I am the proud new owner of an '08 Sportsman.

My '03 had a hole in the rear to mount a 2" ball. The new machine has a 1 1/4" receiver. I know they make receivers for this but all of the ones I have found stick out pretty far. I don't want the hassle of draging it down hills but don't want to have to remove it either.

I won't be towing much weight, just a small trailer. I'm sure it will also be used to pull some Honda and Artic Cat's out of the mud

Ideas? Pics?

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2008 Sportsman 500 EFI

You mean hitch rather than receiver? If so...A friend recently ran into the same "issue", he found the shortest hitch he could find which was 9" I think. He felt it stuck out to far. He took the sawzall to it, redrilled the pin hole and took the grinder to it to clean it up. It fits nice in the reciever, it sticks out about 3" less than stock. Looks good and works fine.

I got the reciever and was going to cut the end that goes into the reciever off and drill a new hole, but i've found that ive had no clearance issues, and it allows you to turn the trailer sharper
thats what id do if i had clearance issues

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Tyler

07 Sportsman 700 EFI
3000 lb. Gorilla XTR Winch w/ Amsteel
54" Warn Plow
front Brushguard
front and rear rack extensions
rear work lights
fmf shock covers
3 light mod
Cycle Country heated grips
12" Polaris/Bruiser aluminum rims
2008orangeDually_23.jpg

I did the same thing to mine and is the best way to do it. Out of the way and I'd have to be pointed straight up to hit the ball or drawbar.

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"All things being considered, the simplest explanation tends to be the correct one".

06 Hawkeye - Factory Stock - performance great.
08 Sportsman 400HO - E-Tatou Tracks, 1,500 lb warn winch, windshield, cargo box, front and rear racks

05 Sea-doo GTX
88 Rotorway Exec RW145 Helicopter
96 Cocker Spaniel

I got a hitch that fits in the receiver that has about a 2 inch drop on it. When I'm not pulling a trailer I flip it upside down so the ball is pointing down. Never snagged it yet. I think it was made by MadDog.

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06 Polaris Sportsman X2 500 EFI
05 Polaris ATP 500 HO
02 Polaris Xplorer 250 4x4 (Angry chainsaw) (sold)
00 Kawasaki Lakota 300 (sold)

Jesus, still the way, the truth, the life

I have a Polaris Ranger drawbar. The dealer screwed up and sold me that instead of the cheaper quad drawbar. I think he still owes me difference in price for that.

I can turn a lot farther without jacknifing than my buddy on a Griz. If you shorten the bar it would cut down how far you can turn, just like that. I use the Polaris ball with a bolt on the bottom, instead of the standard long shank going through with a nut on the bottom. It has less protrusion. I took the hitch pin out and have it bolted into the reciever and haven't had any kind of trouble with it. I'll unbolt it and put it on the next quad when I trade this one in.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

The found a hitch from Valley and redrilled the hole so it didn't stick out so much. It tucks underneath the rear bumper really nice.

Thanks for the ideas!

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2008 Sportsman 500 EFI

What about the 3-way hitches from Maddog? This gives the option of the ball mount and the clevis pin type. It doesn't appear to stick out too much.


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'08 Sportsman X2 500EFI - Red/Black, Polaris 3500 Winch, Front Brushguard and Rack Extender, Dual Cargo Bags, Passenger Floorboard Risers, Front Spring Coil Spacers, Moose Rm3 Plow (60").
'05 Son
'02 Son
'99 Daughter
'88 Honda Shadow 800
'70 Wife

I have the MadDog three way on my X2, but, I mounted it "upside down" from the picture. Needed the additional clearance (I tow a regular 5x10 utility trailer) for the trailer and to keep it level. Anything steep enough for me to drag the bar and that would be the least of my problems as I'd only see it as I'm going over

PS - I use the Convert-A-Ball system...nothing out there that I can't drag around the farm by switching the balls around.

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2007 500 EFI HO X2 DLX
2007 800 EFI X2 DLX

I welded a steel "U" onto the bottom of my drawbar so I can hook tow ropes and chains on behind the ball. I already had this steel scrap lying around so it didn't cost me anything. I always wondered if the trailer tongue will hit on a a 3-way hitch if you pull a small trailer up and down all the hills on a quad trail. So far I haven't seen that on the trail, just a plain hitch and 2" ball.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.