The Polaris Ranger Loaded - Best ATV Tires - Best Soft Side Cooler - Best Gas and Water Can - Best Synthetic Sleeping Bag - Best Sleeping Pad - Best Tripod
"The hardest working, best riding" side-by-side all terrain vehicle. This is my 2007 Polaris Ranger XP on a fire road in the Mazatzal mountians.
My regular readers know how much I like my Polaris Ranger XP. I know there are other side-by-side on the market ATVs but I did my research and drove them all and picked the Ranger. The fact that the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) was using them in Afghanistan with good results was further justification. Arizona. Afghanistan. What's the difference, right? I'm not interested in going fast. 40 to 45 mph is faster than I need to go. I wanted reliability, durability, utility and all terrain mobility. So far, the Polaris, shod with the ITP Mud Lite XTR tires, has exceeded my rather high expectations.
I mention the ITP tires specifically because I think it is such an important part of the Rangers performance. The tires that come on the Ranger from the factory are good for the street, dirt roads and grass and that is it. I have some experience with that brand of tire in the Arizona backcountry and they have failed me every time. So, my advice to anyone that goes out and buys one of these amazing machines is to spend a little extra and buy tires to match the Rangers capability. My picks are the ITP Mud Lite XTRs and Terracross tires. The former being much more aggressive than the later so pick what works for you.
Anyway, one big reason I went with the Ranger is that I wanted to give the $50,000 truck a break and make the $11,000 ATV do the hard, dirty work. That plan, with the exception of my Carhartt trip up North, has been working pretty well. However, that also means that when I am out there, I am away from everything that I might need in my truck. The answer was to move everything from the truck to the Ranger. The Ranger has a nice big bed for an ATV but it is much smaller than the short bed Dodge. So I had to do a little retooling. I had to pare down my gear list, which is always a good idea but a little painful.
This is an 07 Polaris Ranger XP. Those are the ITP MudLite XTR tires. This is actual photographic proof that I am not so anal retentive obsessive compulsive that I have to wash it after every use. Well, I don't but the kids do and they were all busy with baseball, volleyball and softball.
I left the tire sizes as close to the OEM specs as possible. I don't need any extra clearance and I didn't want to push the center of gravity any higher than it is. In fact, I don't think the Ranger feels top heavy or tippy at all. However, I have a teenage daughter that with one of her knot headed teenage friends was able to get it up on two wheels while cruising around our neighborhood so, evidently, it is possible. Ya know, I wonder sometimes exactly what it is that separates tragedy from close call. Somebody has to think about such things because I know that the young among us do not.
Again, I find the Ranger stable and confidence inspiring out on the trail.
Here is the bed tilt feature which comes in handy around the house but is merely interesting on the trail. It gives you a little better view of the rear suspension though. The bed in this shot is actually full of the gear I regularly carry.
With the dust/rain cover removed you can see the basic gear I carry with me. This is configured for a non-hunting trip and it all fits neatly in the bed just the way I like it. I guess I am an A shifter at heart. I need a way to carry a couple of rifles or shotguns so that they are readily accessible but still protected.
Most of this gear I have already written about. I really do use what I say I use. Starting in the top left corner. That is the Polar Bear soft side cooler. Absolutely the best soft side coolers I have ever used. They do not leak and they keep ice incredibly well, even in the Arizona sun. That particular model is the Solar Bear 48. Next are the Scepter 2.5 gallon fuel and water cans. They are available from Brigade Quartermaster. These heavy duty plastic containers are used by the U.S. military and they are the best containers I have ever used. They do not leak and are easy to use. I like the plastic cans because they are quiet and have a little give to them. The black bag is a London Bridge Trading Company Medical Backpack for my EMT gear. Just can't seem to leave home without it. Underneath the med pack is a tug strap and a pretty well stocked tool kit and spare parts. Between the pack and the cans is a double zip lock bag containing spare mechanical fluids. You can see a movable Cargo Box Divider that is made by Polaris. It is a nice piece that locks securely into place and makes no noise.
Going left to right from the left corner is a two man Arrowhead tent from The North Face. I am not a big tent guy but it is nice to have if I need it. Underneath the tent are two Therm-a-Rest self-inflating sleeping pads. The small black cylindrical object is a Walkstool. This is another great product that I got from The Outdoorsmans in Phoenix. It is easy to use, very stable and very light. There is another one in there somewhere. Next are two Wiggy's Superlight sleeping bags with Wiggy's pillows stuffed in the bags. The pack is my current favorite, the Eberlestock Halftrack which is always ready to go. I can accommodate a second one in that space by placing them on their sides. Under the pack are a couple of Manfrotto 190XV tripods and a Rivers West Artillery blanket. Lastly is a scabbard for a long gun. Actually, it isn't such a long gun. I like the Winchester Trapper Compact which was the shortest lever action rifle in the Model 94 line. It is very handy and highly effective on yotes or lions. It also isn't made anymore. Only in America could one of the most famous and certainly most popular guns ever made go out of production. There has to be an CPA or MBA to blame for that.
A good view of the business end of the Ranger and the Mud Lite XTR tires. Note the recently added full size heart shaped spade. So far, so good on this. It is quiet and secure. We will see for how long.
I have a couple things I would still like to add to this machine. First is a Warn Multi-Mount Winch that plugs into the front or rear hitch receptacles. Next is a rack for the top of the roll bars that also provides a little shade and rain protection. Third is a Lowrance Globalmap Baja 540 mounted on the dash for real time moving map navigation.
That is about it. It is not fancy but it is very useful for two adults and I think it covers all the bases. I love it. It is pretty quiet, rides nicely, and preserves the open air feeling. I will let you know when I get the rest of the additions completed. We are also going to start taking some video of this thing. Pictures just don't do it justice.
Thanks.
Wade Nelson
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