500s out there that will do the same for less price. I have a ac 500 manual that i use to do my hard work and i use my 700 efi to play. and if you are using it to only work then a solid axle would be best. just throwing some more options out there for ya! good luck.

 

I agree that the 800 Polaris has great pulling power but a 500 sportsman will pull lots also. I have friends that have 450 Honda Foreman's & I have said that if I were to be doing what you want it for that I think the Honda is hard to beat, they are tough as hell & reliable. They just don't have the ride of a Polaris & that is what I want for what I do. I would stay away from the diesel as there were not many made & no longer built you may have a hard time getting parts or service done with out your bike being laid up for extended periods of time.