I am in need of a 4x4 workhorse for my property. I currently own a Suzuki Ozark 250. It is a great size for my kids to do chores with, but we need 4x4. The Ozark can't hack it in the snow. I hear the late 80s and 90s fourtrax 300 is a good option. Any thoughts or other suggestions? I think Yamaha also makes a 350 Big Bear.

 

Owned a 2000 Kawasaki Praire 300 for 16yrs, that was my work horse, hauled, plowed snow, plowed stones for driveway. Worked its butt off and never had an issue, big machine, 625 lbs but built like a tank. Look at one just make sure you go 4wd.

 

Thanks. What do you think I should expect to pay for a 1988 300 fourtrax?

 

The value of an ATV like that will vary greatly depending on condition and to a lesser extent, location. Anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to 4K+ if its pristine and not in a saturated market.

 

The Honda 300 was the best of it's time, but they have increased in price in the last 5 years and Honda have stopped making parts for them, so not the best choice for a workhorse, also fixed 4WD uses more fuel than switchable 4WD and a lot more than 2WD. There is a big hole in the market for a small switchable 4WD quad with manual box, as autos tend to be a bit more thirsty. Yamaha's 350 Bruin/Grizzly range are about as near as you will get on a modern bike but they are low geared Autos, so probably use much more fuel than the Ozark.

 

Do you have another suggestion for a work horse?

 

350 Yams made about 2000 had switchable 4WD and manual gearboxes but were quite big for a 350 and, I think, were thirsty for their size too. There was a range of Yam 250s with 4WD back then but I think it was permanent. Honda 350 is a rather underrated machine, but again permanent 4WD, we have had to fix loads of seized engines on them, but this is almost entirely due to owners never checking the oil level. KLF 300 Kawasakis were almost as good as Honda 300s but permanent 4WD.

 

What about the King Quad 300? Any thoughts on that vs the fourtrax 300?

 

My boss, who worked on quads long before me, hates Suzuki 300s. He recons he was always adjusting cables, they have lots of different cables, hi/lo reverse, gearchange 4WD etc, all of which stretch, putting the engine at the back doesn't seem like a good idea for front end traction, or on steep slopes either.

 

Actually looked at Textron a couple of weeks ago. Not a bad machine, especially for the price.
Kodi nox