Four-Day Adventure Ride from Hurricane Utah in our Polaris XPEDITION ADV

By Jon Crowley

I recently went on a four-day adventure ride with FATCO Tours from Hurricane Utah. Day one we traveled from Hurricane to Mt. Carmel Junction. Day two we traveled from Mt. Carmel Junction to Bar 10 Ranch where we stayed for two nights. Day three we did a day trip loop up to Mt. Logan, Mt. Trumbull and part of the southern part of the Temple Trail. Then day four we rode back to Hurricane traversing the northern part of the Temple Trail.

We rode in our 2025 Polaris XPEDITION ADV and at the end of the video we give you a full review of how it did and what we’ve done to it.

Polaris XPEDITION ADV NorthStar insights after Four-Days on the trail

1. Dust Mitigation – Group rides are often very dusty. In an open cab UTV, using a full-face helmet combined with a helmet air pumper is a game-changer. While that helps keep your head and lungs dust free, everything else in the vehicle typically gets wasted with dust. An enclosed-cab with HVAC is a different approach to this situation.  With the XPEDITION ADV NorthStar, dust is greatly reduced but not completely eliminated. I will forever look at group rides differently if I am in the XPEDITION. That being said, there are things that can be done to help seal the cab better and eliminate more dust intrusion and I think for the price of these units, Polaris should improve on this.
2. Cab Noise – I have driven several UTVs with enclosed cabs and HVAC and they are all louder than I’d prefer.  Realistically, enclosed-cab UTVs aren’t any louder than open-cab UTVs, but the perception is that they are louder. I think there are two reasons for this – lack of wind noise (wind noise level cancels out some of the engine noise) and it feels like you are in a normal street vehicle which is typically much quieter inside. UTVs rev much higher than normal street vehicles and this is where the noise comes from. UTV manufacturers all need to realize that in this space, people are expecting a quieter experience and adjust the engine/transmission package to deliver this. The challenge is to produce enough torque at low RPM levels to make that happen. This is much harder to accomplish with a UTV 1,000cc engine. With the RANGER 1500 XD, Polaris has made some improvements with an engine that does increase torque and decrease RPM levels. I’d love to see Polaris migrate this engine over to the XPEDITION lineup a well. On this trip, I eliminated much of the cab noise with a STX headset.
   

   Rugged Radios headset cuts engine noise and allows you to communicate more effectively

3. Can the 2-seat XPEDITION keep up? – After a four-day spirited group ride over a lot of different terrains, I never felt like I was holding the group up. The FOX QS3 shock package is pretty impressive, but the XPEDITION does feel a bit sketchy at speeds for two reasons – short wheelbase and a bit top-heavy. In my world, the 2 seat XPEDITION could really benefit from another 6-12 inches of wheelbase.  This would make it more stable at higher speeds and rough terrain, plus it would add much needed storage space for adventure rides.
4. HVAC – One thing I did notice is once the outside temperature reaches about 65 degrees, the only way to keep the inside of the cab at a comfortable temperature was to use the A/C. Guessing that window tint might help a bit, but I think engine heat is impacting cab temps more.

Overall, I am thrilled that I added the XPEDITION to our fleet. I no longer have to worry about weather (cold or hot) and 

About Family Adventure Tours

Family Adventure Tours (FATCO) is a family-owned and operated off-road guide service dedicated to providing safe and memorable excursions through the public lands of the western United States. Specializing in multi-day adventures, FATCO caters to enthusiasts of adventure motorcycles, utility vehicles, Jeeps, side-by-sides, and mountain bicycles. Their experienced guides have spent over 40 years exploring the region, curating routes that showcase some of the most breathtaking and remote locations. FATCO offers both group and private tours, handling all logistics, including food and fuel, allowing clients to fully immerse themselves in the adventure without concerns about planning or provisions.

Polaris XPEDITION ADV NorthStar Review and Stage 1 Upgrades

More Resources

Is the 2025 Polaris XPEDITION ADV NorthStar the Ultimate Adventure UTV?

Ride Spot: Bar 10 Ranch

Ride Spot: Temple Trail