Ridge Runners at the rally

[vidwiz]

I have first hand experience with RidgeRunners and Rhinos, hope we can keep this civil, but here's my honest comparison:

Cost - Rhino is half the cost of a RR

Clearance - no contest, RR wins

Suspension - Again RR, very plush

Brakes - no contest, this time Rhino wins, the fronts lock up way too easily on the RR making it quite dangerous imo on loose downhills.

Controls - I found the RR brake pedal to be dangerously close to the accelerator. Rhino doesn't have the pedal adjustability like the RR and I would like a little less bend in my knees when driving one but at least it doesn't careen towards precarious precipices when my boot cladden feet attempt to brake and hit the gas as well. The foot area is tight on the RR.

Seats - RR aren't too bad but I find the Rhinos to be a bit more comfy and form fitting and I can remove them if I want, makes for plush lunch seating. RR has better seatbelts. (obviously upgradeable in the Rhino)

Steering - Rhino by a mile. The lack of weight in the front of a RR makes steering an issue and it doesn't turn very sharp in the first place. A lot of my turnarounds I would pick up and drag or winch the front of the RR around because I couldn't get it turned around. (Is that a plus for the RR that the front is so light it can be picked up?)

Climbing - again the Rhino easily prevails with a locked front end pulling. Get a RR on loose gravelly uphill and it won't make it. Several hills around here the Rhino climbs no problemo that the RR would get hung up on. RR did ok in Moab when I was there, but we didn't scale any of the tougher stuff. I can almost guarantee RR will have some problems on Gold Bar/Spike for example. (Is that a challenge?) Perhaps a pilot more skilled than I could make it happen though.

Power - RR 800 has lots more than the current Rhinos, hopefully the new ones will close that gap.

Reliability - my experience is the Rhino has never let me down. Almost 4k miles and only one issue with a fluid leak. RR on the other hand, where do I start? New clutch, regular overheating, (bad radiator placement, has little natural air flow) bad engine alignment, stripped gears in rear end, broke a steering ujoint, fuel pump won't empty gas tank, fenders flapping off, excessive heat from the engine on the seat, 3 blown belts, engine caught on fire! (and I wasn't the only one)...
and lots of guys have broken up their front ends.

So, make up your own mind. For me, I wasn't enjoying the multiple occurences of walking home and that was the deciding factor for going Yamaha. I know Jim has had good luck with his and will rigorously defend his purchase. Bottom line, both are fun machines and I miss flying over whoops on the magic carpet ride of my RR

[ravencr]

Nice review Derek.

Chris

[Desert Fox]

Hey Derek,

I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out it was me....

As far as Rhino, RZR, Ranger, etc versus RR, each has its niche, each has its pros and cons, each is better than the others at certain things and in certain situations.

Look at it this way, diirk sold his RR to buy a Rhino, 2007BlueRR sold his Rhino to buy a RR.

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Cost-AGREE

Clearance-agree

Suspension-agree

Brakes-the fronts DO lock up easily but I have never had an issue.

Foot controls-AGREE, I have on a couple of occassions hit the gas when I meant to hit the brakes, my wife has done it also, usually happens in the spring when we take it out, not used to driving it after the long winter.

Seats-moot, I don't eat sitting in my RR, I eat under a tree, on a rock, or sitting on my cooler

Steering-half agree, never found steering per se an issue, DOES have a large steering radius which can be difficult in tight situations, can anybody say 12 point turn......

Climbing-depends, I went up a hill that two ATV's HAD to engage 4WD to go up. I have also went up a rock obstacle that a stock Jeep Rubicon with lockers engaged could not go up. True, if I hit a vertical step, I do not have the pull of the front tires to "walk" up the step.

Power-agree

Reliability- That is open to serious debate, some have had some minor issues, a few have had major issues, most have a few minor issues, just as any vehicle. If someone has had a lot of major issues his opinion will be negative in that regard, if someone has had just a few minor issues his opinion will be positive in that regard.

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Like I said earlier, we are here to meet up and participate in the UTV rally, to meet new people, ride some trails together, and have some fun.

[66cummins]

We all had this conversation with the rhino vs ranger vs rzr. We all came to the conclusion that they all have a place and they all did really well at the rally. My opinion of the polaris ranger and rzr's has changed since the rally, and I am a yamaha guy 100%. Hell, I almost bought an rzr while my rhino was in the shop


The most important thing is riding, having fun, and meeting new friends



















Oh ya,, can't forget all the ribbing in good fun

[Desert Fox]

mmmmmmm ribs

[Desert Fox]

I do believe the Golden Crack will be a challenge in the RR, not having the pull of the front tires.

Possible scenario:
Approach crack at angle, dip nose in with possible scrape, accelerate slightly to get nose/ front tires up other side, by this time the one rear tire should be off the rock, the one front tire will be off the rock, the one rear tire with traction will skitter the RR and you end up sitting in the crack looking at sky, and hoping you are sitting in such a way that the weight of the RR on the back end pressing against the rock does not cave in the rear brush guard protecting the radiator.

I have only seen pictures of the GC so who knows.

[66cummins]

The crack will be interesting, But it is not one of the trails we plan on running for the rally. Maybe that will be an after rally run I have crossed it in a rhino, couldn't imagine doing it in 2 wheel drive.......

[Desert Fox]

In post #14 ravencr said that the Golden Spike/Gold Bar trails would be run.....

[66cummins]

We could only run that trail if we trailered to the trail head. We were trying to avoid that this year. Not saying we "can't" do it, we trailered last year to do that run.

[66cummins]

Hey Jim. Do you know a Charles that has a RR?