Ok, first time here and first time posting a question and first time buying ATV. Need all the help I can get. This will only be used for RV only. No jumping, pulling out stumps racing, or hauling out big elk etc. So here are my questions.

What is this belt driven and gear drivien. I heard that you can burn out a belt if you don't know what you are doing. (UH.......... hellow that will be me. Ok now I think about the gear driven.(nothing will give) so I guess you can do some real damage. right or wrong.

Do you think a 300 cc will do it for me? I would still like to climb hills and do the normal stuff.
I live in colorado is there anything I should be concern about like the Altitude.
What about this cold weather issue with starting and shifting.
I know they will have a maintance, is there anything I should be checking on every outing.
I know this is a big NO NO, but thinking about putting a seat on the back for the wife. We are normal weight. Me 220 her un...............hmmmmmmm maybe 160 to 175
Should I waite until October, due to the rebates and closeouts. Is there a big saving

Any ideas would help

 

Belt vs Manual: http://forums.atvconnection.com/mess...did/495898.cfm Personally, I am no big fan of any automatic, because I want to have control over the gear ratios. There are a fair number of posts in here about problems with Honda's ES shifting (a selenoid that electronically shifts the manual transmission from a button on the handlebars), so it's buyer beware on that one. Best to just shift with your foot IMO.

The Rancher is due for some updates in 07 (rumor is it will get IRS and selectable 2wd/4wd???), so anything we say pertains to the current Ranchers and not next years model.

I'll be back later.....

 

I like the size of the Rancher. It is big enough to do the job, but isn't the huge heavy monster that the whole utility market has unfortunately become. Handling is excellent. Maintenance is simple. It will probably run forever. The stock tires are kind of lame, so I would replace those pretty quick.

As far as trail riding, the Rancher will climb anything and do anything a big bore will do, just slower. It does not have a transfer case (saves weight and eliminates an extra system in the drive train.....thank you Honda!), just a really low granny 1st gear. Up front it has a torque sensing front differential, that sends power to the wheel that isn't spinning.

You will need to rejet the carburator for your lowest base altitude.....no big deal. Mine is modded so it is an excellent snow machine. (Yes, we do get snow in the mountains, here in So. Calif. Mammoth Mountain for instance, got 50 feet last year!). I run ITP Holeshot radial tires on ITP rims and a slick Maier plastic skid plate that acts as a huge ski, so you don't high center on the frame rails.

As for riding two, I would never do it. You will get away with it on level ground, but when you get into a nasty situation, it unbalances the machine to much.

 

Another high altitude Rancher rider: http://forums.atvconnection.com/mess...did/496988.cfm

See my comments on how I use the Thunder Products TPI Valve, for rejetting out on the trail!

 

wow, seems like me and reconranger are in here on every "rancher" post.

I also do not like automatics. They seem like the lazy-person way out and I want to control which gear i'm in. The belt drive has issues with belts breaking (when you least expect) or belts slipping (also when you least expect)
The Honda automatics are complicated and expensive to repair. The only thing that works for me is the gear-on-gear transmission. As long as you use good quality ATV oil, you shouldnt have a problem.

As for riding 2-up on a rancher, I'm 180lbs and my girlfriend is 115 and mine handled fine with both of us on the machine, but I wouldnt do any mountain riding like that. It does make a noticable difference with 2 people on, and if you read the post "idiots at it again" you'll read how having more than one person on the machine can lead to disaster (they were on asphalt, that makes things even worse) It just changes the handling too much. If you really want to go 2-up on an ATV, save for that Bombardier one that already has the seat for it, it should handle at least a little better

The rancher is a great machine and fits in that "just right" category. The ES system does have a few known issues, so for reliability you might want to opt for the foot-shifter, but you wont get the speedo/odometer cluster with the foot shifter model. The 350 engine is basically bullet-proof, the whole machine has the spririt of the old Fourtrax 300's, couldnt bust 'em. I have over 500 miles on my 2005, maybe that's a lot, maybe not, but all i've done is change oil, the tie-rod recall, and adjust one of my headlights and clean and oil my air filter. It's been a pretty good machine for me so far.

 

Wish i could say my Rancher was bulletproof.
2000 Model S 4x4.
Will not take the abuse the classic 300's would at all.
Mine lasted 2-3years of hard riding, and i maintained it, not much to maintain on a honda....change the oil.....clean air filter...
Its retards who do stupid sh*t with belt drives who say bad things. I put 6800 miles on my 98 sp 500 and never had a single belt problem at all, used low range if at all needed. My buddy rode the **** out of his 04 grizz 660, 5850 miles, not a single belt problem until now with some clutch work, point is, I could talk to you for days about how to use a belt drive right, working playing or in water, but if you do right they are just fine. I went from a 98 sp 500,to a 2000 rancher s 4x4, to a 2005 kodiak 450 se, and now i sit on the best one of the bunch a Kawasaki Bf 650i, so yea ive got experience with belts, and so far not a lick of troubles. I also like changing gears, but in utes, autos in general smoke auto clutch trannies, of course until you step into high performance, or comparing a big power difference. Just use that good brain you got there and dont sit against a hill or log revvin the crap out of the engine in high range if its hard to move or takes more torque, put 'er in low [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] ive said nuff gl to ya (oh i forgot to mention though, despite the fact i do like polaris atvs, i would pick the rancher over the hawkeye, if your really interested in a auto in the 300-400 class id look elsewhere, maybe a kodiak 400, suzuki eiger or prarie 300 or such, ok gone lol)

 

[quote]
Originally posted by: reconranger
The Rancher is due for some updates in 07 (rumor is it will get IRS and selectable 2wd/4wd???), so anything we say pertains to the current Ranchers and not next years model.


Uhhhh my 05 Rancher Has selectable 2wd/4wd, and I hope you are not correct about the IRS that is one of the reasons I bought mine, the strait axle gives it a more stable / sportie feel. As for the original poster Rancher all the way! I grew up in Grand Junction and the Rancher will do fine in CO. You will have to rejet though.

 

joe-Rancher AT has..........well a Rancher AT. Not the same thing as the Rancher 350 you are considering!

I too would not welcome IRS on the 07's! I just don't like the way an IRS dives in off-cambers and turns. Not the hot setup if they want to make it more sporty. I would like to see them replace the 350 motor with the 400, selectable 2wd/4wd, and disk brakes. That and lighten it up every way they can, and make the suspension more sporty. Something to compete with the Wolverine!

 

I reccomend the rancher as well... You can't go wrong. It always brings you back.