I posted a similar message on one of the other forums with no response so far. Since I'm leaning heavily toward an AC and there is a little more traffic here, thought I might have a little more luck getting some answers.

Decided to get an ATV. I had no idea there was so much to choose from and I've got some questons I hope some of you folks can help me with.

First, what I will be using it for mainly:

1. Plowing snow on 300 feet of gravel drive and a big garage pad. Heavy snow in the 1 foot range is common but very little drifting (in the timber). There will be a lot of pushing snow so a quick transition between forward and reverse is important.

2. Hauling deer and firewood out of the timber with some steep terrain.

3. Speed is NOT important, reliability is.

Now, what I need some help with:

1. From what I've read on here, I think one in the 400cc range would handle the job. Would one in the 300 range do the job or should I be looking more toward the 500?

2. I'm trying to narrow the choice on Manufacturers before starting the rounds with the dealers to save time. I'm leaning toward ArticCat, Honda, and Polaris. However, I've read some disturbing things about Polaris quality. Have they got their act together or are they still having problems?

3. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of automatics versus manual transmissions and still haven't made my mind up. Any suggestions (remember that the transition between forward and reverse needs to be quick and smooth)? Shifting gears does not bother me.

4. Finally, I'm having the same problem with rear suspensions. Independant, semi-independant, fixed axle?

I would certainly appreciate any advice you might have for me.

Thanks,
Bob

 

1. I would stay with 400 cc or larger.{ac's 375 has larger displacement than the 400}
2. A couple of years ago,I heard Polaris was having camshaft problems and would not warranty them,even though they knew they had a problem with them.Thus the purchase of the cat.I am very happy with my decision.
3.Can't go wrong with either one.I prefer to shift.
4.For work I would choose the act on the cat.For playing the irs.{I know I will get pounded by this}
Good luck on your purchase.

 

DynamoD,

Thanks for the response! On the AC 375, I noticed that it was air/oil cooled where the 400s were liquid cooled. Is this something I should be concerned with considering all the hype on liquid cooling.

Bob

 

My Arctic Cat 300 Suits me just fine. It has three ranges so if you need power you put it in the low range. Medium works well for most anything else. High doesn't do to much for me.

For your need's I would think that the 300 would be all that you would want. But if money is not as much as issue, you won't regret the 400.

If you want an Auto, I would say you need to look at the 375. Don't know much about it though.

I like the ride of an Independant rear suspension.

Where is Iowa do you live, I live in Kirksville, MO. North East Missouri.

 

Articstomper,

Thanks for the input! I don't live that far from you. Cedar Rapids, Iowa (East Central). One of my sons lives in St Charles, Mo.

Bob

 

I have the '02 400 Act, my brother has the 375. Personally, I like to shift, but if it doesn't matter to you, I'd recommend the 375. The Act suspension is still very plush, I've ridden the "I" models and the Act models at a local gamefair before buying and I honestly could not tell the difference in ride between the two. The "I" does have more clearance (A little over an inch at the center of the chassis). Note that the 375 is not available in an "I" model.

As for the cooling on the 375, well, the fan on my brother's comes on LESS often than the fan on my 375! I don't think you could possibly overheat the thing if you tried. The oil cooler radiator on that thing is massive to begin with!

Depending on what you mean by "the transition between forward and reverse needs to be quick and smooth," you could have a little problem there with the Cats. On my 400, the reverse lever (you have to be in neutral to use it) is on the left side, so is the brake. So to use the brake and shift at the same time, you need to reach accross with your right hand to operate it. It's not been a problem for me...yet...but I hope I never have to shift in reverse when I am stuck halfway up a hill! The shift lever on the 375 is also on the left side.

Personally, I don't think you could go wrong with either of these two models. Both are well built solid machines.

Hope that helps!

 

IowaBob, I have a 2001 Artic Cat 400 4x4 manual 5 speed with automatic clutch, I know it's not the same model your looking at in the 2002 line, but this is my first quad as well. I though I wouldn't like the manual shifting, but after riding it for a week now, I think I will really enjoy selecting the gear that suits the type of riding I'm doing.

I bought it with a 60" plow on it, but this has been such a warm winter, that I haven't used it yet! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

My Arctic Cat is full time 4 wheel drive, and I can say that it has LOTS of torque! I was practicing shifting in my yard, and was shifting from 1st to 2nd gear and it took up 4 divots in the grass! oops.

Hope this helps ya.

 

IowaBob:

I read your list of needs for an ATV and they are very similar to my list when I bought mine a couple years ago. I plow out about a mile or so of driveway, plus a good-sized parking lot, and some other drives. I have a tractor for a lot of it, but I use the ATV as backup or when the snow is on the lighter side. I do use the ATV exclusively for the parking lot which is about 200x100. It handled last winter's snow pretty well (Being from Iowa, you know what I'm talking about[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]) Plowing snow with an ATV for me is more play than work. There are some plowing pictures through the link in my signature block if you're interested.

I haul firewood out of the timber or just skid whole trees out at times. It's impressive what these machines will pull and what terrain they will pull across.

Reliability has been very good on my machine so far. I only have 850 miles on the machine, but most of those miles are working in one form or another.

As far as what engine size to get, depends on budget and personal preference. A 300, 375, 400, or 500 would probably work fine. I have the 500 and my father-in-law has a 375. The biggest difference for me is that the 500 has a lot more low-end grunt than the 375, which comes in handy for what I do with it.

As far as automatic or manual, it's another personal preference thing. I do know one thing-I really like the automatic for plowing snow. In low range you can go from 0 to 15mph with only a blip of the throttle and you do not loose momentum shifting gears under load. The one thing that Pechmial eluded to that's a change on the 2002's is the position of the shift lever. On the 2001 and earlier models, it's on the right side. For 2002, it's on the left. Why, I don't know? When you're plowing snow you get into a rhythm going forward, backing up, etc. With my machine, I brake with my left hand, raise or lower the winch control at the same time with the left hand, and shift from low to reverse with the right, then take off again. With the new models, you're forced to do everything with the left hand or bring your right hand over. Sounds petty, but after you switch directions 100 times plowing a parking lot it isn't so petty anymore. It doesn't make sense to me.

Looks like this post is getting long enough. Hope this has helped some. Any other questions, ask away. Good luck with your ATV shopping.

 

Thanks for the help folks! Went looking at machines today and it will be an AC that I buy (probably tomorrow). It will either be the 375 or the 500 Auto depending on price and ride.

Tcat, looks like you move a bunch of snow with yours (pics). It looks like you have the 60" blade versus the 50". Do you have any trouble steering with the wider blade? Also, do you put weight in that box on back or don't you need to?

Bob

 

Bob:

Actually I do have the 50" blade and not the 60". It's a Moose plow. It's a heavy plow, so you definately notice the springs compress on the front when you raise it. Steering isn't too bad with it raised because you're usually on snow, turning with it on dry pavement is difficult. The 50" plow works out OK for me. It's all the dealer had in stock when I bought it, and didn't want to wait to order one. Also, if you transport the ATV in the back of a pickup like I do, a 60" plow would be very tight width wise across the bed of the truck, unless you angle it. Then, in my case, you couldn't travel with the tailgate up.

I usually carry 80-100 lbs. in the storage box on my back rack. Arctic Cats' weight distribution on the 500s is quite a bit heavier on the front than the back, like 58-42%, or something like that. When you raise the blade and back up, you can get some slight wheel spin with the back tires. The extra weight takes care of that.

I haven't priced 500 autos lately, but my father-in-law picked up a 375 4x4 for $5050 base price before taxes at our local dealership. Something to use for comparison anyway. Good luck with your shopping [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]