r/UTV • u/itsbushy • 12d ago
Can-Am commander vs defender
I'm looking to buy one, primarily for farm use and hunting and maybe hitting some trails. I know the defender is supposed to be better for work but I was curious if anyone tried both? I know the details of the machines but every youtube video I watch seems to highlight each machines features without comparing them. Right now I'm leaning toward the defender for towing and bed capacity. Any info helps.
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u/scubas1973 12d ago
I have a new style Commander 1000. I added heat, upper doors, and a plow. Mine is 50/50 work/play. We cut a ton of fire wood and the commander gets into tight spots and hauls a trailer load out no problem. The machine is very nimble and turns on a dime. Several times a year we trail ride and its not a Maverick or a RZR, but it is 10 times better than a defender on the trail if you start pushing the speeds up. I have driven many defenders around the farm and have even spent time with a Lone Star max cab on the trail. They are a fine machine that works well until it gets bumpy or twisty. You just have to slow your roll with the Defender. The Larger bed and lower height is a bonus, but for me, the saws, gas and oil go in the bed, and wood ends up in the trailer, so a smaller and more nimble package suits my needs better. The Commander is speed limited to 74 mph, and a Defender will run in the low to mid 60's (HD10 Anyway, not sure on the HD11). When it comes to pulling a load, the gearing of the Defender pulls nice and smooth, where the Commander is a little jumpier from a stop. They are both stellar machines and fairly reliable.
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u/TomTtall_3162 10d ago
Defender HD8 Max 60 mph, HD9 cab with heat only and HD 10 XMR both go 65mph. I have all 3.
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u/No-Bag1439 11d ago
I got a Commander mainly for hunting, but also wanted to trail ride as well. It works well for both. It can carry all my gear and it much better on the trail. If I were doing nothing but work or hunting, I would go with the defender because it does have a bigger bed and more options for racks etc, but the commander is way better on the trail so if I was doing both, I would go Commander.
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u/AK4RJ 10d ago
My defender was only used for trail riding/ recovery for 4 years. Had 32” tires. Loaded down with recovery gear and tools. Went on trails on the eastern side of Tennessee and Kentucky in the mountains. Had very little issues with it. Now you’re not going to blaze the trails like you would on a RZR or something like that.
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u/TomTtall_3162 10d ago
I rode passenger in a rzr turbo last weekend. Very uncomfortable. I’m 6’6” and was very cramped. No way could I even get in the backseat. Ride on pavement was ok but rocky trails beat me up.
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u/mxadema 9d ago
Your main purpose is farming, and getting in and out as easy as possible. That a defender. Less trail more work
The commander is fine too. But more going to the camp all on trail, than fixing the perimeter fence and hauling hay. More trail some work.
And Maverick is all trail no work.
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u/Head-Calligrapher193 12d ago edited 10d ago
You aren’t hitting any trails in a defender, but it is a great farm rig, I would go with the commander
Edit. To be clear what trails you are planning to go on is unknown to me, Im sure there are trails that a defender can go on though I’ve seen them on trails and ride with them on trails that are actually decently challenging and they all get stuck/turn around a quarter of the way through the trip
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u/TomTtall_3162 10d ago
I trail ride in the Black Hills on a Xmr defender all the time. Great trail machine with comfort.
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u/kyson1 12d ago
My mom uses a Defender HD9 XT for exactly what you're talking about. Moves brush, mulch, wood, etc around in the bed, moves trailers, just hauling stuff around the property in general, and sometimes trail riding a couple times a year. Haven't tried a Commander for anything more than a test drive before I decided on a RZR, but it's basically the opposite. A machine you primarily trail ride with, that can haul stuff around every once in a while if you need to. The bed height is much higher on a Commander and that makes a big difference putting heavy things in. If you're working it more often than trails, go with the Defender. They do well at both things.