I've been thinking about replacing my faithful 02 500i with something newer - either a H1 or TRV. However...

Probably the greatest use my 500i gets is hauling loaded trailers around my farm, as I get in firewood. Typically, it's 600-800 pounds a load, filling the large Cat trailer with cut oak. Here's a photo of my Cat in it's usual element.

So far, I have had no problems because my 500i has a manual transmission, but the two I'd like to think about are both belt drives only. (Dang, Cat! Make a 650 H1 with manual transmission, and interchangeable dump bed/2nd seat/rack on the back!)

Has anyone with a Duramatic equipped Cat pulled loads like these over rough ground? I've heard it is tough, but is it tough enough to handle that sort of work, every weekend, all winter long?

thanks,

--John

 

John,

I have a 03 500 TRV with the duramatic tranny. I too tow mostly with it. I tow a tandem axle trailer ususal tripp is about 40 miles down a rock and mud infested beach prior to the mud trail to the cabin. It hasn't had a lick of trouble. Unless you try to back up. No low range reverse. Like you my trailer hauls just about anything I can fit into it. I have hauled most of the materials for my cabin with it. It typically runs about 800-1200lbs per load plus my fat old body and gear without a single hesitation.

I also pull the same trailer with my 400 manual with about the same results. Here again I had difficulty backing up due to no low range reverse.

I too am looking at the TBX 500. Just wish it came with the diff-lock and a low range reverse.

SJ

 

Both the manual and the auto 500 are rated to tow 1050 lbs loads. Even a 650 isn't rated any higher. So I would say no problem. I tow wood on a 4X8 flatbed trailer and get lazy and overload the 1000 lbs trailer late in the day on the last run, no problems, even when I used my 250. I launch my boat with the 400 and the boat and trailer weigh in at 1400 lbs, but I only do that about every other week during the summer. Still no real problem and the 250 did it for 2 years and it was several years old by then. The tow ratings are way under what the machines are capable of doing but it appears the frame is the limiting factor and not the motor and trans.

 

As a dealer I can tell you what I have seen. With many of the standards and autos out the autos will actually give you less problems overall than the standard. (if equipped with stock size tires) We see a much higher number of the standards come in for the centrifical slip clutch to be replaced than autos. the reason for this is the driver will often be in to high a gear causing to much torque on the slip clutch causing it to slip and wear. The auto is always in the right gear as it adjusts automatically to keep engine rpms up, making it much harder to slip the slip clutch. Now an aware driver can keep the rpms higher on a manual, enevitably though even the best drivers will be in situations causing slip with the manual. The Auto will not. But put tall tires on the auto and without recalibrating the transmission the opposite will be true for durability.

 

I think the limiting factor on all quads is the ability to brake under control, not the ability to pull. We all know they'll pull far more than they're rated to pull, it's stopping the same load under control. If your loaded trailer starts pushing you down a hill and you can't stop it, you're in a bad situation. As far as manual vs. auto, I have the manual, bought it because I was going to pull. The biggest thing was having that engine braking when pulling, I can make the tranny brake the bike in addition to the brakes. With an Auto, I'm not sure you could rely on the same. That said, I think the Duramatic is the best auto tranny on the market for pulling. I don't think you would have any problems if you use low gear and take your time IMO.

 

how much would be to tall? would 26's be to tall or are you talkin 28's, 29's

 

Swampy... how do you like that TRV?

I thought I saw a photo of a prototype Cat at a show that was both TRV and TBX, had a 2nd seat that could be swapped out for a dump bed. Interesting... though swapping the 2nd seat for a rack might be even nicer.

 

It is not a prototype the 06 can swap the seat for a box or a rack, the TRV is the model my wife and I always ride.

 

Depends a little on the model, the H1 is more forgiving than the Suzuki engine models.
I would never go bigger than 26 on the 500 and 25 on the 400.

Many customers end up not happy with very tall tires because they do not realize how much power they loose by increasing the final gearing (tall tires). I try to encourage my customers not to go tall. if you want flotation with better traction a 25 12.5 12 bear claw is a good tire reasonably priced, if you want extreme mud capability then a 25 12 12 vampire is the ticket. we live in the swamp up here and cat has the most ground clearance of any quad so with a 25" tire you have more clearance than others with tall tires. Having the extra power for slow speed mud work is important espesially if you pull a trailer. In the mud I have observed that a thoughtful experianced mud rider makes more difference than tire selection. can tall tires help? yes but at a cost (power and durability).
A friend of mine who has an old 500 cat ACT rear suspension with vampires and on one mud rally we were on he could go through more than i could with and independant Cat, he was a better mud driver than me, and most other riders out that day, 600 quads.

Plus it voids your warranty

 

yea thanks, i'm not much on really big tires because it kinda limits what u can do with it and use it for, real big tires usually means mud only or snow, i'de rather have a 26 radial with a good ride & grip for trails & mud, an snow