Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

redmoose · 2011-10-10 14:47:19

OK, my rig won't be too exciting to some of you rock crawlers and mud boggers out there, but I live in Eagle River, Alaska and the snow is days away. The only thing not in this photo is the 66-inch plow that will be mounted when the first flakes start to fall!

2011 Polaris Ranger 500 EFI mid-sized, stock RangerWare top and doors, Polaris heater, 3500# Polaris/Warn winch, 66" Glacier II Sno-glide plow... and a towed sander/salter.

It used to take me a full hour out in the elements to do the job right with my walk-behind snow-blower. I'm guessing 10 to 15 minutes should do it with this rig, and I'll be sipping my coffee in a heated cab. I may not get to clear the driveway for months if my wife finds out how much fun it is in the Ranger!

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-10-10 15:17:35

I personal think it is more fun being productive with the ranger then just playing around and breaking things You will most likely need to put a few sand bags in the bed and get chains for the tires to run the plow :idea: Welcome to the forum

redmoose · 2011-10-10 18:26:10

I think it is more fun being productive with the ranger then just playing around and breaking things You will most likely need to put a few sand bags in the bed and get chains for the tires to run the plow :idea: Welcome to the forum

My plans exactly! I pick up the chains when I pick up the plow next week. I just hope it arrives before the snow gets here! :!: Thanks for the advice and welcome.

Badley · 2011-10-11 17:13:32

I personal think it is more fun being productive with the ranger then just playing around and breaking things

Hey! I resemble that remark

Welcome to the forum redmoose! Nice rig. Just complain a little before moving snow, make your wife think it is work

joco · 2011-10-11 21:17:22

do you always need chains to plow snow? and what is the best plow to get?

redmoose · 2011-10-11 22:41:43

do you always need chains to plow snow? and what is the best plow to get?

I have no personal experience with either yet, but I imagine that I will soon, and I'll let you know.

From what I've gathered from others the need for chains depends on a lot of things, such as whether the ground is icy before it snows, depth and weight or wetness of the snowfall, flat or hilly terrain to plow.

I understand the newest re-designed Glacier II 66-inch (Sno-glide) plow is supposed to be superior for moving a lot of snow, and is a bit lighter. This year it has been strengthened by 40% and the plow face enlarged in both height and width. Based on that you might be wary if you are looking at used Glacier or Glacier II plows, as I've read complaints from some on the forums who have bent push bars or mounts on the older Glacier systems. On the other hand, others were very satisfied with them, so I guess it's in how you use them.

That's what I've read, so now we'll see if I'm even close when the snow gets here!

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-10-11 23:17:16

do you always need chains to plow snow? and what is the best plow to get?
I have no personal experience with either yet, but I imagine that I will soon, and I'll let you know.
From what I've gathered from others the need for chains depends on a lot of things, such as whether the ground is icy before it snows, depth and weight or wetness of the snowfall, flat or hilly terrain to plow.
I understand the newest re-designed Glacier II 66-inch (Sno-glide) plow is supposed to be superior for moving a lot of snow, and is a bit lighter. This year it has been strengthened by 40% and the plow face enlarged in both height and width. Based on that you might be wary if you are looking at used Glacier or Glacier II plows, as I've read complaints from some on the forums who have bent push bars or mounts on the older Glacier systems. On the other hand, others were very satisfied with them, so I guess it's in how you use them.
That's what I've read, so now we'll see if I'm even close when the snow gets here!

+1 on all of above. The minute the snow turns to icy conditions and the total amount to be pushed will stop you in your tracks without chains. In light stuff and wet conditions they are not needed but that almost never happens that way. Family in manitoba has told me all this and I have been in enough high altitude snow conditions to know what the UTVs limitation are in regards to traction in icy thick snow conditions.....

I will also mention that running a Plow, you should always run in low range to prevent burning the belt up unless it is really thin and light stuff :idea: ......

redmoose · 2011-10-11 23:28:59

Excellent points. I had read and expected to always plow in LOW but forgot to mention it. I expect to use 4x4 mode also in all but the lightest of snow conditions. Thanks for the help!

redmoose · 2011-10-13 21:31:50

We saw a few snowflakes in Eagle River today, though we're probably still a few weeks from anything that stays on the ground. The plow? Still on back-order! I haven't sold the snow-blower yet just in case!

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-10-14 10:26:55

We saw a few snowflakes in Eagle River today, though we're probably still a few weeks from anything that stays on the ground. The plow? Still on back-order! I haven't sold the snow-blower yet just in case!

I wish it would cool off here faster. We don't do any running around with our trailer or Polaris during the summer due to the summer heat. I think our first trip will be in early November after we get everything ready.

As for the plow, it may take longer to get to you because it is now late in season and more in demand. maybe not much that could have been done in your case but it may have been cheaper and easier to get one if you had ordered it four or five months ago :idea: .

Now I need to do my daily job on this site and remove more useless spam and delete those users from the site. It is a never ending job here :x .....

redmoose · 2011-10-14 13:20:28

Now I need to do my daily job on this site and remove more useless spam and delete those users from the site. It is a never ending job here :x .....

Ranger Dale, I know it's a thankless job you do to keep the boards running smoothly, but we do appreciate it. Thanks!

Ron

redmoose · 2011-10-15 22:32:42

With my 66-inch Glacier II Snow-Glide plow on who-knows-when back-order and a few snow flakes flying, I picked up a 60-inch all-steel Polaris plow today and mounted it. Sand bags and chains are standing by in the garage. I also installed an oil pan heater for use later in the winter.

*** Let it snow! ***

redmoose · 2011-10-16 23:19:20

I mounted a 60" steel plow blade on our Ranger yesterday. Today I used it to level ground adjacent to our sidewalk in preparation for winter snow-plowing. Last month I figured out that I needed to pull an embankment back about 8 inches so I'd only be plowing snow and not soil all winter. I did the first 4 inches by hand with a shovel a few weeks back and it took 90 minutes or more. The second 4 inches of embankment were higher and looked like twice as much work so I put it off. Today the Ranger and I finished the job in about 2 minutes, including clearing the ground I'd leveled with the Polaris blade. What a joy!

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-10-18 10:32:41

We will be looking forward to snow plow pictures when the time comes :idea: By the way, what was the cost of that soft cab you have :?: In 2005 they were not available and only the hard cab was available. It was way too pricey and still may consider the soft cab as long as it is cheap enough and easy to remove when needed.....

redmoose · 2011-10-18 11:15:12

By the way, what was the cost of that soft cab you have :?: In 2005 they were not available and only the hard cab was available. It was way too pricey and still may consider the soft cab as long as it is cheap enough and easy to remove when needed.....

The soft top comes off and goes on pretty easily - maybe a 5 minute job tops once you know what you're doing, including mounting the doors. That's good because it isn't recommended for trailering at high speeds. I'll give you the full price and dealer discounted price I paid for each part. I'm in Alaska, so you might be able to beat these in the "Lower 48". This kit fits the 400/500/EV. I know you run an XP, so the part numbers and costs will differ.

Item #.................Description.........Price....Discounted
PO2877854-067....Soft Top/Back.....310.79 264.17
PO2877855-067....Doors, Canvas....388.49 330.22
TOTAL...........................................699.28 594.39

I also used the plexi-glass full windshield, PO2877707, 310.79 / 264.17, so the full enclosure ran $858.56.

It isn't a perfect seal at the bottom corner of the doors, but all around excellent fit. The doors latch magnetically and the windows zip down for ventilation when needed. It does an excellent job of keeping out the rain and holding in the heat when it gets cold outside. I think I'm going to enjoy clearing snow this winter a lot more than I have the past 17 years up here!

#1 2011-10-10 14:47:19

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#2 2011-10-10 15:17:35

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#3 2011-10-10 18:26:10

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#4 2011-10-11 17:13:32

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#5 2011-10-11 21:17:22

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#6 2011-10-11 22:41:43

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#7 2011-10-11 23:17:16

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#8 2011-10-11 23:28:59

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#9 2011-10-13 21:31:50

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#10 2011-10-14 10:26:55

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#11 2011-10-14 13:20:28

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#12 2011-10-15 22:32:42

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#13 2011-10-16 23:19:20

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#14 2011-10-18 10:32:41

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

#15 2011-10-18 11:15:12

Re: Stock 2011 Ranger 500 EFI ready for winter work!

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