What's the best year model ranger

Globe · 2011-03-27 09:07:09

I'm looking for a used ranger and was wondering what the best used model was (06-10 with efi)?
Any advice?
Thanks
And yes, I'm a new guy!

ghostriderr6 · 2011-03-27 18:46:25

I would at least get new enough to get the dual front a arms with coil over shocks vs the older with single a arm and macpherson strut I think they ride a lot better and they started in 08' or 09'.

zrated · 2011-03-27 20:36:42

I would at least get new enough to get the dual front a arms with coil over shocks vs the older with single a arm and macpherson strut I think they ride a lot better and they started in 08' or 09'.

I agree...
They started that in 09.
MANY improvements starting in 09.

In 2010 they went with the 800 engine instead of the 700. (Nice improvement in power)
I guess for me it would depend what you can get a 2010 for vs. a 2009.

While we are on the subject, they made some improvements to the fuel injection system starting in 2011 that drastically improve fuel economy.
(Although with the big tank the ranger has, I have never been left wanting more fuel economy)

It's only money right???

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-03-28 17:36:56

Even though I do like the idea of the 800 in the ranger, I would hold out for at least another year till the one piece transmission rear end system proves itself more. The 2009 does only have the 700 but it uses the proven two piece transmission rear differential system which I would rather have over the more costly one piece system....

Globe · 2011-03-29 07:53:57

Thanks guys, that's the kind of info I was wanting.
I had no idea they changed so much in 09.
Thumbs up

Globe · 2011-03-29 08:00:26

One more thing. Does the 500 come with all the same features as the 700 (suspension wise)?
Is the 500 man enough? I'm gonna be putting around with the kids + me = 5 total.
Thanks in advance

zrated · 2011-03-29 11:56:17

One more thing. Does the 500 come with all the same features as the 700 (suspension wise)?
Is the 500 man enough? I'm gonna be putting around with the kids + me = 5 total.
Thanks in advance

Yeah, there were some tremendous upgrades done in 2009. If you drive one, and then the other, you will find it hard to believe they are even related.

Depending on several factors like elevation and the kind of terrain you will be riding in, I think the 500 would be way underpowered for 5 passengers.
I ride at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet, and even sometimes found the 800 underpowered with 5 passengers. Sand dunes & high elevations are the worst situations. The 500 doesn't come with the new style suspension either.

With 5 passengers I found myself in low range struggling to climb out of some the bigger bowls at Little Sahara sand dunes. (About 4,000 feet elevation) Even the 800 needed to be in low range, or possibly have some serious clutch work done, because I just couldn’t get the RPMs up. It was bogging down.

The Ranger XP has some real disadvantages if you plan on putting a seat in the back, filling it with kids, and climbing any kind of steep inclines. It is Tippy! Sand dunes, Moab style obstacles, or even steep dirt trails can be sketchy.

Because I have kids to haul around, if I had it to do over I would have started with a 2010 Ranger Crew. The changes made in 2009 on the Ranger XP finally made it into the Ranger crew in 2010 (Along with the 800 EFI engine) The Crew also has lower gearing that multiplies the available torque better than the XP, so it’s like getting the 4.10 gears instead of 3.42 gears in your truck.

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-03-31 12:13:12

One more thing. Does the 500 come with all the same features as the 700 (suspension wise)?
Is the 500 man enough? I'm gonna be putting around with the kids + me = 5 total.
Thanks in advance

Back in 2002 I bought my first Polaris Ranger 500 which I sold to a land owner in 2005, and then bought the Ranger Xp 700. Still to this day the Ranger 500 is running and doing its job. The 500 did not have the power or the top speed of the 700 but it did everything the 700 has done in every way. It had a 41 MPH top speed which was more then the stock rhino at the time and basically the same suspension and drive line as all rangers till 2010.

The Ranger 700 I have has done some real amazing things and rate its stability far better then the rhino. I have hauled 600 lbs of firewood and gear in the bed and climbed some very, very step hills with no problems in stability; in fact I normally lose traction before any danger comes along. In a few occasions I have done the same job with a near stock Rhino and boy do you want to have an E-Ticket ride in the stability test, there is no comparison. I have only heard of this tippy thing twice and one was just now with zrated and the other was a comment by someone that does not even own one. I have even hauled over 1000lbs of firewood in a trailer along with what was in the bed with now problems. I guess it could be a problem on models built from 2009 since I have not tried the same stuff with the newer ones with the suspension changes. Also the much added power of zrateds ride and the added weight could have change the UTVs geometry as well.

What I do like on the new ones is the power steering and the 800 engine. The ride is also an improvement as well but the older models still have a very good ride anyways. I like the storage better on the older models as well. 2005 and 2006 had under hood storage as well as a real big storage box accessible from the driver side without pulling the seat. 2007 had a gearing change that improved top speed from 44 mph to 50 mph. My 2005 does 49 mph with the SP belt and SP Ecu and 51 with the cam upgrade. Low end and mid range was a big improvement with all the upgrades.

As for multiple people, I do not recommend this even though there are kits available to make this all happen, the Ranger Xp was not designed for this and that is my opinion. You would be better getting a Ranger Crew for this job.

One last thing on the tippy issue. All UTVs have there limits and from all the ones I have driven, the pre 2009 rangers have been the best so fare. Like I stated earlier, I have not tried it with a newer one so I can not make a comparison. All years have had there pluses and minuses, but they are all good UTVs.

As for the suspension, it is the same as the pre 2009 Ranger Xps .

ghostriderr6 · 2011-04-01 09:16:22

2010 Ranger Crew baby!!!

Globe · 2011-04-01 10:04:58

Wow at all the info!
Thanks a lot.
Going to look at a 07 500 efi this pm.
Have cash in hand and trailer on truck.
Is that tipping my hand that I want one or what!
4500.00 may be too much to resist.
After all, that'll leave nowhere to go but up.

zrated · 2011-04-01 11:12:31

2010 Ranger Crew baby!!!

What size and brand are your sand paddles? Also, how much are they, and where did you get them?
I NEED more traction in the sand!

ghostriderr6 · 2011-04-01 17:26:12

Sorry to hi-jack the thread.

They are DWT (Douglas Wheel & Tire) Doonz Paddles 25.5x13x12 mounted on stock Polaris rear 12x8 wheels. Tires from sidexsidesports.com for $200 and the wheels from craigslist for $35. I would actually get these though, Far East 26x12x12 16 paddle tires (Pic Below). A friend had them on his Joyner with dual bolt pattern wheels that fit my crew and they were way better than my 8 paddles. I'm looking for some now and am going to change to these that's how much better, but they are hard to come by.

trbizwiz · 2011-07-25 13:08:58

I am going to jump in on this thread question, rather than start a new thread. I am interested in a 09 or newer ranger. I can buy a new 2011 800 for 10,092 from abernathys in TN, or the crew for $800 more. I was not too keen on the crew because of the length. What do you guys with the crews think. Is it a problem in the woods? I live in teh Ozarks fo Missouri.
Also all the used ones in my area seem to be in the $10 K area so I dont see any value in buying used. I would need to save $2k to $2500 to make it worthwhile, do you agree?
I did own a RZR when they first came out. I loved it but it wasnt the ahndiest on the farm. I had to sell it because of finances, but I hav esince improved my personal situation so I am in the market and I have missed mine every day since I sold it. I need the ranger though not a rzr. I need ot be able to haul stuff.

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-07-25 14:18:23

I am going to jump in on this thread question, rather than start a new thread. I am interested in a 09 or newer ranger. I can buy a new 2011 800 for 10,092 from abernathys in TN, or the crew for $800 more. I was not too keen on the crew because of the length. What do you guys with the crews think. Is it a problem in the woods? I live in teh Ozarks fo Missouri.
Also all the used ones in my area seem to be in the $10 K area so I dont see any value in buying used. I would need to save $2k to $2500 to make it worthwhile, do you agree?
I did own a RZR when they first came out. I loved it but it wasnt the ahndiest on the farm. I had to sell it because of finances, but I hav esince improved my personal situation so I am in the market and I have missed mine every day since I sold it. I need the ranger though not a rzr. I need ot be able to haul stuff.

The crew would be a little more prone to high centering then the non crew version. Adding a lift kit will help and being more aware of the terrain will prevent any problems as well....

trbizwiz · 2011-07-25 14:57:53

high centering is what i was worried about. The trail terraine around here is hilly and rocky. Are you crew guys getting high centered much. What does a lift run? I have two boys that would go with me every time I start teh machine, the crew woudl ensure the wife could go if she were so inclined. The extra $800 is worth it as long as it is just a s capable as the 3 seater. I am trying to avoid the I wish I woulda's .

#1 2011-03-27 09:07:09

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#2 2011-03-27 18:46:25

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#3 2011-03-27 20:36:42

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#4 2011-03-28 17:36:56

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#5 2011-03-29 07:53:57

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#6 2011-03-29 08:00:26

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#7 2011-03-29 11:56:17

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#8 2011-03-31 12:13:12

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#9 2011-04-01 09:16:22

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#10 2011-04-01 10:04:58

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#11 2011-04-01 11:12:31

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#12 2011-04-01 17:26:12

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#13 2011-07-25 13:08:58

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#14 2011-07-25 14:18:23

Re: What's the best year model ranger

#15 2011-07-25 14:57:53

Re: What's the best year model ranger

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