New for this year is QUADBOSS' ATV Rear Lounger Box, which I mounted on my Yamaha Grizzly. Right out of the box you can tell that this product is well designed. It feels like its molded from one solid piece of plastic, but light weight. The compartments are very nice, although at first I couldn't figure out how the secondary larger compartments open (because I don't read directions very well), but then figured it out farely easily.   Installation was a breeze. I used my portable drill and lined up the box on my rear rack where I wanted it. I drilled out the holes in the plastic and inserted the u-bolts to secure the box to the rear rack. QUADBOSS even supplies you with rubber insulating washers to prevent moisture from getting in.   The seat cushion is nice as well and gives you some more room if you are sitting around and want to lounge out. Even though it's not supposed to be for a second rider, you could fit one with ease and have the back support and arm rests for comfort. I had my daughter on with me and she was very comfortable with more "wiggle room".

QuadBoss ATV Rear Lounger

Official Specs PN: 15-7302   Lounge out on your ATV. Manufactured from durable, rotomolded linear low-density polyethylene in textured black. Single wall body allows for maximum storage space and double wall lids. Features a large storage area with two removable trays. Includes two isolated quick access compartments. Complete with two lockable latches (hooks not included.) Quality seat cushion, back pad and arm pads for resting. Mounts easily onto ATV racks, hardware included.  

*Not for Passenger Use While Operating Vehicle   Dimensions: 36.5”W x 17”H x 25.5”D  

MSRP: $299.99   Manufactured from durable, rotomolded linear low-density polyethylene in a textured black   Single wall body allows for maximum storage space and double wall lid provides extra rigidity   Features a large storage area with 2 removable trays   Includes 2 isolated quick access compartments   Complete with 2 lockable latches (locks not included)                              

You can buy one of these at: AMAZON - QUADBOSS ATV REAR LOUNGER BOX   

Great Day Hitch-N-Ride Rack

The Hitch-N-Ride ATV Hitch Receiver Stabilizer from Great Day will help stop the excessive rattling and swaying caused from a loose hitch receiver. It features two stabilizing 3/8” screws that apply vertical and horizontal pressure to the hitch. Made in the U.S.A. from high-carbon steel, it is easy to install by just slipping over the trailer hitch and tightening the screws.

• Helps stop the excessive rattling and swaying caused from a loose hitch receiver
• Features two stabilizing 3/8” screws that apply vertical and horizontal pressure to the hitch
• Easy to install by just slipping over the trailer hitch and tightening the screws
• Made in the U.S.A. from high-carbon steel

  Available on Amazon

Fort Worth, TX- May 24, 2012  -  QuadBoss proudly introduces their new line of UTV covers.  

QuadBoss’ new high quality covers provide reliable all weather protection for your UTV. The covers are constructed of quick drying, heavy duty, coated polyester for long life and maximum water repellency. They feature a UV resistant coating and double stitched interlocking seams for added strength. The covers are vented on both sides to let air pass thru and to help them stay secure in high winds. The UTV 4-seater cover has an elastic cord sewn into the bottom hem to help ensure a snug fit and a driver side zipper that allows for easy access. The UTV Crew cover has 10 hooks with reinforced grommets, great for attaching the cover to the base of your UTV, assuring a secure fit!  

Available in UTV 4-Seater $89.99 & UTV Crew $99.99  

To order QuadBoss products, contact your local Dealer or visit QuadBoss’s website at www.QuadBoss.com to an authorized Dealer near you. You can also follow the latest QuadBoss news on facebook at www.facebook.com/QuadBoss. For product questions call 877-847-1558 or email at

This is a review of the QuadBoss 15 Gallon Spot Sprayer. This sprayer comes in handy for spraying liquid fertilizer or even just watering around your property, which is what I used this sprayer for. I planted 15 evergreens on the other side of my property, too far to get a garden hose to...  

The sprayer came in the box essentially as one piece, everything like the motor and hoses, already assembled. You can mount this unit on your ATV front or rear rack. I opted for mounting on the rear rack this time, and secured it with a tie down. All I had to do was wire it to a power source. I went to the auto parts store and got myself a 12v automotive quick disconnect and some wire. Wired to my auxiliary power under the seat of my Yamaha Grizzly.

Plugged it in and filled her up with water to test out. The pump primed up and sprayed very nicely. The pump goes on as soon as you start to spray to maintain pressure. The pump also has an on/off rocker switch I forgot to mention. This sprayer comes with a 10 ft hose and adjustable plastic nozzle. I took a ride to the far end of my property and watered all my newly planted evergreens. Came in real handy, was able to get off my ATV and hit a 25 foot circumference or so, as needed. If you are looking for a way to get some water or chemical out to far areas with ease, this unit makes farming and gardeing a breeze.    

Official Specs:  

•15 gallon poly tank with integrated drain 

•10 foot hose with spray wand and adjustable tip 

•1 gallon per minute SHURflo pump operates at 40 psi, manual switch integrated into pump 

•Wand clips included 

•Universal tiedown mounting (available separately) or may use integrated brass inserts for permanent mounting  

Available at Amazon

Visit www.quadboss.com for more info.    

This is a review of the QuadBoss Drop Rack that I attached to my Yamaha Grizzly ATV. If you need to carry things around the yard or even on the trail with ease, the drop basket is a great solution in my opinion. There was some assembly required, but it was relitively easy as everything interlocks then gets tightened with the provided nuts, bolts, and hardware.   Mounting the drop rack to my ATV rear metal rack was easy as well, with the 4 "J" hooks provided. It secured nicely and even had a slot to let the rear rack stopper, or metal lip that faces up, to protrude through the floor section of the drop rack. I was concerned at first, but QuadBoss must have thought about that. I used it all day last weekend while doing some gardening and landscaping around the property. It was extremely  convenient to have a place to put all the stuff that accumulates and is needed when working, especially if you are away from the garage or basement where everything is. It has a rear tail gate that opens downwards, a nice feature! You can't go wrong with one of these. It's a nice compliment to the QuadBoss Swivel Dump Cart from last year!    

Below are the official specs on the QuadBoss Drop Rack    

•Brand new design, universal rear drop rack for most ATVs 

•2 part numbers will cover most ATV fitments 

•Strong yet light formed floor can withstand extreme abuse 

•Pile in (3) 5-gallon buckets with extra room to spare 

•Simple J-Hook installation hardware works on most steel and composite racks

•Large 41”W x 14”L x 11-1/2”D dimension 

•Black powered-coated steel construction 

•Some assembly required  

The QuadBoss Drop Rack can be found here. Get yours!  

Fort Worth, TX- May 4, 2012 - QuadBoss proudly introduces their newest folding, arched ramp, the Wide Boy.  

The new Wide Boy Ramp is made in the USA. It is constructed of high quality, robotically welded, 6063T5 billet aluminum with a 0.07” wall thickness. The dimensions of the ramp are 33”x88” extended, and folds up to a manageable 33”x44”. The Wide Boy has rungs spaced at 2.75” apart, making for an easy walk up as well. The top portion of the ramp is arched to prevent dragging while loading and unloading and vinyl coated tips to protect trucks and trailers. The Wide Boy is weight rated at 1500 lbs and boasts a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty.  

To order QuadBoss products, contact your local Dealer or visit QuadBoss’s website at www.QuadBoss.com to find an authorized Dealer near you.   You can also follow the latest news about QuadBoss on Facebook at www.facebook.com/QuadBoss.  For product questions call 877-847-1558 or email us at QuadBoss@QuadBoss.com.  

Available on Amazon

We got a chance to check out GoPro's HD Hero 2 camera up close and personal. Check out the video below of our unboxing and what's included. Go get yourself one of these and let QUADCRAZY know if a video you uploaded was shot with a GoPro!   If you haven't seen one of these yet or heard about the buzz, you're in for a treat with an exciting new product that introduces the easiest way to capture your ATV experiences in HD! If you like to shoot videos, you gotta get one of these. Scroll down to see a video shot with a GoPro Camera. The quality is unmatched, you too can be a motion picture maker!

Original video removed. Youtube review video replacement

The video above sums up what's included in the box, but for the Official GoPro Hero 2 product description, read below:   GoPro cameras are used by more professional athletes, sports filmmakers and core enthusiasts than any other camera in the world. The HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition is the most advanced GoPro camera yet. Wearable and gear mountable, waterproof to 197′ (60m), capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second, the HD HERO2 is the world’s most versatile camera. Whether your goal is to capture a great day out with friends or you’re gunning for the cover of a magazine, the HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition can help you nail it and look like a HERO.   Included are mounting accessories you’re most likely to use during outdoor sports like biking, skiing, skating, kayaking and so on. Other accessories are available via links on the right hand side of this page.  

The HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition is compatible with all GoPro expansion accessories and BacPacs™, including the Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote (coming soon).  

What’s Included:

•1 11MP HD HERO2 Camera  

•1 Waterproof Housing (197′ / 60m)

•1 HD Skeleton Backdoor

•1 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery  

•1 USB Cable  

•1 Vented Helmet Strap  

•1 Head Strap  

•2 Curved Surface Adhesive Mounts

•2 Flat Surface Adhesive Mounts  

•1 Three-Way Pivot Arm  

•Assorted Mounting Hardware  

Note: SD card not included

Find your GoPro Camera....Click Here!

Fort Worth, TX- April 12, 2012 -

QuadBoss proudly introduces their new line of drive belts that will allow your ATV/UTV to run cooler and last longer. The belts are available in 3 styles based on the engine displacement of the unit.  

The SEL ATV drive belts are recommended for engine displacement of 500cc and lower. These belts are manufactured from rubber reinforced polychloroprene and p-aramid cord to ensure superior strength, enhanced dimensional integrity and longer belt life. Delivers long, smooth, dependable rides, every time!        

The PRO ATV drive belt is recommended for engine displacement of 650cc and lower. Constructed of extra strong p-aramid cord reinforcement and engineered fiber loaded neoprene compound, these belts will dominate any type of terrain. They deliver the muscle and the durability demanded by today's high performance enthusiasts. Cooler running belt = longer belt life, period.   The TQX ATV drive belts are recommended for engine displacement of 1,000cc and lower.  

TQX drive belts are constructed of high strength, low stretch Aramid cords and specially formulated compression compounds which are ideal for high horsepower large displacement engines. They deliver the increased strength and durability needed to ensure long lasting performance for today’s extreme machines and the most aggressive rider.    

All QuadBoss drive belts come with a 1 year limited manufacturer’s warranty.   To order QuadBoss products, contact your local dealer or visit QuadBoss’ website at www.QuadBoss.com to find an authorized dealer near you.  

You can also follow the latest news about QuadBoss on Facebook at www.facebook.com/QuadBoss. 

For product questions call 877-847-1558 or email us at QuadBoss@QuadBoss.com.    

Available at Amazon

Fort Worth, TX- February 24, 2012 – QuadBoss is proud to introduce a new line of High Performance Radiator Cooling fans as well as OEM Replacement Cooling Fans. QuadBoss’ new High Performance Cooling Fan will make your quad run cooler and last longer.   The increased air flow created by QuadBoss radiator cooling fans will help prevent overheating often caused by towing heavy loads or crawling through deep mud. The high-quality, sealed motor provides optimal protection from the elements and will easily mount to your radiator. The High Performance Radiator Cooling Fan meets or exceeds OEM specifications and comes with a 6 month manufacturer’s warranty. Endurance tested to insure a long life, these cooling fans provide the reliability you need to protect your quad.

Available on Amazon

To order QuadBoss products, contact your local authorized Tucker Rocky Dealer or visit QuadBoss’s website at www.QuadBoss.com to find an Authorized Dealer near you.   You can also follow the latest news about QuadBoss on Facebook at www.facebook.com/quadboss.  For product questions call 877-847-1558 or email at QuadBoss@QuadBoss.com.    

This is a review of the QuadBoss Pile Driver ATV Snow Plow system, mounted on my Yamaha Grizzly 660 ATV. I've used other plows before and was excited to get this plow on, but the dilemma of no real snow in the part of New York where I live, made my anxiety grow, as I wanted to get out and move some snow! Well we finally got a few inches, not really a massive storm like I had hoped for, but it will have to do...  

Assembly and mounting.   The instructions are very clear and all the hardware that came with the package is superior in my opinion. There were 3 packages, which included the plow, push tube assembly, and universal mount. There is a decent amount of assembly that is required, along with installing the mount under the ATV, so if you aren't too mechanically inclined, get some help. It's actually fairly easy if you like putting things together. There's also some fantastic instructional video on YouTube.   I decided to start with the universal mount. I did this outside and it was bit cold, my mistake, should have done this in a heated garage...but I can tell you this, anything can be done if you put your mind to it, even outside on your back in 37 degree weather. I put my quad up on car ramps and crawled under to get a look at how I wanted to install the mount. I had to remove the factory plastic skid plate and after 2 attempts, ended up installing the mount with the provided extra brackets, along with sideways. I had installed it straight forward but then noticed that I didn't have at least an inch of clearance for the push tube hook...very important. Also, it is very important to get the distance from the front of the plate to your winch fairleed to the distance recommended. Lesson learned after a few tries, and I finally got the mount attached with the included hardware as you can see in the picture (the picture is my second attempt). That was probably the hardest part for me and would have been easier for anyone else who was smart enough to measure, not rush, and check clearances!  

So, moving on, I removed the push tube assembly out of the box, carried it over, and slid it under the ATV. I attached my new Promark Offroad 4500 Outback Series winch to one of the two places available, and slowly lifted it up. I slid under the ATV and lined up the push tube hooks. I then pushed up the back of the push tube assembly to snap them in. I tested it a few times by cycling the winch up and down, and also released the lock and re-attaching it a few times to check. The nice thing here is that if you want to go do a little riding without the plow, it's easy to release it and the universal mount stays on as a great skid plate alternative to the factory plastic one.   Now that I had the push tube mounted, I decided to assemble the plow in my heated basement! The Pile Driver plow assembly is pretty straight forward, the hardest part was getting the struts/springs in place for me. If you are only one person without any air tools, it may take some time. Nevertheless, it's not hard to assemble. Check out the video below that I referenced when putting this together, every manufacturer should have something like this!

Now the fun part, let's plow some snow!   So we finally got a little bit of snow here, about 4-5 inches to be exact. It was a perfect opportunity to pull the quad out of the garage and test this plow out. To give you a little background on where I live and what I'm testing here...I plowed my asphalt road in front of my house, my gravel/dirt/rock parking area and 250' rocky and unfinished driveway that I get up in my jeep only really (needs to be blacktopped in the worst way), so the plow will take some abuse! If it holds up…we're good. Check out my test video...      

Final Notes   I have to say that I am extremely happy with this plow set up. There are some adjustments that I need to make to ensure the wear bar is positioned properly, but having plowed the terrain of my driveway, the strength of QuadBoss Pile Driver Plow held up without issue… I was very impressed. It's nice to be able to lift it with the winch, adjust the angle to the desired setting, and remove it when not in use. I would recommend this plow to anyone looking for a plow assembly for their ATV and look forward to putting this to the test some more during the next storm!    

Check out QuadBoss for all your ATV Accessories!    

This is a review of the 4500 lb Outback Series ATV/UTV/Side x Side Winch from PROMARK OFFROAD. I've had my older 1500 lb winch on for a few years now and it was time to upgrade it after having the steel cable snap on it recently. I also wanted to try out a synthetic line instead of a steel line. With the various winches on the market, PROMARK OFFROAD offers this heavy duty power house with a blue synthetic winch line, water proof motor, all steel gears, and a remote kit. This winch is a beast for my Yamaha Grizzly, or any ATV out there.  

Installation was easy, with their provided instructions, I was even able to reuse the existing winch mount I had on the quad. I had my old winch mounted to the plate with 4 bolts, so the new winch mounted right in it's place with 4 new bolts they provided. Wiring was relatively easy, I replaced the old wires with the thicker, lower gauge wires they provided. The new thing I have now though...is a remote! A 10' corded remote came with this package. The outlet for the remote can be mounted anywhere on the ATV, I opted to mount it in the rear plastic, behind the seat, under the rack. It comes with a waterproof rubber cover, for when not in use (In the video I shot, I use the remote to control the winch up the hill). The switch mounts on the handlebar and in my opinion is a nice rocker style switch vs. some of the other ones on the market. The solenoid, I mounted under the seat, in the rear compartment. So depending on your ATV, you'll have to find a spot for it. This was another reason why I mounted the remote outlet in the rear. Everything I needed was included in the package;  rubber stopper, hook, and newer designed has fair-lead instead of a roller that I had.  

Very impressive winch, once finally on. With no winter snow here and all mud spots are low or frozen, I really didn't have many options to test this out these past few weeks. Although I was able to test the sheer pulling strength by yanking some smaller trees out of the ground that my older winch just couldn't do..that was pretty fun. I also wanted to see how it would pull my quad up a hill, that I couldn't ride up, without flipping. My quad is only 650lbs, so this was cake for this winch.

The geartrain and ratio on this winch are impressively felt over my older winch as you can see from the video. You can just hear and feel it's strength! Pulling is no problem, I'll post some more videos once we get some snow and I can get her stuck or help pull some people out! So far, I'm in love with this winch. It's going to power a new plow I have, that is if we ever get some serious snow here in New
York!  

Features:

•Limited Lifetime Warranty

•ProMark Blue Synthetic Winch Line

•Waterproof Motor  

Upgraded Accessory Package:

•4-Post Contactor

•Handlebar Thumb Switch

•Aluminum Hawse Fairlead

•Spring Hook and Pull Strap

•Rubber Line Stopper

•Bonus 10' Corded Remote  

The Only Thing Worse Than a Flat is no Compressor to Fill It.   Tire troubles can be a hassle, even if you're close to your hauler. Imagine a flat miles away from nowhere. If you don't have a compressor, you're in for a long walk out.  

On longer treks, it could be a life and death situation. You could take one of those junky "portable" air compressors that require a great deal of valuable space and a strong battery to run. The same compressor that tends to fall apart and takes minutes to put a tiny amount of air in your tires. Or, you could take ATVAIR with you.  With no electricity required, the ultra high quality American made ATVAIR is small enough to toss in your toolkit for those times when you or one of your buddies needs some air.  Easy to use, quick filling and affordable, the ATVAIR is one tool no ATV rider should be without.  

When you think about it, a gas engine is simply a powered compressor. Instead of hauling a bulky, electric compressor around, simply put a hose on your built in ATV compressor and have all the air you could ever need, up to 30PSI depending upon the model.  

Super Easy to Use!   When you find yourself with a flat or dangerously low tire, simply put your ATV in neutral, and put on the brake. Connect the locking ATVAIR Stainless and Brass filler valve to the tire valve stem, and gently insert the rubber cone into the muffler. In a minute or two, your tire is full! It's that easy.  

A couple of things you need to know. Don't press the cone all the way into the pipe or it will kill the engine. Allow some exhaust to escape, there will still be plenty of tire filling pressure. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation and use some good leather gloves to keep from getting burned.  

Great new item to carry with you on the trails! Visit http://www.atvair.com/ for ordering info.    

The folks at QuadBoss sent us a set of their XT ATV Hand Mitts to check out, and after pulling them out of the package, there is little to say except...Wow! Extremely well made, as with all QuadBoss products, we love the way these things are designed. We've had their ATV Hand Mitts on our quads for years, to help us during the winter seasons and keep our fingers from freezing off! These new XT Mitts are a nice upgrade to add that level of protection, weather resistance, and warmth. If you are looking for protection on those trails and warmth this winter, find yourself a set of these, you won't be sorry! The outer shell is tough and weather resistant. Very easy to install and remove after your ride. We're gonna definately add a heat pack in the winter to stay warm...Read the official press release below.  

Official Press Release:   The all new QuadBoss XT ATV Hand Mitts are designed to protect your hands from the harsh elements while working or playing. The XT ATV Hand Mitts incorporate a rugged, water repellant exo-skeleton to deflect brush, wind and weather.  Integrated heat pack compartments are insulated and fleece lined to retainwarmth. (Heat pack sold separately)  The one size fits most XT ATV Hand Mitts attach quickly and easily to ATV handlebars. Visit www.quadboss.com !   Black  15-6910 $46.99 MSRP Realtree®AP 15-6611 $49.99 MSRP  

Available at Amazon

Keep an eye on the QUADCRAZY Contest area, for your chance to get your own set of these XT ATV Mitts by QuadBoss!  

I decided that it was time to install a new muffler on my 2004 Yamaha Grizzly, and with all the choices out there, HMF had a nice slip on assembly that seemed to be widely used, and suggested when surfing the web. Below is my review from start to finish, what it entailed, and an overall review of the installation procedure, tuning, and after thoughts.

First off, I was impressed with the packaging that HMF uses. The pipe and muffler were very well cushioned within the box. The hardware and instructions came in plastic packaging, along with a small aluminum or tin HMF marked box, which holds a few different size carburetor jets. Jetting is necessary for proper performance and warranty, as per their website. This was going to be the first time this quad was going to be jetted or have anything really done to it outside of oem.
The first thing I did was lay out my parts and grab the tools I needed. There was going to be 2 steps here, exhaust install and re-jetting the carb per HMF recommendations. So I decided to tackle the exhaust install first. I removed the plastic panels from both sides of the quad, removed the seat also, to expose the air box. The actual pipe and muffler looked to be an easy removal with a clamp on the engine pipe/header, and one frame bolt at the muffler. I proceeded to try and loosen the muffler bolt, and then it snapped! That set me back a little in time, but was an easy fix, as I tapped the remaining portion of the broken bolt out with a steel punch. I then removed the clamps from the header pipe, and slid the old exhaust off. The HMF pipe slides right into the muffler and all you need to do is attach the tension spring to keep them together as one unit. I slid the slip on unit in through the back and onto the engine pipe, then installed the clamps. I aligned it up and installed a new bolt and nut on the rear muffler frame bracket. That's it! Took less than 30 minutes (not counting the broken bolt) to install this slip on exhaust.
My next step was to jet the carb with the included 175 main jet as recommended here: HMF Specs . I loosened the carb clamps and a few bolts, then pulled the air box out of the way. I rotated the carb enough to expose the bowl without removing completely. (The proper way of course would be to remove the entire carb and take it to a bench..) I proceeded to take out the 4 carb bowl screws, and 2 out of 4 stripped out. I couldn't get them out. I finally was able to remove the stripped screws with the help of some needle nose vise grips. I ordered a new gasket and new screws. However, I took the advice of a fellow member (Dirt Demon), and bought some allen head screws from Home Depot to use instead. I removed the factory main jet and installed the one that came with the HMF kit. Worked out well.

I buttoned it all back together, and started it up. Wow, what a difference in sound. Much "throatier" and in my opinion sounds awesome. I don't have a dyno to test, but it definitely feels much more responsive and definitely has more torque. It sounds real nice, check out the before and after video I posted to see for yourself. I'm very impressed with the ease of installation and the actual look and sound of this muffler. I definitely recommend this exhaust. Maybe my next step will be a high flow air filter and new jet! HMF

Exhaust http://www.hmfracing.com You can check out my threads on this install in the forums.

Available at Amazon

When comparing dump carts for ATVs, you mostly find steel carts out there from various online retailers and places like Sears and Home Depot. My first choice a few months back was going to be to pick up one of those steel carts for my ATV, but then I was able to get my hands on Quadboss's Swivel Dump Cart that has this hardened "Structual Foam" body that is rust proof. This dump cart came in a large box which I snapped a picture of below. The contents of the box were the dump body, 2 wheels, frame, trailing arm, and hardware & pins. I spread the items out and followed the easy to read instructions. They illustrated every pin, nut, and bolt size, so that you know exactly where they are supposed to go. The steel frame parts of this cart are heavy duty 11 gauge steel, and along with the 1 inch axle, the load capacity is able to be set at 1,250 lbs. Assembly was pretty simple and took about an hour all together.

The longest part of the install was attaching the dump body to the frame with 10 bolts. It would probably go quicker with 2 people, one holding the dump body and feeding the bolts, and the other holding the frame, and screwing on the nuts on. Once that part was done, the rest was pretty easy. I was impressed with the fact that the wheels had grease fittings for the wheel bearings. Once it was all put together, attachment was easy to my ATV hitch receiver hole with a supplied pin. You can use a hitch ball, but it's not necessary.

Now it was time to test this thing. I took it out of the garage and around the property, over some bumps and a hill or two. It was very stable empty, so then I decided to do some work to fill her up. It was a nice day finally, most all of the snow had melted, and it was time to lay into some yard work. I had planned to dig out some dirt from one area and transport it to an area where I needed some more soil. I pulled up next to my mound of dirt and started digging. I filled the cart up with two loads and dumped them both in the area that needed the dirt. Dumping it requires you to step on the release mechanism pedal that has anti-slip spikes, and lift up the cart. I suppose if you fill it up with overweight stuff, it's going to be a pain to lift it on your own. The dirt all came out except for the last 10% that I used my shovel to get out. The sloped rear on the dump is nice. Another nice feature is the swivel, which allows you to turn the dump up to 100 degrees before dumping. So that was pretty easy, so I decided to load some other things around the property, like rocks, brush, twigs, and branches. This is where the optional fence attachment would have come in handy. I may need to get that next. I'm still waiting to take it up on the trails. I highly suggest this dump for anyone looking for a high quality work horse of a dump, as an alternative to the traditional steel carts.

QuadBoss Website QuadBoss ATV Trailer Product Video

Find ATV Dump Carts on Amazon

The folks at QuadBoss sent us a gallon of their famous ATV tire sealant to check out. It came in a cardboard box and in the form of a one gallon white bottle with an attachable pump. You basically take off the cap and then insert and screw on the pump assembly. The directions are printed out right on the bottle.

Just perfect for our older stock Dunlop tires that tend to leak small amounts of air. Keep in mind, It's almost mid January and we're here in the Northeast where temperatures dip down to the single digits at night. So since it's not supposed to solidify or freeze, we gave it a go. Installation is not hard.

You will need a tire valve core remover, a tire pressure gauge, and an air source to replace the air you need to take out. We've got our little screw on valve core remover that the auto guys use and a shop air compressor to fill us back up quickly.

To give you an idea of what QuadBoss' ATV Tire Sealant is supposed to do, here are some bullet points:

•Seals up to 1/2” puncture in the tread and 1/4” puncture in the sidewall

•Stops bead leaks and pinhole leaks in rims

•Will not solidify or freeze (above -33°F)

•Will not rust steel, corrode aluminum wheels or clog valve core

•Environmentally benign and water washable

•Works for the life of the tire

We started by taking out all our valve stems, so that all the air would come out of the tires. We made sure the valves were positioned on the top side so that when the tire collapses from no air, you can still have access to the inside of the tire through the valve, with a clear entry way. After that, you just pump in the amount of sealant that you need. QuadBoss gives you a chart right on the bottle which says: Utility ATV Tires (8"-12" rims) 32 oz per tire Sport ATV Tires (9" - 10" rims) 16 oz per tire Dirt Bike Tires 4-8 oz per tire Every pump stroke injects 1 ounce of sealant, so in our case it was 32 pumps per tire. After we pumped in the sealant, we screwed back in the vale cores, and inflated the tires back to manufacturer's specs. Took the quad for a rip to evenly disburse the sealant. Did not affect the feel of the quad and one would never know the sealant was added. It's a preventative measure for your tires, but in our case, we always saw a bit of a drop in tire pressure after a week. So we added this just before last week's snow storm and took it out this week...tire pressure is all good. Looks like we added some life to our older stock tires and will definitely be using this in our new tires down the road. We're going to be interested to see how much air pressure fluctuation we get in our ATV tires when spring arrives. We'll just have to wait and see, and send in an update.

You can find QuadBoss tire sealant on their website: www.quadboss.com

Also available on Amazon

NEW RANGER RZR XP™ 900 OVERVIEW STARTING AT: $15,999 U.S. MSRP  

FEATURES: FRONT TRAVEL and HIGHEST GROUND CLEARANCE

Dual-A-Arm front suspension with 13.5" of travel soaks up the rough stuff. Match that with an astounding 13” of ground clearance and no comparison is required. Hands down, RANGER RZR XP™ owns the desert, the dunes and any wide open space. NEW! Exclusive ITP® Tires Standard Exclusive ITP 900 XCT TIRES – Standard on RANGER RZR XP™, the unique directional lug pattern provides exceptional cornering and straight-line traction capabilities.

EXCLUSIVE FACTORY LED HEADLIGHTS NEW! Industry first factory LED headlights shine a high-intensity bright white beam to turn night into day, and throw light forward far beyond conventional halogens.

NEW! GLOVE BOX STORAGE

Passenger-side glove box has 3 gallons of space for convenient, water-resistant storage. NEW! Polaris ProStar™ 900 DOHC Twin EFI Engine Specifically built for an extreme performance Side x Side. The Polaris ProStar™ 900 DOHC Twin EFI Engine features industry-leading 88 HP, Dual OverHead Cams (DOHC), large valves for high RPM power and 180 degree crank shaft for balanced performance, and fast throttle response to produce groundbreaking power and acceleration. COMFORTABLE ERGONOMICS Everyone rides in comfort, thanks to adjustable and interchangeable bucket seats, plus the adjustable front passenger handrail and full rear passenger handrail. Comfortable driver operation is enhanced by tilt steering with the highest range of motion (10").

PREMIUM SHOCK PACKAGE Premium Fox Podium X 2.0 Shocks feature piggyback reservoir, adjustable preload and compression dampening. NEW! 3-LINK TRAILING ARM LONG TRAVEL IRS We designed the all-new 3-Link Trailing Arm IRS to handle all that massive power and keep the ride smooth. The 3-Link design consists of two extra-long radius rods and a far forward-connecting trailing arm resulting in a strong yet lightweight system.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Engine Type 4-Stroke DOHC Twin Cylinder Displacement 875cc Fuel System Electronic Fuel Injection Cooling Liquid

Drivetrain Transmission/Final Drive Automatic PVT P/R/N/L/H; Shaft Drive System On-Demand True AWD/2WD

Suspension Front Suspension Dual A-Arm Fox Podium X 2.0 (comp adjust/res.) 13.5" (34.3 cm) Travel Rear Suspension Trailing Arm Fox Podium X 2.0 (comp adjust/res.) 14" (35.6 cm) Travel

Brakes Front/Rear Brakes 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc with Dual-Bore Front Calipers Parking Brake Park in Transmission

Tires Wheels Front Tires / Model 27 x 9-12; ITP 900 XCT Rear Tires / Model 27 x 11-12; ITP 900 XCT Wheels Cast Aluminum

Dimensions Wheelbase 81.4" (206.8 cm) Dry Weight 1,190 lbs. (539.8 kg) Overall Vehicle Size (LxWxH) 108.4" x 64" x 73" (275.3 x 162.6 x 185.4 cm) Ground Clearance 13" (33.0 cm)

Capacities Fuel Capacity 7.25 gal (27.4 L) Bed Box Dimensions (LxWxH) 23 x 38 x 10" (58.4 x 96.5 x 25.4 cm) Box Capacity N.A./300 lb (136.1 kg) Payload Capacity 740 lb (335.6 kg) Hitch Towing Rating N.A. Hitch/Type None

Features Cargo System Lock & Ride Lighting White LED, High/Low Electronic Power Steering Not Equipped Instrumentation Digital Gauge, Speedometer, Odometer, Tachometer, Tripmeter, Hour Meter, Clock, Gear Indicator, Fuel Gauge, Hi-Temp/Low-Batt Lights, Coolant Temp, DC Outlet

My overall thoughts on the HMF 2010 Competition Series are that they spent a lot of time designing this pipe. From the extreme good looks of the pipe to the mean sounding growl this pipe has it all. I was absolutely amazed at the gains my quad received from installing just the slip on. I believe that HMF created an absolute work of art with this pipe.   Visit HMF Racing to order yours!  

Available at AMAZON

The folks over at Agricover were nice enough to supply us with a SnowSport® All Terrain Plow for review. Before we even got our hands on this plow, looking it over on their website impressed us. The first thing we noticed with this plow was the fact that, there is no need for a winch or lift lever. This was very intriguing, as most plow setups will require a winch or a lever to operate.  

We received the plow and mount for our 2006 Yamaha Grizzly in 2 separate boxes, both easy enough to carry. The aluminum 60” plow is not that heavy at all and came with a hard rubber 6-7” strip, which is actually the lower 3^rd of the plow, and surface contact. The plow required a few holes, that we drilled with a standard drill bit, 6 to be exact. Drilling through the aluminum was pretty easy. We also needed to mount up the plow, so the best idea would be to install the ATV mount first, which we didn’t.  

So we opened the other box with the mount for our Grizzly, and looked it all over with the supplied instructions. This quad already has a winch mounted, so we were concerned about the two brackets working together, due to the fact that they use the same frame holes. There was no need to worry; the Plow mount bracket went right behind the winch bracket. There was an extra step in removing the winch bracket, to get the plow bracket in. This plow mount is pretty simple, it uses a hardened steel frame and secures to the ATV frame in the front and over the frame in the rear. It was one bracket with 2 bolts, and the rest was a slide in assembly, secured by lock pins. Very nice and very easy.  

Now that we had our mount installed on our Grizzly, we brought over our assembled plow. The blow bracket slides right into the plow mount and is also held with a lock pin. The bracket has a pivot pin, which allows us to pivot the plow to the left or right. We chose to keep it in the center position for now. Once we had the bracket installed on the mount, it was as easy as lifting the plow and sliding it onto the bracket. That is it. There is a position you can leave the plow raised for riding without contact, or leave it completely down to the ground, for when plowing is done.  

The directions were simple enough to follow and installation took about 1 hour. I like the fact that the plow easily comes off for when you want to hit the trails, and mounts up for when snow cleaning is needed. It’s light weight as opposed to other plows on the market.  

We got hit with an early December snowfall, just in time to run a preliminary test with our Grizzly. We plowed a stretch of 150 feet on a right pivot with 4” on the ground. No problem at all. In reverse, the plow basically disengages and gets pulled with you across the plowed surface. Engaging a forward gear, straightens the plow for pushing. It’s just that simple, no winch or lever needed. We ran our quad up a 30 degree hill with the plow engaged through the 4” of snow and over a grassy surface. The grass and dirt where untouched, as it glided without issue, pushing the snow out of our way. Bumps and ground imperfections were no match for this plow, as it glided smoothly over them with out an issue.  

So far we are impressed with the SnowSport® All Terrain Plow, but we’ll be testing it more, with the next big North East winter storm. If you are in the market for an ATV plow, we highly recommend the SnowSport® All Terrain Plow.

To purchase the SnowSport® All Terrain Plow, visit http://www.agricover.com/index.php/products/category/C26/

Also available on eBay

When we first got the package, we thought it seemed really heavy. After taking the TigerTail out of the box, we determined it’s really not that heavy compared to most winches and tow systems you can get out there and it seemed to be extremely well built. It has to have some weight to it, to be able to do it’s job! The Rhino is not only a fun means of transportation, it is also our recovery vehicle at  races, and any time someone finds their limits in the mud. So, we immediately took it out to the garage to go put it on the Rhino.

When we first  looked at the set up we thought, “This will be interesting to get a wrench between the spool and the bottom mounting plate.“ But to our surprise they covered this, the bolts have a collar which drops into the bolt hole and holds it in place. All it took was one wrench on the bottom nut. This process took maybe five minutes. The unit easily slides right into the receiver. At this point the only down fall I have seen was, it does not come with a pin to hold it in the receiver, I was required to buy an additional one. Not a big deal but a tiny inconvenience.

Eager TigerTail to try out the, we headed out to a local ride spot to test it out. Lucky for us as we were unloading the toys when someone in an Isuzu Trooper, not meant for the mud, found a mud hole. He managed to bury his front end in the peanut butter-like slop up to the bumper. With the rear tires barely clinging to the surface by inches of hard packed dirt, he was not moving. So we thought this could be the perfect time to test out the Tiger Tail and have it be of a little assistance. I backed the Rhino up to his vehicle, and found it takes some slack on the rope before the hook will come out of the holder. As soon as the hook was free, it easily extended and retracted. We hooked it up to the Trooper and I slowly pulled forward to fully extend the rope. This being a heck of a first test for the Tiger Tail, I floored the Rhino, spinning the tires on the hard pack. To my amazement , the Rhino started inching forward and before we knew it, he was out of the slop and on to the hard stuff. We unhooked the Tiger Tail and it went right back into it’s housing trouble free.   From what we have seen so far, this is an absolutely amazing product. From the first glance of the Tiger Tail we knew it was well built and well thought out.  We know that it will definitely come in handy out on the trails and the track.  They even put a hole on the main bracket so you can still have a ball for towing on the back of your rig. Great idea! We will definitely recommend it to all of our friends. This is also one of those products that everyone who sees it wants to know all about it.  

All in all, the Tiger Tail is an awesome little product! www.tigertail.us  

Available on Amazon

See the action! The Toughest & Quickest, Tangle Free Tow System for ATVs...Period!

We tested out the Prairie, along with the Brute Force 650 and 750 4x4i, at the Mines & Meadows ATV/RV Resort in Western Pennsylvania. Shockingly, it was the little Prairie that stood out most among the big bore offerings from Team Green.

Kawasaki’s proven 362cc air-cooled, single cylinder, 4-stroke engine powers the Prairie. Though it’s never going to snap your neck back when you the squeeze the throttle, the Prairie accelerates smoothly and has an impressive amount of low-end grunt for this class. More impressive is the class-leading 1,100-pound towing capacity.

Kawasaki’s entry-level 4x4 surprised us with its ability to keep up with the big boys.

What helps the Prairie make the most of every last bit of its power is an advanced four-wheel drive system – available at the push of a button. If you just want to fly around the trails and let the rear wheels drift around the corners, you can keep it in two-wheel drive. However, if you want to tackle more challenging terrain or need to add some traction if you’re working around your property just switch it over to four-wheel drive mode and you’re ready to go.

Just squeeze the yellow diff-lock lever for as much or as little extra traction as you require.

Kicking it up another notch is the limited-slip front differential, which keeps the steering reasonably light. When the situation calls for maximum traction a Kawasaki feature we really like is the variable front differential control. You access this very progressive system by squeezing a lever on the left handlebar just above the brake lever. When you need full traction and are worried less about steering just squeeze the lever all the way. If you require some additional traction but need more steering control just squeeze the lever about half way. We can’t say enough about how much we like this differential control system. Other ATVs have easier to use push-button diff locks, but this one really makes you feel like you have that extra bit of control.

The combination of four-wheel drive and the variable front differential control combine to make the Prairie a go-anywhere ATV. You don’t often think of a 360cc ATV being an adept climber, but the Prairie proved otherwise.

The best example of the Prairie’s climbing prowess we can come up with occurred when we were trying to scale a steep, rocky hill on a big Brute Force 650. As we were taking our time looking for the right line, somebody from Kawasaki flew up the course on the Prairie to show us the way. We’re no great rock climbers and surely a more adept rider could have made short work of that hill, but to see the Prairie 360 4x4 climb over everything we were struggling with on the Brute Force made us appreciate what it could do.

The Prairie 360 4x4 will go just about anywhere you’d need it to.

Even with it’s go-anywhere personality, some of you who are used to riding big 800cc machines will probably be left wanting more power and top speed, but that’s not who this ATV is made for. The Prairie 360 4x4 is an ideal ATV for somebody new to the sport and because it’s such a good all around quad we don’t think it’s something you’d grow out of for quite some time.

Stability is very good thanks in part to the Prairie’s 47.4-inch width – 1.5 inches wider than the Brute Force 750. That wide footprint gives you confidence as soon as you throw a leg over the seat. It seems lighter and more flickable that the bigger Brute Force, but the specs tell a different story. Both units weigh in at about 605 pounds dry. That’s a lot of weight for lower-displacement ATV, but it was hard to feel it during our test.

Getting the rear wheels to slide around a corner is no problem.

Helping to cushion your ride is a MacPherson strut front suspension with 6.7 inches of travel. You’ll find more modern front suspension systems (independent double A-arms), but MacPherson struts have a proven track record and offer a smooth ride. All the way through 2008 that’s all Polaris used on its Sportsman line of utility ATVs – some of the best selling and best performing in the business. Also, because MacPherson struts have been around for a while using them keeps costs down.

One possible bone of contention with the Prairie is the rear swingarm with a single adjustable shock. Having fully independent rear suspension would be beneficial, but the straight axle is not a bad option for new riders. It’s easier to hold a line in a whooped-out section of trail and you can attack corners more aggressively. You do lose a little ground clearance – the Prairie has 7.7-inches of clearance at the rear axle – but try finding a trail you can’t tackle with the Prairie that you could with an IRS equipped unit.

Stopping power comes courtesy of dual disc brakes up front and Kawasaki’s very effective sealed, oil-bathed multi-disc system in the back. Kawasaki uses that sealed rear brake system on just about every vehicle in its lineup and it’s great at keeping mud, dust, water, and other debris away from your brakes. There’s practically no maintenance with this system, which means you can ride more and spend less time in the garage. Engine braking is also standard and it’s a great tool for helping you slow down in a steep descent – you don’t have to be as precise with the brake levers so you can concentrate more on steering.

Use the engine braking to help slow you down on a descent.

Prairie owners get some additional utility from the standard front and rear cargo racks that can carry a combined weight of 242 pounds. You can strap down more than enough gear for a camping trip or you could haul just about anything around your property.

At $5,349 the Prairie 360 4x4 is right near the bottom of the price scale for this class from major manufacturers. It comes in $50 less than the Yamaha Grizzly 350 4x4, $150 less than the Suzuki KingQuad 400 AS, and $350 less than the Polaris Sportsman 400 H.O. You can get the Prairie without the 4x4 option for $550 less ($4,799), but we think it’s worth spending the extra cash on four-wheel drive.

If you’re looking to break into the utility ATV segment, you should definitely put the Prairie 360 4x4 on your short list. Even if you’re not a beginner, the Prairie would be a fun addition to your garage – especially as a utility companion to a sport quad. You won’t win any races against the big boys, but you’ll have a lot more money in your wallet.

I got my hands on a new Gorilla 3000lb XT Series ATV Winch from the folks over at www.gorillawinches.com, and I must say that, I was impressed from the moment it arrived. Besides the impressive box, easy to read instructions, and included hardware, this winch just looks like a heavy duty and well designed product. Inside the box was the roller fairlead, rubber stopper, contactor, thumb switch, hook with strap, hardware, and a corded remote! All that was needed additional, was a bracket for my 2006 Yamaha Grizzly, which was available right on their site.

INSTALLATION Installing the Gorilla Winch was easy enough. I did it before going out to the field, in the back of my Dodge Ram pick-up! A few tools I had in my box got the job done. The hardest part was removing some of my factory plastic. The bracket mounted right up to my stock frame and the winch right up to the bracket, without an issue. If you know the difference between your positive and negative battery terminals, you'll have no problem hooking this up. I ran the wires up the middle and under the seat, to the battery, and hooked up the switch to my handlebars. It was a breeze.

THE FIRST TEST I rode my 2006 Yamaha Grizzly out into a wooded, but open area, to run some small tests with this winch. Operation was very good for a traditional winch. I especially like how smooth the cable turns out in the free wheel/spin mode. Engaging this is easy and the switch is located on the side of the winch. Putting it in this mode allows you to pull out the cable without hassle. I ran it in and out a few times to check out the motor operation and to see if there was any heat coming off of it, which there wasn't. I roped the line around a couple of trees and pulled the Grizzly without any issue, up the hill and tested it letting the winch out slowly back down. The winch Motor sounds strong and smooth, giving me no concerns. I hadn't planned to get out in the mud yet (maybe for my next report), so I thought to myself...How could I really test this thing out? I decided that a good test would be to rope my Grizzly to a tree and see about lifting it off the ground. I know, sounds crazy, and when will this actually apply, but why not. So I let out the winch cable and chucked it over a thick branch and around a tree, probably about 15 feet off the ground. (Don't try this at home and wear safety equipment and protective gear!) I began to pull my 600 lb (dry weight) 2006 Yamaha Grizzly toward the tree, by engaging the winch switch I mounted on the left handle bar. As I got closer to the tree, the front end started to rise. I proceeded to pull the winch cable in and my quad up the tree. It was now about 70 degrees up in the air! I kept going until it was vertical and back tires off the ground! I forgot to get off…What a site…hung my quad off a tree...it was a first for me. I finally let it down after looking at it for a few minutes hanging there. By no means do I suggest for anyone to do something like this with their quad! Nevertheless, it’s a good test for me. I let out enough cable slack to get the hook to slide down toward me and unhook it. I inspected the cable, hook, winch, bracket, and frame. No issues at all. All looked great. At least I know that on my next run, this winch will pull my ATV without a problem.

FINAL NOTES This $199 Gorilla winch replaced my older Warn 2500 winch that I believe cost me upwards of $400 or so at the time. You would think that the cost difference would show in the product, but I really can't tell you what the higher priced Warn will give you over the Gorilla. The Gorilla winch works very well and is definitely worth the money. I'll be testing this winch out more on the trails and I'll be sure to report back. Happy Trails!  

Find ATV Winches on Amazon

It’s been three months since Yamaha launched a free repair program for all Rhino models which included adding one-inch spacers on each of the rear wheels and removing the rear anti-sway bar. To prove that these repairs did nothing to take away from the Rhino’s off-road capability, we were invited to the San Bernardino Forest in southern California to test out the 2009 Yamaha Rhino 700 FI Sport Edition for ourselves. Oftentimes when a manufacturer invites the media out to test drive a new vehicle we don’t end up getting a great deal of seat time as we’re focused on getting pictures and talking to the people who helped design it. Also, because they don’t want to put us or their expensive machines in harm’s way manufacturers sometimes avoid the gnarliest terrain. To Yamaha’s credit, this was absolutely not the case this time. We were led on a near 80-mile trek that had our adrenaline pumping and at times tested our resolve. We beat the holy hell out of our Rhino 700 to see exactly what it was capable of. At the end of our ride our bodies ached and we were completely exhausted, but we came away wholly impressed. WHY THE CHANGES The vast majority of responsible Rhino owners, enthusiasts and most everybody associated with the popular side-by-sides that we talk to really didn’t feel like adding the spacers and removing the anti-sway bar was a necessity. If you ride the Rhino like you’re supposed to, your chance of tipping over and injuring yourself is not particularly high – certainly not noticeably higher than other sporty side-by-sides. Of course, we don’t always ride off-road vehicles like we’re supposed to, do we? "If you ride the Rhino like you’re supposed to, your chance of tipping over and injuring yourself is not particularly high..." We’ll get more in depth on this in a future article, but suffice it to say a small percentage (Yamaha says far less than 1 percent) of Rhino customers were involved in rollovers with serious consequences. It didn’t take long for plaintiff attorneys to take notice and start looking for money/clients in every way possible (billboards, Google ads, television commercials) and tried to get the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a recall. After looking at a number of accident reports the CPSC (much to the chagrin of the plaintiff attorneys) couldn’t find anything that warranted a recall. In fact, in nearly all the cases the CPSC looked in which somebody was killed (96%) the victim either wasn’t wearing a helmet or was doing at least one warned against act (no seatbelt, driving on paved road, driving under the influence, no driver’s license, too young, too small, etc.). The CPSC, in cooperation with Yamaha, did decide to issue a free repair program for the Rhino 450 and 660 and Yamaha included the Rhino 700 on its own. The CPSC believes these modifications “may help reduce the chance of rollover and improve vehicle handling in certain situations.” Still a Rhino Yamaha’s ultimate goal for inviting us to ride its modified side-by-side was to show us that it is still a Rhino. Yamaha didn’t want the changes to turn the Rhino into something else – either closer to a competitor’s unit or just plain less capable. After almost 80 miles of rocks, roots, water and dirt we can indeed assure you that this Rhino is still, well, a Rhino. The Rhino is powered by a 686cc liquid cooled, fuel injected engine. We spent our day riding between 5,000 and 7,500 feet above sea level and didn’t have a hint of trouble. Because of the lower levels of oxygen at that altitude you will lose some power, but for the trial riding we were doing it was not particularly noticeable. Throttle response was instant and felt nice and torquey in the low end. That low-end power came in very handy throughout the day, especially when we were led over the toughest rock crawling section we’ve ever attempted in a side-by-side. We're far from true rock crawling aficionados, but fortunately Yamaha Testing Supervisor Pat Bilosi was there to show us the right lines. From the driver’s seat some of these lines were concerning, but with a little faith, four-wheel drive, a fully locked differential and a press of the gas we got over everything without incident. We wouldn’t try it again on our own, but pushing the Rhino to the edge and coming through with a rapid heartbeat and big smile was an experience to remember. Not every trail was as butterfly-inducing as the rock crawling section, so we did get a few chances to pin the pedal and burn up some quicker trails. While four-wheel drive offers a little more confidence in the rough stuff, we prefer two-wheel drive for fast trail riding. It really frees up the back end to slide around corners and kick up some dust. Yamaha has a speed limiter on the Rhino 700 models set at about 40 mph. If you’re riding around tight, wooded trails or getting some work done on your property this is more than enough speed. However, for wide open desert riding or other high-speed applications this might be somewhat limiting. No need to fear, though, as a visit to a forum like Rhinotalk.net will help you find a solution or lead you to any number of aftermarket companies that can help you uncork your Rhino in a heartbeat. It’s obvious the engine has a lot more speed to give, but Yamaha has the limiter on for a reason – the faster you go the more likely you are to get into trouble. If you decide to uncork your Rhino you’re doing so at your own risk. Comfort, Safety & Other Features After such a long, grueling day it’s safe to say the Rhino provides a reasonably comfortable ride. The seat provides good support and we didn’t suffer from “numb butt” at any point. Our only gripe is the seat belt would dig into our shoulder, but that may have been the result of aggressive driving. Still, one day we’d like to see somebody offer a four or five-point harness on a “Sport” specific unit. Doors come standard on Rhino 700 models and they come in handy. They help keep your feet from sliding out and trail debris from getting in. Yamaha offers a free door program for any Rhino that didn’t come with them from the factory so if you’ve got an older model you should take advantage. A digital instrument panel with multi-function LCD display provides everything you need, including an easy to read fuel gauge, speedometer and duel trip meters. Though it’s not nearly as fun as being behind the wheel, we did spend some time in the passenger seat to get a different perspective. So long as you’ve got a driver you trust, being a passenger is pretty relaxing. The center-mounted passenger handhold might be our favorite outside of the T-shaped bar on the Polaris Ranger RZR. Sport Package Our Sport Edition proved to be an awesome trail riding companion. The fully adjustable piggyback shocks were great for hammering through rocky, rutted out trails at high speed and crawling over huge rocks at a much slower pace. Despite taking a great deal of abuse, the one-piece cast aluminum wheels were certainly up to the challenge. Though we started out taking care to hit rocks head on and avoid any unnecessary damage, as the day progressed we were far less vigilant and started shredding through rocky fields with reckless abandon. The wheels and tires did not make it through the entire ride completely unscathed, but we can’t think of any product that would. The Sport Edition also includes an injected-molded sun top, which was ideal for keeping the hot July sun off our necks. Also, a Baja-inspired front carry bar, red water-dipped body, dealer-installed LED tail lights, steering wheel cover, custom shift knob, over fenders, and black bed rails help set the Sport Edition apart. One thing we’d add to the Rhino Sport Edition and every other Rhino is a more durable skid plate/underbody protection. This is not a big issue for desert riders, but for those of you who like tighter, more technical trails this is important. Admittedly we really put an abnormal pounding on our test unit, but the plastic skid plate didn’t last long. GYTR manufactures a number of protection items that would make a world of difference, including a Baja Front Bash Plate ($150.95) that would be perfect for the Sport Edition. Aftermarket companies like DG Performance sell similar products that would no doubt help keep your Rhino safe, especially in conditions like we encountered.

Conclusion It may not be as sporty as the Polaris Ranger RSR S, as fast as the Arctic Cat Prowler 1000 H2 XTZ, or possess the utility of a Kawasaki Mule, but the Yamaha Rhino 700 FI Sport Edition is among the most versatile side-by-sides available. The Rhino was the first of its kind and it’s still a force to be reckoned with.