I just purchased a 06 Ranger XP 700 EFI. I am using it for strictly for recreational purposes. I ride mainly Southern California deserts. This thing kicks butt. It is a great machine. It is wide enough for stability, but yet narow enough to get me through tight areas. It is a great hill climber, rock crawler and works good on soft sand. I just took it to Johnson Valley in the Mohave desert and was crawling over rocks going up hill and down hill, climbing steep dirt hills and hauling over wide open sand. This is a great machine!

 

***Everyone with a side by side***

My brother just lost his right eye(removed) in a freak accident on his Rhino. He laid it on it's right side from a hard left turn, he tried correcting but it went over at about 15-20mph. The Rhino stopped instantly on its side and his head/eye hit the steering wheel. In short, the three point seat belt slipped off his left shoulder and was on his left bicep when the accident occured. My brother has gotten 'back on that horse' already and plans on keeping the Rhino, but he has installed four point seat belts and dumped the stock seat belts. The googles he was wearing didn't prevent this injury or lessen it, maybe a helmet would have helped.

They have four point belt kits for Rhino's for around $65 each, think about it.

The guys with dune buggies learned the hard way to go with at least four point belts when there is a steering wheel in front of you. Ride on.

 

We've had our Ranger XP for about 3 weeks now, we love it! Here's a link to an "All Ranger" forum site http://www.prcforum.com/Default.asp ....I'm not trying to get into dutch on this forum!

I go all over and participate in many forums,even the Rhino ones.I can learn from just about anybody....things to do; and things NOT to do!

 

who makes the Prowler? I've never heard of it.

 

Here's a link to a comparison between the Arctic Cat Prowler,The Ranger XP,and one other (forgot already!).

http://www.off-road.com/atv/reviews/...06prowler.html

Either the author is confused, or he's deliberately slanted the article against Ranger XP.

First of all, he says the Ranger XP has the smallest engine, and his *Own Chart*shows it has the largest. Maybe he was confusing it with the Ranger 500?

Then he states the other two are liquid cooled, with fans, but on his chart shows the Ranger as liquid cooled,no mention of a fan.I have an XP, and it does have a fan!(electric,automatic).

Thirdly,he states that the Ranger can haul and tow more because it is geared lower(Higher numerically)....that may be partly true.The Ranger XP has a 683cc engine (largest in class),Dual -range automatic drive (low or high)...but it also has beefier axles,frame,springs,shocks,and struts.That's why it is somewhat heavier (dry weight) than the others!

He goes on to state (incorrectly) that the Ranger has 2wd/4wd. This is misleading,also.

The Ranger has a switch (electronically controlled) for the following:unlocked rear (1 wd) like a car(open differential)so it doesn't tear up 'turf',Fully Locked rear,and Fully locked Rear + Fully locked Front axle...both wheels! They call this "AWD",the fronts (both)engage when the rears spin 20%. I know this for a fact,as I've used the three-position switch and can attest to it's usefulness.

Above is one of the unique selling points of thr Ranger,and it's not even mentioned!

 

Guitronics, what you say is very true.

 

guitronics - Thanks for the reply, very informative. I grew up half way between the Polaris factory and Artic Cat, so I wouldn’t talk trash on either one. Just looking for an honest comparison, and obviously the author you mentioned is incapable of doing so. I know several people who have had the Ranger for years and are very pleased with it. Not much word on the AC out there yet, tho.

 

I'm not trashing Arctic Cat (I don't think you're accusing me of that!)....but fair is fair. Either the author is incompetent,or he's deliberately downplaying the Ranger XP.It is my understanding that the '05 and '06 were completely redesigned....my factory service manual (an '06) makes reference to the '05 model,so I assume they're mostly,or wholly the same machines.

If you cut and paste that URL in your browser,you'll see the Arctic Cat's UTV/RTV. It seemed to me that he hadn't actually ridden one...He's quite vague on engine placement! (On the AC).

I got the impression that the AC wasen't ready for sale yet....I don't remember seeing a date for the article.

After reading that 'Review',I didn't want to join yet another forum (I'm having trouble managing the *several* I'm already part of).

If what he says is true,and the AC is now selling,it has a bit more ground clearance than Ranger.You'll have to check that out,and spend your $ on what you think is the best vehicle for your application.

The Ranger XP that we have reminds me more of a truck than a quad.A very nimble,fast truck.

No way is it designed to be a quad competitor.

Ours is all weighted down with accessories,like the HD cab,Glass windshield,heater,wipers,metal roof,hitch,snowplow,etc.

We bought it so my Stepson,who's Mentally impaired and has Cystic Fibrosis,would be able to experience driving a safe vehicle.It plows snow great!

He's 20,but mentally only about 5 years old.Cystic Fibrosis patients rarely live to be 30.

He loves "his truck". We do,too! We only have about 10 hours on it so far....

 

Hey guitronics,

How are you and your stepson getting along with that funky Ranger accelerator pedal arrangement? Ready for the platform upgrade yet?

I’m not sure if you guys are aware of this but you can increase the ground clearance on the rear of your Ranger XPs in about 15 minutes. There are two upper shock mount positions on the machine. They come from the factory in the low position but all you have to do is jack up the rear end so the wheels are off the ground, pop the upper shock bolts out, move the tops of the shocks out to the other hole and slip the bolts back through. This adds about 2” of ground clearance to the rear (unloaded.)

Then you can easily install a 2” front lift kit to raise the front (same kit as a Sportsman) and the whole thing levels out. I’m running 28” tires on my Ranger and will probably upgrade to 29 1/2s in the spring.

 

Yeah,I'm gonna spring for the temp guage,accelerator "Lift",and do you have guards for the CV joint rubber boots?

Before I can get the mods,I have to pay off the trailer (This and next week)...$650.00,but it's a sweet trailer.

I'll post some pix in 6 weeks or so (been really busy working overtime).