Remember I have a 99 500 manual.

Honestly here, all I want is opinions and everyone is entitled to one. Which would you get? 27" Tri and Bi Claws and new wheels or 28x10.5 Outlaws and a lift kit? Now put a little thought into it first. Don't just jump for whats new or what looks neat or anything. What I am pondering over is ride comfort (claws), ground clearance (Outlaw), Stability (non-lift), Price(probably not the one that includes wheels), turning(claws), traction in the woods really more than just mostly mud, weight(bi-claw fronts), and any added strain a lift might put on the front cv joints.

These are the only two I am looking at, and I would like to limit it to these two combinations. I know all you guys with those bad boy mud bugs are happy with them too! I've seen the pics and they look awesome. Tell me what you would get guys.

 

I would go with the 28" Outlaws, BUT thats me. I have talked to you on these forums long enought to know that we do totally different types of riding and I think, I KNOW, the 27" Magnums will be better for you than the Outlaws.

Now I have a question for you.

I can get 4 27x11x12 Titian 589s for only $300(+ shipping) bucks from a guy in Miss., OR i can get a Rule 3300 lb winch for $525 from HL delivered to my door.

What do you think I(the hard core muder I consider myself) should get?? Scott at HL told me to get Tires before a winch and Just not to get stuck, BUT he rides onlt in groups. I ride alot of times alone. So, what you guys think?????????

 

Unless you have a desparate need for additional ground clearance, i would shy away from the lift kit. It will put additional stress on your cv joints. Also how much mud riding (serious mud) do you do? if you get the bi/tri claws with wheels, you have the option of swapping wheels at any time...a big +

JOhn C....going to pick up my new traxter in about 45 mins!

 

Boner,
Is there a specific reason why you want the rule winch? seems to be very expensive. You should be able to get the tires you mention AND a warn/superwinch for around $600. Unless you plan on doing ALOT of heavy duty (deep mudding), would one of the cheaper brand suffice? You can always bring a heavy duty come-a-long for the days you know you will get dirty...for extra yankin' power...

John C
'00 300 AC 4x4....modded for true 4WD/4wd/2wd

 

Maybe this will help? I have put lift in front of my 300 to get additional 1 1/2" clearance & at that amount it does not bind the joints, look at the extreme angle that Polaris uses & they have no problem. Second raising rear of 500 can only be done with tires because it has a solid rear axle with will always be the limiting factor. As far as winches go, if you ride alone unless your hercules a 500 thats stuck is STUCK. In Canada Warn 2000lb comes with A/C & is more than powerful enough to pull the 500 ( my friend has this combo so I know it works ), at $300. Can or about $200. U.S.? Lastly check tire sizes with a tape not the numbers wrote on the tires. The 26" stock tires on 99 500 Cat are 25" tall, the 25" on the rear of my 300 are 25" tall, yes exactly same height.

 

It's your money, Boner!

A Superwinch T1500, for example, sells for $ 132.99 from Northern T&E. Tests produce 2400 # stall pull after 9 hours operation totally submerged.

Add a ****** block, and I think the winch would pull even YOU out of the swamp.

Talking least-cost, ride-alone, life-saving potential, I'd go for the winch over the trick tires (at least, get a come-along) because: no tires are invincible. Rode with a 300 Fourtrax sporting brand new oversize Vamps in the tidewater this month; good, yes; impresssive, yes; but: he got stuck, too!

Not to discourage your purchase of the Rule or whatever if you've got the gelt and the preference; however, you asked for prioritiztion: Winch or tires for one riding alone in the swamp. My vote: winch. My own 1978-model ATV1500 with ****** block worked effectively every time I needed it, unsticking its original host (1978 Subaru SW) and later quads numerous times, sometimes when "plumb" stuck.

But, your quad, your environment, your choice.

Tree Farmer

 

Andy, what I'd get might vary from what you'd get.

From your previous posts I understand you consider a winch unnecessary for your riding, picking one up only because of the good deal you were offered on the winch when buying your quad.

From this account, I assume you seldom encounter serious mud in your riding environment. If my assumption is correct, I would wonder about your need for extreme measures regarding lifting and installing maximum-diameter tires, if not for cosmetic purposes.

I think you can decide your own best choice without popular vote from the Forum; you know your riding environment best and your ability to pay. Good luck.

Tree Farmer

 

Well said TF. Andy those tires look and work great in the mud but if you ride gnarly hills and trails those tires are a bad choice. Cleats are spaced to far apart which is great for mud but a terrible ride on hard pack.

 

I rather the Rule 3300 over the Warn and Superwinch for more than just the pulling power.

1.Steel gears over plastic gears
2.Waterproof
3.Standard brake
4.Larger cable
5.NOONE I have talk to THAT OWNS one has ever been able to bog it, even when NOT USEING a ******
6.Warn 2500 does NOT ACTUALLY pull 2500 lbs on an ATV battery, were a Rule 3300 pulss 3300+ lbs
7.I talked to 1 person that after frying the gears on 2 warns bought a Rule and has never needed a new winch since
8.High Lifter doesn't sell Superwinch for a reason
9.I will surely get my FRONT winch from High Lifter

Here is another possibility:

Get those 589s for $300 and spend another $150-$200 on a Superwinch 2000 FOR THE REAR.

Think that could work??

 

Andy,
In my honest opnion go for the Claws unless you plan on doing serious mudding. The Outlaws are awsome in pics, but I nor no one has truly seen them in action yet. As for a lift, the one that I built costed me abot 30.00 and has been put through its paces over the last week, I too was worried about CV joint Strain so I only went up 1.5" over all. The only problem that I have is that the quad is kinda top heavy but wheel spacers will take care of it.