I've been on this drumbeat for ages now, but modern pickups are just too expensive. Too expensive to purchase, too expensive to maintain, and too expensive to fix when you break something. I see it all the time in my little hamlet. Folks with HD and half-tons that look immaculate. Why? Because they're too afraid to actually use them, and they paid $70,000+ for them.
You know what I do see being used out in the fields, rounding up cattle and horses, doing work around farms, and being brought into the backcountry and beaten like yesterday's rug? UTVs.
No, I'm not talking about the RZRs, the Talons, or the X3 or Maverick Rs, but the regular-old utility-focused UTVs. The ones with beds, big payloads and towing capacities, and room for more than two Monster-fueled adrenaline junkies. And that trend is becoming big enough that Can-Am is looking to capitalize on everyone's disdain for using expensive trucks with its upcoming Utility Demo Experience Tour, where it'll give prospective buyers the chance to play with the company's rigs before buying them.
And that's a great idea.
"For the first time, Can-Am is hitting the road with a demo tour focused exclusively on its hardworking Defender and Outlander models. This 10-stop tour invites riders around North America to put the vehicles to the test on the trail and in real-world work environments," states Can-Am's press release. Demo tours, however, are nothing new to the powersports industry.
For years, motorcycle manufacturers have gone about doing demo tours to convert would-be riders into full-on customers. That's partly due to the fact that most motorcycle manufacturers don't let folks ride their would-be bike before signing their lives away—a practice I personally think needs to end. Can-Am, however, is going beyond just a test drive loop that most moto demo tours engage in.
"Each stop of the tour will be led by Can-Am product experts, offering attendees in-depth insight into the industry-leading features and unique benefits of each model. Throughout the 45-minute demo ride, participants will put the vehicles through their paces, experiencing the performance, durability and versatility of the Defender and Outlander models firsthand." That means you'll get to actually see what you're buying, how you could use it on your farm, ranch, or for your outfitting business, and how it could plop into your lifestyle.
Likewise, attendees will be treated to food, prizes, and more, and customers could receive event-only $1,000 rebates on select models, which is on top of the incentives that Can-Am is already running. So if you want to know more, you can head over to this link and find where the Can-Am Utility Demo Experience will be in your area.
