P500 An Alaskan Backcountry Rig Build (Slow Build Thread)

[RydeAK]

Hey everyone. Been haunting the forum a long time but haven't posted much. I've been wanting to document my build and trips as I go so finally getting started. I live in Alaska and I mostly bought the rig for hunting and fishing. Sometimes we are out for a few days, sometimes for weeks hence the justification to get a SXS.

I picked her up in July. Definitely wasn't any dealer 'deals' going on up here, because they could only be found at MSRP or higher.

 

[Jshell3]

Welcome... all the way from Mississippi.
I've been to Alaska. Spent 2 weeks. Eagle River. Greatest vacation of my life!
Things are a little more expensive up that way, for sure. And I got tickled that Walmart had a whole isle HUGE can goods. And MRE's.
And sold pistols across the counter.

I haven't seen a pistol in a Walmart, since Howard Brothers!

You did good to get a reliable sxs. Cause you are a long ways from everything up there!

 

[Tigermark]

Welcome to the forum from Arkansas! You've got a good reliable rig!

 

[Jshell3]

On a side note... we have several P500 members on this Forum from Alaska.

Check this out... (click)

 

[SILVER_ALERT]

Howdy from Oklahoma and welcome. I really like your trailer.

 

[iowaguy]

Hey everyone. Been haunting the forum a long time but haven't posted much. I've been wanting to document my build and trips as I go so finally getting started. I live in Alaska and I mostly bought the rig for hunting and fishing. Sometimes we are out for a few days, sometimes for weeks hence the justification to get a SXS.

I picked her up in July. Definitely wasn't any dealer 'deals' going on up here, because they could only be found at MSRP or higher.

View attachment 26964

View attachment 26965

Welcome from the Midwest,Looking forward to your build.

 

[RydeAK]

First trip: Dipnetting on the Copper River for sockeye (red) salmon. We easily eat about 30 reds a year and dipnetting is the best way to fill the freezer fast. Its about a 6 hour drive one way from Anchorage. The pioneer is perfect size for out there. The trail along the cliffs is pretty narrow at spots, and if you end up in the river, your dead (no joke).


All loaded up. Brought the little Wolverine 350 as well.


Blew a trailer tire and drug it for about 3 miles before I noticed...


My girlfriend brought us two new tires/wheels, a hub, and new bearings and we were on our way again.


We fit the nets, two people, a German Shepard puppy and that white cooler with 42 reds in the P5 (we got 62 total). Quickly realized I needed some more ground clearance and traction when I got hung up on some rocks. We had to take off the cooler to get it over em. It must have weighed at least 300 lbs.




Overlooking the Copper River. You have to hike down the cliffs from the trail to fish. This is one of my favorite trips every year. I usually go at least twice. This time we were in a big hurry as I had to fly back out of town for work.

 

[RydeAK]

Welcome... all the way from Mississippi.
I've been to Alaska. Spent 2 weeks. Eagle River. Greatest vacation of my life!
Things are a little more expensive up that way, for sure. And I got tickled that Walmart had a whole isle HUGE can goods. And MRE's.
And sold pistols across the counter.

I haven't seen a pistol in a Walmart, since Howard Brothers!

You did good to get a reliable sxs. Cause you are a long ways from everything up there!

Its not like that everywhere??? Ha, I grew up above the arctic circle (Kotzebue). My first pistol was given to me when I was 12. It was a stainless Taurus .357 magnum.

I am thinking the P500 will become like the Honda Rancher or Fourtrax 300 of SXSs. Light, simple, and runs forever.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

View attachment 26982

View attachment 26983

I love AK!

 

[RydeAK]

I think tires are one of the best upgrades for the P500. Do it early so you can still sell the stock tires. Mine sold for $100 on Craigslist within 12 hours. The stock tires just don't have enough capability for me.

After a ton of research I went with the Bearclaw HTR's. I may have chosen the Ripsaws but they were hard to find. Many places don't ship to Alaska and if they do it's often prohibitively expensive. Even to a major cargo hub such as Anchorage. Anyway, I wanted an all-around good tire that would ride well and get through some serious mud. I think the HTR's fit the bill nicely. I've been running them at 6 psi which seems to work out pretty good. I may go to 7 because they definitely "pooch" out when a lot of weight is added to the rig.

- 26" Bearclaw HTR's
- Front: 9" wide
- Rear: 11" wide
- 8-ply tire, radial construction


Not only did I gain some ground clearance and traction, but I was really surprised with the improvement in ride quality. It is much more comfortable over ruts and bumps.




Went for a ride nearby at Bird Creek. While the nets drive me crazy when up, I don't mind them at all when they are partially down. It helps keep stuff on the seat from flying out.

 

[Tigermark]

I think you will really like your choice of the HTRs. We have them on our 500 and have over 700 miles on them and the tread still looks new. Very durable, no issues in the rocky terrain we ride.

 

[rlutech]

Nice looking Pioneer. What kind of other mods/accessories do you have planned? Nice old PowerStroke you have there as well.

 

[Akfishbum]

Welcome to a fellow Alaskan P500 owner. I love mine used it 2 years now for moose hunts up by Delta Juction. Thing is a beast, and your right the first thing is did after the winch was tires. I went with Maxxis Bighorn and 2.0 26"-11"-12" on all four corners. This year I hauled my whole moose out as 1 load on just the P500 no trailer. (Little fork horn) So it was not too bad. It was a heavy but she did it. I have a thread with a bunch of pictures on here somewhere. Might have to see if we can meet up and ride some. I live in Wasilla.

 

[Dp5hunter]

View attachment 27033 Welcome to a fellow Alaskan P500 owner. I love mine used it 2 years now for moose hunts up by Delta Juction. Thing is a beast, and your right the first thing is did after the winch was tires. I went with Maxxis Bighorn and 2.0 26"-11"-12" on all four corners. This year I hauled my whole moose out as 1 load on just the P500 no trailer. (Little fork horn) So it was not too bad. It was a heavy but she did it. I have a thread with a bunch of pictures on here somewhere. Might have to see if we can meet up and ride some. I live in Wasilla.

That is one bad ass P500. There is very few things that little beast can't do.

 

[JTW]

That is one bad ass P500. There is very few things that little beast can't do.

55!! Lol

 

[moparornocar]

Welcome aboard! I would love to visit Alaska one day. You guys are a different breed up there for sure! Don't know too many lower 48 folk that could hang with y'all

 

[moparornocar]

On a side note... we have several P500 members on this Forum from Alaska.

Check this out... (click)

Hey what the heck man, I'm not on there. How do I get in the map? Augusta, WI

 

[RydeAK]

Nice looking Pioneer. What kind of other mods/accessories do you have planned? Nice old PowerStroke you have there as well.

So I'm actually holding out on few things so a bunch more will be showing up as I get time to post it. By the time I'm done it should have a cargo box setup, roof, lights, winch, and storage stuff. I've been investigating shock stuff but realistically this is primarily a hunting rig.

The Powerstroke just turned over 240k miles. She's a beast and I've got lots of plans for her as well. If I get into the booze while posting, I may talk/cry about my old Raptor lol. Had to downsize last year an I miss that beauty.

 

[Jshell3]

Hey what the heck man, I'm not on there. How do I get in the map? Augusta, WI

I would guess it's a setting in your profile? Some privacy setting or whatknot. ?!?
Im not really the one to ask, but if you go to your profile page and scroll down the the very bottom where is has your age (birthday) it will say location. Click it and see where it populates on the map.
If it's not there, then you'll need to set that up in your account settings.(personal properties)

 

[moparornocar]

I would guess it's a setting in your profile? Some privacy setting or whatknot. ?!?
Im not really the one to ask, but if you go to your profile page and scroll down the the very bottom where is has your age (birthday) it will say location. Click it and see where it populates on the map.
If it's not there, then you'll need to set that up in your account settings.(personal properties)

Thanks for the info.