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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I had a previous thread that became a tire and wheel discussion. I'm curious to know how a Pioneer would fare in this situation. Please don't look at it as a Polaris vs Honda competition. I am looking for something which could be used in this type of terrain and thought this video really explained what I may put my machine through. I have never owned a Polaris, so I am not advertising for them. As a matter of fact, I have never owned a sxs, only Jeeps and ATV's
 

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They can both be used in that type of terrain, or any other for that matter, but if your asking which will perform better in that situation, then its the RZR hands down. Im not a polaris fan but it is the better choice for climbing rocks.
 

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I guess my question is more along the lines of WILL the pioneer navigate this type of terrain. Obviously the rzr is designed for this. Im looking to use the pioneer not only for cruising ranch roads but in this type of terrain to get to some secluded lakes and streams in the sierra nevadas for flyfishing. The ability to haul an elk or deer is absolutely necessary and the rzr cant do that, at least in one trip.
 

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They can both be used in that type of terrain, or any other for that matter, but if your asking which will perform better in that situation, then its the RZR hands down. Im not a polaris fan but it is the better choice for climbing rocks.
Noticed a lot of people into Yami's and Honda's don't really like Polaris products.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
I'd love to have a Polaris with a Honda drivetrain. Especially a low range Honda drivetrain. How about the John Deere Gator 850, the more sports oriented model? How would that compare to a Pioneer?
 

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Little mule is one of the more extreme trails at Windrock. I've rode a lot of the extreme trails down there on my old teryx. Comparing the teryx to the pioneer. The suspension and transmission is better on the pioneer. But truthfully if you want to do trails like this a rzr 900 or XP 1000 is what you want. I'm going to wait till next May if Yamaha or Honda doesn't release a 1000cc sport sxs, I'm going to a XP1000
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
that would be awesome. The pioneer clearly meets 90% of my needs, and even some I didn't know I had, but I really need this machine to be able to conquer steep, rough, rocky terrain at times.
 

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The Pioneer seems pretty capable in rocky washes to me. With the tallish 1st gear and torque converter, you have to use a little different technique than any other machine...IE, giving throttle and using the left foot on the brake to help modulate it.

Whats kinda cool is the way Honda did the undercarriage. Ground clearance is listed at 10" or so, but that is actually a narrow section in the center of the machine. Out under the "nerfs" it has a lot more, so it drives like a much smaller machine in that respect.

Obviously, skid plates are a must.
 

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The Pioneer seems pretty capable in rocky washes to me. With the tallish 1st gear and torque converter, you have to use a little different technique than any other machine...IE, giving throttle and using the left foot on the brake to help modulate it.

Whats kinda cool is the way Honda did the undercarriage. Ground clearance is listed at 10" or so, but that is actually a narrow section in the center of the machine. Out under the "nerfs" it has a lot more, so it drives like a much smaller machine in that respect.

Obviously, skid plates are a must.
Do you think they could have improved the undercarriage in any other way?
 

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........ I'm curious to know how a Pioneer would fare in this situation. Please don't look at it as a Polaris vs Honda competition. I am looking for something which could be used in this type of terrain and thought this video really explained what I may put my machine through. I have never owned a Polaris, so I am not advertising for them. As a matter of fact, I have never owned a sxs, only Jeeps and ATV's
I currently own a Jeep TJ w/35" tires & a long arm suspension, a 900 Polaris RZR, and now a Pioneer. I have also owned numerous ATV's, a Yamaha Rhino, and a Kawasaki Teryx. Therefore I can probably speak on your question with about as much 1st hand experience as anyone can.

In general an ATV is the most nimble machine of the group, however, as I'm sure you already know, in very rough terrain its narrow track and short wheel base can make it difficult to handle. Therefore a SXS with its wider track and longer wheel base will be more stable. However they are both limited by their smaller tires. Therefore although a SxS can usually run away from a Jeep in most rough terrain, the Jeep will be better in the very rough (big rock) terrain. My Jeep picture was taken in Moab Utah and as you can probably imagine, an ATV or SxS with their smaller tires would have a much more difficult time traversing something like this.

I have had my Pioneer in rough terrain, but I have not had it in extremely rough terrain, but it seems to do just as well as my Polaris RZR or my old Teryx. Remember, we aren't talking about high speed use, so high horse power is seldom needed, and therefore in most cases we have enough power to easily crawl over any obstacle that the tire size (and clearance) will allow.

I like all my machines, and each has its place, but I am coming to like my Pioneer more and more every time I use it ............... Now hopefully the new Walker Evans shocks will make it even better.
 

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I currently own a Jeep TJ w/35" tires & a long arm suspension,
Nice Jeep and nice pic in the crack. I use to have a 2000 TJ w/32's and a rubicon long arm. Oh yes and open diffs :)

Fun, Fun

I miss the ole Jeep

Anyone know how to make a gif out of these?
 

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Nice Jeep and nice pic in the crack. I use to have a 2000 TJ w/32's and a rubicon long arm. Oh yes and open diffs :)

Do you agree that in most off road conditions a SxS can easily run away from a Jeep except in very rough (or very easy) terrain? At least that has been my experience.

OBTW, nice pics, thanks.
I don't have enough under my belt in the pioneer to say yea or nea yet.

But I think those roads that are just rocky enough to be torture in a jeep that keep you at 5-10 mph you could fly through in the pioneer.

I still have under 40 miles on it and it is just sitting at the new property waiting for me to get up there. So I will know soon enough :)
 
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