having a hard time picking one.
i'll be using it for trail riding, snow plowing, general yard work.
i also plan on install the Swisher snow plow and dump bucket.

i'm afraid that the 500 will not be powerful enough andd that the 800 might be over kill.

if you own either one, i would like your input.

thanks
vin[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Well I have the 800 and love it, good to know that you have the power there when you need it. I use mine for the same thing, yard work and hauling a small 6 foot trailer around the farm. No snow in GA, so can't help ya on that one! lol But I have never owned a 500 Polaris, but have a few 400's and they do well, but can tell the power lose. Keep us posted on your choice!


Welcome to the site!

 

I have none of them but I would go with the 800. With the 500 you might wish you had a bit more power. If your like me you always like more power. If you had the 800, you wouldn't say "I wish I went smaller". I would go with the 800. I have a Rancher 420 and in the back of my mind I always wonder should I have gone bigger.

 

Have owned 5, 7, 8 and they will all do the same things but bigger will just do it easier. I "think" that the 8 has a bit heavier front springs. With the 5 you may wish for more but if have the 8 will know you have it all. IF fuel consumption is a big factor go with the 5. You can get aftermarket spring preload adjusters also.

 

i went with the 500x2, plenty of power especially in low. was hauling 300 pound buckets of coal ash with the bucket mounted off the hitch up a steep enbankment last weekend, tippy going forward even with the xtra length of the x2, but crawled up in reverse with no effort. it has plenty of power, but the front springs are soft as noted, backs are fine imho.

 

If this is going to be a first time quad I would sujest a 500 w/EFI plenty of power for basic work and gets mutch better MPG's than the 800. I think that the 500 comes with a larger fuel tank to boot!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]