Hi from Omaha

[SmittyOne]

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos about side-by-sides, and have narrowed down my search to the Honda 520 (but still have a lot of time to change my mind). My wife and I will be in the market in about 12-18 months when I retire. We're both in our sixties and intend to use the SXS for birding. No rock crawling, and no going fast. The primary feature we're looking at is size. It must fit in a pickup bed (don't even have a truck yet), because I can't back up a trailer to save my life. I have a bazillion questions already, and be forewarned, all of my posts will be long-winded.

 

[Admin]

 

[Smitty335]

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos about side-by-sides, and have narrowed down my search to the Honda 520 (but still have a lot of time to change my mind). My wife and I will be in the market in about 12-18 months when I retire. We're both in our sixties and intend to use the SXS for birding. No rock crawling, and no going fast. The primary feature we're looking at is size. It must fit in a pickup bed (don't even have a truck yet), because I can't back up a trailer to save my life. I have a bazillion questions already, and be forewarned, all of my posts will be long-winded.

Welcome from NW Arkansas! Better go ahead and order the P52, it might be here when you retire! HA! No rock crawling, what about the cliff dwelling birds?

 

[SmittyOne]

Welcome from NW Arkansas! Better go ahead and order the P52, it might be here when you retire! HA! No rock crawling, what about the cliff dwelling birds?

Thanks! Not too many cliffs or cliff-dwelling birds in my neck of the woods. But once I retire, I'm sure to expand my birding area. It's also nice to meet another Smitty!

 

[bumperm]

It must fit in a pickup bed (don't even have a truck yet), because I can't back up a trailer to save my life. I have a bazillion questions already, and be forewarned, all of my posts will be long-winded.

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I did that about 20 years ago, though I started "backing out" of the business about 10 years prior. Son runs it now.

All of my trucks, for almost 50 years, have had a front mount receiver hitch (even have one on the motorhome). This allows much easier precision maneuvering with ease, pushing the trailer rather than backing it up to put it away, launch a boat (on some ramps) etc. Add a front hitch and you can get a trailer then any size sxs you want!

The skill-set of counter steering comes quickly and easy. I added a tow ball to the front of the golf cart below and made this "tow out gear" for my self-launch glider. Going sideways gives better clearance between the hangar rows, makes it easy to keep an eye on the glider, and watch for other traffic etc. The trip to the glider staging area is half a mile.

 

[Hondasxs]

Welcome.. Use this thread to ask any questions you cant find the answer to. @Smitty335 is excited to have another smitty to the group.

 

[Homer]

Welcome from NE Ga.
This is a great site for research. I did that for several months prior to purchase.

 

[Red500]

Welcome to the club from East Tennessee.

 

[Fatsquatch]

Welcome from Canton OH
Pics or it didn’t happen is the cardinal forum rule once you do get your machine (even if <gulp> not a Honda)
Red is the fastest color

#NTC

 

[gch1911]

welcome from south central nebraska

 

[Bmurray]

welcome from MO

 

[SILVER_ALERT]

Howdy from Oklahoma, and welcome to the club.

 

[crewcabrob]

Hi,

I'm in Omaha too. Live out by the Elkhorn river up in the bluffs.

The P520 is a nice size machine and my wife and I enjoy ours a lot.

Rob

 

[SmittyOne]

Welcome from Canton OH
Pics or it didn’t happen is the cardinal forum rule once you do get your machine (even if <gulp> not a Honda)
Red is the fastest color

#NTC

Whatever I get it'll be a subdues color--black or green or camo, or it'll be that paint you can peel off (forgot the name). Birds/wildlife will see/hear me a mile away, but every little bit helps. I agree red (plus flame stickers) do make it go faster, it wouldn't help my situation.

 

[SmittyOne]

Hi,

I'm in Omaha too. Live out by the Elkhorn river up in the bluffs.

The P520 is a nice size machine and my wife and I enjoy ours a lot.

Rob

We'll have to get together so I can pick your brain in person. Maybe contact offline? Is there a PM function on this site?

 

[Fatsquatch]

We'll have to get together so I can pick your brain in person. Maybe contact offline? Is there a PM function on this site?

The envelope in the upper right

 

[SmittyOne]

welcome from MO

I drive to Missouri at least weekly, more often in the winter. Just to the NW corner though, to a Wildlife Reserve just outside Mound City.

 

[SmittyOne]

The envelope in the upper right

Done

 

[SmittyOne]

The envelope in the upper right

I just realized I sent the PM to the wrong guy! Sorry JeremieBaker

 

[Squeegee]

Welcome from The Great Lakes State.

#NTC

 

[Montecresto]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I did that about 20 years ago, though I started "backing out" of the business about 10 years prior. Son runs it now.

All of my trucks, for almost 50 years, have had a front mount receiver hitch (even have one on the motorhome). This allows much easier precision maneuvering with ease, pushing the trailer rather than backing it up to put it away, launch a boat (on some ramps) etc. Add a front hitch and you can get a trailer then any size sxs you want!

The skill-set of counter steering comes quickly and easy. I added a tow ball to the front of the golf cart below and made this "tow out gear" for my self-launch glider. Going sideways gives better clearance between the hangar rows, makes it easy to keep an eye on the glider, and watch for other traffic etc. The trip to the glider staging area is half a mile.

View attachment 302496

Wow, that’s very cool!!! Welcome to the forum…