Best Buy Side-By-Side

Best Buy Side-By-Side Will Orwick, Mud Butte, S.D.: Orwick says his 2025 Kawasaki Ridge side-by-side is powerful and quiet, and it easily handles all types of terrain on his family’s ranch. “It has great 4-wheel suspension that handles ruts on our ranch roads much more easily and quickly than a 4-WD pickup or our previous ATV,” Orwick says. “With just over a foot of under-frame clearance, I can veer off a pasture road to check cattle or fences without worrying about getting hung up or bottoming out. The deep-tread Duro 30X10.00 R14 tires provide great traction going up and down hills, over rocks, and in muddy conditions.”  Orwick’s wife and young son really appreciate the heated and air-conditioned cab. They can ride on roads and trails in all weather conditions. “We get a lot of 90-plus-degree days, and the wind always seems to blow, so having the cab keeps us out of the heat and dust.” Orwick chose the Kawasaki over other brands because it was quiet and easy to handle, and he thought the 2-speed CVT transmission would be ideal for road travel and for handling their rugged pasture terrain. “We had a Gator my dad bought used. It didn’t have the power to pull a trailer along our fence lines and wasn’t very good for checking pastures. The engine went bad. We had a reman put in, but then it had electrical issues, so we parked it. We’re traveling 15 to 20 miles away from home most days and need a rig that’s dependable and won’t leave us stranded.” Orwick says his dad bought a Ridge first, and he quickly followed suit. He says the Ridge has a comfortable cab with a DC outlet and two USB ports. The 94-hp 4-stroke engine features electronic fuel injection and is quiet and fuel-efficient. The Ridge has a 90.7-in wheelbase, is 64 in. wide, and includes electric power steering, a rear diff lock, and double-wishbone rear shocks. “The cargo bed is 35-in. long and 49-in. wide. It works well for hauling fencing supplies, and we could probably strap a calf in there if we needed to,” he says with a grin. “It has a 2-in. receiver, so we can easily pull a small trailer or dump cart and haul fencing supplies.”

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