So my dream ride came out this year, 2009 Rancher. My buddy has a 680 Rincon that is a beast, however this weekend with him driving and a 200# buddy behind him, the IRS sure did sag a lot. I meant to stop and measure it compared to SRA of 7" or so, but didn't. We did a lot of riding later that day w/ me on an old Fourtrax SRA that went everywhere his Rincon went...crossed a flooded rice field levys, ruts, and all, water over knee deep, ditch crossings, etc.
Question is, since SRA doesn't sag, could I be better off w/ SRA than IRS w/ say 400 lbs total? We use these hauling duck hunters to and fro, normally min of two guys, sometimes three piled on for a short ride.
Anybody ever measured the loss in ground clearance w/ a Rincon loaded down?
Just something I noticed and wanted your opinions. I want to be able to follow IRS machines when needed in mud. Otherwise I like SRA for work/towing.

 

idk if the rincons have adjustable shocks or not. but i do know that they make blocks to stiffen up any shock configeration, popular with IRS riders. or you can buy stiffer springs if you wish.

im sure the SRA mechine had to sag some??? probably not as much, since SRA mechines usually have less suspention travel. did your SRA mechine have a monoshock? the SRA ranchers have a monoshock and im sure it would sag with 400+# on it.

so idk what to tell you to get. if you want the IRS for comfort get it. i havent found anyother place where IRS has made a diffirence for me, exept in the butt department lol

 

IMO IRS is the only way to go now

 

the bad thing ids with the ranchers its about 1grand more, and come on the autos only... no foot shift IRS, though honda did put the mountings on the frame for IRS on all the ranchers in mid 07+

but if you want an auto rancher just get it. if need be you can get stiffer springs for the back

 

The SRA doesn't have any sag at all, that's the beauty of it. I'm not a weekend rider, just a duck and deer hunter. I don't care how stiff the ride is. Only good thing I can come up with other than ride quality, is that if a IRS equipt atv was high centered straddling a high spot, the IRS tires will be able to reach further down to possibly grip the mud, where as the SRA can't. I guess that's splitting hairs a bit too much.
Anyway, anybody ever had a problem following IRS machines? Straight axles ever given ground clearance problems?
I'm about ready to buy an 08' rancher es w/ SRA unless I change my mind on here. Again, I'm not worried about ride quality, just want to know w/ aftermarket tires I'll be able to go where I want to w/ SRA.

 

i have a 07 420 rancher es and really like it alot, i did put 25 inch radial tires and it really improved the ride quality and bump in the steer at higher speeds. i would stay away from 6ply bias tires turns it into a lumberwagon tried them once hated them the 2 ply stocks were way better then the 6ply bias tires.

 

get some 25" tires asap, kenda bearclaws are a good allaround tire IMO. ocationally, withall SRA mechines you may find yourself in a position where you get hung up. but chances are you will have already found that spot with the bottom of your engine ect. before your rear end gets cought in it. idk, personally i see alot of my buddies with IRS mechines replaceing CV boots, cuz they have torn. so i like my no-frills SRA.

just to let you know load capacity with a mono-shock wont be as great as if you had 2 rear shocks. but for short distances it should not bother you.

and please do not get the ES model rancher unless you have had it before and really, REALLY want it. after i had it for a while the es is annoying to me... shifts too slow and the odd bad shift. put the es money into a pull start

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to wait til closer to next duck season. Maybe I'll be able to make up my mind by then. I do plan on getting aftermarket tires. Something like Swamp lites, or 589 ITP's.
Thanks again and if anybody loads down their Rincon anytime soon, measure the ground clearance and let us know how much is lost w/ a heavy load! Thanks

 

I had a SRA Xplorer. It was my first 4x4. I can tell you first hand that it is better to have the IRS machine for ground clearance issues alone. It also is a much more comfortable ride. Another thought is to look into a true 2-up machine if you are going to be riding 2 person alot. They are made for it. I've had my svelt 350 lbs. and a 200 lb. passenger on my X2 without any issues. The rear is set up to carry 400 lbs. When I don't have a passenger it is a little stiffer than a regular one up machine but a nice ride still. I often shake my head and wonder why the Japanese companies haven't come out with a 2-up machine.

 

Put a IRS spring to its stiffest setting and 400 pounds will not budge it much but the comfy ride would be lost, your will still have the much higher ground clearance though if that a advatage for you.