AATV vs Side-by-Sides

[trainguy438]

i ride with all 4 wheelers and they love having me there to pull them out when things get muddy.

[6X6]

I have driven side by sides before, never owned one though. I'm NOT trying to argue here, just my experience: They aren't overly tippy or top heavy, just being strapped in with a roll bar makes drivers over confident, add the powerful engines they put in them and you end up with accidents if you push it, and that's kinda the fun anyways. If you don't buckle up, or stick your hand/leg out to "Catch" yourself, you end up hurt (Rhino issue, didn't originally have any leg guard to keep legs inside in a rollover). The ones I have driven are quite stable at speed, within limits. Get to nasty trails and you loose that, unless you slow down, but to be fair, that goes in any vehicle.
Now, that said, I won't get one. I'll take the 6-wheelers cause I like the mud, the swimming, and I love the 2-stroke Attex speed/maneuverability. I don't miss the suspension, (though I do want it on one machine sometime down the road). There's no reason you can't mix/match machines as long as the riding allows, hell ATVrider followed us at Busco on a SPORT Quad (not even 4WD!) though he did need a yank or two. So if you want to swim/mud, then it's AATV time, and if your friends get ahead down the trails a bit, you get to catch them at the mud or steep climbs. If you want more speed you can get it, motor/clutch/sprocket upgrades aren't too expensive as long as your on a real tight budget.

[MaxRules]

Originally Posted by MaxRules:

One important thing you have over looked in your comparison is what your friends will be riding while you're in the amphib.

JP, you won't find anyone who loves aatv's/Max's/T20's more than Brandon Price. I agree with him about pointing out that what your friends ride is important in what you choose to buy and ride with them. I've even felt like the odd man out when riding with 2 maxII's in my 8x8. They made every tree a slalom course marker and hit every tiny rabbit trail, while I just cruised along the general area waiting for a point to re join them.

Yes Roger, that pretty much sums it up. You'd have to search the world over to find someone who has enjoyed the 6x6 sport more than me. There are times though, I have to see past my blind love and admit amphibs aren't for everyone or every situation. The T-20 has taken me places I still can't believe, and the old reliable Briggs has powered me through everything. But when the terrain doesn't demand an amphib, that T-20 suddenly becomes difficult to shift and the Briggs just doesn't give the same thrill as the 800 Polaris.

Maximize your off-road fun by getting the right vehicle for your terrain and the way you ride. No matter what you ride, ride it like you stole it!