Hello all, I am new to the ATV world. I am a Jeeper from way back though so I understand a lot of the terminology, and Tread Lightly! principles.

I am in the middle of purchasing an 05 400 Arctic Cat auto LE. How does this machine perform? I plan to use it to get into the good hunting grounds in Alaska, and also for recreation around home. The hunting area is 30 or 40 miles in from all civilization. Is this the ATV to trust to get out there and back? Is it going to have enough power? I am 6'5" and weigh 220lbs.

Thanks for any help you can offer

 

there geared low and desinged to move alot of weight so hauling you is not going to be problem with your hunting equipment. If you want to go faster get the 500cc. In either case get the manual trans. there most bulletproof of the cats though there all good. the 400 will give you better gas mileage obviously but they have 6.5 gallon tank on them. Carry a spare 5 gallon gas tank with you and on the 400 you could problably drive for 200 miles.

 

I agree that the 400 will get the job done. But I feel that the 400 auto it as bullet proof as the manual tranny. Just won't have as quick acceleration or the top speed of the manual. But has all the grunt you will need, plus you don't have shift it. I opted for the manual for the price given me on my manual, but that was a one of a kind special deal.

 

thanks for the info fellas.

Is the AC water or air cooled? How hard is the drive belt to change? How often does it need changed? How expensive is it?

 

The 400 is air and oil cooled with a big oil cooler with thermostaticly controlled fan. The 500 is water cooled. The 650 is both water and oil cooled. There have been guys that have gotten 10,000 miles on a belt in the 400 and 500, most get many thousands of miles with no problems. The 650 has a Kawasaki set up that sucks and isnot anywhere as good as the AC belt and tranny. Belt for the 400 and the 500 (same belt and tranny) is $132.54 per AC.

 

ok, I have another question.

can someone post up a good picture of the snow plow that was optional on the A/C, preferably with a good pic of the mount.

I didnt buy the plow with the rig since I am a fair habd at fabbign stuff up so I figure I will try to make my own.

 

Hey naturalbornmudder,
Depending upon where you bought your Cat, they may have a better selection then where I bought mine. I've had great service at the dealer, my problem poor selection of available plows , so I went with an Arctic Cat Plow. It's only weak spot that I found was the mounting plate where you hook your wench cable to. It bends very easy if you happen to be plowing below 0 and push into something solid a little too fast and the plate will bend in nothing flat. Arctic Cat doesn't stock replacement parts for it's plows. I choose not to go with a metal plow since I was just doing my driveway and a few others on my '03 400 ACT auto and once I chained up, there were no problems at all. But if you can fab parts up, the Cat plow isn't too bad and I paid something like $300 for the whole set up.
As fas as belt problems, my wife and I have crossed some serious water hazards that we shouldn't have without a belt getting damp or slipping. Our 400's have taken everything and then some that we've thrown at then and have never have one problem.
Good luck with your new Cats

 

Whats going on guys!

I have been trying to decide between a AC 500Auto or a Yamaha 450 Kodiak--both 05's and the same price. The reason Im leaning towards the 500 is the free 2 year warrenty with it plus a little bigger which can hurt in some situations? Tough choice for me

Natural Mudder, what do you do up there in the AF (I assume you are in the AF)

 

yes I am AF.

I am a munitions troop(AMMO). I have been up here for 2 years and another 2 to go. I was down your way last summer and you guys got a nice town down there, climate is a lot more mild etc. Plus you guys hoard all of the good fishing[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Hey AK guys,
I thought I watched a TV Ad for Arctic Cat offering 3 yr warranty on new ATV's . Don't remember if it was for '05's or '06's. Holla, you won't be happy with the Yamaha after a couple years. Maintenance costs as well as parts are higher then a cats back! Yamaha seems to price their parts higher then everybody else. When I worked in a ATV/snowmachine repair shop, we never had 1 Arctic Cat ATV in for repairs in the two years that I was there and the other least trouble free was Suzuki. Polaris was #1 for repairs and Yamaha second. Whether or not you choose to believe me is your choice, but that is why I bought Arctic Cat and will always.