I called into my local radio swapnshop selling some stuff. I also put in a
wtb a used 4 wheeler. I got a few calls and give me your thinking on this one.

A young fellow called me. He has a 03 Rancher 4x4 low miles but the miles on it are hard trail ridding. He was pretty honest about it. He said
it has some body damage. He said the front plastic is cracked up pretty bad.
Said he was topping a hill and was losing it and jumped off and the ATV took a 6 roll over end over end roll. He said the front and some of the back is torn up.
He said that he got back on and it has not missed a beat engine wise.
That was about a year ago and he has rode it allot since then.
He is married and in a new house and has money crunch and its got to go.
Asking price $2300. In our conversation he said he would take $2,000.
He assured me that it was in fine running shape.

The only thing I use my Rancher for is pulling a grass sweeper on my 4 acres when needed. I do go to River once a weekend a year for a River ride, beer drinking, titty bar visit.
Ive got to old for all that but we old guys do it once a year.
Our annual River trip is coming up next weekend.. The seller told me I could take it and use it all weekend to see If I liked it . I don't like it for the money I don't buy it.. I told him if I didn't buy it Id give him some money for the loan. He assured me engine,running wise it was fine?
It is a reg shift. I sure liked my ES..

My main use is the pull the sweeper and dump grass to the horses.
I.m thinking the the 4x4 would be hard turning in the yard. But nice at the River.. How about one of the on demand 4x4 conversion kits?
How much is one of those and installed. I working nights this weekend and will see next week. He is suppose to send me a pic if so I will post

This was long but I wanted to give the whole story. If you have time
chew on this and give me your way of thinking. With 2 kids in college
money is tight in my house hold. And i'm a tight wad to begin with.
How much for a on demand 4x4 kit/installed.
How would I find a front cap? Ebay
Other damage???
raveatusit.net
ThanksText

 

This also comes with 4 super swampers and a new winch in the box.

 

Check to make sure the frame isn't cracked or bent. If the frame and engine are good, then I'd probably buy it. Two grand for a running bike isn't bad. Take it for the weekend and ride it. Worse comes to worse, you give it back. Sure is nice of him.

 

Sounds pretty good - Ranchers are tough and your uses seem mild.

If you go through with the deal and do not have use for the winch, please keep me in mind for it.

 

lol they are tough but not indestruckable look at my pics

 

Let me ask this qustion about the rancher and its 4x4.. I was reading somewere that the rancher will not start to be in 4 wheel untill after 6mp.. Pulling my grass catcher would not be over that.
Would the steering be like 2 wheel or be like 4x4 all the time.. Please explain this 4x4 to me.
Im not the sharpest tool in the shed so go easy..

I got another call from a felllow who has a 03 Rancher ES 2 wheel with 900 miles on it.
One owner and he wants $2,800 tomorrow and he is not budgeing. He said on Friday he will put in the paper for $3,300 and see were that goes. Said I can take it and have it checked out. He wants 4x4 for duck hunting.

I'm getting CONFUZZED on what to get. Say I buy that 4x4 Rancher for $1800 or $2,000 its got to have both sides replaced.
what would you do? come on just don't lurk talk to me make me think..
Tight *** in Tennesseee (as in cheap)

 

i'm a very frugal canadian. you know the difference between a Scotsman removing wallpaper and an Englishman? the Englishman is renovating, the Scotsman is moving!! Okay, that's cheap! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

this guy has been hugely honest. if you're real concerned, take it to an atv dealer, tell them the story and get them to look for other damage. the winch is worth $200 (ASSUMING it's a 2000lb Warn brand). you can sell that cuz you won't need it around for the use you described. also, leave the plastic alone, and the rack. you can remove the rack and bend it back pretty close to straight. who cares about the cosmetics, save yourself the $$.

i have watched my cousins/experts (to me anyways) take Honda 3-wheelers up steep stuff I won't even think about trying in my fancy, newer 4x4. they get 90% up and then power out and bail. then the tumble comes, and each bounce gets bigger. and you think, "that's it, it's totalled".they straighten the handlebars,dust themselves off, and away they go. these are 20+ year old units that have been thrashed and abused their whole lives. the plastic is stitched together in 100's of places with zap-straps. BUT they still run great. GRANTED, the 3-wheelers are much lighter, and the balloon tires help save it from being totalled in the tumbles... but these Hondas are tough. ANd who cares about the cosmetics.. don't waste your money. you're only gonna scratch it up eventually too. it doesn't have to tick like a watch, it only needs to be mechanically solid. even some slightly loose steering/suspension stuff will still run and perform for your uses, for ages.

also, this guy has told you the worst of it. whadya think has happened to the other one that you don't know about? they all get a bit of a thrashing at some point.

as for the 424 kit, it's called Warn 424. check to make sure a kit is available for your model. do a google search for Warn 424.i think they cost $200-300, plus install (takes 4 hours??). maybe you can barter the winch for the labor. Wolverine95 told me his is great, but a lot of guys i ltalk to say it's so expensive, save the $$ and find a quad that already has the ability to shift in/out of 4x4. I'd suggest, get the quad, see how you like the way it performs, THEN decide if you want to waste ( i mean spend) the extra $$. I think you'll find the full time 4x4 isn't that bad. it sure isn't like a 1976 Dodge Powerwagon with full-time 4x4!!

you said $$ was tight. if so, live with the cracked plastic, spend as little as possible, and scoop yourself a good deal.

 

As to your question on the drive system...there's nothing on the machine that makes it a 2x4 under 6MPH. I don't know where that idea came from. It's not really a true 4x4 either. It has a solid rear axle, and limited slip differential on the front. So really it's a 3x4. Whatever wheel in the front has the traction is supposed to get the power. That makes it pretty easy to turn too. It's about as easy steering 4x4 as you can find but...it's not quite as easy steering as the 2x4 model, and it doesn't turn quite as sharp either. I would think it would work fine for dragging your grass. If the guy is offering it to you to try out, go for it. Putting a few miles on it will tell you much about the machine.

 

Im gonna meet him today take it for a spin. I will take some pic for yall to see.
Ive got a bud who is pretty sharp on 4 wheelers Id like him to see it.
What is the engine compression suppose to be? How do you check a engine out?\
Im thinking time I buy the plastic its gonna be $400.. I've got to get more tires and rims. Id like the keep the Super Swampers for the river trip. That will be prob $200... Im thinking about that unlock.
Id have $2,800 plus in this wrecked Rancher....

Now that guys 03 Rancher ES 2x4 900 miles for $2800 sounds better. Im likeing the on demand 4x4
Thanks for all the comments keep em coming

 

does the $2800 one have "on-demand" 4x4?? you pegged it for engine, check compression. I don't know what it's supposed to be.also, valves sometimes need adjusting (which is easy to do), and may have a clicking sound. if you're gonna spend ANY $$ fixing up the other one, yer right, don't bother.. get the one you don't have to spend $$ on. i thot you wanted to save $$.

aye! yer notta Scotsman! you probably missed Robbie Burns Day 2 days ago, and never had yer haggis![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]