What Is That?!

Cassandra

• November 20 2008
• 271 views
• 1 comment

What’s that? And where can I buy one? Well, to answer those questions in order: It’s a Polaris MVRS800 made for the United States military, and you can’t. You might get to ride in one if you join the Army, but we’re not making any promises. Polaris has been providing vehicles to the U.S. military since 2001, and we thought you might enjoy taking a look at one of the Polaris military side-by-sides.

Polaris used its Ranger to make the MVRS800. It’s part of the company’s Ultra Light Tactical Vehicles and is powered by a 760cc, 40 horsepower, aptly named Patriot engine that runs on the fuel used by the U.S. military. The engine was developed and introduced in 2007 for the MV800, which is a military ATV.

You probably pride yourself on finding remote places to ride with plenty of rugged terrain, but the enlisted men and women who serve in the military know what true remote regions look and feel like. The MVRS800 is made to withstand the harshest environments and withstand jolts that you and your quad couldn’t fathom. The MVRS has a rugged steel exoskeleton, a 9-gallon high-capacity fuel tank (not many gas stations in the middle of nowhere), and run-flat tires. It also has a completely sealed power train that can get through 30 inches of water, and it has a full underbody skid plate that’s designed to take some tough hits. It has on-demand true 4×4 all-wheel drive, automatic transmission, and IRS with 7 inches of ground clearance. The machine has a front storage rack, weapons storage, and a rear bed with fold-down sides. The rear bed can hold things such as litter racks and rear seating for transporting additional troops. The MVRS has a front winch (of course!) and modular attachments for tools and containers. To top it off, it can go 40 mph and has a 1,500-pound payload capacity, 1,150-pound cargo capacity, and 2,000-pound towing capacity. There’s also a MVRS800 6×6.

So what can the military do with this big, bad machine? Anything they want! Well, a short list includes: ammo carrier, recon and surveillance, food and water carrier, and of course, carry people such as military police and medics.

ENGINE
Type: 760cc twin-cylinder liquid-cooled four-stroke
Lubrication: Wet sump
Starting: Electric

Drivetrain
Drive System: On-Demand true all-wheel drive
Transmission: Automatic with high, low, reverse, neutral
Final Drive: Shaft

Suspension
Front (travel, in.): MacPherson Strut (8)
Rear (travel, in.): Independent (9)

Brakes
Front: Hydraulic disc
Rear: Hydraulic disc

Tires
Front: 25×8-12 run-flat
Rear: 25×11-12 run-flat

Dimensions
Length/Width/Height (in.): 110/60/75
Wheelbase (in.): 76
Ground Clearance (in.): 10
Dry Weight (lb.): 1,652
Fuel Capacity (gal.): 9
Turning Radius (in.): 148

Body
Instrumentation: Speedometer, gear indicator, fuel gauge, warning light, 3 DC outlets
Colors: Desert Tan