I almost regret buying a SXS

[CWhitmarsh]

Nearly three years ago, my wife and I decided we would buy a fifth wheel toy hauler with the intentions of buying a SXS our family of 5 could enjoy outdoors. Just over one week ago, we finally got our SXS, a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 (Only model that would fit in our toy hauler and carry all 5 of us).

We live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington; it's a beautiful place with all kinds of hills, forests, rivers, lakes and the like. After we putted around our 1 acre lot and some adjoining undeveloped land, we decided to trailer our machine and go find somewhere new to ride. Everywhere we went, the trails are limited to 50" or narrower machines, with one exception. There is a 4x4 area about 45 minutes away. But I have never been an offroader in that capacity. Plenty of dirtbike experience, but never anything that big. All of the trails in the 4x4 area are rutted out and I drag my plastic OEM skid plate along the ground the entire way. The trails have some fairly technical obstacles and they're clearly meant for jeeps.

It's extremely frustrating that I paid over 20k on a machine that I really can't ride anywhere. I wish I would have done more research on where there was to actually ride, I might have opted for a couple larger 4 wheelers instead.

Sorry.... rant over.

 

[Admin]

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Nearly three years ago, my wife and I decided we would buy a fifth wheel toy hauler with the intentions of buying a SXS our family of 5 could enjoy outdoors. Just over one week ago, we finally got our SXS, a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 (Only model that would fit in our toy hauler and carry all 5 of us).

We live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington; it's a beautiful place with all kinds of hills, forests, rivers, lakes and the like. After we putted around our 1 acre lot and some adjoining undeveloped land, we decided to trailer our machine and go find somewhere new to ride. Everywhere we went, the trails are limited to 50" or narrower machines, with one exception. There is a 4x4 area about 45 minutes away. But I have never been an offroader in that capacity. Plenty of dirtbike experience, but never anything that big. All of the trails in the 4x4 area are rutted out and I drag my plastic OEM skid plate along the ground the entire way. The trails have some fairly technical obstacles and they're clearly meant for jeeps.

It's extremely frustrating that I paid over 20k on a machine that I really can't ride anywhere. I wish I would have done more research on where there was to actually ride, I might have opted for a couple larger 4 wheelers instead.

Sorry.... rant over.

Keep looking for places you can ride and enjoy your new machine. Or sell it and chalk it up as a lesson learned.

 

[JenElio]

Nearly three years ago, my wife and I decided we would buy a fifth wheel toy hauler with the intentions of buying a SXS our family of 5 could enjoy outdoors. Just over one week ago, we finally got our SXS, a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 (Only model that would fit in our toy hauler and carry all 5 of us).

We live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington; it's a beautiful place with all kinds of hills, forests, rivers, lakes and the like. After we putted around our 1 acre lot and some adjoining undeveloped land, we decided to trailer our machine and go find somewhere new to ride. Everywhere we went, the trails are limited to 50" or narrower machines, with one exception. There is a 4x4 area about 45 minutes away. But I have never been an offroader in that capacity. Plenty of dirtbike experience, but never anything that big. All of the trails in the 4x4 area are rutted out and I drag my plastic OEM skid plate along the ground the entire way. The trails have some fairly technical obstacles and they're clearly meant for jeeps.

It's extremely frustrating that I paid over 20k on a machine that I really can't ride anywhere. I wish I would have done more research on where there was to actually ride, I might have opted for a couple larger 4 wheelers instead.

Sorry.... rant over.

Well......welcome to the club from South FL!
I'm sure as time goes by u'll be able to find some nice places to ride near you. Maybe not in your back yard but a few hrs away? It sounds like you have a nice set up already with toyhauler and P1K5 all you need is to hit the trails. Jeep trails can be really fun in a sxs also, I would however recommend getting a full skid plate. Makes a world of difference. Good luck!


And remember, pics or it didn't happen! 😉

 

[NFA_Fun]

Are the trails on State or Federal land? I am in eastern AZ (White Mountains) and a while back USFS installed several miles of trails that were limited to 50" machines. No one could use them as everyone has "full size" machines. After two years the gates were widened or a bypass installed.

I would reach out to whoever manages the trail system and check with them.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Welcome to the club.
There are a few places to ride not far. Been over that way a couple times. The one you speak of I really liked but it is smaller and somewhat aggressive. A few others not too bad a drive.
@popeye

 

[CWhitmarsh]

Keep looking for places you can ride and enjoy your new machine. Or sell it and chalk it up as a lesson learned.

We will definitely keep looking. Just venting out a little frustration.

 

[Rustell]

This might help.... WASHINGTON-TRAIL | washington-atv-assoc

 

[popeye]

Riding in Washington you will be forced to stick to mostly 4x4 trails, there are quite a few of them all within a 3 hour drive for you, assuming you went to tahuya, I would have regrets too if that’s the only place to ride. You should try evans creek next, it the next closest area to the peninsula.

 

[CWhitmarsh]

Well......welcome to the club from South FL!
I'm sure as time goes by u'll be able to find some nice places to ride near you. Maybe not in your back yard but a few hrs away? It sounds like you have a nice set up already with toyhauler and P1K5 all you need is to hit the trails. Jeep trails can be really fun in a sxs also, I would however recommend getting a full skid plate. Makes a world of difference. Good luck!


And remember, pics or it didn't happen! 😉

I'm certain you are right. We will keep looking and we are game planning our upgrades and accessories.

 

[CWhitmarsh]

Riding in Washington you will be forced to stick to mostly 4x4 trails, there are quite a few of them all within a 3 hour drive for you, assuming you went to tahuya, I would have regrets too if that’s the only place to ride. You should try evans creek next, it the next closest area to the peninsula.

I'm very familiar with Tahuya; I grew up riding dirtbikes out there every weekend with my dad. We will head out there quite a bit, but being a couple hours away from where we live, it can't be a evening ride destination. My best friend since the 4th grade also has 50 acres that butts up to the Tahuya State Forest so we go out there quite a bit.

 

[CWhitmarsh]

This might help.... WASHINGTON-TRAIL | washington-atv-assoc

Thank you!

 

[CWhitmarsh]

Are the trails on State or Federal land? I am in eastern AZ (White Mountains) and a while back USFS installed several miles of trails that were limited to 50" machines. No one could use them as everyone has "full size" machines. After two years the gates were widened or a bypass installed.

I would reach out to whoever manages the trail system and check with them.

I was actually thinking about reaching out to the DNR to talk to them. It would be great to get some amendments made.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I was actually thinking about reaching out to the DNR to talk to them. It would be great to get some amendments made.

You need a new governor first.

 

[CumminsPusher]

You need a new governor first.

Ya I almost said that.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Ya I almost said that.

Herr inslee

 

[Cuoutdoors]

I'm very familiar with Tahuya; I grew up riding dirtbikes out there every weekend with my dad. We will head out there quite a bit, but being a couple hours away from where we live, it can't be a evening ride destination. My best friend since the 4th grade also has 50 acres that butts up to the Tahuya State Forest so we go out there quite a bit.

Anything I can ride is at least 7hrs away. Consider yourself fortunate.

 

[Russ989]

Nearly three years ago, my wife and I decided we would buy a fifth wheel toy hauler with the intentions of buying a SXS our family of 5 could enjoy outdoors. Just over one week ago, we finally got our SXS, a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 (Only model that would fit in our toy hauler and carry all 5 of us).

We live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington; it's a beautiful place with all kinds of hills, forests, rivers, lakes and the like. After we putted around our 1 acre lot and some adjoining undeveloped land, we decided to trailer our machine and go find somewhere new to ride. Everywhere we went, the trails are limited to 50" or narrower machines, with one exception. There is a 4x4 area about 45 minutes away. But I have never been an offroader in that capacity. Plenty of dirtbike experience, but never anything that big. All of the trails in the 4x4 area are rutted out and I drag my plastic OEM skid plate along the ground the entire way. The trails have some fairly technical obstacles and they're clearly meant for jeeps.

It's extremely frustrating that I paid over 20k on a machine that I really can't ride anywhere. I wish I would have done more research on where there was to actually ride, I might have opted for a couple larger 4 wheelers instead.

Sorry.... rant over.

Put it on 30s with a short lift and slap a Trail Armor or Factory UTV skid on that 1000 and get after it!

 

[CWhitmarsh]

You need a new governor first.

You're definitely not wrong!

Put it on 30s with a short lift and slap a Trail Armor or Factory UTV skid on that 1000 and get after it!

View attachment 207478

Sounds like a fun solution for sure. That said, I already have to strap it down over the roll cage to compress the shocks to get it to ride safely in my fifth wheel. Not sure what I would do if it were any taller.

 

[BigOL3]

You're definitely not wrong!


Sounds like a fun solution for sure. That said, I already have to strap it down over the roll cage to compress the shocks to get it to ride safely in my fifth wheel. Not sure what I would do if it were any taller.

A new/taller trailer ....... lol.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Chop the cage is an option.