Used ATV- best bang for the buck?

I was thinking a 350 Rancher with the Warn 424 kit would give you a smaller package and the ability to go to 2wd when desired. Honda has since adopted the same type system on the newer 400 and 420 Rachers (they call it trax-loc or something). A 350 Rancher isn't much wider than my Foreman though. I can get it into some pretty tight quarters.

 

I had a Suzuki king quad 300. It had 3 ranges and 4x4 plus differential lock for the front. It would out pull all the other guys bigger Yamaha and Honda 500s. I then sold and went to a 500 arctic cat. I used them for farm work and the 300 made over 3k miles. It would pull a old 60s truck bed trailer with a load of wood around fine. Stopping was the only problem in that with 1.5 tons of weight behind 1k lbs of atv. The Arctic cat was even bigger and we moved a 847 round baler around with it. Needed someone on the front rack to help balance it down to steer but pulled it fine. I never seen good reliability out of Polaris with the other guys that used them for more than a trail ride occasionally.

 

I just sold my AC 500...
They are impressive...
Not as nimble as Levi's recon, but oh boy would they tow!

Pretty good in snow too...

 

Mine was the same color. They were strong. I got a f250 stuck hooked to my 16' cattle trailer and it got it moving enough to get it out. Surprised the heck out of me to move almost 10k lbs.

 

I bought a Honda TRX 250 used 14 years ago and it has not had a single problem.
Not very handy with firewood, but it gets around great and hauls-azz for a 250.

 

The Polaris sportsman 500 is a great quad. We got our 2004 500ho in 2003. It's practically bullet proof. I've heard good things about Honda ranchers and Rubicon's, but I don't like paying 500 cc price for an air/ fan cooled 400. Plus Polaris machines have been very reliable for my family.

 

OK, so I checked out the 6x6. It's a Polaris Sportsman, 500 water cooled. It looks like a quad with an additional drive axle, not a SxS.
It's a 2000 model, 356 hrs., 1060 miles. Factory Warn winch (2K), 48" plow. New Batt, new rear tires. It's seen some use but not bad, a few cracks in the rear fenders, nothing serious. Dump bed works fine, needs new tailgate cables.
I know the guy, used to work across the street from me. He'll prob. go to $3300. It's been serviced at a local motorsports shop in Frisco yearly, he has the records.
So, what'cha think?

 

Sounds like a deal. Those are solid motors, and well built atv's.

 

So, should I pull the trigger for that price? He say's it's a climber, that's what I need. I need to call him tomorrow before the ad. hits the local paper.

 

I've always liked those...
But I can't say that they are bullet proof mechanically...
Sometimes ya just gotta get what ya want, and see what happens...

 

No ATV will tolerate pulling heavy loads very long. You need hydro-static for that. Polaris CVT, and all the other's centrifugal clutches will just not stand up to heavy loading. Use some restraint, and follow the mfrs recommendations of light maximum loads. When shopping for a used atv, and a guy tells you about how tough it is and the big loads he's pulled with it, walk away. Clutch repair on any "reliable" atv will run you between $600-$1000 at a shop, less if you buy cheap parts, tools, and manuals, then try it on your own.

 

More bullet proof than the arctic cat stuff. I know it's got a lot of suzuki DNA in cat quads, but there's still to much cat "engineering" in them.

There's a reason Polaris is and has been the best selling quad for a long time.

I agree with xskiers post above. Follow the recommendations from the manufacturer, and you'll be OK. Treat it like a 3/4 took truck, and something will give.

 

You clearly don't know your yamahas.

 

You clearly don't know tractors...
Hydro??
For heavy pulling???
That is rediculous..

 

Haha... Yes, Gears and a Clutch is where it's at!!!

 

I think the OP should get that 6x6 if he likes them.. Take good care of it, and let us know if it is a reliable machine..
Horkn says the Polaris stuff is good. I can't disagree, since I've never owned one.
The Hondas we've had have always surprised me with how durable they are. Surely, they've made a lemon at some point?
The arctic cat had no repairs in the 6 years I owned it, but I didn't abuse it either, so who knows..

 

I have a 1994 polaris 400L 4x4 its a 2 stroke.Its not let me down got alot of hours on it.It's pushed alot of snow.Ive had to do a few things to it over the years.I will keep it going as long as I can.I would like to find another.

 

They only reason I would stay away from a polaris is the cam lobes in the early 4 strokes would wear down.The mid 90's from what Ive heard.