50" side by side (ROV) width regulation

[Bakersfield]

Question: DW wants to sell her ATV and purchase a SxS. I am told the larger SxS 60" width are not permitted on ATV trails. What is your experience?

[Dirtclods]

2btowed wrote:
I have been debating the 50 vs 60 for awhile.In AZ, most trails are FS roads,however at the present time I can access most with a Ranger.I feel that when the motorized maps are complete more trails will be closed,and the Fun ones will become 50" trails.At the present time I take 2 ATVs and the Ranger,but would like to make life easier with just a single vehicle....Soooo I am gonna wait and see what happens this next year or so before I change anything.My GRizzleys have ESP and are really a blast but the DW has had hand problems for the last year,so it limits the length of our rides.She started on 400ex's so she can RIDE,it is just her hand goes to sleep after a couple hours...so we short ride ATVs and take the Ranger on anything over 3 hours.Till then I,ll be pulling doubles.

For those that don't know there are some California F.S. Forest Service roads you not allowed on not unless your plated there only for designated for motor vehicle use!

Link http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/ohv_maps.shtml

[Dirtclods]

Bakersfield wrote:
Question: DW wants to sell her ATV and purchase a SxS. I am told the larger SxS 60" width are not permitted on ATV trails. What is your experience?

Where do you usually take your ATV to go riding now?

Like posted above there are a few restricted areas, do you ride those areas now?

Big Bear/Arrowhead have a few trails that are limited to 50 wide

Check out this link for more info where to ride: http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/

[2btowed]

I have been debating the 50 vs 60 for awhile.In AZ, most trails are FS roads,however at the present time I can access most with a Ranger.I feel that when the motorized maps are complete more trails will be closed,and the Fun ones will become 50" trails.At the present time I take 2 ATVs and the Ranger,but would like to make life easier with just a single vehicle....Soooo I am gonna wait and see what happens this next year or so before I change anything.My GRizzleys have ESP and are really a blast but the DW has had hand problems for the last year,so it limits the length of our rides.She started on 400ex's so she can RIDE,it is just her hand goes to sleep after a couple hours...so we short ride ATVs and take the Ranger on anything over 3 hours.Till then I,ll be pulling doubles.

[micahmiles]

I bought a 50" RZR LE because it was the only one that had power steering as an early 2012 model, and then quickly replaced all suspension, axles and shocks and added a lift kit. Width is equal to an "S" at 60". The biggest problem of the 50" is no suspension travel and low ground clearance. Factory 50" tires suck, but they are fun to drive on because they have no grip, you're constantly in a drift if your foot is on the gas.

Where we ride, mostly TN and KY, there are literally thousands of miles of OHV trails, none of which have a width restriction. I assume your "Bakersfield" to be in CA, so that may not matter to you if you don't ride in the South.

[ksss]

We went with a 50" just so that we could go anywhere. The suspension is better on the S than the standard 50" but I don't think its a big deal. You can tune the suspension to whatever you need it to be if you want to spend the money. There are some ads you cant do with out. You "need" to add full length skid plates, $3-400, at least 26" tires if the machine did not come with them, a lift kit $300 (stock ground clearance is like driving a Camaro down a goat path). Then of course, windshields, canopy, road worthy adds like horn and so forth. Lastly don't forget to upgrade air filtration system. Factory sucks.......dirt. Like any toy you can throw as much money as you want at these things, but some items "need" to be bought IMHO. Just know that the purchase price is a starting point. I hear rumors that Artic Cat is releasing a 50" machine, it would be nice if there was some completion for this market.

[discovery4us]

My wife has been driving a Polaris Ranger and has no problems with the width. Only spot is Hungry Valley were a small number of trails are restricted. From time to time she will need to take a different route or trail due to the power of the Ranger but seldom due to width. I would suggest the RZRs or RZRxp over the standard rzr simply for the suspension and the added width makes it more stable. I drive a friends RZRs at jawbone and dove springs and can go 95% of the trails as the quads and just about as fast.
It is actually pretty fun to lock the Ranger in low four wheel drive and creep up hills that the quads stuggle on.

[Searching_Ut]

As has been mentioned, a lot of the nicer ATV trails in Utah have 50 inch restrictions, which is why we decided to stick to the 50 inch model. That said, the bulk of our riding is on trails that you could even take a jeep on. I used to figure at least 1000 bucks worth of damage on any good day of trail riding when I was using jeeps. The same trails with the RZR rarely do any damage other than maybe a cut tire. They also do remarkably well as multipurpose vehicles, be it rock crawling or just blasting through sand dunes, or flying down desert dirt roads.

[The_Texan]

We are seeing more and more 50" trails around us and the FS plans on changing more to 50" every year. What we have seen this year are trails that are NOT marked 50" at the trail head, but are listed on the motorized trail map as 50" trails and people are being cited with oversized vehicles. If you plan on riding on all 2 track trails that allow motorized vehicles, then IMO, 50" SxS is the only machine to buy. My neighbor down the street, who purchased a Rzr 900 last year is trading it for a Rzr 800 50" this year, because he has been restricted from many trails he wants to ride.

[jackxclan]

Around us close the only place is Gorman that has resrictions, Spangler Dove Springs, Jawbone are all open on any trail a quad can go on.

[Idahoan]

Around here "trails" are limited to 50 inches. But there are still plenty of gravel/dirt roads you can drive on.

[fly-boy]

The Paiute Trail in Utah has a lot of 50" or less and Mammoth has some-
However, in both spots there are literally hundreds if not thousands of miles you can travel over with something wider.

I think you have to ask yourself what type of trails you like to ride and what speed you typically run. If you are more out to enjoy the scenery and get into slower more technical type trails- get a 50" or less UTV. If on the other hand you typically ride hard and fast- you need something wider and with better suspension.

[nayther]

I know there are a few trails up in Big Bear with metal poles set at 50" apart for just this reason. Also was on a trail last weekend in Mammoth with similar restrictions (although the trail was a POS and all whooped out).

[sportsman_500]

It all depends on where you ride and where you plan on riding. Where we live there is only one place that we used to ride at that we cannot anymore. All of the other trips we have planned width restriction has not been an issue. We have been all over. This year Ozark National Forest. Last year North and South Carolina and PA on several occasions. I have read that out west there are several popular trails systems that have the restriction and I suppose that could sway your decision.

I bought the RZR S and have never looked back. The suspension with the Fox shocks is no comparison to the 50" model. The ride and handling is that much better. Everyone I know that has bought the 50" has added $$$$ of dollars in aftermarket suspension such as Elka shocks and springs etc.....