Hi all,
New to everything here. I have always been a Polaris guy for sleds and ATV's but wrenching on them every year brought me to your side for this purchase.
Picked up a 2018 Defender Max 10 and the Apache 360 LT tracks (and a 3" lift) new from my dealer in Utah last month. My wife was already tired of getting to the cabin in the winter on a sled and a new baby addition mandated something a bit safer/comfier/warmer. I do a lot of mineral exploration work during the summer so somehow, someway, I rationalized purchasing this. It's my first new vehicle purchase, ever. It wasn't cheap.
Requisite photo attached of her up at 9000 feet here in Utah a few weeks ago.
My first observations are that this thing is great in the snow as long as it's not untracked. No way I would take this thing into the 5+ feet of unpacked powder we have otherwise I"ll be winching/digging for a few hours. It's a great people mover but not a powder vehicle.
Two questions for you folks, as while my dealer is great they're not the best at questions sometimes.
1) When switching from reverse to "H" and back again sometimes I get a whirring sound coming from engine bay when hitting the gas. I'll back off the pedal for a few seconds, then try again and it'll work perfect. It feels/sounds like the tranny is trying to engage but doesn't get it on the first go around. Is this common?
2) With the tracks this thing is a heavy beast. I'm guessing most of you guys run this thing on "L" when on tracks with a few guys inside? Manual says to use "L" whenever 800+ pounds are getting hauled but I'm guessing that's with the wheels/tires...so just using tracks and one guy probably gets me 90% of the way there.
Overall very impressed, this will be a great field/hunting/cabin/XC skiing grooming rig and the neighbors are already asking to take her for spins.
Thanks