New P520 owner

[John Mc]

Hello all. I just joined a few days ago, shortly after buying a used 2022 P520.

I had been keeping my eye out for a new or good used SxS for the past year or two. The Honda Pioneer 520 was my preferred model, since I wanted something reliable, smaller, and with engine braking. (I would have preferred a red one. Since this is a "working in the woods" vehicle, I want to be seen, not blend in... less chance of dropping a tree on it.)

This is for working on my wooded 144 acres at the dead end of a dirt road in rural Vermont as well as on a 115 acre conserved working forest I own jointly with 15 other families in the area. I have no need or interest in going 60 MPH. 90% of the time, I will likely be going 15 MPH or less in the woods.

I spend a fair amount of my free time working in the woods felling trees for firewood or saw logs, clearing my trails of storm damage, or clearing and putting in new trails. The heavier work I do with my tractor, which has been modified for work in the woods. I needed something small let and lighter (and a bit faster and more comfortable) for when I do not need to move heavy logs. I also wanted something lighter weight which would not tear up the trails when ground conditions were a bit on the soft side.

I did manage to get out today to pick up some firewood I had salvaged while cleaning up the damage from a heavy wind storm shortly before Christmas.

 

[Admin]

 

[GovtMule]

Welcome from Tennessee

 

[OlYeller15]

Hello all. I just joined a few days ago, shortly after buying a used 2022 P520.

I had been keeping my eye out for a new or good used SxS for the past year or two. The Honda Pioneer 520 was my preferred model, since I wanted something reliable, smaller, and with engine braking.

This is for working on my wooded 144 acres at the dead end of a dirt road in rural Vermont as well as on a 115 acre conserved working forest I own jointly with 15 other families in the area. I have no need or interest in going 60 MPH. 90% of the time, I will likely be going 15 MPH or less in the woods.

I spend a fair amount of my free time working in the woods felling trees for firewood or saw logs, clearing my trails of storm damage, or clearing and putting in new trails. The heavier work I do with my tractor, which has been modified for work in the woods. I needed something small let and lighter (and a bit faster and more comfortable) for when I do not need to move heavy logs. I also wanted something lighter weight which would not tear up the trails when ground conditions were a bit on the soft side.

I did manage to get out today to pick up some firewood I had salvaged while cleaning up the damage from a heavy wind storm shortly before Christmas.

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Welcome from NE Ga… Let the work continue and the GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!

 

[Smittyp]

Welcome to the club from Tennessee

 

[Rdrcr]

Congratulations!
And welcome from Washington state!

Mike

 

[1border4manu]

Welcome from Central Florida. Congratulations on your new machine.

 

[lowranger]

Welcome from Northern California.
Nice machine. You'll get a lot of good use out of it. I know how it is to work on and to keep trails open.

 

[Todd627]

Welcome from The Great Lakes State (not to be confused with being a great state though).

Nice rig!

#NTC

 

[Buggyman]

Hello all. I just joined a few days ago, shortly after buying a used 2022 P520.

I had been keeping my eye out for a new or good used SxS for the past year or two. The Honda Pioneer 520 was my preferred model, since I wanted something reliable, smaller, and with engine braking. (I would have preferred a red one. Since this is a "working in the woods" vehicle, I want to be seen, not blend in... less chance of dropping a tree on it.)

This is for working on my wooded 144 acres at the dead end of a dirt road in rural Vermont as well as on a 115 acre conserved working forest I own jointly with 15 other families in the area. I have no need or interest in going 60 MPH. 90% of the time, I will likely be going 15 MPH or less in the woods.

I spend a fair amount of my free time working in the woods felling trees for firewood or saw logs, clearing my trails of storm damage, or clearing and putting in new trails. The heavier work I do with my tractor, which has been modified for work in the woods. I needed something small let and lighter (and a bit faster and more comfortable) for when I do not need to move heavy logs. I also wanted something lighter weight which would not tear up the trails when ground conditions were a bit on the soft side.

I did manage to get out today to pick up some firewood I had salvaged while cleaning up the damage from a heavy wind storm shortly before Christmas.

View attachment 369988 View attachment 369989

Welcome from Ohio. That's a cool little trailer

 

[Backwoods]

Welcome from west Ga
#NTC

 

[Remington]

Welcome fr the Putrid Swamp Run Michigan!

Way to put that buggy to work! I like it!!!

 

[Farmer]

Welcome to the club!

 

[Prntckt]

Welcome to the forum from west central Wisconsin

 

[pappyo]

Welcome from central upstate N.Y.
Many good people & imformation on the Honda forum AND they LIKE PICTURES

2022 GREY with Red Hood 2-Tone ( Easier to See in Woods ) purchased for many of Same Reasons you have described.

FYI: </> Hood P500& P520 ALL YEARS are the SAME </> Partszilla is the best price </> NEW RED HOOD April 2022 shipped to door under $70.00 ( reused latch assembles from P 520 Hood ).
CHEAP INSURANCE
Box side panels pricey.

Many Good times in the future.

Hello all. I just joined a few days ago, shortly after buying a used 2022 P520.

The Honda Pioneer 520 was my preferred model, since I wanted something reliable, smaller, and with engine braking. (I would have preferred a red one. Since this is a "working in the woods" vehicle, I want to be seen, not blend in... less chance of dropping a tree on it.)





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Enjoy New Toy

 

[John Mc]

Welcome from Ohio. That's a cool little trailer

Thanks, @buggyman. BTW, I grew up in NW Ohio, in the little town of Fostoria. (I did have a couple of sisters who lived out your way in NE Ohio at one point.)

The trailer is a Polar Tandem Axle HD 1500TA (Polar model 8262). I've owned it for 8 years. It's a walking arm suspension, which really makes it great for working on the rough terrain in my woods. The walking arm absorbs much of the terrain irregularity, so the trailer has a much more stable ride. Without the extended sides, the capacity is about 22 cu. ft. With the optional metal sides, the capacity is 35 cu ft. Weight capacity is 1500#. I've been happy with it. It comes with a pin hitch, but I added a 2" ball coupler. It bolts right on over the pin hitch with two bolts, so it's easy to switch back and forth between hitch styles. The ball couple adds a bit more range of motion going over bumps than the pin hitch does. I also ended up buying their cover, which keeps the rain and snow off when I'm using it as a tool/chainsaw hauler or when leaving items in it for storage.

The bearings are not high speed rated, so you can't run down the road at "ATV speeds" when fully loaded, but it's fine at "working in the woods" speeds even with the full 1500 lbs. (I pulled 1500# of pea gravel 3 miles down the road behind my compact tractor at about 10 or 12 MPH, and one bearing got hot. The others were fine. Called the manufacturer, and they sent me a replacement bearing under warranty - which I never ended up installing. I've NEVER had an issue when working in the woods.)

The tandem axle design does scrub a bit in tight turns. It takes a bit more force to turn it when maneuvering by hand even when empty, but it's manageable. I do run it across my lawn all the time, but usually just on my way to the woods. I'm not particularly picky about my lawn, so don't pay much attention, but I have not noticed any significant damage.

If you don't need the rough terrain capability or extra flotation of the tandem axle design, the single axle model (Polar HD1500 model 8233) is less expensive ($270 less), easier to roll around and maneuver by hand, and has the same load capacity. It's still a good trailer in the woods and is relatively stable, but the tandem will handle the rough terrain better. If needed, you can switch a tandem to a single in a couple of minutes (with no tools, if I recall correctly).

The 1500# rated model is significantly more durable than Polar's 1200# models.

The link I provided is to Northern Tool, but Home Depot and Lowes carry these. Freight from Northern Tool is a killer (almost $500) on these, so it's worthwhile to see if a local big box store has or can get them. Oddly, when I checked online for Lowes in my area, I cannot pick up in store, but they say delivery to me is just $59. I find that hard to believe, since its a truck delivery, and not something UPS would handle (at least not back when I got mine).

 

[Mopower58]

Welcome from Mississippi.
#NTC.

 

[Buggyman]

Thanks, @buggyman. BTW, I grew up in NW Ohio, in the little town of Fostoria. (I did have a couple of sisters who lived out your way in NE Ohio at one point.)

The trailer is a Polar Tandem Axle HD 1500TA (Polar model 8262). I've owned it for 8 years. It's a walking arm suspension, which really makes it great for working on the rough terrain in my woods. The walking arm absorbs much of the terrain irregularity, so the trailer has a much more stable ride. Without the extended sides, the capacity is about 22 cu. ft. With the optional metal sides, the capacity is 35 cu ft. Weight capacity is 1500#. I've been happy with it. It comes with a pin hitch, but I added a 2" ball coupler. It bolts right on over the pin hitch with two bolts, so it's easy to switch back and forth between hitch styles. The ball couple adds a bit more range of motion going over bumps than the pin hitch does. I also ended up buying their cover, which keeps the rain and snow off when I'm using it as a tool/chainsaw hauler or when leaving items in it for storage.

The bearings are not high speed rated, so you can't run down the road at "ATV speeds" when fully loaded, but it's fine at "working in the woods" speeds even with the full 1500 lbs. (I pulled 1500# of pea gravel 3 miles down the road behind my compact tractor at about 10 or 12 MPH, and one bearing got hot. The others were fine. Called the manufacturer, and they sent me a replacement bearing under warranty - which I never ended up installing. I've NEVER had an issue when working in the woods.)

The tandem axle design does scrub a bit in tight turns. It takes a bit more force to turn it when maneuvering by hand even when empty, but it's manageable. I do run it across my lawn all the time, but usually just on my way to the woods. I'm not particularly picky about my lawn, so don't pay much attention, but I have not noticed any significant damage.

If you don't need the rough terrain capability or extra flotation of the tandem axle design, the single axle model (Polar HD1500 model 8233) is less expensive ($270 less), easier to roll around and maneuver by hand, and has the same load capacity. It's still a good trailer in the woods and is relatively stable, but the tandem will handle the rough terrain better. If needed, you can switch a tandem to a single in a couple of minutes (with no tools, if I recall correctly).

The 1500# rated model is significantly more durable than Polar's 1200# models.

The link I provided is to Northern Tool, but Home Depot and Lowes carry these. Freight from Northern Tool is a killer (almost $500) on these, so it's worthwhile to see if a local big box store has or can get them. Oddly, when I checked online for Lowes in my area, I cannot pick up in store, but they say delivery to me is just $59. I find that hard to believe, since its a truck delivery, and not something UPS would handle (at least not back when I got mine).

thanks for the info

 

[HiFive]

Welcome from west central FL.

 

[Smitty335]

Hello all. I just joined a few days ago, shortly after buying a used 2022 P520.

I had been keeping my eye out for a new or good used SxS for the past year or two. The Honda Pioneer 520 was my preferred model, since I wanted something reliable, smaller, and with engine braking. (I would have preferred a red one. Since this is a "working in the woods" vehicle, I want to be seen, not blend in... less chance of dropping a tree on it.)

This is for working on my wooded 144 acres at the dead end of a dirt road in rural Vermont as well as on a 115 acre conserved working forest I own jointly with 15 other families in the area. I have no need or interest in going 60 MPH. 90% of the time, I will likely be going 15 MPH or less in the woods.

I spend a fair amount of my free time working in the woods felling trees for firewood or saw logs, clearing my trails of storm damage, or clearing and putting in new trails. The heavier work I do with my tractor, which has been modified for work in the woods. I needed something small let and lighter (and a bit faster and more comfortable) for when I do not need to move heavy logs. I also wanted something lighter weight which would not tear up the trails when ground conditions were a bit on the soft side.

I did manage to get out today to pick up some firewood I had salvaged while cleaning up the damage from a heavy wind storm shortly before Christmas.

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Welcome from NW Arkansas!

 

[DaddyDubbs]

Welcome from Alabama