How Wide Is the Polaris Ranger?

There are a ton of reasons why you’d need to know the width of a Polaris Ranger: for storage, transportation, trail regulations…the list goes on and on. We’re going to look at the width for every model of Polaris Ranger.

If you’re in the market for a Ranger, this will help you know what size you can take on your local trails or if a certain size will fit in your garage. Maybe you already have one; in this case, you want to know what variables can alter the width. The listed width can vary a bit depending on a few factors.

General Width of the Polaris Ranger

For all Polaris Ranger models, the widest part is going to be the wheels. We’ll cut to the chase if you’re just here to get some measurements.

Ranger model	Width
Mid-Size
Ranger SP 570	56”
Ranger SP 570 NorthStar Edition	58”
Full-Size
Ranger 570 Full-size	60”
Ranger 1000	62.5”
Ranger XP 1000	62.5”
Ranger XP 1000 NorthStar Edition	65”
Extreme Duty
Ranger XD 1500	65”
Ranger XD 1500 NorthStar Edition	65”
Electric
Ranger XP Kinetic	62.5”

 

Now, if you want some context, stick around! We’ll go into more detail in the rest of this article.

If you’re switching from ATVs to UTVs, these might seem very wide. They are, but this gives ample room for a driver with one or two passengers to their side (and even more in the back with a crew cab). 

Model Variations

Because the wheels are the widest part on these rigs, we’re talking about track width rather than wheelbase.

Track Width vs Wheelbase

Simply put, ‘track width’ is the distance between the left and right wheels, i.e., the width. Wheelbase, on the other hand, is the distance between the front and rear wheels. Both play a role in how the suspension behaves but we can only realistically modify track width–and it’s not too difficult. Wheel spacers, aftermarket wheels and upgraded suspension can all increase the track width of your Ranger.

Generally, larger Ranger models, like the Extreme Duty, are both wider and longer, but this isn’t always the case. For example, an XP 1000 and XP 1000 Crew are both 62.5” wide; however the crew cab is 113” long, while the standard size is only 81”.

While we’ve covered the listed widths, there are some factors that might make your Ranger slightly narrower or wider (but not by much). In the next section, we’ll discuss what those are.

Factors Affecting Width

A UTV's width is kind of a chicken & egg scenario. Does it have a wider track for more capacity? Or, did the manufacturer start by making a rig with a wider stance? Either way, the results are the same: you get a more spacious interior and bed.

Seating Capacity

It might be obvious, but to get 3 seats per row in a UTV, it needs to be wider. 

The standard Ranger SP 570 (mid-size), which seats 2 per row, has a 57” width. Compared to the full-size Ranger SP 570, which seats 3 per row. This model measures in at 60”—only 4” wider. 

As you can probably guess, the center seat is wider than 4”; not even your dog would fit this, after all. To make room for the additional middle seat, the 2 outside seats are shrunk around 3”, depending on the model. This makes the center seat more like 10” wide. You’ll still be rubbing shoulders when riding 3 deep (or 6 in a crew cab), but at least no one gets left behind.

Cargo Capacity 

Not only do you get more space for passengers, but you also get improved storage capacity.

The width of the bed box and under-seat storage increases proportionally with the overall width. Again, comparing a mid-size Ranger 570 with a full-size Ranger 570, the full-size model gets a 54” wide box, while the standard size is only 48.7”. It’s not 1 to 1, but pretty close. The same applies to the width of the under-seat storage.  

Regardless of what model you have, cargo accessories from StarknightMT can help to maximize your storage.

Impact of Width on Usage

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to UTV width. There are pros and cons to having a wider rig. In this section, we’ll look at some of these tradeoffs. 

At a glance, a wider UTV will have more stability. This will help it feel planted during hard cornering. As we know, the storage space increases, and luckily, so does the payload capacity. The full-sized Ranger 570 has an additional 400 lbs of payload capacity over the mid-size.

On the flip side, there are several use cases where you wouldn’t want a larger track width:

● Width-restricted trails

● Limited storage or transportation

● Limited maneuverability

Width-Restricted Trails

For safety and preservation reasons, width-restricted trails are fairly common. Some trails are restricted to 50”, while 60” restrictions are becoming more commonplace. 

Unfortunately, apart from the Ranger 150, a young UTV, no models of Ranger will fit in a 50” wide restricted trail. These are intended for ATVs and dirt bikes more so than UTVs.

With a 60” wide trail, however, certain models of Ranger meet regulations. The Ranger 570, NorthStar Edition and base, will fit easily. On most trails, there will be a couple of inches of leeway, meaning a 60” Ranger 570 Full-Size should work as well. Anything larger, however, and you’re pushing it. 

Besides the 570 Full-Size, Full-Size, and Extreme Duty Rangers are best for unrestricted trails or homestead use.

Limited Storage or Transportation

In a perfect world, we’d have a full warehouse to park all the toys we’d ever want. The reality is that most of us have finite space, whether it's a 2-car garage, carport, or barn. Before buying, make sure that you have adequate space to store the machine. Look at the length, height, and possibly most critical, the width to ensure the footprint of a rig isn’t too big for your space.

Note: Almost everything looks bigger in person. Give yourself a few inches of extra space. If you opt for a NorthStar edition, make sure you have room to swing the doors open once parked.  

If you already have a trailer or will be buying one for use with your Ranger, you’ll want to make sure it's wide enough to accommodate the rig. Mid-size 570s can fit in an open, 5 ½’ wide trailer. For the wider models, you’ll need at least 6’, if not 7’. This is all with an open trailer; for enclosed setups, you’ll want a bit of breathing room to make sure you can get out of your machine once loaded.

Limited Maneuverability

Larger Rangers also have the downside of less maneuverability. Even if you have plenty of storage space, you may not be able to maneuver the rig how or where you want. Smaller UTVs have a tighter turning radius. If you’re going to use your UTV for productivity, say on a farm, having the nimbleness of a smaller rig might come in handy, especially with a trailer hitched to the back.

Tips & Conclusion

There are tons of Polaris Ranger models; however, when we boil it down, we see that they range from 58” to 65”. Not a huge variance on paper, but that 7” plays a big role in where you can ride, store, and maneuver your UTV.  

If you don’t have a Ranger yet, be sure to look at the measurements above. Additionally, check out length and height, as these play a critical role in your choice of trailer—if this applies to you. 

Whatever model you have, StarknightMT has you covered with the mods to take your Ranger to the next level.

FAQs

Q1: Are there any modifications that will change the track width of my Ranger?

A1: Yes, either adding wheel spacers to your existing wheels or swapping them out for different wheels with a lower offset will result in a wider vehicle. 

Making your UTV wider will give it more stability; however, going too wide can cause it to have heavy or ‘lazy’ steering due to the extra scrub radius.  

Q2: Will upgrading the suspension change the width of my Polaris Ranger?

A2: Adding lift may or may not change the width, depending on the kit. Some long travel suspension kits also make them wider.

If you install a lift kit that doesn’t widen your Ranger, it’s advisable to do so with wheel spacers or lower offset wheels. A good rule of thumb is to keep height/width proportional: i.e., for every inch of lift, you should add an inch of width.  

Q3: Do side-view mirrors add width to the Polaris Ranger? If so, how much?

A3: If you add optional side-view mirrors to your Ranger, these will now be wider than the tires. Depending on the brand, these will add somewhere between 10-18” to the width. Folding mirrors, however, will only add about 3-5” inches when folded.