What am I missing UTV vs. Jeep

[Elktrack]

So for you guys that have them, would you go Polaris or Can Am?

Can Am hands down

 

[jimh406]

Can Am hands down

I think it depends on which models you compare whether Polaris wins or not.

 

[MTGomer]

I think it depends on which models you compare whether Polaris wins or not.

For me, it would be general verse commander.
I don’t need one, but I keep waiting to get some giant survey project like for a pipeline or transmission line or wind farm that would justify getting one. Hasn’t happened yet.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Guess a lot depends on where you like to hunt and whether you want to trailer it, etc… for me a jeep is about perfect for where I like to hunt and I don’t have to trailer it. 2015 rubicon w/ 3.5” lift, various upgrades such as steering and drive shafts. Gets 3-4 of us up to camp with all our gear and a few critters in addition to that when we are headed down.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Guess a lot depends on where you like to hunt ...

Yes, the obvious but critical qualifier.

 

[brymoore]

Answer: you can cover rough terrain 2-3 times as fast as any Jeep/Truck/SUV

I've had multiple SXS's and Jeeps, trucks, etc. My Rubicon goes anywhere I would want to take my SXS's, but the SXS gets me through rough stuff at 15mph+ while I'd be having to crawl at 5mph in a heavy vehicle. Beats you up much less too.

Cons are getting SXS's to a trailhead, limited range (fuel tank), dust, carrying capacity, cost. For me, they are key to certain units I hunt and keeping the kids/wife/me warm and toasty. Especially when I haven't scouted before and need to bomb around finding where to hunt. For other units where I know where I'm going I take my time and Jeep/truck.

The biggest con I see to UTV/Dirt bikes is noise. I listen to them come for miles at different locations for years. The past week we sat on a hillside in the dark listening to a UTV fight a two track and slowly make it towards my locations. Miles and miles of engine noise. A truck is much quieter.

 

[Chingon]

*a stock gasoline truck is quieter

You can hear my buddies deleted Cummins from his drieway 200 miles away...

This is one of the main reasons I was excited for the Jeep 4XE hybrids with 20 miles of EV range. Electric mode is SUPER quiet and the power and range boost are ideal for off-road hunting. However, reliability on these is abysmal still. Hoping they get the kinks worked out in 10 years...

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

I missing, is it worth $30k plus for a rig you can't even get into and drive to the next state? Just looking for real-world experiences.

I went through this exact process and the bottom line conclusion was it depends on the type of roads you'll be driving. Where I'm at the forest roads are not ridiculously filled with pot holes, washboard and big rocks. So in the UTV I couldn't actually go that much faster than a truck/suv, due to blind corners where I assume someone is coming the other way and go slower.

I found that I MUCH prefer the climate controlled, way quiter ride of a truck/suv than the UTV (mine was Honda Talon). UTV noise when riding really takes away from my enjoyment of the peaceful nature setting. Wearing sound deadening headphones helps with noise but far from ideal.

As you said, to get climate controlled utv it's easily $35k+, which I'd much much rather spend on a truck or suv.

IF you spend a lot of time in brutal forest roads or enjoy the sport UTV riding, rock crawling or more extreme trails when not hunting, then the performance of a sport UTV is amazing. Otherwise, for hunting and general scouting/hiking/backpacking use it's a no brainer for me after my actual experience. Even stock truck/suv with good tires is great in almost all scenarios.


ps - from my experience the recent trucks have exponential softer, more comfortable suspensions (in stock trim) on forest roads than older ones

 

[Redmt]

We had a 79 CJ7 for probably 25-30 years. The only time it didn't need something fixed was weeks we didn't use it. We have 2 Fourtrax 450's that are great when the electric shift isn't acting up. They are not so great for rain or snow. I picked up a Kubota 1100 diesel enclosed cab, heat, air, hydraulic dump bed, winch etc. It's slow with 25mph top speed. They would all go wherever I point them. The Kubota gets far more use until the grandkids visit.

 

[Dan-06]

Built a jeep for these types of roads.

 

[dribeerfeht]

Does anyone have experience with a Mahindra/Willys jeep? Been sering them lately...

 

[Chingon]

Does anyone have experience with a Mahindra/Willys jeep? Been sering them lately...

Those are pretty expensive for something more difficult to transport than a SXS, but also less capable and comfortable. Sort of like taking all the downsides of a Jeep and SXS and keeping almost none of the benefits.