Home Depot Bulldog 700 4x4 UTV?

[clemsonfor]

Well, my first thing I would check is the availability of parts. I was looking at a 4 wheeler that Cabelas was selling after doing some research, I figured it out to be some off brand (probably nothing wrong with it) but couldn't find any sites online to find parts. So if you were to break something like a wheel or an axle, getting parts could be painful, or you might be subjected to a single high priced source. It might also be hard to find a local dealer that will even work on it or even to source parts like air filters or oil filters.

This is even a problem for honda's. I have an older 300trx which was one of the most popular lines they ever made. A solid atv and will run great. other than a few things aftermarket like filters and such almost every thing is a dealer item. Due to age many things are not sold anymore, those that are can be had on WWW sites but you still pay a steep price for them (at least they are there). But the good thing is that because it was so popular there are used parts at junk yards or on places like ebay. 4wheelers just dont have aftermarket parts like cars do. Well tractors dont really either unless its old iron and popular like the old deeres or fords or such.

 

[megaboz]

This is even a problem for honda's. I have an older 300trx which was one of the most popular lines they ever made. A solid atv and will run great. other than a few things aftermarket like filters and such almost every thing is a dealer item. Due to age many things are not sold anymore, those that are can be had on WWW sites but you still pay a steep price for them (at least they are there). But the good thing is that because it was so popular there are used parts at junk yards or on places like ebay. 4wheelers just dont have aftermarket parts like cars do. Well tractors dont really either unless its old iron and popular like the old deeres or fords or such.

I guess I am glad I have an Eiger. I can still find parts online for it pretty easily. But I do have a Honda too. Maybe time to trade it in.

 

[clemsonfor]

No im not saying you cant find them. But its certain parts. Its the same in the automotive industry, after so many years the dealer stops carrying stuff.

Like on my 89 trx. I cant buy the plastic on it most likely or the racks from honda, but why would i want that stuff really? That is better purchased used anyway. I can get an after market carb and probably engine rebuild kit, but if i want other things you need to get the honda stuff. All the main things are readily available.

As for vehicles i was looking for brake lines for my 1990 ford ranger, nothing, not even order them, i had to custom bend them. NOt a big deal but there are other things like that, but luckily the after market on vehicles is so large due to the volume there made in that there is a tremendous aftermarket for parts even 30 years out on most stuff.

 

[KentT]

I'm still kicking it around and I have looked at quite a few used Rangers....none under $7500. One thing I can say about the WWW, if someone has a a problem with a product they seem to get on there and bark really loud. I'll keep digging & report any interesting info here. I appreciate the responses.

You may want to look for used Yamaha Rhinos. They're very reliable, and parts are readily available. IMO, they're second only to Hondas in long-term reliability and build quality. This is a very dated design, as Yamaha who defined the UTV market was the target of numerous lawsuits, which they've now handled and won. They'll be introducing new models to compete with Polaris and CanAm machines soon... Many recreational riders, impatient with the delays, have switched to Polaris RZRs especially. They're a lot of good used Rhinos out there at affordable prices, which will do a combination of work and play.

And, living in TN, should you get the Rhino 450 you should be able to register it as a "medium speed vehicle" and ride it on state/local roads with <40 MPH speed limits. That may be a plus, depending on your circumstances... you can't do that with the machines governed to 25MPH, since they are categorized as slow moving vehicles like a farm tractor. Similarly, you can't readily do it with the faster, higher performance machines like the Rangers or RZRs -- they're too fast, unless you "fudge" on your declarations when you apply, and no one catches you doing it...

 

[crazyal]

I got my Honda Big Red from a dealer for not much more than that. It was a demo and last years model. I was going to get an ATV but really wanted a side by side (just didn't like the prices). Around here there wasn't much used that wasn't rode hard or priced like new.

 

[MotorSeven]

Kent, I think all Rino's are two seaters? I need a bench seat since my wife will use it to show property(she's a Realtor). We don't have to register to ride the roads here, the SO & Troopers don't mind as long as you are behaving yourself. 25mph might be a deal breaker for me though, but I have not driven one yet to see if I feel like I'm in slow mo.

KubotaToy, Thanks for the info, that is good to know it's holding up well. My Kodiak did not like skidding logs at all, so I gave up and started carrying them out on my shoulder. Even though they are Cedar, an 8' 10" log is heaaavy. I wonder why all UTV's don't have engine braking? My neighbors Ranger does not have it and the thing is not fun on these steep ridges of E. TN.....$10K & no engine braking is kind of silly.

JohnThomas, thanks, but no that is too rich form me...I'm down in the $6500 range.

 

[MotorSeven]

Mega, American Sportworks builds/assembles them in Roseland, Louisiana. They use mixture of parts from all over the globe and it looks like parts are not a problem. If these were shipped assembled from China parts availability would be a different story.

Here is their website:
American SportWorks®

 

[MotorSeven]

Well, my HD got one in so I took it for a test drive. I don't think the 25mph will be an issue as it seemed fast enough. The only negative was the poly bed is single wall, not double like on the Rangers. HD also jacked up the price for the "season" to $6,875. So my wife and I were talking it over while driving home, and I saw this for sale at a local RV business:

No, it's not a UTV replacement, but last year I sold my '01 Beartracker to my neighbor because I wanted another 4x4. Turns out, this is also a '01 and almost looks showroom new....even the tires are original. So the Big Bear came home to join the Kodiak

 

[MotorSeven]

 

[whistlepig]

Pretty remarkable shape for a '01.