Idaho45guy
08-02-2018, 10:11 PM
I posted a couple of threads a while ago regarding agonizing over deciding what off-road vehicle to get. I had an `89 Jeep Wrangler and a 2001 Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV. Both had their strengths and weaknesses.
It came down to that the Jeep was too big to go around the Forest Service gates in order to explore where I really wanted to go and the ATV was too small to bring a passenger and gear. I really wanted something that my 100lb great dane/lab mix could ride on. He loved the Jeep, but refused to ride in an ATV trailer.
So I bought the 50" wide Honda Pioneer 500. It's a 2018.
I've had it for about 2 weeks and put 80 miles on it in the back country going places I've never been able to go before. It is only 50" wide so it is legal on all Forest Service roads. It has enough room for two big guys to ride in it and a generous cargo rack.
Negatives is that it is a bit underpowered, a little cramped, and the suspension has limited travel. It also came with small 24" tires and NO storage space.
I've already done quite a few mods to it. Dealer also included a 3500 lb. winch, Honda roof, and street legal kit which consists of a rear view mirror and horn.
I added:
- 26" tall and wider aggressive tires.
- Expanded size cargo rack.
- Storage bag
- Dome light.
- LED lights with funny "Sasquatch Lights" switch.
I took it into the woods for a ride bone stock the day after I got it and it was a blast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-WeWcLl6A
It started out looking pretty mild mannered...
224905
It's now a bit beefier...
224906
224907
It came down to that the Jeep was too big to go around the Forest Service gates in order to explore where I really wanted to go and the ATV was too small to bring a passenger and gear. I really wanted something that my 100lb great dane/lab mix could ride on. He loved the Jeep, but refused to ride in an ATV trailer.
So I bought the 50" wide Honda Pioneer 500. It's a 2018.
I've had it for about 2 weeks and put 80 miles on it in the back country going places I've never been able to go before. It is only 50" wide so it is legal on all Forest Service roads. It has enough room for two big guys to ride in it and a generous cargo rack.
Negatives is that it is a bit underpowered, a little cramped, and the suspension has limited travel. It also came with small 24" tires and NO storage space.
I've already done quite a few mods to it. Dealer also included a 3500 lb. winch, Honda roof, and street legal kit which consists of a rear view mirror and horn.
I added:
- 26" tall and wider aggressive tires.
- Expanded size cargo rack.
- Storage bag
- Dome light.
- LED lights with funny "Sasquatch Lights" switch.
I took it into the woods for a ride bone stock the day after I got it and it was a blast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-WeWcLl6A
It started out looking pretty mild mannered...
224905
It's now a bit beefier...
224906
224907