Thread: Bought the new Polaris Ute

So, further to my original posting here https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....dations-42527/ requesting feedback on quad bikes, I ended up proceeding with the purchase of a Polaris Ute.

Reasoning for going with the Polaris?

1. Price - the Polaris is lower priced than others in the market, and while going for a jap bike might have been a better bet in the long run, I couldn't stretch that far.
2. The 'ute' layout on the Polaris offers considerable flexibility in terms of load carrying. Its rated for 180kg in the back. Last night I had 50 possums plus an extra rider on the side with no issues.
3. The 2017 model has excellent engine breaking, plus hill decent control, plus a turf mode which is essentially one wheel drive, which is excellent for doing tight turns on the flat or for saving your tyres on the metal road.
4. Its wider and longer than most other bikes out there which makes it super stable.
5. The local Polaris dealer is only 4 minutes away making servicing and support close to home.

We were out doing the local Drury possum hunt over the weekend and this was the ute's maiden voyage. I have to say I am very impressed. I ended up in some very steep country which I wouldn't have gone into if I had have known how steep it was and the bike was extremely well behaved and very predictable. The combination of power steering and hill descent control are amazing. The AWD system was flawless and never felt like it was spinning a wheel in any corner, and there was far too much of both the accent and descent that was being done on 2 and 3 wheels instead of 4!

My dislikes, while minor would be:

1. The high beam headlight is attached to the handle bars which is a pain if you want to put a box on the front carrier or even lay your coat across the front. I will over come this by mounting a light bar on the bull bars and reroute the wiring.
2. The position of the ignition key on the same 'pod' as the light means that the key can be stressed if you have anything sitting on the fuel tank, like your rain coat because you cannot sit it on the front carrier because of the light.
3. The Polaris factory side bars need some work to make them more rigid.

So, very happy with it at the moment, and am currently designing and building the carrier frame for the ute tray for guns and ammo

Got a photo of aforesaid beast?

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Got a photo of aforesaid beast?

Think he still to busy playing with it
So in the meantime - this is what I think he is planning on it ending up looking like

With or without the PKM?

Been doing a little bit of work of the Polaris this week getting it ready for a hunt this coming week. Taking my two boys for a rabbit hunt inland from Napier.

Where your photos ??
Waiting for shooter platform finish ??

My poor Polaris Ute been hauling 12 ton of metal all last week
Had a 22year old Forum member here to help me (he did all the shoveling into bags out of big Fert sling bags that were barged in) he did a magnific job
They can take the weight - just keep putting it on
My track is very steep too - short but 2 very steep parts

Like the front set up - now I see why you not wanted front carrier rack - I like the bull bar setup better than mine too
If your shooter f~~cks up the shooting you can just trip the tray and he's a gone burger

Took the two boys away for three days rabbit hunting in the hills outside Napier. Numbers are well down due to our hunting pressure. Owner's total talley has now broken the 30,000 mark. We got a solid 100 for the three days mainly with the boys learning to stalk up on little gulley's and shooting with a single shot .22LR. They took a couple of long range ones with the .22-250 and the .223 for good measure. Great time away, except for the B&*%y puncher in the rear tire on the Hilux on the way home.

Yes - it dosen't even look like Winter up there
Getting pissed off here this winter - cold damp and grumpy

It was hot in the sun and out of the wind, but walk over the ridge into the wind and shade and it was a different story. Stayed in the old wool shed so the nights were pretty cold, but no rain during the day to spoil the fun. Rained heavy during the last night.