hey,
i am wondering what kind of 4x4 atv i should buy?i am going to be using it for trail riding with ocasional mudding and water crossing. i will also be ridin it in the winter and plowing so i need one that does a good plowing job. i am going to be riding on alot of hills so i need good brakes and alot of power(at lest a 400cc).i would like a well suspened atv with enough ground clearance. i will also be hauling loads of firewood and other things. i would like at lest a 1997. will i be able to find one that meets my criteria on a budget of $4500?

 

When buying ANY used 4x4 ATV,make sure to fully inspect it.I like the Honda 450s or 450es for what you explain.But to make up for its lack of true 4x4,I would invest in a set of GoodYear Mudrunners on all 4 corners.This is a very versatile ATV,has good power,and most important,it is very reliable and will certainly hold its value for many yrs to come.The Artic Cat line also comes to mind.They have very reliable ATVs that are work horses as well.4500 bucks will buy you a very nice used 4x4.Take your time and check out and ride as many ATVs as you can,than make it your choice.Even though I own 2 Polaris 4x4 ATVs,Id personally shy away from them,they just eat up parts faster than the manufacturer can make them.

Best Regards,
Bill

 

Yes you can get a really nice bike in that range. I just bought a '02 Big Bear 400 4x4 for 4699.00 . I put 6mos on an '01 before selling it to get the '02 with the 2/4wd capability. Extremely happy with it. I ride similar to what you describe without the snow plowing. Pulling trailer loads of firewood is no prob with the super low 1st gear. I ride a lot of trails in the Ga mtns and this thing eats rut, rocks, and hills for lunch. You will want to add real tires and a skid plate pretty soon though.
Here are some shots of mine.

http://communities.msn.com/TimDianes...hotoalbum.msnw


Good luck in your search,
Tim[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

come on guys 105 views and only 2 replies.i need input i am getting closer to a purchase and i want to make the write decision. how many miles is too many for a used quad?

 

I will also be purchasing a 4x4 in the near future. Like you, I will be trail riding for hunting, lots of winter riding and plowing my 250' long driveway. I have looked around quite a bit, and I just keep looking at the Arctic Cats. These are utility quads only, they are not known for speed. But for what I have planed, speed is the least of my needs. The low-end torque, the power, the features, and the realibility all have lead me to planning to get an AC. The main concern I have had is overheating in the winter when plowing. The AC 375 is air/oil cooled, but Boner (see the AC folder) said he saw a 375 idle for 30 minutes before the fan had to come on. The AC 400 is liquid cooled, but cost a few bucks more. I think I'm leaning towards the 375.

Also, look at the maintenance you will have to do. I have heard that Polaris has all sorts of grease fittings you have to deal with. With AC - all you have is gas, oil, and checking the air filter. That's it.

I know you mentioned that you were looking used, but for a few dollars more, you could get a new AC (or most other brands for that matter). I think the AC 375 is going out the door for around $4700, and that includes the 2500# winch kit, and standard 6 month warranty.

The other thing to consider is the dealership. How well will they take care of you? I suspect not very well if you buy used from them. I know around here (Western PA) dealerships get very few used ATV's, and when they get them, they're gone before you know it. Since I have never owned an ATV before, I am reluctant to buy used from a private individual. I know I will pay a bit more for new, but I figure that I should pay that for something that is realible. Besides, if the thing has problems, chances are I caused them, and can really only blame myself. If you really want used, maybe look in the spring at the bikes the dealership used to plow their own parking lots. I have seen really nice bikes for 500-1000 dollars less (with plow) in March or April.

By no means am I an expert - just giving you my 2 cents. If you want to talk to the AC experts, look up the AC folder and look for posts from Cowboy, Boner, Minehunter (among others). These guys have had their bikes in all sorts of terrain and water, and really know what they are talking about. These guys do a lot of work on their bikes, and are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

4X4man: Go over to the A/C forum and look at some of the other post over there. I believe Cowboy and TTaylor have just posted a reply to a question such as yours. If you can do with out the superfast speeds I would say that the comfort and price of the Artic Cat would suit your needs. When I was looking at buying one a few months back I got a price on the A/C 400 for $4499 or $4599. Good luck with whatever you get.Jburglund, most all the 350 machines on down are all air cooled and they are still going strong even down here in Texas. So I wouldn't worry about snow plowing with a outside ambient tempurature being around freezing or below.

 

Thanks Cummins - that's kinda what I suspected with the cold temperatures. I just wondered about the forward - reverse-foward-reverse kinda of movement, along with the increased load of pushing snow. Think the 375 4x4 would handle the job? I noticed that the 375 acctually has more cc's than the 400. I wonder if it really would make that much of a difference. I can't afford the 500, so it really comes down to the 375 or 400.

Again, thanks for the input.

 

JBurglund-
Check your PM-concerning your recent post in the AC forum-curious to know if you received my response before it was erased...

thanks,

Mike

 

Cowboy -

Stupid question -what's my PM? I didn't see your post, but I got email saying it was there. I guess I was tooooo far off topic huh? Thanks anyway.

 

Heh heh heh-don't feel bad, took me a while to figure it out too! PM is your "private message". up on the left side of the screen, towards the top there is a small padlock looking thing-it should be blinking with "one new private message" or something like that. let me know if you get that or not???

mike