RZR or Rhino

Cavi · 2008-07-04 17:21:39

I know this probably has been covered, but, I am really lost and cannot do a test drive. I do not own a farm and really will not use it as a utility vehicle. I am a dirt bike rider who rides lots of trails, no moto cross. I am looking to get a side by side to do trails. I am leaning twords the RZR, but I have some doubts. I do have two kids and a wife, but I do not know how much I really need to take them all out at once, I could probably live with a 3 seat bench.
Now, my questions, I have looked at both the Rhino and the RZR. My take on the Rhino is that it would be great to add a rear seat, but it looks like the people sit up high and it looks very tippsy. It also feels sluggish to me, all adding up to slow handling. I know I can upgrade the suspension, but I will barely be able to scrape togeather the $ for one, let alone the extra $ to make the rhino into a long travel suspension.
I watched a Yamaha DVD yesterday and it compared the rhino to a RZR and of course they feel the rhino is better, but it did leave me with a few questions. First and most important, they led me to believe that the RZR could not be locked into 4WD, even if it was set to 4WD it would drop to 2wd if the tranny felt it did not need it. Is this true and is it an issue on the trail? Second they make it seem like the RZR will always freewheel going downhill. Is this true and is it a problem on the trail?
Help please

1Q113 · 2008-07-04 18:17:49

In my opinion there are pros and cons to both. The rhino is the machine off choice if you plan on adding a rear seat. Yes it can be done on a rzr but it does not seem safe and there is very little room for those in the back. The seating in each is very different and would come down to which "feel" you like best. The rhino does lack power compaired to the rzr but does have enough power to do and go anywhere you want to. The rzr can not be locked into 4WD. For a polaris it is actually called AWD system and you are correct in that it only kicks in and out as needed. However you do not notice that it changes back and forth while on the trail. It "seems" like it is in 4WD like you would want or need it to. It will always freewheel going downhill the way the engine braking works. You must push on the gas to engage the engine brake. The engine brake setup is far better on the rhino in my opinion. It just does not seem natural to push on the gas to slow down.

Bottom line it all depends on what you like and plan on using it for.

Hope this helps some. I am sure others will chime in.

Cavi · 2008-07-04 19:48:14

one other thing I forgot I saw, somewhere mentioned that the rzr had real thin seats and that you felt the bumps and rocks more because of this. Any truth?

RedMan · 2008-07-09 09:56:17

I like my RZR seats.
I think the Rhinos seats are thinner and harder.
Neither of them are GREAT seats but both are just fine for trail riding.
Short of racing I see no reason to upgrade either one of them.

Badley · 2008-07-09 11:59:54

I agree with 1Q113 and RedMan! Love my Rhino on the trails, only time I get RZR envy is in the sand

rhinoryder · 2008-07-09 16:04:26

I have a rhino and love it. RZR are faster, i think that it's a toss up of how tippsy they are. The rhino i think is better for trails, rocks and the family. I don't think you will go wrong getting either one. hope that helps.

DUNE DUMMY 29 · 2008-07-10 13:37:57

THE RZR IS NARROWER & DESIGNED TO GO ON QUAD TRAILS. IT IS FASTER, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION & FLOORBOARDS ON THE FIRST MODELS. SINCE THEY ARE IN THEIR SECOND YEAR THEY SHOULD BE BETTER. THE RHINO IS PLUSHER & IF YOU GET THE MIDNIGHT ARMOR OR SPORT EDITION THE SHOCKS ARE WAY BETTER. THERE ARE 4 SEAT CONVERSIONS THAT PUT THE SEATS LOWER. YOU SHOULD UPGRADE THE SHOCKS & WIDER TIRES & RIMS. I HAVE OFFSET RIMS ON MINE & IT HAS NEVER BEEN TIPPY. I WOULD NEVER MAKE ANY OF THEM INTO FOURSEATERS BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR. ALSO YOU BETTER REALLY LIKE YOUR PASSENGER IN A RZR BECAUSE YOU LITERALLY ARE SITTING SIDEXSIDE. THIS IS JUST MY 2 CENTS. THEY ARE BOTH VERY CAPABLE MACHINES.

dwayne · 2008-11-08 18:40:56

i have 2 friends that have a rhino and they love them but to me the ride is not very good. so i got me a 08 razor stock and i had problems going in the mud so i got a lift kit and some 28 inch tires. my friend said that he liked it. he tring to talk his wife in to letting him buy one this year

RANGERDALEXP · 2008-11-08 18:56:56

All the questions and answers are very much true to the point but one thing is left out :?: , If it were me I would get the RZR sport or known as the RZRs, 63 mph top speed and comes with the long travel from the factory, If you are a dirt biker this is about as good as it gets and this sounds up your alley :idea: .

rzrrider322 · 2008-11-08 19:26:33

All the questions and answers are very much true to the point but one thing is left out :?: , If it were me I would get the RZR sport or known as the RZRs, 63 mph top speed and comes with the long travel from the factory, If you are a dirt biker this is about as good as it gets and this sounds up your alley :idea: .

I agree! but i love my rzr an its not an s. And i race quads an feel i would get bored with a rhino. Rzr's are faster. And they both will roll without the proper caution.

Brad777 · 2008-11-11 16:53:30

While it's nice to get opinions here...everyone makes some really good points, you really need to go sit in each of them and take each for a ride. They are two different machines, each having areas where one will perform better than the other. FYI, if you have a sand dunes nearby, you will often find a group of people that have both. These people will often give you the best, unbiased feedback you can get. If you look trustworthy, some owners will even let you drive them to compare. Understand that riding on the dunes isn't the same as riding in the mountains or climbing rocks, etc. You need to understand how you're going to use your UTV and ask questions applicable to that terrain. Best of luck in your choice.

grant22 · 2008-11-11 19:37:03

Cavi-not true about rzr going in and out of 4wd as it sees fit. It is in 4wd after you put it in 4wd assuming you've slowed enough to allow it to engage.

I'm like you....a desert/trail DB rider but wanted something else for the gf and I. I lOVE my RZR.

My opinion is: If you need rear seats, get the rhino or ranger (both outstanding).
If you don't need rear seats, I believe the rzr is the better choice.

I'll expand on that if you need me to......

RANGERDALEXP · 2008-11-11 21:07:59

When it comes down to running around with people in the rear bed I tend to look at the capacity and i know that they make rear seat kits for most, but to be honest, when you add the weight of the seats and the roll cage the rhinos and most of the other manufactures are way over the pay load bed limit of the vehicle, yes maybe your kids are light enough to go or your friends are very small and light, but that is usually not the case when i see people doing this, The rhino is limited to 400 pounds in the box and the teryx is limited to 500 pounds from the factory, The best suited for this is the Ranger XP and it is rated at 1000 pounds but i think with the stock adjustment it is more like 800 pounds but with adjustments it can be pushed to 1000 pounds and i have had nearly that in mine, it has way more bed area then the other two also, these are points to remember if this is how you plan to set up your UTV :idea:. it does become a safety issue at this point :!:.

grant22 · 2008-11-12 08:26:42

Wasn't aware of the difference in payloads on those machines! Maybe that's why I see a 3:1 ratio around here of Rangers to Rhinos! That being said, you can put NO rear seats in the RZR (I think the payload is 100 or 150 #'s), so if you want to cart the kiddies around, no rzr for you!

RANGERDALEXP · 2008-11-12 11:20:41

Ya, I just think that people see that kit and have to have it and don't look at what there machines are capable of, Or they are willing to roll the dice and take a chance on there friends and families safety, I have looked at some of the long travel kits on the web and the ones I have seen do not re-rate the UTVs they are going on for a higher payloads so the real only true multi passenger UTVs on the market that are rated to carry three or more are the Ranger Xp and the ranger crew. All the others are not sold or certified for more then two. Remember even the much higher capacity of the Ranger XP is really not designed for more then three or they would have put seats in the bed from the factory :idea: .

#1 2008-07-04 17:21:39

Re: RZR or Rhino

#2 2008-07-04 18:17:49

Re: RZR or Rhino

#3 2008-07-04 19:48:14

Re: RZR or Rhino

#4 2008-07-09 09:56:17

Re: RZR or Rhino

#5 2008-07-09 11:59:54

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#6 2008-07-09 16:04:26

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#7 2008-07-10 13:37:57

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#8 2008-11-08 18:40:56

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#9 2008-11-08 18:56:56

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#10 2008-11-08 19:26:33

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#11 2008-11-11 16:53:30

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#12 2008-11-11 19:37:03

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#13 2008-11-11 21:07:59

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#14 2008-11-12 08:26:42

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#15 2008-11-12 11:20:41

Re: RZR or Rhino

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