Good, bad, and ugly about these machines?

I was about ready to replace my Sportsman 500 (eight years old) with a new 800 EFI. But........ the 500 still runs great and thinking the family and ranch may get more use out of a utility vehicle like the 500 EFI Ranger.

Give me the inside information on these machines. Are they as durable as the ATV's made by Polaris? Need reasonable speed and lots of comfort and don't want to be to limited in where we can go.

Have any of you switched over to a utility from an ATV?

Can you get these in the bed of a full size pickup and if so, what ramps do you use?

Price check?

Lots of questions, need answers.

Thanks for your help!
P7rancher

 

rancher

i just went from a sportman 400 to a ranger 700efi xp the 500 efi is about the same price as the 700 you won't regret switching to the ranger. it handles like a car and go where atv can and can't go, it is wider than the sp 400 by 12 ins. you can ride three and haul a lot of gear and beer in the back and reach back and get one and not slow down. i have about 30 hr on mine and it run great. there is a lot of mods to do to it and it can be adictive.

 

I have a 05' Ranger 700XP with 215 hard hours on it with no problems. Dont believe the neg. stories about the Ranger. It is the best one out there for all around play/work machine. I have a few mods done to mine and my friends Rhino will not out pull me nor out run me. (he also has mods) The Rhino is a nice machine but is MUCH more tippy & will not carry as much cargo/ people. I own a dog kennel and train hog catch dogs and on these type hunts I run my Ranger in hood deep water, in swamps, mud, logs, stumps, without even so much as a girggle. If you liked your Sportsman you will love a Ranger. Both the 500 & the 700XP are nice & if you have a farm the Ranger is your man & a man it is.

 

Ive owned 8 atv's from 400 ex to polaris 700.I now have a 2005 500 ranger and love it. You will not find the speed and thrills that a 400ex but if you are into hunting and touring in the mountains i think the ranger is a blast.I can ride all day on rocky bumpy trails and not get tired and my back dont hurt. I cant believe how good my ranger goes in the mud. Its fun If you go with a large group of atvs and I take my ranger I end up hauling everyone elses stuff for those long rides , it makes it nice so you dont go with out. and most of the time my freinds want to drive the ranger so we trayed so I get atv time too.Most of the time my buddys dont want to trayed back so I have to kick them off.