Been a life long dream of mine to have a 4x4 and so now I've finally decided to put out the money to make it happen. My budget's 2,000 - 2,500 so obviously I'm looking for something used, and I'm writing in to ask you guys what I should be looking for a what I should avoid.

I'll be using it mostly for just moderate trail riding and camping so it doesn't have to be a monster machine. Requirements are that it have a lot of potential rack space, automatic and be fully 4x4. So far after looking at a lot of offers I seem to be settling on some of the 2005-2007 Polaris Sportsman models. They seem to have some flexibility as to what type of components you can add on...racks, gun racks, etc.

I'm fairly mechanically inclined and could probably do any maintenance or part upgrade outside of getting too deep into the motor.

So what are some of the models I should be looking out for? And are there any I should be avoiding?

Also, so far craig's list has been my only source to find sellers. Any other suggestions for where to look for leads?

Thanks

 

You can buy 2005-2007 4x4s for $2000-$2500?
Last summer I bought my 2007 Mid size chassis 350 Grizzly 4x4 for $3600 Canadian and I thought that was a good deal.

 

That's around $1,000 under the dealers asking price. They could be good deals or they could be beat up really bad. You really have to look at them close up to see anything wrong that may not be obvious at first. Personally I've had really good experiences with Polaris since 1997 except the ADC went out on my current one. That was after somebody borrowed it so I don't know what happened to it. I don't even know if those years had ADC which I don't need in the first place.

 

If you can find a Sportsman X2 500 in your price range it has a dumpbox on the back that is really handy. It can transform into a passenger seat too. It is rated 400 lbs. in the rear. I had one and only moved on to get a machine with more top end speed-wise.

 

Really grateful for all the support! No piece of info or advice is out of place here.

Based on some of the initial feedback I've changed my parameters just a little, I think much toward the better. First I'm increasing my budget to, at tops, $3500. I'm sure that'll help get me into a much less worrisome 4x. Also, the requirement for full auto is now dropped. I'm not a stranger to a foot shifter so that should be no problem. And lastly even though the Polaris have great rack options I've heard just enough negative about the older ones that I'll be steering away from them somewhat. Still looking for something with good carrying capacity and fully 4x4 though.

Any additional suggestions come to mind now that my budget's been given a boost?

 

Does "fully 4x4" mean it is always in 4 wheel drive? Because the Honda Rancher can switch to 4x4 but it can also be 2wd. I hear that Can-Ams have a lot of rack space, but I think they are more expensive. What are you looking for as far as displacement goes? Honda offers more power at higher costs, Can-Am starts their line up with high displacement quads. I can speak first hand about the reliability of Hondas Can-Am I have no idea. So sorry I have been talking so long I hope you got at lease something out of it.

 

I was thinking "fully 4x4" means it has a true AWD system of some kind like Can AM, Polaris or a diff lock option.

Your chances of getting auto rather then a foot shifter are very good since 90% of all 4x4 have been CVT for quite some time now, so the odds are in your favor there.

You mixed up on that one. Honda has the only 500 4x4 that does not reach 30hp when most others are 35hp+ on average. Hondas 680 4x4 does not break 40hp when that displacement should be 45hp or better on most other brands.
That will not change if they sick with their OHV motors. Everyone else uses SOHC or even DOHC now.

 

Oh my bad

 

Honda doesn't advertise their horsepower like some other brands do but I believe my 500 H.O. is almost the same HP as their 680. I wouldn't want one of their underpowered 500s but some people are happy with them.

 

Yamaha Kodiak 450 4x4 might be another quad you could find in that price range. The 450 has high/low range and diff-lock. Probably more than adequate power for what type of riding you're planning on doing. Might cost a little more than the $2500 you have budgeted but you might get lucky and find one for that.