- Moderator
- #161
Defender
- Thread starter pfi572
- Start date
Big A
Active VIP Member
I was able to get my hands on a new 800 for a few days at work to access some nasty locations in the bush. Non biased opinion is this is a great machine but has a long way to go to reach the true utility segment, the ranger is still by far a superior all around machine. The ergos of defender are great, everything was well laid out and they have some neat little ideas with the removable tool box and what not but the two biggest down falls are ground clearance and power. It sits so low in stock form that it looks more like a golf cart than a utv, we got hi centred a few times but it did keep on chugging with a little push here and there. As for the power, the 800 felt doggy and unresponsive compared to the ranger 9. If you want a "farm only" work machine strictly for fencing and running around, the defender would be great, seems very well built and would probably last forever but if you plan on using it for any serious trail riding, not even muddin just trail use, you will need be prepared to spend some extra cash on a significant lift to avoid getting high centred. To sum it up CanAm took a big swing at the king of utility and fell a little short but at least it will hopefully remind Polaris that they are coming for them and maybe it's time for the ranger to get some love if it wants to keep the crown.
JayT
Active VIP Member
Does anybody know what the ground clearance difference between the two is?
rzrgade
Active VIP Member
Both of them are not designed to be mud bikes but rather reliable work horses...
Nothing wrong with either , that a lift won't fix & tires ....
The reverse chain is an issue with the ranger if you are going to mud with big tires ...
It's time Popo fixed that retarded bicycle reverse chain ...
But the ranger is a top notch unit / no dought.
With the new crossovers coming , it will get interesting in a hurry ..
The general , new cat ( textron ) and a new commander (?) I would think that market will really grow ....
But it is a waste of money to try and turn a ranger or defender into a serious play & mud sport SXS ..
They are simply not designed for it ..
That being said , they do go really good ... for what they are !
Nothing wrong with either , that a lift won't fix & tires ....
The reverse chain is an issue with the ranger if you are going to mud with big tires ...
It's time Popo fixed that retarded bicycle reverse chain ...
But the ranger is a top notch unit / no dought.
With the new crossovers coming , it will get interesting in a hurry ..
The general , new cat ( textron ) and a new commander (?) I would think that market will really grow ....
But it is a waste of money to try and turn a ranger or defender into a serious play & mud sport SXS ..
They are simply not designed for it ..
That being said , they do go really good ... for what they are !
Big A
Active VIP Member
Polaris is saying the ranger has 12" and can am claims "up to 11", not sure what that means but going from the defender one day and to the ranger the next, it is very noticeable. I should have measured but I would say the defender was more like 6-8" of clearance.
- Thread starter
- #166
pfi572
Active VIP Member
Ranger is probably sprung a bit heavier?
Empty clearance is a waste of time . IMO
Load them up and then measure as most don't crank up the springs for the weight that are hauling .
Follow any of them when loaded .
Empty clearance is a waste of time . IMO
Load them up and then measure as most don't crank up the springs for the weight that are hauling .
Follow any of them when loaded .
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
Not sure if the defender is like this but the ranger has 12" of ground clearance, but it sits half way through its suspension travel. It's at 18-20 before the tires leaves the ground. To me that's just as important then ground clearance, your tires stay on the ground that way! My ranger with a lift and 30" is at 24" before the tires come off the ground. Is the defender like that?
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
Rangers have different shock settings on the frame. The top side has holes that you lean in for better ride but less clearance and stand the shock up straighter for hauling loads!
rzrgade
Active VIP Member
Yes articulation is everything / ask the jeep guys
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
My neighbour had a rhino 700 lift kit and outlaw tires. It had 14" of clearance, jack it up to take the tires off and they would come off the ground at 14.0000001". Junk that sting was stuck everywhere.
rzrgade
Active VIP Member
That's why the dune type of SxS go so good in the knarly stuff . It's not just ground clearance , it's the ability to push the tires to the bottom of hole , and some earth for them to grab ..
Once the tires come of the ground , you are in trouble . The more flex ,the more traction .
That's where the new X3 is tough to beat , 20 " on the xds & 24 on the xrs ..
Amazing !
Once the tires come of the ground , you are in trouble . The more flex ,the more traction .
That's where the new X3 is tough to beat , 20 " on the xds & 24 on the xrs ..
Amazing !
Last edited:
Have you owned a ranger? Just a question.
Big A
Active VIP Member
Yes I currently have a '13 ranger 9 on the farm.
Vance Matheson
Active VIP Member
My ranger was 10.5 with the springs in the softest setting. Just shy of 12 with it tightened up.
16 inches of clearance now thanks to Neil.
The defender was supposed to have 10" of ground clearance.
16 inches of clearance now thanks to Neil.
The defender was supposed to have 10" of ground clearance.
JayT
Active VIP Member
Finally had a chance to check my Defender, with the Springs at the softest setting there's exactly 11 inches of ground clearance. When the wheels leave the ground from jacking it up there's exactly 17 inches of ground clearance
rzrgade
Active VIP Member
Spent a bit of time in this ..
Otherworldly.......
JayT
Active VIP Member
Crank the Springs all the way up and there's 12 and a half inches of ground clearance
JayT
Active VIP Member
Nice! So there is a huge difference from that machine to yours?
JayT
Active VIP Member
In all honesty I don't think there is much of a difference in power between the hd10 and the ranger 900. But BRP never claimed to have more noticeable power as this machine as it is built for work and it delivers better torque for towing and hauling loads. The clutching is miles ahead of the ranger in this aspect and I'm betting anyone who drives both back to back would agree. As far as the hd8 I can't speak for that as I have never driven one, but I do think that my hd10 is a very capable trail machine in stock form although I do agree it could use a lift and bigger tires for more ground clearance
deaner
Active VIP Member
One pretty honest seeming salesman down in the states (so he knew I couldnt buy off of him) said that you really cant feel that much of a difference between the hd8 and hd10. So I was planning on getting an hd8 but couldnt find one. Very happy with my unit, but definitely a bit disappointed in the power. On paper it has around twice the horsepower of my ranger 800 but feels pretty much the same.
Similar threads
