ATVs

[Shedcrazy]

I have started to look for ATVs and I know brand type is a personnel preference but what do you guys consider must haves on a quad...

Also size seems to be a big issue for me...I want one mainly for tooling around looking for sheds, getting gear into sheep camp and for hauling out the odd elk or moose.

Not one for joy riding and don't plan on hunting off of one...

So I have been considering going to a 400-500 (tops) but everyone seems to want to go big (600-700).....I would perfer to get it in the back of a truck box for around home hunts.

For work I have used hondas and Yamahas and have been happy with both....

[bagwan]

You're bang on for size. I have a 450 Yam and use it like you say you will. I also have a snow blade and its amazing what they can do. I use the winch on downed moose to roll them as old age and infirmities have caught up to me. I hook onto a leg and roll it up to the front of the quad for gutting. Also can get you out of trouble if stuck. Haven't got this quad stuck yet, but sooner or later it'll happen. I also invested in hand and thumb warmers (same controller) as I'm out in the winter blading as I do a few other seniors driveways and in front of our senior center. Most brands will do the job. Probably the best one is what you like and the right price. My son is in the process of deciding on one as well and he likes the new Honda 420 and Suzuki 450. I think he said the Honda didn't have the independant suspension but thats not a detriment unless you're riding all day or whatever. I bought this new Yamaha because of the better suspension and am kicking my rump that I didn't keep the old one for the difference it made.

[huntercam]

I have a Honda Rubicon 500 automatic and i have had it in some pretty tough condtions i have Mud Lights on it a 2500lb Warn i will say it has been upside down in a crick up to the tank in muskeg pulle 8 Moose 2 elk and tons of deer out of the bush and never let me down if i was replacing it I would go the same route and drags the tandem around up and down with no problum through a set of chains on when its frozen and your good to go anywhere.

Just my 2 cents

[lilsundance]

My partner just picked up the Honda 420fm. I talked him into getting it over trying to find the 2006 Honda 350fm he took it for a spin through the snow and into the ditch in front of his place. there was about a foot of water and ice on top. He broke through the ice and just kept chugging through and out the other side ( with the stock tires). He phoned me after and said I have only two words to say. "Holy frac". He has the 300 honda now and says the new one has all kinds of power for the kind of things we use them for. I will be getting the Honda 420 later this summer after I save some more money for the down payment.
What we use the quads for are for hauling camp in, Riding in the afternnoons while hunting and occasionally a trail ride or two in summer scouting.
Of course it goes without saying we haul meat from where ever we down it to camp.
For what you are going to be using it for the 420 would be a perfect machine. You definetly don't need to go bigger. For years we only had 2 wheel drive quads and trikes with 185 and 200 cc engine in them. They went through more muskeg carrying camp and moose (1/4 or 1/2 at a time). We followed a guy in an argo trough some mean stuff one time and he sat on the other side watching and when we got there he just was amazed we made it. lol We told him that that was nothing, wait til he hits the next hole 1/2 km up the line. he took off and when we got there he was stuck in the argo. We just waved as we went past at a snails pace. He got himself unstuck and turned around and went back. We went onto camp. COurse we were much younger and a lot more bullheaded back then. lol
One nice thing about the old trikes and my old quad was when you did get them stuck it wasn't any touble for two guys to just pick it up and move it over a foot to get going again. In fact I still use my 200e honda trike. Never a thing done to the motor since it has been in our group.

[trev357]

i'm a bear and deer guide and have seen lots of atvs i feel mine is the best set up honda 450 forman elctrice shift a few things that are a must
1. over sized tires front and back mud lites i cant turn on a dime but you get more traction
2.nothing over a 500 or less than 400 to heavy and to light
3. a full belly pan from the bottom of the winch to the back
when your sinking and making rutts it helps to get the atv to ride up on top instead of the stock shield that grab and pull the atv down
4. no manual foot shift, things get jamed in them and bang your ankles hard and when you in a water hole stuck you got to wet to shift
5 automatics are nice but i'v seen sticks ice and mud get jamed and cant move the lever till its cleared and its a pain when you stuck in a water hole up to your seat

[FiveO]

I personally like the Honda's. I traded my 350 for the 500 Rubicon last June and love the new machine. If your looking for a work horse easy to mantain go with Honda. Honda is more expensive, for example New 07 Rubi around $10000.00 without winch, Tires, box hand warmer's and with these accesories expect to pay about $12000.00 when its all said and done.
As far as weight goes there are some light bigbores out there like the Suzuki King it weighs the same as the Rubi and not as much money.

[bobcatguy1]

Some things I consider necessary on Atv's are a winch , at least 2000 lbs. Hand & thumb warmers, good mud grip tires, I have bear claws. Also make sure whatever you get has a full foot guard My old honda had only pegs much like a motorbike & sticks or rocks can hit the bottom of your feet. Definetly takes the fun out of your day. I haven't seen any models lately without the guards but it is something to watch out for.

[prairieboy]

Another vote for the Honda Rubicon.My 2002 model has been trouble free,and the hydrostatic transmission is smooth and reliable with no belts to slip or break.It isn't the fastest machine,or the smoothest riding,but it is a great working quad.

[varmitr]

MUST HAVES:
hand and thumb warmers, windsheild, liquid cooled, hi-clearance smooth susp and selectable diffs. absolutely nothing but a automatic tranny, manual trans have outlived there life in quads. when quadding there is enough stuff to pay attn to leave the shifting to the machine...
if i were in the market for one again, arctic cat 500cc auto, would probly be my first choice, followed by a suzy vinson, honda would be next. none others.
most all this class of bikes are in the 600+/-lb range. so a smaller engine bike really doesnt weight porportionately less, so the HP to weight ratio suffers. go 500

[HUNTNUT]

Actually FiveO you can still get new '06 rubicon with a winch for under $10,000.

[FiveO]

Machine WITH WINCH $10000.00
Tires $ 500.00
thumb/hand warmers $100.00
Box $250.00
GST
TOTAL: $11501.00

[HUNTNUT]

You should shop around
Quad with winch-9799.00
26" tires-400.00
The rest is about the same

[bruteforce2006]

450 honda rubicon for what you want to do, just my choice though.

[prairieboy]

450 honda rubicon for what you want to do

The rubicon is still a 500 in 2007 as it always has been.

[bruteforce2006]

sorry, I guess it was going faster than i thought, as i blew past it.:lol still a good quad. I used to have a 96 400 foreman up till last year. Never broke down and for some reason always had to pull the moose home, after we patched the polaris up to get it out of the bush "the way out". I do love independent suspension but the reliability of the honda is very good.

[DUKE]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g88/SASKCAN/S3600234.jpg
i was in the same boat as you.. wanted a quad for shed hunting, somehunting/fishing/farm work.. nothing fancy.. wasn't(haven't) been sold on the automatics "yet" this is a 07 400 Yamaha Bigbear(manual tranny- locking front diff, 2wd-4wd switch) with winch for under $9 g's plus it came with the mudlight tires. good luck in your search it was tough. test drive all that you can and hit all those atv forums for advice and see which atv's have the biggest problems.. Duke

[Shedcrazy]

Thanks for all the replies and keep them coming....I have been reading a lot of specs and still haven't decided...going to kick some tires this week and maybe ride a few (advantage of a small town!!) and see which one I like best....

[craveman]

My father rides a 99 400 honda FM,and i ride a 450 FM manual shift,never any troubles with either,have pulled a kodiak out and a 500 polaris sportsman broken down.For ride quality the polaris is the best IMO but the rough ride on my reliable honda,would make me if needed buy another.The 450 has more power then i need as i'm a big man,and pulling a trailer with a whole moose,and all my day gear not even an over heat.I do believe Tires are extremely important,we both moved the rear to the front when new and put vampire's on the back,ppl don't like to be behind us on a soft trail,and just walk through most muskeg...........thats most lol,once your sunk to the seat your stuck!