i have driven all three and well if you want something for more play and don't want to pull a mack truck around get the rhino. it was a very fun machine to ride very comfy i deffinately wouldn't mind having a rhino around. if you want something to keep on the farm and do alot of work with get the ranger. the ranger doesn't handle as well as the other two it has a very uncomforetable bench seat and my buddy has bought a new one every year for the last 3 years and he has had problems with every one of them. suprisingly alot of busted axles and just stupid problems. the prowler is a nice mixture between work and play. it won't work as hard as the ranger and it won't be as agile as the rhino but it will work harder then the rhino and be more agile and more comfy then the ranger. with that said you gotta pick what you plan on using your side by side for and which one of these three meet that criteria. oh and it wouldn't suprise me if the polaris dealer would have alot of machines laying around it isn't the dealers fault it is getting to be pretty well knowen for polaris to push more machines upon their dealers then what they can sell.

 

Like I said if you dont like the seats they have new ones you can add that are buckets and have 5 point harnesses on them. as for any busted axles if you check I can bet that the ranger was beeing driven beyond what any of the top 3 should be doing (if you want a buggy then get that) if you want a trail machine that can work and be enjoyable then get a side by side. I think all with stock setup are not made for jumping and extreme activities, one might last longer during that but it will still bust something sometime. LOL I can say I have more fun on my ranger then I did on any atv I have rode on. All 3 of the top side by sides are great, just get what feels right and dont believe all that you read. Also do some of your own research to aftermarket venders for add ons or replacements to see if you can change something you dont like IE[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]seats) lol I can say a year ago there was hardly any options for the Ranger or even Prowler compared to the Rhino but If you look now there are all kinds of aftermarket options for all 3 now.

 

well what do you suggest they off for my knees hitting the cubby hole compartment on the ranger? what i gave was unbiased on all three and i forgot to mention to that the rhino in 2004 had axle problems but they fixed that and the first 400 or so prowlers that were made were knowen to have odd problems with them. so i guess i could say stay away from them but polaris's reputation for being a higher maintanance machine deffinately carries over to the ranger as well.

 

HUH ???? knees hitting what ? I have never heard of that. and like I said they all have had lots of minor junk happening and a few major. I go to about 13 different forums and I try to post as much as I can. I seem to see alot about the Ranger and Rhino and hardly any on the other side by sides. (not saying they dont post ) just dont see as much. I know I seen trans. post on the rhino, Axle posts on the Rnager, poor turning capabilities on the prowler as well as not enough aftermarket info. The others alot of how do I get more speed or height. All I am saying Is there is a tough market out there, and if you want perfect dont hold your breath I dont ever see any hitting that status.LOL But Polaris is finally starting to listen to the customers on what works and what is needed so I will stick with them for now.

 

it's BREAK your leg, not BRAKE your leg; it's a QUART of oil, not a QUARD. consider the source on this one.

 

I bought my Rhino in 2004. I do most of my riding in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.(unbelievable area). I was able to roll it doing full lock, full throttle donuts with a very large and full cooler in the back. When I let off the 12x12x27 Mud-lite bit and I did a slow roll. I'm sure it would not of happened if I had a passenger onboard. For some of us looking for the limits of the machine and operator is part of why we ride offroad. I'm always amazed what the rhino will do. The 2 wheel drive ability is great. The near verticle climbing ability is tremendous. After you have climbed that incredibly steep hill the engine breaking makes decending a piece of cake. I have not broken and axels but I have not launched off any moto-x jumps. Mine does not burn oil, however I service the air filter on a regular basis. My Rhino has given me tons of fun. Sharing that fun in a side by side is great. On the subject of go-anywhere vehicles get a trails bike or a Rokon, enjoy yourself. Any Rhino,Ranger,Prowler owners interested in freindly competition..... First week of August 2007 in the U.P. I am very sure I'll run circles around a Ranger, have not seen any Prowlers on the ORV trails. I also sure there is a lot of fun to be had. Rhinofrank.

 

I keep hearing of rhino's burning oil mine does not burn any ? What do you guys have a james bond smoke screen every where you go? most likely your oil is traveling up your engine vent hose and is beeing distributed on to your air filter and being burned by the motor!. Kelly at KMS performance has a fix it is a antisyphone that you install in the line it will prevent this from happening.

 

Hmmm, I had hoped I might get some answers to this same question I had. I currently use a 2002 Honda Rubicon but still only have maybe 500 miles on it. Now I want a side by side and have been looking at the Rhino and Ranger. I honestly don't push any limits, so I am guessing either would be fine. I am concerned about comfort as I am 6'3" and the only one I have ever sat in was the Mule, and it was made for people 5'8". Anyone know the difference in legroom?

Also, the Rhino snowblade looks like it is designed to only throw in one direction. Is that the case?

I'm also considering the Kubota, but I don't want to be limited in speed and have the crappy shifting that it seems to boast.

 

I'm 6'2" 310 lbs and the Rhino fits me fine. (I use most of the seatbelt lol) The Ranger 500 was too small for me, the Ranger XP fit me fine, but it is SO darn big. I just felt like it would be difficult to manuever through the woods. oh, and my Rhino doesnt burn oil either, although I've only run it 10 hours, it was still full when I changed the oil.

 

My dad is 6'5, 360 pounds. THe ranger he likes better cause of the bench seat. THe rhino buckets seem to make him feel kinda tight. As far as the leg room one is just as good as the other.