Hi, folks!

I'm currently trying to decide what ATV to purchase for farm/agricultural use at my house.

My main tasks will be:

1. Dragging logs out of the woods for cutting, etc.
2. Plowing my driveway in winter.
3. (Hopefully) doing mowing with either a deck attachment or one of the pull-behind self-contained mowers.

This ATV will be totally for utility use.

I know I'm going for a 4x4 - I've got that much narrowed down, anyway.

The shop near me steered me hard toward a Polaris Sportsman X2. Electric start, EFI, two-seat option (it's more fun if my wife comes along), were all good features.
However, the X2's around $8k, and that's before I even purchase the winch/plow attachments, etc. It's a 500cc, which promises good torque, which i'm gonna need if I'm pulling 3-500lb logs out of the woods. If it's still the best machine for my application, then I'm all over it.
I'm sure that there are folks out there who are using an ATV for this purpose, and if you have any information or opinions to share, I'd love to hear them. If I could get a great rig that's easy to accessorize for less that 8 grand, I'd love that too!
thanks in advance for any info.

Roah

 

Seems like A-Cat or Honda....somthing 450cc or more...try to get a solid rear axle....better for pulling

 

Check out AC, look at the available attatchments, and speedrack options. You cant get it with anyone else. If Utility is what you want, I would go with AC

 

If this is just a work machine, you want a simple, time tested reliable manual transmission machine, and that is the Honda Foreman 500! If you don't need to go that big, then the Honda Rancher 350.

For a work machine, I would say stay away from all the automatics and Honda's ES system (unless you absolutely can't manage to shift with your foot). You will need a 4X4, so don't even consider a 2wd machine.

http://powersports.honda.com/atvs/utility/

 

recon ranger is right if you want a workhorse that has been around for years the honda is a good choice but the fact of the matter is that their suspension back in the woods climbing over trees will beat the crap out of you. and when you get hung up and need that diff lock well it isn' there with the honda. for what you want it for arctic cat hands down more ground clearance and rack capacity of any other atv. oh and it also has diff lock which you may say you will never use and i have only had to use mine a few times but when i needed it well it was there. and stay away from the x2 i heard horror stories about them for this year wait a year if you plan on getting one i can't stress that enough. AC does have a double up i think that 500 would work perfect for your needs.

 

Honda has a great torque sensing front differential. Works great, while keeping the steering from being weird. Personally, I find it so good that a diff lock is absolutely unnecessary.

 

Whatever you do stay away from the Polaris sportsman. I have a 2004.5 500 H.O. with just over 900 miles and it has been nothing but problems (fans,sensors,front gearcases,rear axles,transmission and speedo.). Polaris only has a 6 month warranty for a reason.Do a search on sportsman problems before you buy(pack a lunch).If you go to bbb.org (BetterBusinessBureau) you will find that Polaris has an unsatisfactory record.If was going to buy another atv I would buy a Honda or an arctic cat it will not be a Polaris .

 

when you say utility machine i think 2 machines stand out, boms traxter[i think xt model,now sold thru john deere[as ext model,both 500 and 650cc]] and ac's tbx series[both 4 and 500 cc]. heavy,stable[longer wheelbase] and both having a legitimate pickup style/dumping bed with increased rear load capacities[in the case of the bom,substantially more, 600#], i have a 400 tbx w auto and find it to be an excellent machine.....

 

The bomb 800XT. =]

 

I hear this alot lately. Dont get me wrong, i used to be a fan of Polaris, but 2 friends are trading in for A king quad, and an Arctic Cat. They are unsatisfied with the quality of their machines