Hello all! I’m usually just browsing this forum, but now I need some help. I'm looking for recommendations for my next utility ATV, preferably from folks operating in hilly terrain similar to mine while pulling a trailer. Sorry for the long read, but trying to find reliable information so far has been exhausting.

I'm a member of a rough terrain fire, search, and rescue team serving five counties in the Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania. We are volunteers using our own machines to conduct wildland firefighting and search & rescue operations any time we're called upon. We are supplied with specialized equipment through grants, including water tanks (from 18-65 gallons), pumps, forestry tools, stretchers, etc. After joining the team, I modified an old jet ski trailer by mounting a large aluminum truck tool box to it. I've been pulling the rig (including an 18-gal tank, with my 2012 Polaris Sportsman 500. It did the job so far, but not without challenges. So it's time to upgrade to a more capable machine. The problem? Which one?

I must stick with the narrower width of an ATV (vice a side-by-side), which enables greater access when navigating heavily wooded areas. The trailer rig weighs only about 500-700 pounds (give or take) when loaded. I already determined a 700cc or larger engine is necessary to improve towing characteristics up steeper inclines. My main concern now is about braking, both engine and hydraulic/mechanical, for descents. The engine braking on my Sportsman is questionable at best because it requires throttle input to prevent coasting down hills. I need a machine with dependable engine braking that requires no operator input.

Then there's the question of hydraulic/mechanical braking. I've been looking at machines with 4-wheel disc brakes like the Yamaha Grizzly 700, and the Can Am Outlander 1000, but during my research I saw a few folks touting the benefits of rear "wet" brakes, like that on the Yamaha Kodiak 700.

So if any of you operate your machine while towing in similar terrain, I eagerly await your input, including any pros and cons. The three machines I mentioned earlier are NOT the only ones I will consider. They're just the ones I looked into so far. You can easily change my mind.

Thanks for reading!

 

Suzuki 750 King Quad. A heavy machine so good at towing. Wet rear brake never gives any problems, even the cables seem to last better then Honda ones. There is low/high range and the variator is well suited to speed in high when not towing. Only fly in the ointment is astronomical spares prices, fortunately they don't need many spares as a rule. Older ones suffer from cracked lower frame tubes, heavy weights on the rear rack seemed to worsen that, newer frames appear to be better.