A Honda Recon would do what you want to do, otherwise Id look hard at the Rancher... hard to go wrong with a Honda.
I’m a honda person. They just work, yes they cost more but they are worth it. Had many friends trade in their Polaris for Honda’s. I have never had a 4 wheeler. I started with a Kubota rtv900 then bought a honda Big Red sxs. This was b4 the pioneer. You can use the 4 wheeler to work but have to be careful what you tow, you have to be able to stop it. I think everyone here has enough brains and mechanical savvy to use a 4 wheeler for work. Hurry up, I want pics of whatever you choose!
Honda, Polaris, Ysmaha all make good reliable 4 wheelers Take your pick. Chief. Oh, my Honda Rancher broke my back in 3 places in 2011. Short wheel base got me but I’m still am alive. Chief
I'm running an 1984 Yamaha moto4. It's 2WD but it goes anywhere and even pushes snow. Deep snow puts a damper on the fun.
I wouldn't have it any other way. my quad is awesome for around the house and 40 acres where i cut next door. no sxs is going where i go. I really like the ride,power steering and handling of my polaris.
If you want reliable, and able to do any firewood and fun work, plus cheap... Get an older Kawasaki bayou. You can even pull start them easily. Don't let the 300 cc single displacement scare you. This thing is a tank. Mine was $1000 a few years ago, you'll see them for even less now. They are every bit as reliable, if not more so than the Honda 300s. It's a 3/4 size ATV, it will go places that a tractor can't fit, even places a full sized ATV can't fit. Here's my 91 bayou 300 klf300c. That's 4x8 trailer full of hardwood. That's a regular load for it. Throw it in low, it will go anywhere. We've got a Polaris sportsman 500ho as well, but this little bayou is a hard worker.
Here’s mine, after months of looking at used ATVs I opted for new. Simply because the price was not much more...I guess some people don’t believe in depreciation. Lots of great advice in this thread from a lot of very knowledgeable people. I will reiterate that any ATV is great when it is running but like most of the equipment we use maintenance is key. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It is simply amazing what some people want for a 20 year old ATV! Apples to apples we would not pay the same for a 20 year old car. But supply and demand dictates….
2001 Honda Foreman 450 here. Bought it a couple years ago. It was in great shape and was well maintained. 8500 plus KMs on it and doesn’t use a drop of oil. I only use it on our property for farm chores and wood lot management. It’s light and very manuverable. It goes way more places than our 38HP 4X4 tractor will and it won’t tear it up. With our tight trails it’s pretty much all I use for wood gathering. Our property can stay wet a while as well so it’s a lot easier on the trails. The only farm chore it can’t do is feed round bales. We use it more than the tractor. My only complaint is it’s full time 4X4. My Beother In Law has an 03 and his has the option of 2 wheel drive. Not sure if that was the first year for it or 02. Either way it’s a small price to pay for the enjoyment we get out of it.
2008 Rancher. 420ES. Electric shift and 4 wheel drive with a shift of a lever. Works well on my little woodlot. Picked it up for $3,500 in 2011 when it had 120 miles on it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Wow, this is great! Thanks for all the information, guys. I really had no clue on quads, just seems that nearly everybody I know owns at least one, and uses them for everything. My woods is highly variable terrain and there's a lot of areas that are simply inaccessible to my tractor without a lot of clearing and road building. Stuff I'd rather not have to do. I have a 4x6 dump trailer that could theoretically be towed by either the tractor or a quad. Had been looking at SxS Kubota and Gator for years but they're really not a lot smaller or more maneuverable in the woods than the tractor. I also like the idea of a small separate dump trailer for the ATV, that way I can use either the tractor or the quad depending on where I want to go. Or kids can use one and I can use the other and we can be more productive. I don't think I need 4x4 but it wouldn't hurt. I don't need it for anything else but firewood stuff and fun rides.
amen my brother!! Once I canned the sportsman for a Gator UTV, I knew I would never go back. Its a diesel and slow, but I get a lot of work and wood moved with it. I suggest looking on auction sites for a gator.
Warn (the winch co) does or did make a kit that will allow you to go between 2 and 4 wd. Had one on my 01 Foremen, traded the machine in when it had just over 11,000 miles.
You definitely need 4x4 if your going to work it, pull loads and such. I have a different take than most, I have a '13 Foreman EFI, '11 CanAm Outlander 800R with power steering and a '06 Mule diesel. No wheeler will do what a SxS will do and vice versa. The weight you can put in a SxS bed and tow will be unmatched by a wheeler and your going to pay good money to do that. There are many wheelers that will do a good job for you, and as you start seeing the work you can do with them you will find more task for it, may want to plan ahead. One thing I would think about is EFI, it will start so much better in the cold. Both my Foremen and Outlander will start @-50* the Outlander is a way nicer machine to work with. When tight spaces comes into play the Foreman is the tool for that job. Another thing to consider is power steering it is worth the money, I wont buy another wheeler without PS! Driving the Mule is like taking a small pickup to the woods, it will do lots of work and will cost you some headaches. There are lots of options for you out there and budget is normally the big consideration. Good luck with what you come up with, no matter what you get you will be amazed at the amount of work it going to do for you.
2010 Sportsman 500HO I’ve changed the battery and the oil and filter. Has worked out great for our property with lots glacial bones to go over. X3
