I started looking for a 4 wheeler for the farm and need some advice on what to buy/look for. Im in the blackland and the mud gets pretty bad so will probably get 4 wheel drive. I want to use it to ride my fences and check on the cows mostly. Im tired of beating the heck out of my truck and rutting up the pasture. I will carry some fencing stuff once in awhile and maybe a sack of feed or two. Im not really interested in a mule/gator and will probably pull a small trailer if I need to carry something. Im mainly considering the kawasaki or Honda right now because dealers are handy. Any advice would be appreciated.
- Thread starter gorilla
- Start date
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I've got a 2wd 250cc (shaft drive). Not too big or too small good on gas and fun. Mine is chinese (jainshe) but just a rebadged yamaha beartracker from a couple years before. I pull a trailer loaded with up to 30 bales of hay, pull a harrow, and used it once to pull an old horse drawn rake/tedder. I weigh 250 pounds and it hauls me, the dog, and whatever junk (useful stuff) I pile on. Didn't cost an arm and leg either.
Couple times I wished it was 4wd, but it does what I want.
Dave
glennster
Well-known Member
either honda or kawaski make good machines, and with close dealer support that is a plus. i have polaris and yamaha quads, no complaints with either. the mid size 250-500 cc machines are way more manuverable than the big 700 cc plus machines, and if a couple years old are not that expensive, 2-4 grand. we have a few guys in our neck of the woods that are buying old used suzuki samuria suv's. kind of a little jeep clone. they can be had pretty cheap, and when you take the torch to them, you can make a handy little field beater. the used samurias can be had for under a grand.
I have a Honda Foreman 4x4 ES (electric shift) that I've had for 6 years, 3500 miles. It starts every time and runs really well, the only issue I have with it is the ES. It requires a really strong battery to shift properly. I just put the forth battery in it a month ago. When the battery gets a little weak it refuses to shift untill it charges, which requires a long warm up time, or keeping a battery tender on it when not in use. It's been a good one other than that, but when I get ready to get a new one it wont be an ES model if I can help it. My 2 cents.
Mark
Mark
We have a 4X4 yamaha 250 and a polaris 4x4 425 But what I use is a lifted easy=go golf cart with traction tires and a seat/bed on the back has the orignal bin under the bed plus bins in the dash and cup holders. the engine starts when you push the foot feed and dies when you let up. The dealers now take trade ins and put big tires and etc on them are about 3500 for a 07 or 08.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Look at a Polaris 6x6 big boss. Bought a new 2000 to replace my 98 model. Great for hauling material and tools. Plenty of power and a good ride. The new one has fuel injection and independent suspension. There not cheap but, sure are good for work situations.
Moline_guy
Well-known Member
I use to run a few kawasakis, i have used Hondas the last 8 years and would not go back. I have had some repairs but for the most part you just cant beat them for starting, idling and just over all dependability.
The 250 Recon is only 2wd but it goes through a lot, my Foreman 450 is 4wd and is not as nimble as the recon but is a good workhorse. The Ranchers would be your best bet they are 4wd and light on there feet with a good set of racks.
My 2 cents on it, I don't know how people run cattle without them.
The 250 Recon is only 2wd but it goes through a lot, my Foreman 450 is 4wd and is not as nimble as the recon but is a good workhorse. The Ranchers would be your best bet they are 4wd and light on there feet with a good set of racks.
My 2 cents on it, I don't know how people run cattle without them.
Now wait a minute glennster:
Bet you're just saying something bad about the Polaris 700 cause my daughter can go faster than your's! LOL
You're right though, old 400 was a lot more nimble. Us "old" guys should prolly get the UTV, course next thing you're riding around the fields in a golf cart. Seem to remember you saying some about the MIL's cart!
Bet you're just saying something bad about the Polaris 700 cause my daughter can go faster than your's! LOL
You're right though, old 400 was a lot more nimble. Us "old" guys should prolly get the UTV, course next thing you're riding around the fields in a golf cart. Seem to remember you saying some about the MIL's cart!
macec3(TX)
Member
My cousins husband owns an ATV repair shop. He repairs all types and also works on a few motorcycles, but mostly ATV's. He says the most trouble free 4-wheeler is Honda with manual shift. Honda 350 with manual shift and 2 wheel drive is what I have and I've been very satisfied. Only bought a couple batteries and put brushes in starter in 7 years. Always starts and ready to go.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Some PVC pipe, zip ties, some junk wood or crates, and let the neckiness take over.......
A pioneer tool rack from a HMMWV is real handy..
And a dog...........
Thanks for all the input. I talked to a couple of guys today that have yamaha's and they really like em. I will probably take a look at those too. Most everybody seems to like the Honda's though. They seem to have a little wider turning radius on them but I will definitly have a look. Thanks again for the help!
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
That box looks handy as all get out.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
The Quad Queen is about the only one that gets to use it. It's mine when she's raising puppies.
Dave
John Harmon
Member
We have an 2001 Polaris 500 sportsman and a 2007 Arctic cat 500 ,both 4WD and can not find fault with either.The Polaris has a solid rear axle and the Arctic Cat is independant suspension .Personally I find no difference in the ride in either.The Cat has acceleration that the Polaris can only wish for is one difference . I like the push and pin accesory rack on the Cat and the Cat steers some better than the sportsman but not enough to base a buying decision on. The Cat has a 2" receiver that the Polaris lacks and I Fabbed a box to carry stuff in using a peice of 2" tubing to slide into and pin in the receiver. Makes a nice place to carry tow straps etc. Overall either machine is a good choice .
(quoted from post at 15:10:48 03/01/10)
Yeah well, I've got an '87 Suzuki 250 4x4 and a '94 300 King Quad and they have been real good to me ..... 3 ranges = 15 speeds forward and 3 reverse plus differential lock in 'super low' makes up for a lot of cubic inches plus they're pretty cheap on the used market.
glennster
Well-known Member
jim, i spend a lot more time on the golf cart than on the 4 wheelers. i bought one that has the flip down rear seat to a little flat bed. 2001 yamaha gasser. even had knobbys put on the back. got a drink holder, winshield, headlites, tail lites and brake lites. so far i havent flipped the golf cart over yet!!! flipped my yamaha 350 warrior over backward in the creek. also the honda 3 wheeler. and my jd riding mower, rolled that over side ways twice and once over backward. im getting way too old for that stuff.
Moline_guy
Well-known Member
My foreman is manual shift, i havent used an electric shift so i don't know much about them. It has around 7000 miles on it and is a 2000. About the only thing i know to watch out for is the left outside rear axle bearing is usually the first thing to go out and its not to bad to replace if caught in time.
Yea, he is good help, won't be long though and i suppose the trouble years will be here.
Don't have a picture of the foreman except this one.
Yea, he is good help, won't be long though and i suppose the trouble years will be here.
Don't have a picture of the foreman except this one.
Don't know about the newer ones but I bought a Honda Foreman new in 04. It is the 4X4 450M. SOME OF THE BEST MONEY I HAVE SPENT!!! It has around 3,000 miles on it and I have put tires on it, changed a fuse and oil. That's it. I use it every day to check cows and feed calves. For fence'n chores you just can't beat it paired with a old toyota truck bed trailer. A little frame built out of 2X6's straped on the back rack will haul 3 five gallon buckets of feed and it still drives good. The only time I have really worked it hard is pulling black locust trees out of the woods to cut up for post. It is small enough I can get through the woods and big enough I use it to jockey around empty tobacco wagons.
What ever you get the only bought add on I would real highly recomend is the bolt on reese type hitch. That takes handy to the whole next level there.
I have a little spot light that I can mount to the handle bar that works like a cop car spotlight. Real handy little thing for find'n cows in the dark. I have heard that they are handy for thin'n deer too but I don't know about that.
Good luck, what ever you get I hope your's works out as well as mine has.
Dave
What ever you get the only bought add on I would real highly recomend is the bolt on reese type hitch. That takes handy to the whole next level there.
I have a little spot light that I can mount to the handle bar that works like a cop car spotlight. Real handy little thing for find'n cows in the dark. I have heard that they are handy for thin'n deer too but I don't know about that.
Good luck, what ever you get I hope your's works out as well as mine has.
Dave
armand tatro
Well-known Member
Glennster: Good thing you own a good body shop!!! Armand
landlord7012
Member
I think you meant to say the Polaris rear is posi traction, if you have a solid live axle you do not have a 500 or you do not have a 2001.
Leyland-270
Member
Toro makes an incredible grounds keeper type unit. 4x4 and power to spare. Of course they are in the 8 to 10k range new I was told but if it is your price range I would check it out. Myself I run Yamaha because that is what is available locally and have no complaints. Got 7 of em ranging from an 04 back to an 89. All I can grip about is that no cheap aftermarket battery is as good as the ones they came with new.
Friends and family have all different brands, have seen a bad one yet unless it was abused. I have noticed that the newer Yamaha's are better on fuel than some. Some Polaris are a bit sluggish and some will take your breath away. Old friend of mine has two Kawasaki's, one would not pull the hat off of your head the other would replace a small tractor. My 04 yamaha is a 400 with an ultramatic trans. Plenty of power and anyone can run it without hurting it. Drove it 30 miles through the ditches and used far less than a gallon of fuel. The 2 stroke polaris with us used close to 3 gallons.
Friends and family have all different brands, have seen a bad one yet unless it was abused. I have noticed that the newer Yamaha's are better on fuel than some. Some Polaris are a bit sluggish and some will take your breath away. Old friend of mine has two Kawasaki's, one would not pull the hat off of your head the other would replace a small tractor. My 04 yamaha is a 400 with an ultramatic trans. Plenty of power and anyone can run it without hurting it. Drove it 30 miles through the ditches and used far less than a gallon of fuel. The 2 stroke polaris with us used close to 3 gallons.
I just got a 2010 Honda Rancher ES/PS. What a great mchine. Dragged a big buck, up a STEEP hill, in 12 inches of snow with my friend on the back!
The PS is great for spot spraying with the wand in the left hand. Also has an auto mode so it will shift electrically on its own. It's Fuel injected, has selectable 2wd/4wd. Has IRS. Everything we always wanted in a quad.
AND..I sold my minty 2001 Honda for $3900 so they will hold their value.
Gordo
The PS is great for spot spraying with the wand in the left hand. Also has an auto mode so it will shift electrically on its own. It's Fuel injected, has selectable 2wd/4wd. Has IRS. Everything we always wanted in a quad.
AND..I sold my minty 2001 Honda for $3900 so they will hold their value.
Gordo
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
As a much less expensive alternate to a 4 wheeler
I use large garden tractors.My Simplicity Sunstar with ATV tires gets used all the time around my farm.It'll go just about anywhere and is great to check fences on the hilly terrain I have but its not as fast as a 4 wheeler with a top speed of around 10MPH but I'm not in a big hurry anyway.
I use large garden tractors.My Simplicity Sunstar with ATV tires gets used all the time around my farm.It'll go just about anywhere and is great to check fences on the hilly terrain I have but its not as fast as a 4 wheeler with a top speed of around 10MPH but I'm not in a big hurry anyway.
D.B. in Mi.
Member
I don't think you can go wrong with a Honda. I would avoid the electric shift.Even the dealer told us they have alot of problems with them. We got the fuel injected , manual shift and we love it. we got the 420 model. Nice machine. 4wheel shaft drive, automatic foot shift, so no clutch.And Hondas seam to go forever.
John Harmon
Member
Beg your pardon but my Polaris 500 Sportsman ,Magnum model does have a solid rear axle and it is chain driven, it is full time 4 wheel drive also and is titled 2001. It does not have a positraction differential either.My Arctic Cat 500 has an independant suspension and differential final drive which has lock options for the front axle and on the fly 4 wheel drive.
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