Went 4-wheeling in an SXS for the first time yesterday

Weather was beautiful on Saturday and Monday.  Unfortunately we went on Sunday, when it was about 50, cloudy and breezy, with scattered rain.

We were up between Reading and Centralia, PA.  About 1/3 of the terrain was fairly natural Appalachia, about 1/3 was regrowth birch forest on mine tailings, and about 1/3 was clearcut hellscape.  Apparently they've figured out a way to refine more coal out of old spoils, and so they're in the process of cutting down all the regrowth and processing the old tailings hills.  Even the regrowth areas were fairly pretty, but the clearcut area is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

I was riding shotgun in my nephew's Kawasaki 1000.  My nephew-in-law was there on his Honda 450(?) 4-wheeler.  Some old autocross acquaintances were there in fancier, more expensive 4-seaters.  One had his wife and 2 kids, the other just his daughter.  Two other friends of my nephew, one with his daughter.  So 5 SXSs and 1 4-wheeler.

In the morning:

Didn't take many pictures in the morning.  The wife in the family of 4 almost ditched their SxS in a deeper-than-expected puddle, but she was able to catch it and back out.

After our first break I drove the Kawasaki around here (I only paid for a passenger permit, so my wheel time was limited).  This was not the biggest terrain we went on, but it was still significant, and a good learning ground:

This was taller and steeper than it looks - about 60 feet high and at least 45-50d:

Lunch break in the hellscape area:

Afternoon break time.  This area had a number of smoke / steam vents from the Centralia mine fire.  It also had this beautiful rock wall and lake, which I assume has a lot of copper in it:

Back near the trailhead area.  This hill was maybe 80-90 ft high and it started at 40d, kicked up to 45d, and the top bit was maybe 50-55d.  The front was very light in the upper section and the surface was pretty sketchy.

Me on the right, no beard.

I have had the pleasure of driving some friends SxS over some serious terrain when out with my own ATV.  I have not meat anything that I was willing to attempt that the machine could not handle. My more experienced friends took me up stuff that I never thought a machine could traverse. They are truly mountain goats. 

Looks fun!  I'm a big sxs fan.

In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :

I was astounded by how much they would do.  Between the two of us we weigh in the vicinity of 600 lbs and that Kawasaki 1000 hauled our asses up hills like this all day, went through axle-deep mud and knee-deep water, and it never once felt like it was going to get stuck.

It was also surprisingly comfortable doing it.  Most of the ground was loose shale ranging from golfball to football sized rocks, or compacted dirt and gravel completely peppered with larger rocks sticking out of it.  You'd never think you were on paving, but I rode for probably 5-6 hours yesterday over terrain like the pics and I was not beaten up or stiff at all.

They're definitely capable and astounding performers but, man, the price tag on some of them is eye-watering for a toy.

I used to be a keep guy who drove all over frackville and hazelton pa.  Used to go to paragon adventure park when they were a thing. 
 

Got tbt ability to drive one a bit ago. The SXS don't disappoint, super capable and much more point and shoot than Jeep.  Jeez they are expensive. Not gonna get a payment for a toy, don't understand how so many have them and sleds in northern minnesota.  
 

I have a Polaris Ranger 800 that is amazingly capable. It's also the best riding vehicle I own.

50 mph down a dirt road is as smooth as new asphalt. 

The Ranger is more work-oriented than play but still able to go just about anywhere you want or need. Super handy for setting up rally cross courses. 

It's also almost bigger than a Samurai.

Edit to say, I lucked across mine for $1000. It was in pieces and needed $500 in parts to put it back together. 

NickD said:

They're definitely capable and astounding performers but, man, the price tag on some of them is eye-watering for a toy.

In time-adjusted dollars, he has 3x as much invested in this (bought new last year) as I paid for the Manic Miata used.

Sxs? Amazing. Just about the most fun I've had in a 4 wheel vehicle with my clothes on. Sxs culture? Not about it. Too many bros. 

Mndsm said:

Sxs? Amazing. Just about the most fun I've had in a 4 wheel vehicle with my clothes on. Sxs culture? Not about it. Too many bros. 

I cringe every time that Cleetus has the guys from SxSBlog on his channel because they are some of the most annoying dudebro d-bags to listen to. 

NickD said:

They're definitely capable and astounding performers but, man, the price tag on some of them is eye-watering for a toy.

The price doesn't look so bad when you consider that it would cost easily into the 6-digits to get a scratch-built or production truck to that level of offroad performance

GameboyRMH said:

NickD said:

They're definitely capable and astounding performers but, man, the price tag on some of them is eye-watering for a toy.

The price doesn't look so bad when you consider that it would cost easily into the 6-digits to get a scratch-built or production truck to that level of offroad performance

If you live in a place where they aren't street-licensable though, you're potentially getting into 6-digits by the time you get a truck and trailer to move it around with as well. 

I've played with a lot of automobiles.  From circle track cars, to autocross, to track day cars, champ, lemons...  My yamaha yxz with sequential manual trans (no CVT) is by far my favorite of the lineup.  I bought it for $8k.  But I did already have a truck and trailer.

GameboyRMH said:

NickD said:

They're definitely capable and astounding performers but, man, the price tag on some of them is eye-watering for a toy.

The price doesn't look so bad when you consider that it would cost easily into the 6-digits to get a scratch-built or production truck to that level of offroad performance

Oh, agreed, but as others point out above, either you're using it on your own land or you already have a vehicle that will move it to somewhere you can play with it.

I like the idea of a "Super Side-By-Side" ie: a SXS with street tires and lowered suspension. Basically, a slightly larger go-kart. 

Out here in Arizona I could DD a SXS if I wanted. 

pheller said:

I like the idea of a "Super Side-By-Side" ie: a SXS with street tires and lowered suspension. Basically, a slightly larger go-kart. 

Out here in Arizona I could DD a SXS if I wanted. 

Ken Block did something like that. It had Fifteen52 wheels, Toyo R888Rs and a hydro handbrake.

Dirt Legal's build:

Been a Jeep guy since I was a kid, way before SxS was a thing. I'd love to have one, I think they look like a blast and a half. But I'd still own a Jeep, and I just can't see dropping that kind of coin for a toy. For the same money i can get an old CJ and a miata. 
From the Jeepers (and passenger vehicles in general) standpoint, most of us can't stand the SxS and ATV guys. They just seem to have no idea that trail etiquette is a thing. Rude, inconsiderate, and dangerous. Of course, I'm not talking about all of them, maybe not even the majority of them. But the attitude is prevalent. 
That being said, it looked like you had a blast. I'd love to be out there with you on the trail, but I couldn't keep up.

1 tip for a new rider in the area you were in. Some of the big "ponds" are flooded mine shafts. Don't drive through them. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

Yeah, we stayed on trails. This area is owned by an old mining family, and they groom / mark fairly well.

In reply to Lof8 - Andy :

That RallyX looks like a blast. 

The one benefit I see to the SxS in such a setting is it's already got a cage, harnesses, and many features that you'd have to add to a street car in order to make a rally vehicle out of it. You can also do wheel-to-wheel racing in a SxS relatively easy. 

They remind me a lot of a dirt Midgets or Sprints but more versatile. 

In reply to pheller :

A lot (maybe all) of the cages from the factory are so thin-walled that you have to replace them. But for the most part, you're right.  They're wild right out of the box!

I would assume that replacement cages are relatively easy to source and install? Do they need to welded to the chassis? 

pheller said:

I would assume that replacement cages are relatively easy to source and install? Do they need to welded to the chassis? 

Yes very easy to source.  I bought a pre bent kit for $500 ish and welded it up myself. Mine bolts to the factory spots but I'm sure some weld to the chassis. You can buy the cages pre-welded also to bolt on.