I want a Pioneer but am concerned it wont have the low end power I need. The crew at Dirt Trax seem to always provide what seem to be unbiased and accurate reviews of different machines. In a video on you tube it was stated Honda really had to include a low range and something about the Pioneer might have a tough time pushing a snow plow.
I absolutely could not live with a UTV that wont pull two people and 600 pounds up long steep wooded hills in Kentucky on my game farm. I find it hard to believe that Honda would put a machine on the market that would stall in that situation but just need some convincing I guess. I do have experience with several other machines that some of you might also have operated and can compare to the Pioneer. All the units listed would make the climb some faster than other of course and some would struggle in the wet but all had the power in low range. Some would ONLY climb in low range and some would in high but it was way hard on the machine and I only tried just to see if they would make it. Most all my trails on hills are low range only when loaded. Experience with Kawasaki Mules. Gator XUV, Polaris Ranger 500, Polaris Ranger 700, Kubota RTV 900 (dog) Cub Cadet Volunteer with 31HP Kohler. Thanks for any input. I really prefer the Honda but am tempted to go with the Viking
low gear power
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I cant watch the video but what exactly are you calling stall? I can tell you this with heavy 27 inch kenda executioners and almost flipping backwards with a cooler on the tailgate and loaded with ppl it was still pawing away climbing through creek crossing now if you want to run extra large tire you might want to get something else but moose is running a 28 inch big horns on his and he seems to be fine in snow.
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I think they're crazy, I'm running 28" Bighorns and have never had it stall on a hill. I'm also running Camoplast tracks on it right now and I climbed a hill with 2-3'of snow on it that makes my quads paw for traction on dirt. otherwise it will climb with out a low range
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I think with the power wars the media types have come to expect a certain amount of power. I know for me, power isn't about going fast or spinning big tires in the mud its more of having confidence that the machine will perform and be up to the task. I think the pioneer can do it, but its definitely at the bottom end on power. its a lot like having a small block v8 pulling the same load as a diesel truck. both will do it, but the other will do it faster.
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Here is a photo from one of my big loads test rides. It's funny how the Dirt Trax team commented on the need for a low gear, yet I didn't see them haul, plow or go mudding. All I saw was some footage driving down a trail. They also referred to the wrong cc of motor, but that probably only bothered me.
As skorp said. I run 28" Bighorn 2.0's. I also regularly drive up steep slopes in better than a foot of snow, which is sitting on snow pack not ground. I weigh right at 300 lbs. with another 50 lbs in saws, plus this load which was 4 trees between 30-40' tall. I passed 1000lbs of payload probably somewhere in tree #3, but it was sub zero and I didn't want to have to come back for just a small load.
That load is two stacks deep btw and that wood is not seasoned or dried, its fresh cut and heavy. I had maybe 1" between the tops of my rear tires and the bottom of the bed.
I drove that over 1/4 mile home with factory preload and never had that suspension bottom. Never used more than 1/3 throttle even pushing snow with the tires. I ran it up to 16mph before running out of straight away and the only indication of something heavy in the back was it was hard to steer because the front end was so light and the load was pushing me through turns.
I have had this thing almost standing on its tailgate and never once have I thought it needs low gear.
I have done a few hundred miles of farm work in a XP 900. My other current machine is my King Quad 750. While the Pioneer lacks the power and top speed of my quad. I don't feel there is anything that big old suzuki can do that the Pioneer can't, cept go real fast.
This concludes my review of the Pioneer.
As skorp said. I run 28" Bighorn 2.0's. I also regularly drive up steep slopes in better than a foot of snow, which is sitting on snow pack not ground. I weigh right at 300 lbs. with another 50 lbs in saws, plus this load which was 4 trees between 30-40' tall. I passed 1000lbs of payload probably somewhere in tree #3, but it was sub zero and I didn't want to have to come back for just a small load.
That load is two stacks deep btw and that wood is not seasoned or dried, its fresh cut and heavy. I had maybe 1" between the tops of my rear tires and the bottom of the bed.
I drove that over 1/4 mile home with factory preload and never had that suspension bottom. Never used more than 1/3 throttle even pushing snow with the tires. I ran it up to 16mph before running out of straight away and the only indication of something heavy in the back was it was hard to steer because the front end was so light and the load was pushing me through turns.
I have had this thing almost standing on its tailgate and never once have I thought it needs low gear.
I have done a few hundred miles of farm work in a XP 900. My other current machine is my King Quad 750. While the Pioneer lacks the power and top speed of my quad. I don't feel there is anything that big old suzuki can do that the Pioneer can't, cept go real fast.
This concludes my review of the Pioneer.
Before I bought my 700-4 I was pretty worried about it lacking low range, and the low top speed. After owning it a month, plowing alot of snow and playing in deep snow. I can honestly say it doesn't need low range. I have stalled it maybe 3 times trying make my snow piles taller. But that's to be expected with a new tight machine. And the best thing to do when climbing hills is just back off and let the tranny keep you in first gear. Its a beast, that will take 4, 180-230lb adults through 2 1/2ft of snow.
Wow thanks for all the response so fast. The feedback was just the kind of info I was looking for. What I meant by "stall" was machine not moving and tires not spinning when at wot. In other words if there is traction and tires are hooking up the vehicle better be moving. If not moving then it just does not have enough power. If you chain the vehicle heavily loaded to a tree on dry ground it should be able to break the tires loose. If not in my experience it does not have enough power. Maybe someone with experience using one of the machines I have listed will be able to compare to the Pioneer. Thanks again to everyone.
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i plowed snow before with a atc big red 250 with tire chains on the back tires .....didn't steer worth a shiit but it pushed the snow just fine
I think the only way to make the " stall" happen would be to strap the wheels to a trailer. and buy the way unlike a belt drive you could strap the wheel to the trailer put a brick on the gas peddle then go have lunch . it wont care and it wont hurt it.when your done with lunch unstrap it and drive away. try that with your belt drive.
belt drives have to have low range /band aid to save the rubber band that drives them .so every one thinks the Rincon/ pioneer needs one.
belt drives have to have low range /band aid to save the rubber band that drives them .so every one thinks the Rincon/ pioneer needs one.
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Xrrider depending on what size tires and the traction just like anything else but I can say that if you tie mine to a tree with my 27s 1 of 2 things are going to happen either ill have to winch my self out cause ill be sitting on frame or ill bounce enough and break an axle. The stall on it feels a lil weird but just creepinginto the pedal itll move
Well you guys have made a believer of me. There is nothing like hearing testimony from actual users. It is a little disappointing that the crew at Dirt Trax would make that statement without the testing to back it up. I have owned several Honda's over the years and am a big fan. Last summer I rode a Honda XR 650 dirt bike off road across the US to Port Orford,OR and then almost 1/2 the way back to Colorado Springs, CO. The bike was heavily loaded with everything I needed for the 31 day trip (less food and water) and had the %$^&^ beat out of it all day every day. Temps ranged from 31 degrees to 103 degrees, elevations of just under 14000 feet and the bike never missed a beat. Other than changing the oil at the half way point and 3 sets of tires I did absolutley nothing to it other than the daily maintenance like lubing chain etc. The ONLY issue I had was a flat rear tire (in the middle of nowhere New Mexico) which of course not the bikes fault. I did spend many hours prepping the bike but nothing on the ride itself. I think that is absolutely amazing considering the brutal terrain. My wife is on her 3rd Honda Pilot and neither of them has ever been back to the dealer for any issue what so ever. That might be even more amazing! I will admit however I still want to look at the new Viking. What I really want is one of each!!!
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Yeah my dad had an 88 lil 300 2x4 forever it seemed like but in 06 he gave it away and bought his foreman which was still beat to he double hockey sticks when an unfortunate turn of events including a heat shield on my rinny turned wrong and it caught my bike and his on fire about 6 months ago. He sunk it twice and changed a rear hub on it once when it burnt and that was the only thing and never adjusted valves and never smoked at all
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Fire freaking sucks.
I lost my two dirt bikes from childhood to a fire. Lots of memories on those.
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I live at about 4800 feet, and ride ( so far ) from there up to about 7800 feet.
Up to, say 7000 feet or so, I'd say it will pull pretty much anything you would put in it up any hill you'd dare climb. Beyond that, the power starts running a little thin. It's those situations where it really could use a low range or lower gearing ( or more power ).
I call it the Jekyll and Hyde machine. Sometimes it will struggle on what seems to be an easy climb, yet other times it will amaze you with what it will do. It pulls down and feels like it may stall...but then it just keeps on chugging. Once the tires are turning, it does fine...but getting them turning in tough situations at altitude can be tough.
FWIW, reverse is lower geared that 1st. It seems like you could back up anything at any altitude with it.
Up to, say 7000 feet or so, I'd say it will pull pretty much anything you would put in it up any hill you'd dare climb. Beyond that, the power starts running a little thin. It's those situations where it really could use a low range or lower gearing ( or more power ).
I call it the Jekyll and Hyde machine. Sometimes it will struggle on what seems to be an easy climb, yet other times it will amaze you with what it will do. It pulls down and feels like it may stall...but then it just keeps on chugging. Once the tires are turning, it does fine...but getting them turning in tough situations at altitude can be tough.
FWIW, reverse is lower geared that 1st. It seems like you could back up anything at any altitude with it.
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