Looking to upgrade to a beefy quad that can handle food plot chores, including light tillage.

Opinions on Deere Buck 500 vs. Arctic Cat 500 manual? Both have gear-on-gear trannies and seem heavy-duty. A little concerned that the Deere may not be around after the 2006 model year, since their deal with Bombardier to produce Deere quads expires. I do like the Buck's solid rear axle.

Originally, I was planning on a Traxter 500, but, since they announced its discontinuance, I dunno. In any case, Traxters are hard to find in my neck of the woods.

I know, a real tractor would be best, but I really have no place to store one. FWIW, I've grown great food plots with my '02 Kodiak for four consecutive seasons now. Sometimes, though, it seems like the machine is a little stressed after several hours of discing, however, nothing has broke yet.

 

Well sodking, I just don't what to tell you. I have a Traxter and love it for the ranch. I can't recomend one because of the direction that BRP is going. I'm in this for the long term and I don't know about parts 7 years from now? Parts were hard to get 2 years ago when I bought it!!!!
I looked at the Cat also but I needed a straight axel for what I was doing. The Cat looked VERY well built though. Sad to say I just can't recomend Bombardier anymore.
If you don't want a belt drive, that leaves very few ATV's to choose from. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

 

Of those two quads, for the work you want to do, I don't think you can go wrong. Doctorturbo might have a point on the parts issue, but with regular maintenance it shouldn't be an issue. I have only ridden the Traxter once, and don't remember much about it. However I have spent a lot of time on Arctic Cats. My dad has a 500 he brought brand new in 2000 and it has been running like a champ. The newer ones have even more power, and come with a good warantee. Don't be worried about their IRS, turn it up to the hardest setting and that thing won't squat one bit.

Finally, be sure to ride both of them, and see what you like the best. Good luck.

 

Sodking do you want a liquid cooled quad... may i recommend the Honda 500 Rubicon... Auto Tranny... Built to pull by the settings it has... and the Electric Shift option also, and for another plus it does has a solid rear axel

 

Been using a Cat 500i manual on my farm for over two years. It has been great - rock solid, strong as a mule, no problems. I was dumb enough to ignore all the people who said get a live axle for pulling power. Glad I did. The Cat has pulled everything from trailers loaded with firewood to 20' cedar logs, and shows no signs of wear on the independent rear. And the ride is a whole lot easier on my back.

I don't see parts for the Deere/Bomby being a problem any time soon. They discontinue quads all the time, most of the parts are still available for years to come. A lot of parts interchange across models, especially engine parts. I also looked at the Traxter, but as my farm is pretty rough in places, I got the Cat for the higher ground clearance.

Now for reality - a quad, even a big bruiser like the Cat 500, is not a tractor. It's a lousy substitute for a tractor. Pulling power is weak, no deadstick throttle, they don't turn very well, no PTO to run implements, and they just don't have the weight needed to get useful traction. When I have to work the land, or drag something really large, I park the Cat and get on my JD 1050.

For the price of one of the larger quads, you could keep the Kodiak and get one of the mini tractors like the JD 800 line or Ford 1000. Have to buy them used, but they're pretty durable. Not much larger than a quad, as easy to transport, and much more productive.