Four Wheeler Advice

[nybirdman]

I have to vote Polaris. I have had 6 Sportsman models since 1998 and never put a penny into any of them. I use them mainly to pull logs out of the woods where my tractors can not go. These things are all work and have never been used for fun. Never replaced a belt they ride 2x as smooth as anything else out there. I use EFI only. Carb units do poorly in the winter and in steep terrain they struggle. I would like a UTV but they are more for flat farm work. In any event if you buy a regular ATV, Try to find something 500cc if you plan to work it.

I have a 1998 400ci Kawasaki Prairie(atv) that I purchased new.For your use..look for a used Yamaha Rhino(SxS),450 ci if you can find one.

 

[clemsonfor]

If you decide to get an atv over a utv see if you can find a Honda fourtrax 300. I recently bought a 1998 4x4 model for $2000 to use around my farm and couldn't be any happier. These models are kinda tough to find but maybe you'll luck up like I did. I've had several offers to sell it but have passed.

My uncle has the same 4wheeler in 2x4. It will go anywhere. u dont need 4x4 unless your riding through the edges of ponds, soft streams with steep banks or mud holes that are knee deep in soft stuff, period no matter what folks say. I also think unless your towing 3k lb trailers or pulling one of those atv plow things 400 is the biggest 4wheeler needed. that trx300 will run 45mph with just you on it, and pull thousands of pounds around the farm slowly. Its first gear is a beast.

I just bought a 1989 fourtrax300 from a buddy for $500. Had to rebuild the carb, drain old nasty gas, buy new battery and still working on front brakes, rebult master cyl but think the shoes were just out of adjustment (they look brand new no mud or dust in the drums). I have less than $150 in parts in it including the new battery, i am still running it now waiting on my bolt to put the brake lever back on. This one looks like it was kept in a garage most if not all its life. Parts are not cheap on Honda's though, although i have no other atv experience to compare others too as far as prices are concerned.

 

[clemsonfor]

Some of the new 4wheelers like kawi and artic cat and all of them really are huge if you get the 6-9k $ models. The tires are the size of my ford ranger or bigger. They cant go on tight trails in the woods look like they will barely if at all fit ina full size truck bed. Yea you can go 75mph but why? We use to have a polaris sportsman 500 or 600 i think at work. I could not find a straightaway long enough to wind it out. I had reached speeds up to 60mph i think before i had to lay on the brakes for a turn, this was on dirt!!! :shocked:

As for the guy that had 6 or whatever since 1998. Yea that was 14 years ago or so but thats not that long for these things unless rode had abused etc. Its not uncommon for anyof them to not even have anything done in that period unless its a china atv. Yea you was abusing it by pulling logs so that is a testament to it i guess. But that 1998 trx300 i worked on for my uncle was a yr ago. Only thing its had done is batteries up till that point. Its fenders are falling off from uv exposure and cracked off. I had to free up the stuck adjusters from mud on the front adjust the back brake and bleed the water out of the brake fluid.

 

[troutsqueezer]

People will recommend the brand they own. Stick with any of the major brands and you will be ok. Whichever one you pick, the next time someone else brings up this topic, recommend the one you bought to that person.

 

[foreman Etexas]

People will recommend the brand they own. Stick with any of the major brands and you will be ok. Whichever one you pick, the next time someone else brings up this topic, recommend the one you bought to that person.

I recommended polaris,I own ArticCat and Kawasaki,I did say the Mule but that just cause it would be the cheapest UTV if looking for used one. Not all are like you mentioned.....

 

[mjonesnh]

Have 2005 4x2 Honda Rancher 350 with Electronic Shift. It has been very dependable with just yearly oil changes, 1 battery and 1 spark plug replaced. Did have a carb issue back in the winter and swapped out carb with a new OEM unit instead of rebuilding old carb. Usually carries a 15 gallon sprayer on back rack during summer months.

 

[crbr]

thanks for the pictures

 

[shane]

All of them are fairly good, but Honda has always had the bulletproof reputation. I own an Arctic Cat 400. Bought it with 70 miles on it. The original owner purchased it with intentions of he and his wife going on trail ride together. Up one steep hill and she was done!

 

[Tim Tucker]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, it was all very helpful. I ended up buying a 2006 Yamaha Pro Hauler 700 UTV. It's not as powerful as some of the Kawaski's, Mules, etc...l looked at, but will work for what I'm doing. New UTV's are pretty pricey, buying a used one is a risk, and expensive and hard to find. I found the Yamaha on Craigs List, it's really clean, been used on flatland for puttering around. It will work for putting a tank on and spraying pear, and will give us something to get around the place on. Got the UTV and a 5x8 trailer for $3600, so I feel like a got something within my budget that will do what I need. I needed a trailer anyway, so that was going to be an additional expensive with other UTV's. When I'm ready to upgrade I should be able to get most or all of my money back. Thanks again for the comments, glad I found this website and forum, it's been really helpful.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, it was all very helpful. I ended up buying a 2006 Yamaha Pro Hauler 700 UTV. It's not as powerful as some of the Kawaski's, Mules, etc...l looked at, but will work for what I'm doing. New UTV's are pretty pricey, buying a used one is a risk, and expensive and hard to find. I found the Yamaha on Craigs List, it's really clean, been used on flatland for puttering around. It will work for putting a tank on and spraying pear, and will give us something to get around the place on. Got the UTV and a 5x8 trailer for $3600, so I feel like a got something within my budget that will do what I need. I needed a trailer anyway, so that was going to be an additional expensive with other UTV's. When I'm ready to upgrade I should be able to get most or all of my money back. Thanks again for the comments, glad I found this website and forum, it's been really helpful.

Good deal,hope all works out...Let us know how it does:thumbsup: