Finally gonna bite the bullet and get some offroad transportation for the canine line. I can no longer walk the lines like I used to. For the guys that use an atv or utv for trapping, which do you prefer. What are the pros and cons of each one? Using a honda rancher on one property that the owner provided and like it except for the storage room available.

Side by side. For this next season my son and I made a goal to catch enough fur for a side by side. Just a used one then get it inclosed. It will definitely put less wear on the truck. I’ve used a quad in the past and it is nice but a side by side will be a little easier with one or two kids tagging along.

You boys must have some deep pockets.

Heck Beav ..I have two of each .. lol ...all but one side by side are old. 2016 can am defender my newest.

ATV will go a few places a UTV won't in timber. UTV will haul more gear and a passenger. I put a box on front and back of my 550 ATV will hold two dz #3size traps drivers small cut down pickaxe hammer and three gallon jugs of waxed dirt cablestakes and a few snares in back box. Drill and augers gloves setting tongs waxed paper trowel sifter visual attractors and misselanious items go in front.
Trapping bag gets bungied on top of back box. Sometimes a chainsaw
gets laid on it's side and the bag sets on the bar then both get bungied down. The saw only goes when I expect blow down trees across the trail
in front or behind me. Works good for me

Depends on how wide your trails are.

I have a small ATV and glad I didn't buy a bigger one. Out in the wide open, would be a different story.

Not to mention I trailer my ATV on a small trailer...then hook that trailer to the ATV and go. Can't do that will a big UTV trailer. Well you can, but what a pain.

I have and use both. Normally use the side by side as I can haul everything I need in it and do not have to unload it to trailer it from one property to the next. But the side by side is heavier and tracks up wet trails and roads more than the ATV. With all of the wet we had this year, I would set with the side by side and runs checks with the ATV.

I have a cam am commander...I love it for trapping I just need to organize a little better

If your patient and shop around, you can get a used Polaris Ranger 550 for $3k-$4k that will last you a lot of years. Not to much difference in price from a 4-wheeler. You do need to buy a trailer because its not going to fit in the bed of your truck haha. You don't need to buy a $20K Rzr for trapping. Another reason why I want a side by side, especially a ranger, is because you can get kits to fully in close them, and even get a heater. When you got a 5 year old with you, having it in closed at heated will be nice. I know I'm from southern Nevada, but what people don't realize is it does get cold, especially in the mountains. Plus when your used to 110 degree summers, 20-30 degrees is very cold. You also get the added protection from rain and snow. Especially if you have a year like is year where it seemed to rain and/or snow almost every time I checked the last couple months of the season. The fully enclosed kits can be expensive, but my brother buys and sells used ATVs, dirt bikes, and side by sides in Idaho and said he doesn't get to much more for a side by side with an enclosed kit vs one without it so he could get me a kit for a good price.

Suzuki samurai. Cab-heat-cheap-drive it instead of tow it--if want to tow no need for a trailer with a bumper hitch. At couple 1000miles on a sxs it's rdy to be rebuilt when a samurai is rdy for an oil change.....granted I trap close to home but I drive anywhere a sxs will go and down the hiways to next line. Sure works good for me

I use a Polaris sxs bought it new in 13 it's a 14 model it got 10000 miles on it I trailer it between spots I wouldn't recommend a Polaris for trapping my machine is literally starting to fall apart it's getting it's third clutch put in it now highly recommend a direct drive mcahine if you pick a four wheeler or sxs

Terrain will dictate which suits you best. Are you chasing beavers in river bottoms or chasing yotes in ag fields? I do both and get along great with my Honda rancher at 450! UTVS are great for predator trapping. But if your chasing beavers and otts in river bottoms unless the owners made woods roads they are limited! My atv I can weave in and out of trees easily. But your loads are more restricted if you plan on it lasting any amount of time. I got two special ordered plastic truck tuff boxes mounted on mine. But be warned it makes them very top heavy! My back box will easily hold 6 dozen predator traps. which I never haul over 3 dozen to help save my machine. My front box only gets baits and lures With a gun rack mounted on the back side to hold my driver a sledge hammer and catch pole. My next machine will probably be a utv only down fall in muddy situations they cut ruts as big as trucks. that will be a game stopper for me. Some of my farmers have better field roads then our county roads.They say they don't mind my 4 wheeler tracks just don't drive the same track repeatedly.

For sure on terrian up and down threw hilly pasture ground is what I mostly trap forgot to mention that also I recommend the mid size models they really aren't much heavier then a big atv

I couldn't agree more I borrow a 250 timber wolf when the bottom falls out! But its only purpose is for carrying critters and my lazy butt

Ive got a Yamaha Viking that will be getting a cap and heater this year ( $4000 to get it), I prefer a side x side for most of my activities but there are those time a 4 wheeler would be better. If I was strictly going by myself and not using it to hunt too I'd look at the wolverine.

After riding around in the rain on my quad all last season, I would say go for the side by side with windshield and wipers!!

I trap coyotes off of a Polaris Ranger. It's a 800 with a cab enclosure. I don't have a heater, but might be putting one in this summer. Obviously the sxs can haul so much more than an atv. I trap in pastures that is to rough to use a pickup, and much to far to walk. This summer, I'm taking the box off and building a box strictly for trapping. Will have drawers for lure and bait, another for drivers and set making tools, cutouts for 5 gallon buckets of waxed sand and compartments for traps. Going to use plywood until I have it the way I want, then will build one out of diamond plate or aluminum.

I have both, they each have a place on my trap line. If l had to chose l honestly don’t know which one l would give up.

I am probably going to redo the bed on my Honda Pioneer as well so I can organize it better. Those molded plastic bed walls are pretty tough but they are not conducive to mounting brackets on to hold tools or stakes. Not sure exactly how I am going to do it yet but there is definitely room for improvement.

Whichever one you get, wear a helmet. I was really really lucky last fall. This one landed square in my back (thought for sure I broke my back) and just barely missed my head with the rear drop down basket and then proceeded to tumble over 400 yards down the mountain. Luckily I had insurance. Only had 240 miles on it, 2017 Yamaha Kodiak. Walked away with a cracked rib is all.

Had a Polaris 800 2013, ranger that was made on Monday lol. The only good thing was the motor it self had 10,000 miles on it. Glad it's gone. Got a Yamaha wolverine now, almost got 2,000 miles on it and so far only thing I've had to do is put oil filters on it, and some b.s. recall with the exhaust pipe. Which didn't cost anything. Cant go wrong with Honda or Yamaha imo

ATVs are easy to overload because they are not designed to carry a lot of cargo. The extra weigh makes them easier to turn over if a wheel slips off in a rut or there is much side hill. And the trade off for ground clearance is a much higher center of gravity on ATVs and UTVs. Does not take a lot to flip one.

You were fortunate to only break a rib!

You guys have given me a lot to think about. I like how the rancher lets me leave the trail if a tree has fallen across it. Just not happy with the carrying capacity. Currently using 4 milk crates on the racks with a 5 gallon bucket in each one. Seems like I always need the bucket that I left back at the truck.

I would also like to take my lab with me. He has proven to be an asset to me this year on the coyote line. Just cant figure out a way to accommodate him as well as my supplies.

Sounds like you answered your own question.......

Agreed. Having owned both a Rhino and a Kodiak, if I had to choose just one it would be the Rhino. The wheelbase isn't all that much bigger, you can haul a lot more gear and you can sip a cup of coffee while negotiating some of the nastiest terrain out there.

A roof and a windshield was the deciding factor for me in purchasing a SxS for trapping. There are gonna be rainy days checking traps.

Btw...Honda is good!

For 2 years I have run a 900 Polaris Ranger. I live out west and trailer the Ranger to areas I am trapping. One of this years line included 64 miles of Ranger driving along with about 220 miles of truck driving per check. I went with the fully enclosed cab, all glass, heater and a windshield wiper. I would buy it again tomorrow. Easy to get in and out of, comfortable for 2 guys and all their trapping gear, easy to get equipment out of the bed, total protection from the elements and enough room in the cab for a lunch cooler and drink holders! It will go any where I want to drive it and will easily do 40mph on the better dirt roads. I also use it during hunting season as I have been a hunting guide for 21 years. It was so expensive! But I do get to use it as a tax write off. On those windy snowy days I do feel spoiled when the heater makes it to warm in the cab that I have to roll down the electric windows!

I have a couple of Polaris sportsman. One is a 500, the other is a 570 efi. Bombproof aside from a fuel pump last winter on the efi. I cant have a side by side because of the trees here, so that made my decision easy. Have around 5000 miles on each, and replaced a cracked rubber intake on the 500 this year, and replaced a belt on each of them. Our trails are all rock. Slow and rough. They both ride, feel and look like the day I bought them. I have a big welded aluminum bush trailer for towing heavy stuff. Have towed 2500 lb lifts of lumber some surprising places on dirt roads, and launch my waverunner and boats with them. Drive one or the other every day to work. Very pleased so far.

I have two Yamaha Big Bear 400 4WD ATV's, a 2004 and a 2012. Both have manual transmission and have been bullet proof for years and years. Have over 5000 miles on the 2004 and it still runs perfect. I do all of the oil, filters, and maintenance myself. The manual transmission ATVs will pull about anything you can hook to it. I pull trailers and drag big steel cage traps (for wild hogs) thru woods and swamps with no problem. These ATVs are great for my hog trapping purposes but after a day of climbing off and on the ATV, my hips and knees ache. My age must be catching up to me. I have been on a couple of side by side's and those things are much more comfortable and roomy. The ATV will go in tighter places and rougher terrain, but the added comfort and room of a nice side by side is very tempting. A medium size ATV can be loaded into the back of a pickup truck, but the sidexside has to be trailered.

Dave

Well, you guys helped me decide what I already should have known. Next question. Im fairly uneducated on utv's. Looking at the websites , I have it narrowed down to Polaris Ranger 500 , Yamaha Rhino or Honda Pioneer 500. I trap in the northeast almost exclusively for coyote. More for predator control than a fur check. Mostly smaller farms and hunting clubs so there is some trailering involved between locations. Running on established dirt roads and trails but I set up in November and maintain the lines until season end thru rain , snow and mud. So my priorities are long lasting , low maintenance , traction and cargo capacity. Anyone running any of these machines please share your thoughts. Thanks for any imput.

You might find the Honda 500 a bit small, good for trailering but not so much for hauling equipment and critters. And when I was looking at them, they did not come with a rear bed and there were no aftermarket beds, at least I did not find any. I went up a size to the Pioneer 700. Honda reliability is hard to beat.

Yamaha doesn't make a rhino anymore but the wolverine is about the same machine. 700 cc engine in it and the Viking which is the one I have. the Polaris will be under powered and zero ground clearance.

I have driven both the pioneer and ranger extensively. I will say that the low gear in the ranger is better. The cab options are way better in the ranger and there is more room in the bed of the ranger. The pioneer has the back seat option so you can seat 4 but you lose some of the cargo area in the bed while the ranger seats 3 on a bench seat. I have 3730+ miles of mostly trapline time on my 900 ranger with no problems. I usually haul all 4-5 dozen #3 bridger coils and 4-5 dozen #3 dbl longs along with all the other goodies. Of course it gets lighter as you go but that gives you a idea of cargo space. During elk season last year I hauled a average 5 point bull elk cut in half in the bed, three grown men in the front and two grown men on top of the elk in the back up a steep rocky hill and about a mile thru a freshly plowed field. I would say you should go down to the local dealerships and give both a good once over. It does seem to me that the pioneer is geared more to a split between sport and utility and the ranger is more utility.

Thank you for the great review. Thats the kind of info I am looking for.

You may find the machines that you reference to be underpowered. Maybe enough power to scoot around, but not enough for carrying a load, pulling something, or working.

If it does not have a bed, it will not be very useful for hauling anything. Look at what guys do with atvs to carry gear. Racks, baskets, forked racks, and trailers.

I have a diesel Mule. The fuel economy and power are great. When I replace it, the most powerful available will be the only choice. Hopefully by then Honda or Yamaha will offer a side by side with a 1500cc engine.

Personally, I have never encountered too much power or too much room in anything, including a side by side. Try to get what you really need plus a margin of power and room.

LOL

I don't know what some of you pull around, but I can't imagine how a 500cc side by side could be "underpowered" for trapping. Heck, I've raked hay and hauled 150+ gallons of water over some treacherous ground with my Ranger 500. I'm not one to argue against more power, but 500cc is more than enough for a trapping UTV.

More hp is necessary for carrying out the really big catches.

I have scrimped, scrapped, and made do with some real junk in my life. I learned that it is better to save up longer to get the better model or the bigger engine.

I bet that 500 was mighty hot after raking hay. How has your Polaris been for reliability? I have some customers who have the larger Polaris side by sides. They have had great results. I have ridden in them but have never driven one. Compared to my Mule, they ride like a Lincoln.

Iv got a 800 can am commander, pushes them tracks great... it’s been a great machine... just wish it had a bench seat... I’m 6’2

I was gonna mention Can Am. They have an excellent reputation, and I'm considering one myself.

BD Joe, can you give a short review of yours? Likes...dislikes?

I broke down and bought a Polaris 900 Ranger last spring when they were on sale, I have a Polaris 850 atv and got tired of freezing during bad weather on it, I bought a set of doors for the Ranger, made allot of difference on the cold. The 4 wheeler does get around better in the sage brush but I would never go back to it full time. Most of the coyote trapping I do is on old 2 track roads and it works great

I like mine but wish it had a bench seat, I’m 6’2. And my dads 6’7... it’s a tight fit... iv never had it stuck..... expecally with them tracks.. them tracks go anywhere... don’t even have a winch on it... it’s a 2013.. no power steering... turns well with the tracks on just have to have some elbow grease... the only thing I don’t like about it is the belt... iv never spit one but I know if I did I’d be walking... the belt is under the seat... hard to get to... other than that it’s a great machine.. goes great... fast and if you ever had a skidoo snowmobile it sounds and runs just like one..

I have approx. 13000 miles between three snowmobiles and have never smoked a belt. I know a lot of guys who have and it boils down to not letting the belt warm up at idle during the cold weather and not maintaining the clutches. A handful of throttle at the start off is a good way to mess up a belt. Remember a belt's sides is what used for the getup and go. Clutch maintenance (cleaning) of the sheaves and weights is a big plus.

Agree with Davexx1 on the Yamaha Big bear. Love mine.

We have Polaris Rangers at work. Hunks of junk.

Thanks for the review, Joe.

I have alot of test driving to do. I like Can Am, Honda, and Yamahopper.

Iv also have a atv and a Argo... I run the commander more than them..

Yeah, the hay raking wasn't the best idea. Not something I've done often, but only had a little to do and didn't feel like going to get a tractor.
Reliability with the Polaris have been good for normal stuff. I've had some major issues (engine/transmission) the last two years, but to be fair they've been all self inflicted.

Hunt,
I owned the 2016 ranger 570 eps crew and sold it after 1300 dollars for new clutches and belt with only 3500 miles on it. The ones my year I could only get about 150 miles before needing a new air filter due to where the intake was located. with 4 adults or loaded with trapping gear it hit every rock you went over. Had to use 4x4 to hill hills if loaded also. I went back to the Yamaha and got the Viking better clearance power and the air intake is from the front so way less maintance

Those Vikings are tough.

A few things I dislike about them, but toughness ain’t one.

Jury’s still out on my Ranger.

On with bulldozer here o run a 1000 can am commander.. with roof windshield.. doors are coming soon.. it has a cargo bed then under a little panel that is removable there is more space.. it has power for days I use it for about everything and I haven't been able to find a place a 4 wheeler can get to that I can't.. might be the long way around or whatever but it's less wear and tear on me and the machine

I have can am does very well this my third one you can put miles on one.