Anyone have experiences with both? Seems like the SxS is more versatile around the ranch but for $20k I can get a decent used Jeep Wrangler which has heat/AC and can drive down the interstate.

I rode in a buddies Polaris the other day and was amazed at how well it took the dry weather road we were on. Just rolled over big ruts with barely any bucking in the cab. I was also shocked at how much they cost. Any real life experiences? Thanks!

How about the ONE vehicle made for those who can't decide?

THE SUZUKI SAMURAI !

buy my 75cj5 i've got for sale and sink a few bucks in it to make the ultimate ranch vehicle

A Polaris will be a more comfortable ride on the majority ranches. A Jeep, truck, whatever will beat your ass at any speed on many areas of my ranch. The lack of AC/heat and cabin dust on guns/binoculars/stuff is a pia with SxS but the convenience and quickness around the ranch makes up for it 90% of the time. Look at Polaris, Can-Am, Kawasaki Mule Pro and make your pick.

What are you going to use it for? Work? Pleasure? Hunting? Fishing? Rides for the kids or grandkids?
Who will be driving it? Old adult? Young adult? Kid without a drivers license?
Is it going to be driven on gravel roads, raw land, cultivated fields?
Is the terrain rocky or steep?

I have made my CanAm my daily driver. But then again I work from home and live in the country.
It does great on the highway

I had a CJ5 and Mule Pro 2 row I owned at the same time, used where we live in the Pineywoods. The CJ5 was sold within 6 months of getting the Mule, there's no comparison for tight trails on hills and washouts. My cousin has a TJ and constantly extolled the virtues of it and how much money he saved compared to me, but doesn't have much to say after riding in the same terrain on the Mule vs his Jeep.

agnerd said:

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What are you going to use it for? Work? Pleasure? Hunting? Fishing? Rides for the kids or grandkids?
Who will be driving it? Old adult? Young adult? Kid without a drivers license?
Is it going to be driven on gravel roads, raw land, cultivated fields?
Is the terrain rocky or steep?

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Yes. Except probably won't drive on cultivates fields.

Then go with side by side. Sounds like you'll actually use it for its intended purpose and get the most out of it.

A side by side is going to go alot of places that a jeep would get stuck.

AnScAggie said:

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A Polaris will be a more comfortable ride on the majority ranches. A Jeep, truck, whatever will beat your ass at any speed on many areas of my ranch. The lack of AC/heat and cabin dust on guns/binoculars/stuff is a pia with SxS but the convenience and quickness around the ranch makes up for it 90% of the time. Look at Polaris, Can-Am, Kawasaki Mule Pro and make your pick.

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This is true of a Jeep set up to run 80 down the highway but may not hold so well for one set up for off road use. Shocks, tires, and air pressure can make a big difference.

SXS

You can drive on most roads within 25 miles of your agricultural operations in Texas. I was strongly in the "i'll never pay that much money for a SXS when I can get a used truck/jeep for same price" camp for years until I had a buddy get one... so much more convenient and its quicker and easier most of the time. I finally broke down and got one two years ago and I have no ragrets!

Do you have some pretty intense terrain? If not, a used truck is a much better use of 20k. I've never gotten the obsession with SxS. My truck can haul 10x what they can, is 10x more comfortable, 10x quieter, 10x warmer/cooler, and the list goes on. Only downside is I don't look near as cool on the highway as all the other hunters pulling their Polaris's.

For ranch/farm work and purely offroad - side by side, and it isn't even close. My buggy can go places that a Jeep only wishes it could go, or would have to have so many mods that any savings by going to a jeep would be eaten up. And a jeep will tear far more ground up than a side by side.

I was in the jeep over side by side camp for a long time. Don't regret my decision to change my mind. I still want a jeep to tool around int, go to the beach, etc. - but it will only be used at the lease sparingly, and when it's dry because of the above.

Stay away from Polaris though.

schmellba99 said:

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For ranch/farm work and purely offroad - side by side, and it isn't even close. My buggy can go places that a Jeep only wishes it could go, or would have to have so many mods that any savings by going to a jeep would be eaten up. And a jeep will tear far more ground up than a side by side.

I was in the jeep over side by side camp for a long time. Don't regret my decision to change my mind. I still want a jeep to tool around int, go to the beach, etc. - but it will only be used at the lease sparingly, and when it's dry because of the above.

Stay away from Polaris though.

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100% agree.

OP: Width, weight and height in and around brush, damage to terrrain etc., are huge advantages on SxS.

Jeep vs. SxS was a pretty good argument 10-15 years ago (or if you need a highway vehicle out of it often today), but the SxS's are built so much better in both ride and quality today than they used to be that they're worth every penny.

(and yes, I love Jeeps too.)

Currently have a jeep and thinking about going to SxS mostly for neighborhood cruising and ability to park on the grass in areas.

I've owned and used Jeeps, Scouts, and SxS buggies.

Currently running a 2016 Polaris 900. It's been excellent and I'll never go back to Jeeps.

A vehicle with a cab and A/C/Heat. We use Tahoes and Suburbans kitted out with racks and feeders. Cuts the dust and tames the heat.

The Tahoes ride just as well as the SxSs (if not better) with the suspension tuned up and the tires deflated a bit.

SxSs are sure handy for quick trips and projects around a lease, but I've had enough of the dust/heat/cold.

For working and hunting, I prefer a SxS with a bed. As stated, its not even close. Having long term projects like fencing and the ability to carry air compressor, generator, fencing, tools, etc to places that a truck or jeep won't go is really nice. Plus for hunting, again, you had a bed to throw animals and stuff in. It sucks when its cold, but those times aren't plentiful. Its usually tolerable or blazing f-ing hot so who cares.

I have an ATV as well, and it's nice if you need to run somewhere quick or find cattle but its really, in my opinion, better suited for scouting and getting from A to B without a lot of anything else. If I could only have one, it would be a UTV of whatever flavor you like. I like the mules for the ability to turn the back seat into a larger bed. I'm sure others have adopted that feature now.

BrazosDog02 said:

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For working and hunting, I prefer a SxS with a bed. As stated, its not even close. Having long term projects like fencing and the ability to carry air compressor, generator, fencing, tools, etc to places that a truck or jeep won't go is really nice. Plus for hunting, again, you had a bed to throw animals and stuff in. It sucks when its cold, but those times aren't plentiful. Its usually tolerable or blazing f-ing hot so who cares.

I have an ATV as well, and it's nice if you need to run somewhere quick or find cattle but its really, in my opinion, better suited for scouting and getting from A to B without a lot of anything else. If I could only have one, it would be a UTV of whatever flavor you like. I like the mules for the ability to turn the back seat into a larger bed. I'm sure others have adopted that feature now.

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This is correct, I really like the Kubota feature that does this as well. Just don't expect to get anywhere fast in the Kubota SxS, but damn is it an extremely solid workhorse. Between the Kubota and the Roxor the ranch truck is really only used for over the road trips now, and damn is it nice not having to replace so many tires. I swear between lost time and tire replacements, we have paid for the SxS.

If I had to pick one, it would be a SxS. The Roxor is just fun as hell to run around in though, but it doesn't have a bed.

Anyone ever checked out a Mahindra Roxor?



https://roxoroffroad.com/

I love driving ours around, and it handles anything you throw at it terrain wise. We added a rear bench seat, so it doesn't have a lot of cargo space. That's its only downside, but we added a hitch basket and that helps.

I had a 1998 CJ with lift kit and a Kawasaki Mule.
Paid more for the new SxS than the used jeep.

After my first knee surgery sold the jeep.

SxS is so versatile and easy to get into.

I have owned both type vehicles. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. I sold my side-by-side and kept my 99 Jeep Wrangler sports. I kept the Jeep because I can use it for a tow vehicle with my RV and be able to drive on the paved or dirt streets daily if I want. It will have a higher resale than a side-by-side and the initial cost of a good used Jeep is less money than some new ATV type vehicles. My Jeep is a 99 Jeep Wrangler sports soft top with a resale value of about $10000. You probably won't go wrong with either one it's it's a matter of your your preference.

I like my jeeps like I like my women, over 40yrs old with a lot of problems.

I've used everything out there, for hunting and ranch work. I will absolutely take my truck if I can. When the truck won't do it, I'm on a snowmobile. We have a side by side mule. It is ok. My wife uses it to spray weeds because her old dog can ride with her.

My Polaris 900 xp will sniff 60 mph on paved road and go just about anywhere off-road. It's a work horse. We're looking at the new Polaris, Kawasaki and Can-Ams but likely going Polaris again. Easy to repair or work on yourself and you can go as fancy as you wish in the new lines. Long wait list unfortunately.

Would never go Jeep after having a side by side.

Polaris with cab and ac/heat.

Side by sides are incredibly easy to get in & out of. Bay handy tools. If my trips were more than 15 on a property I might rather have a Jeep or small truck.

BrazosDog02 said:

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How about the ONE vehicle made for those who can't decide?

THE SUZUKI SAMURAI !

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When I hunted on the King Ranch they used manual Suzuki Samurais running implement tires…. They had tried everything…Samurais are the shiitake

All that being said…I love my side by side…and I miss my Scrambler and Wagoneer

If I had to pick a deer lease vehicle it would be my old '81 carbureted 3/4 ton suburban with a 350. I abused one on Padre Island for fifteen years and it NEVER failed me….. I'm still pissed I sold it…

This!

In addition to what's been said the side by side is lighter and won't tear up the land as much as a jeep if it's been raining. Our Ranger can get through some pretty nasty stuff without causing any real damage, whereas I'm pretty sure a Jeep would end up cutting ruts and making things far worse.

I use an 85 CJ7 on my south Texas lease because the dust in my lease partners SXS's kill me. Maintenance on it sucks compared to the SXS's and frankly, it's not as dependable, but I cannot deal with the dust in the SXS. I do have a SXS for our place in Medina County though because the dust isn't nearly as much of an issue.

When it's too dusty, too hot, too cold, or raining I take the Toyota. It has been bulletproof compared to a couple jeeps before it. Dust really bothers my eyes and the SxS is the worst. I went a year without a SxS and found out there were times I needed/ wanted one like filling feeders in hard to reach places and spraying fence lines.
But the one we use the most at the ranch is the Honda rancher 4 wheeler. It's so much easier to keep clean and goes plenty of places the mule and Toyota can't. Nice to put in the back of a pickup and not need to pull a trailer on weekend hunting trips. So I guess the correct answer is have all 3.

Those little Yotas are a dream.