Buy an AC Utility, 500 or higher[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
You guys were wondering where i was werent you.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I am in So. Calif. (sport quad country and dirt bike Mecca!), but I have a Rancher 4wd for riding in the Sierras, Inyos, and local mountains. You mentioned "sand", so I have to say that I find a utility to be of little use in the desert (in fact a handicap most of the time), unless I deliberately go looking for terrifying terrain.

In the snow the little Rancher does superbly, mostly because it is light and I am running ITP Holesot ATR radial tires and a real slick plastic Maier skid plate that acts like a huge ski (so you don't high center on the fame). And, at high altitude you have lots of stream crossings and rocky trails, etc., so that's where I use the 4wd.

I would say that if your finances allow, you can go with a big bore utility if you insist. Otherwise, seeing you are there only temporarily, get something less expensive (I highly recommend the Rancher) and ride the tires off it for two years, then sell it up there before you head south again.

 

I see you are from loma linda.... Which puts me in the same boat as you....in terms of riding areas....as I have a home in Lake Arrowhead(like 30 minutes from Loma Linda up the SB mountains....) and enjoy riding the trails and such from silverwood to big bear.... I realize the weight is a disadvantage with a Utility quad in sand. However, I have seen/been in situations where sport quads were useless in the mountains around IE.... I guess buying something for here temporarily then unloading it when I move back would be the most logical solution.....or I can just have two...i wish ahha

 

On those woods trails behind Arrowhead (the ones in the Pinnacles to Deep Creek area), I find even the relatively light and agile (for a ute) Rancher to be to clumsy to be any fun (although it is nice to have 4wd in a couple of spots). There, I prefer to ride the 400EX, which handles like a dream on that tight stuff.

Now, if you take the really technical section of 2N34 from Deep Creek to Crab Flats, while I can do that on the EX with some effort, I much prefer the 4X4 Rancher there. I have lots of buddies who have big bore utes, and when we get into rock crawling situations, they always say that I "make it look easy". That's because it is easier on the little Rancher, vs the huge tall heavy rollover deathtrap monsters that they ride.

There is an emerging new class of hybrid, "true" sport/utes. The Wolverine and Renegade are examples. Now both of these machines fall way short of my ideal of what this class can become, but they are at least a step in the right direction in terms of design philosophy. But, both are way to heavy, and the Renegade is 600 pounds (the same as a Japanese big bore ute), so what's sporty about that???? In addition, the Rancher is getting a makeover this year, and I hope Honda had the insight to bump it into this class!

Anyway, the perfect mythical "hybrid" machine (which only exists in my mind), would be the hot setup in the local mountains.

 

vs the huge tall heavy rollover deathtrap monsters that they ride.







Oh boy.