The new plastic racks suck. Bungee straps don't work half as good on them, copared to the metal racks. Recently I saw a '00 500 SP rolled over, and the rear rack split from one end to the other.

When I asked a dealer about switching out the plastic junk for real metal racks, he said that I have to buy the machine and pay for the metal ones separately. What a Jip! I think that the racks should be an option, so you don't have to pay for both sets, if you want metal ones.

Joe, '96 Sportsman 400

 

I also like the metal racks.can be bent back into shape.I also like the metal floorboards better have seen many of the plastic ones broken.

 

I have seen metals ones break to when rolled over.
I personaly like the composite ones myself. but i agree they should be an option.

 

I ride with people that have metal racks like what is on the Grizz. If you strap an ice chest to it, it will scatch off the paint and then you have rust. I also have seen them break when flipped. There are pros and cons to most everything and apparently racks are no different. Even though I have broken composite racks, I still prefer them to metal.

Greg

 

If i would buy a Rubicon i would have the racks rhinoed. But plastic is actually stronger than metal. MY friend and i's dream is to start our own ATV company. We would have metal racks with plastic covers. So you can have metal and plastic. they would be connected by pins

 

if your real clever you could bring your metal racks into a body shop that does those "spray on bedliners" for trucks and have him coat your metal racks... then again, i could care less if my racks get scratched hehe

 

Me too! I could care less if the racks are scratched. There is no way the plastic ones are stronger than metal. If they crack when it is 85 degrees out, what will they do in winter if you hit them hard enough. Plus the plastic ones are way harder to tie down stuff on.

 

NEW Racks!!!! You must not get out very much, the composite racks have been around since 1996 on both Polaris and Kawasaki Quads. Both have advantages and disadvatages. I have 2 Polaris Quads one with composite one with metal. I would like to see Polaris do like Kawi and incorporate some "D" rings into the composite racks for tie downs to be hooked to.

 

Hey guys,keep 'em shiny side up and you won't break either one of them. hehe

 

ACTUALLY, the composite racks came out in '94 on the '95 models, except the Sportsman 400, which never had composite racks.