I am looking for a ATV to use around the farm. One thing is I am going to be doing is towing a 100 gallon sprayer which I know is going to be heavy.

I am looking at a 650 rincon with a 4x4 automatic transmission with 86 hours and 374 miles.

Would this be a good machine for my needs and, what would be a fair price for it in good to excellent condition? What are some good points about this particular ATV?

thanks,
Dave in NC

 

As a Rincon owner, I'd say if you are going to be towing 1000 pounds all the time, there are better choices for your needs.

The Rincon is an excellent machine for fast trail riding, but it's 3 speed automotive type (torque converter) transmission is pretty tall geared and does not have a low range. For towing, the independent rear suspension that provides that excellent trail ride will squat under hitch heavy hitch weight.

For work around the farm, I'd consider a 500 Foreman, or a 500 Rubicon. The Foreman has a solid rear axle and 5 speed with auto clutch and a low first gear. The foot shifter version is simpler than the electric push button shift version, so unless you really prefer push buttons I'd go foot shift.

The Rubicon is also solid rear axle, and is liquid cooled and has 4 valves. The transmission is a hydrostat drive similar to what you would see in some small tractors, with low range. It can also emulate a geared transmission with a mode that lets you select between 5 preset ratios with up/down shift buttons.

 

Thanks for your thoghtful reply. I'll keep an eye out for both of those.

I see in your pictures that you have or, know of someone who has an Eiger. What would be your opinion of that bike for my needs?

Dave in NC

 

My buddy had an Eiger automatic. It is solid rear axle, air cooled, and comes in either foot shift auto clutch, or a CVT belt driven auto. His was the auto. If I recall correctly it also has low range. It was reliable for him, and rides pretty good. It is a bit physically larger than a Rancher, but not anywhere near as poweful as the 420 Rancher.

It would probably be fine for most farm work, but from what I'd guess your 100 gallon sprayer, full, would weigh together with the trailer, I wonder if you might be happier with a bit larger machine with more torque...

 

Like JeffinTD said, I would go for either the foreman or the rubicon. The Rubicon does have a little larger engine than the foreman. I live on a dairy farm and the Rubicon is what we have. We did have a Rincon but didn't like the transmission. It was geared too tall for pulling stuff. On our Rubicon, sometimes we use it to pull a small load of straw and it has plenty of power.

If I had to choose between the Foreman and the Rubicon, I would choose the Rubicon. A few reasons, it has a little larger engine, it is liquid cooled, and the transmission is nice too. If the Foreman was liquid cooled, I would say get the Foreman. Personally if I was going to be pulling stuff pretty often, I would not want an air cooled machine.

 

Yeah, having ridden the Foreman and Rubicon back to back, there isn't much of a difference in seat of the pants feel of power, but as noted above the Rubicon has a bit more displacement, and also has 4 valves instead of 2.

The Foreman does have a fan and a good sized oil cooler, and I've never been able to get the overheat light to come on. There was a thread a while back (not sure if it was here) about a guy who was pulling some sort of disk or something with a new Foreman and that was tripping the temp light. I think he was going to trade it for a Rubicon, but I think what he was trying to do may have been more of a job for a tractor. I don't know if he was going so slow that the clutch was slipping, or maybe when he started pulling the tool the oil temp immediately got hot enough to turn the warning light on (where in normal operation the fan comes on well before the temp warning light).

The Rubicon is also a bit quicker/easier to switch between forward and reverse, though you can get fast with the Foreman once you are used to it. That, and the lack of dips in power when shifting, would likely make the Rubicon a better choice when plowing, espeically in tight places.

Though the Rubicon is quite reliable, you occasionally see threads about the transmission going into limp mode due to an angle sensor, shift motor or connector issue, so I think the foot shift Foreman has the advantage of being simpler.


Bottom line for me if I were in your shoes: If I had a personal preference for an automatic I'd look for a Rubicon. If you prefer a manual transmission and simplicity get a Foreman. If that doesn't matter that much to you, get the one you find a good deal on that's in good condition...

Good luck with whatever you choose. With that trailer, though, I would pass on the Rincon.