I thought the 700D was a good idea for a worker too, then I drove one.

 

I really need to drive one of these to see if they are really as bad as you guys are saying. Maybe being really slow was part of the plan. I know if i was a boss i wouldn't want my guys playing around on the company ATV. The diesel would be perfect cause you can't play on it, it's only for work.

 

Yep, you dont buy the diesel for speed, just low end power in low range for pulling. if it goes 40mph that is far fast enough. my skid loader goes 6mph.LOL. 2 wheel drive machines are what you need if you are looking for speed.

 

Mine manages an actual speed of 45mph though it tells me it's doing 50, pretty good for something with only 18hp.

It's smooth unstoppable 39nm torque that gives you the pulling power that will go anywhere and stops for nothing.

You can keep your gas guzzling rocket ships that need to visit a filling station several times a day.

 

I just picked up a new 2007 diesel... kept even pace all day with two kodiak 450's - and out performed them in rock climbing and climbing trail blocking trees [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I thought the longer wheel base was gonna be a disadvantage but turns out to be a huge advantage - in 4 lock I can attack things on an angle like I do in my Jeep... the kodiaks got hung up on things I easily climbed...

Is it a rocket... no... is it fast enough for a sane person... yes, the Kodiaks outran me on a section of highway shoulder but other than that I spent the day in the number two spot directly behind our "guide" for the day.... we had to wait for the hondas often.

It's a great trail machine (way faster than the solid axle honda 400's on and offroad) and the fact that there's no carb to adjust is nice... the manual says the engine will need an overhaul at 10,000 hours...

I would trade this thing for no other quad... who new burning furnace oil could be so much fun [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Try to remember that the diesel was purpose built for work. It can be fueled out of the same tank as construction or farm equipment, and no worries about storing volatile gasoline. If a farm has adventurous younger workers, best to put them on something that doesn't go really fast.

Some years ago, a kid on a farm near me hitched a Grizzly to a round bale on a trailer and got it moving. Great, until he headed down a slight hill and needed to slow for a turn, which it wouldn't do. Locked the brakes, it started sliding, and the bale pushed the grizz through a fence. Barbed wire fence, we had to cut him out.

Limiting factor is brakes and traction. Getting it moving is the easy part. Controlling it when the surface is less than level is the hard part. A buddy and I loaded our trucks up with cut red oak up in the mountains of E KY and headed back home. Probably close to 2 tons of wood in each truck. By the time we got out of the hills, his 3/4 ton Dodge had smoking brakes and he was a nervous wreck from it wobbling all over the place. I was behind him in my 1 ton F350 with dually rear. Neither the truck nor I ever broke a sweat. I hardly knew that load was back there. Can't beat a diesel for shrugging off a load, can't beat huge brakes and more rubber for keeping it on the road and under control.

 

So did they stop making the diesel? What years did they make them. I would love to get one for the farm and run it on biodiesel.

 

2007 and 2008...

The 2007 is better cause it came with Dunlop Quadmax tires... the 2008 just had the bottom of the line maxxis tires.

They were recently clearing out the 2007's from the factory they may have some left?

 

Tow capacity is measure by weight and traction. Put any ATV in low range and the wheels will always turn even if being dragged back wards by a truck. If a Diesel does pull harder its due to its heavier weight planting its tires to the ground harder causing more traction.