Time to start working smarter, not harder .

[Roofuss]

Living in the northern Rockies during winter can present some challenges to us full time residents that live in rural areas.
So, after having heavy snows and an '"arctic cold front " back in January, turning 74 years old in mid February, along with spending hours plowing snow in -35 degree weather for days, I decided enough is enough !
For the past several years I had been using my 2018 Polaris XP 900 Ranger to do the job, with no doors, heater or windshield wiper and it was just getting to be too much . So, I decided to sell it and within an hour of listing it locally online, it was a done deal. I upgraded to a 2024 Ranger XP 1000 North Star Edition complete with doors, heater , wipers, and plow setup, Yaaa-Hoo, warmth & comfort !. Just figured that at this stage that it was time to work smarter, and not harder. Will be a couple days till I can take delivery, but looking forward to warmer and more comfortable plowing conditions, lol !
The old unit pictured on the left . New unit is Camo colored. Happy late birthday to me, lol !

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Do you weight for added traction, and do they transfer to the 2024 model?

Ivan

 

[Roofuss]

Never had to add any weight for traction . Have never really felt the need to do so. Been in some iffy spots with my older unit, NEVER been stuck.
We live half way up a mountain, on a dead end road and the county road dept. has us way down on their " to do " list . Me and a neighbor with an old F-150 with plow, do our best to take care of the locals as best we can.

 

[Peak53]

Nice rig! I have a 2016 Ranger 900 XP. It has the heater, windshield wiper, extra lights, etc. but no plow and the doors are fabric. I'm at 10,000 feet on an unplowed forest service road and I use the Ranger or a snowmobile to get in and out 6 miles to where the truck is parked. Those Northstars are the bomb! There's a couple in the area and it's like sitting in the cab of a modern pickup. Electric windows in hard doors, front and rear bumper cams, touch screen about 8'x10". Mine feels primitive in comparison, but it has never gotten stuck. I always carry a shovel, though. I've seen some of those things get stuck and it's not pretty!

Edit: Oh, I'm on tracks too for the winter. This thing will pull out a stuck truck.

 

[Roofuss]

I always carry a shovel in the bed , and am not that far out in the boonies to really worry .

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Wise move. As we age it doesn't get easier. Better keep the old bod comfy.

 

[Muley Gil]

I cleared my long driveway with a Ford 8N tractor & a scraper blade for several years. I was in my 50s at the time. I will hit the 7-0 mark this summer.

After my dad died in 2013, I was given his '88 F150 with the snowplow. MUCH better in the cold. The last few years, I haven't needed the plow, but it is ready, just in case.

 

[Roofuss]

Wise move. As we age it doesn't get easier. Better keep the old bod comfy.

Nope, getting old ain't for sissies, that is a fact !
The old unit only had 380 miles on it, so it was a long way from being worn out...wish I could say the same, lol !

 

[roarindan]

the dealer wouldn't give you a good deal on trade ???

 

[kozmic]

"Anything to make life a bit easier and look good doing it", I say. Use it in good health, Roofuss! She is a beauty.

 

[Roofuss]

the dealer wouldn't give you a good deal on trade ???

LOL !! The dealer where I bought the 2018 offered me about half of what I got for it online . In fact he told me outright, " you'll do a lot better selling it privately " , he was right !

 

[Roofuss]

"Anything to make life a bit easier and look good doing it", I say. Use it in good health, Roofuss! She is a beauty.

Thank you, I need all the help I can get at this stage of the game.

 

[Bald1]

With the price of UTVs nowadays would it have not been feasible to just buy a cheap pickup with a plow? I remember Christmas Eve 2 yrs ago my good friend was complaining about getting his wife a gift on the way home from work. He just finished a 12 hr day. Well when he got home there was a $20k Can Am side by side in the driveway. Needless to say he felt like a heel. I remind him of it often. I have a 2013 Polaris Ranger 400. It's actually 450cc. I find it to be all I need. I paid $8300 OTD. I could probably get close to $8k for it because the new ones are so expensive.

 

[Roofuss]

I looked long and hard before getting my first Ranger trying to find a used truck or jeep & plow . Around my area they like gold and most often,a total beater needing more $$, that is if you can find any at all. A couple times I found a decent vehicle online , and they were gone almost immediately. Not to mention, storage issues. I have an inside area to store a utv, but not a pickup in -35 degree cold .

 

[Roofuss]

. I have a 2013 Polaris Ranger 400. It's actually 450cc. I find it to be all I need.

My very first utv was a Kawasaki Mule { one lunger } and found it did not have the balls for plowing a lot of deep , wet snow. Which brings me to the upgrade to the 900, and eventually the 1000 . At 74, and retired, I am not worried about being the richest man in the graveyard, lol !

 

[tops]

We upgraded from a gas golf cart to a Honda 700 to piddle around the homestead. We figure our son is paying for it. He will realize that when when we die and he inherits toys instead of money. Larry

 

[Toyman]

When we move out side of town in1998 I bought a John Deere compact utility tractor. I progressed to the one pictured , had 58 horsepower 50 at PTO.
I used it to unload pallets from semis, plowed snow, grapple bucket to help with yard clean up.

 

[Farmer17]

It's 87° here in Oklahoma City which is a nice change from the -4° temperatures of a few weeks ago. We played pickle ball outside yesterday and it was only about 78° and I was getting really hot. For February whether I shouldn't complain but I really prefer the high 60s.

 

[soFlaNative]

nowadays would it have not been feasible to just buy a cheap pickup with a plow

UTVs don't tear up as much doing donuts in the back 40.