Need some final advice...please.

After lurking and reading all the posts it appears a new 2007 AC is the way to go for my needs. Definately going automatic.

My use is mainly hunting/bush exploring.
Some crossing areas are very swampy - lots of water/mud/quagmire - scare your pants off!
Seems like AC is King for this application.

So what would you suggest the diff in performance (or anything else)
between 400, 500, 650H1???

History:
We have been using a 1996 Polaris 400 explorer 4x4 for years (auto- chain drive) and it's served us faithfully and in the case of snaking through the trees it's tough to beat.
We have pulled some huge elk out of the bush, but we're hunting a new area that's got a lot more water plus we have record high levels of water.
So this AC will be a monster of performance gain in the mud, we think/hope?!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Any of the mentioned machines will get the job done. It is a mater of how fast do you want to go. The slowest being the 400 will top out somewhere around 50 mph. In low-range, at low speeds, say 5 mph, it is the same 5 mph whether you are on a 400 or a 650. Obviously with a larger motor you probably will be able to tow more also, but even the 400 is a capable machine and can pull quite a bit. The gas mileage is going to be better with the smaller of the brothers. They all have basically the same axles, CV joints, differentials, suspension so the 400 is not handicapped with being a wimp in those areas. In fact you may consider it to be a little heavy duty by comparison to engine size.
My 400 will pull just as much wood out of the forest as my friends 500 Honda, and in some cases more because I have more clearance and also with adverse surfaces, I have better traction (better tires). And my rear will squat and put more weight on the rear wheels. It will take a lot of weight to actually stop the 400 in low-range. That being the case then the larger engines may not stop but may just end up spinning not able to pull the heavier weight either.
With regards to mud I don't have too much difficulty with my 400 because I have 13.5 inches of ground clearance with stock size 25" tires (not stock tread).
Hope this helps.

 

Your mudding will be limited by your tires first, if stockers will get you through what you need, then the 400 will be plenty of power. Sounds like the lighter 400 might be what suits your needs. It has power for most applications, unless you are going with monster mud tires or have some other need for more horsepower.

The 500 has a little more power, but is also liquid cooled, something to consider.

 

Buckaroo and Chumley...

thank you very much for the advice!! [img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img]
seems i really won't gain anything going through the mud with more horsepower
that's good news for me
each increment in horsepower upped the price by about $1,000 here in Canada

so $7,500 incl winch is the supposed summer special to blow out the '07s for a 2007 AC 400.

Thank you for reminder on liquid. We have air cooled on the polaris, and where our quads really work, there will likely be lots of water full of gunk, so air is a better bet for us (no rad issues).

Yes, definately upgrading to different tires right off the hop. Dealer states they can work out an exchange for new tires on AC400.
Like Buckaroo, I'll likely go with stock size but not stock tread; although the repair guy at AC (not salesman) said he hasn't seen axles broken on the '07s like he did with previous years b/c AC knew of the "weaker" axle issue, even with larger tires.
Not sure I want to test that out for the minimal height gain.

Cheers!
MAK

 

only other diff, I just remembered, was the engine...
repair guy said 650 had a more reliable suzuki engine?
is that true, and worth $2,000 plus more?

 

Keep in mind going to larger tires will change your gearing - you don't have a great deal of extra power to play with on the 400. Secondly, taller tires will also change your handling characteristics. A lower profile tire will always give you better handling. Like car tires 50, 60, 70 series tires - 25, 26, 27 ATV tires.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: z-alex

only other diff, I just remembered, was the engine...

repair guy said 650 had a more reliable suzuki engine?

is that true, and worth $2,000 plus more?</end quote></div>

Not sure - for $2000 you probably can buy a new motor - lol...
Suzuki 400 Air/Oil cooled engine - if you punch a hole in the radiator - disconnect the hoses put a piece of tubing (so the oil pump can still cycle) and drive home.... One major reasons why I like the Air/Oil cooled... you can't do that with anti-freeze all over the ground.
Most 400 owners will probably agree that the 400 is a tough little buggar...

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Most 400 owners will probably agree that the 400 is a tough little buggar...</end quote></div>

LOL!!!
Now that's exactly what i am looking for!!
where we go and what we do - we need tough buggars!

different tire size=gear change = need more horsepower= more modding for what i would consider minimal gain, thank you for reinforcing my opinion - NOT to change size, but the tread i will change!

that's a nice work around for a punctured rad on an air/oil cooled.

looks like i'm gonna be smoozing with the salesguy at AC about a 400 tomorrow.

thanks again buckaroo
wish i could buy you a beer
Cheers
MAK

PS he showed me the racks on the 2008's - yikes they seem puny compared to the 2007 and previous years. He says it's now an upgrade option on the 2008's to get the same quality of speed rack.

 

I suggest that when you are at the dealership, take all three for a ride. Ultimately it's your choice.

I am going to take the opposite tact. Since the frame and most of the running gear is the same size then why not choose the larger engine. For the weight difference you are getting significant more power/torque from the 650. If you want lots of low grunt, you can't go wrong with the Arctic Cat built 650 H1 (hemi head). It's proven over the last few years to be a very reliable engine. With the introduction of the 2008 700 H1 EFI prices are gonna drop significantly on the 2007 H1's.

As far as liquid cooling is concerned, personally I wouldn't buy a quad without it. AC has large radiators which are very dependable. I have ridden quads for 15 years and have not had an issue with liquid cooling, never left me stranded. By the way, the H1 (mine was a 2006) has an oil cooler in addition to the liquid cooling. Coincidentally, the only time I towed another quad out of the bush was when a branch ripped off the a line to his oil cooler. He lost all of his oil in less than one minute. So it can be the same bad luck, ripe off a rad hose or an oil line.

Good luck with your test rides and bring home a Cat.

 

i have a 400i manual, the thing is a work horse with the 5 spd manual, its an 02 with liquid cool, but cat protects the rad pretty good on them, i use mine mostly for hunting, ice fishing, and i like the manual, no worry about the belt for the automatic getting wet and slipping, thats what ive heard, and i go through alot of mud and water, i cant fly through it, i have to walk through it because of the manual, but if you want a work horse, go manual, your not going that fast through the brush, and manual is easier on the tranny when working,and you can start off in 2nd gear and sometimes stay in 3rd from 5mph, just my input on working any machine, manual will always out do autos