Mark in Colorado

KC Cyclones. Widely available and very bright! -Mark

Part of the problem with plowing using a Defender is that your headlights become obstructed when you raise the plow. I didn’t want a light bar. These little square 5 pot LEDs ought to do the trick. - Mark

I’ve seen a bolt-in UTV bed seat (bench, seats 2) at Bass Pro / Cabelas that I was tempted by. If I recall correctly, it was $349. Not super substantial, but had a metal frame and seat/seat back pads.

2019 HD10 XTCab - great seats. Better than my old 2011 Polaris 800 Crew. -Mark

It’s a decent machine, but I’m pretty turned-off with Can Am / BRP service too. At least get on the phone and fight with me like Polaris did! That, and we lost our dealership in nearby Colorado Springs - yes, the second-largest city in the state that they say will be larger than Denver one day… no dealership. They apparently got in a fight with the new owners and pulled out. I’m sticking with my machine for now. As you all know by now I use mine exclusively for snow plowing and moving wood in the summertime. I can live with a faulty window switch or squeaky/rattly suspension, but at the first sign of drivetrain or electronic issues I am going to own a new Northstar, plain and simple. I have the cash, and serviceability and reliability are simply not things I can screw around with. Too much at stake up here in the woods. -Mark

My dealership in Colorado Springs closed down. Nearest is over 50 miles away now. Not hauling the pig that far for a flippin switch. So, you win can Am…. I’ll replace it myself. Again.

I’ve had both too. Went from a Polaris 800 Crew to a Can-Am XT Cab (HD10). Can Am service and warranty sucks, and the window switches are junk, but overall it is a better machine than the Polaris. I work my machines, so I get things to break and it’s perfectly OK - I expect it. Prices are identical. We lost our Can Am dealership in Colorado Springs so now I have to go to Denver for parts. I liked the Polaris 4x4 and Lockers on the fly (full stop only for Can Am) but the Can Am appears to be a more robust machine. The Can Am viscous couple front axle - even without lockers - is FAR superior. Good luck! -Mark

A hunt 2 remember - did you replace both front axles with Gorillas? Or, just the one? Also, did you go with rear as well? About $750? I’m very careful with mine, but crawling around under there to grease it last week I thought they looked weak for the type of terrain I operate in. May preemptively do this. Install yourself? thanks, - Mark PS - I rarely use my lockers, but I’d change them if the upgrade allowed “activation on the fly”.

Can Am Super Duty, 72”.

Look no farther than the Can Am Super Duty Plow. It’s the only one they make that isn’t really a “driveway toy”. You can actually use it, and use it hard on multiple surfaces. Mine has a 72” blade, Hydraulic angling, winch lift (I use a SuperWinch 4000 + a fairlead upgrade) and easy cab joystick control. Parts at your dealership, or on-line. I run Can Am chains on the rear tires as well. About $1800 installed. Get a light bar if you’re running at night, and if you don’t have wiper/defroster, that’s also a good idea. Good luck. - Mark

Great looking rig! And, if it ever snows there (!) you’ll be just fine, trust me! - Mark

I’d almost say to go stock. I know it’s pricey, but the Can Am flip-out hardened glass and wiper (a-la XT Cab) is superior to anything else I’ve seen out there. And it all works well and doesn’t look cobbled-together. - Mark

Hey - I’ll be straight with you here: I bought my machine exclusively for snow plowing and was super-stoked about the wiper / washer feature on my 2019 XT Cab. While I use the wiper all the time (weekly, sometimes daily) I’ve used the washer precisely ZERO. I filled it with blue fluid in October 2019 and it’s been in there since, untouched. I find that the defroster handles our weather just fine. I’d say drain it, unless you’re mudding or rallying on long dirt roads or something. I’ve tested it and it works well, just don’t need it putting around in Low Range with a plow. - Mark

I don’t think the topic has come up on this forum much, but it ought to be OK as long as you have enough lug stud left for at least 7 turns (some say 10). I run them on an old sports car, but not my Can Am. - Mark

Awesome!

Super good looking rig. Perfect for mudding and hog hunting. Lived in Tarrant County in a different lifetime So I GET this purchase..! Excited to see how you deck it out. Welcome to the addiction! -Mark

I went with the XT Cab in 2019 and (apart from a batch of bad window switches) have been VERY pleased with them. -10F and as cozy as can be. The Can Am heater will burn you out of the vehicle if you turn the knob anywhere right of the lowest fan setting. Good stuff if you bundle it all in a new rig. I plow - so doors, heat, defrost are a must. -Mark

Yes, Andystoy19 - I was very concerned that I’d caused frame damage. However, when I offered-up the new (unbent, un-cracked) plate, the holes lined-up perfectly. Talk about a sigh of relief. The unit did its job: 3 of the 4 bolts sheared, and the plate crumpled. I’ll be more careful in early season plowing. It was a water main access hole with a steel rim sticking up a few mm from the worn asphalt, hidden just under a few inches of snow.

Yeeeeaaaaahhhh..., well, that man hole cover about jarred my spine loose (and startled me big time) but also destroyed my Can Am Super Duty Plow frame adaptor. Thankfully it is sacrificial, saving both the plow and the Defender itself. $149 and 4 bolts later:

I ordered and installed (in minutes) a set of EBC pads from my local shop. No more squeal. The stock pads were ok but I suspect Can Am was trying to keep costs down. -Mark

Welcome!

Pray for snow. That thing looks awesome!

I plow with an HD10, but I’m told the HD8 is just as capable.