I need help in selecting an ATV. I want it for going up/around/down hunting areas. I'm 6'1" 250 lbs. What are my best choices???

 

Arctic cat Arctic cat Arctic cat!!

 

It depends on what you need it for. Do you need a 4x4 or a 2x4?Need lots of power?or just to get you around?Give us some more info and we can help you out more

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~Arctic-Cat 500 4x4~ Http://users.pcnow.net/mindz ICQ - 8968820

 

I need/want an ATV to help my lazy body get up and down the big hills that I bow hunt. I do this twice a day for approximately thirty days. At 51 I'm getting too lazy to hoof it much longer. I would be ridding logging roads and going thru the woods to get to where I want to go. I've never had an ATV but I've had/have motorcycles. I have a SUV and a roadster. I want something powerfull enough to get my big body up these hills while knocking down small brush along the way, AND, did I mention maintenance free?

 

If money is not a concern, then I would go with a Honda 450S or 450ES. The S has manual shifting. The ES had pushbutton shifting and full floorboards (a big plus for hunters). They list for $6199 and $6399 respectively. If you dont want to spend that much I would go with the FourTrax 300 2wd or 4wd, they still have plenty of power and wont hurt the pocketbook as much, they list out for $4399 and $4799 respectively. I think if you ask other hunters they will also recommend Honda. Honda is tried and true, but not on the cutting edge of technology like Polaris. Hope this helps.

 

Money isn't that big of a factor in my decision at the moment. I want the best that's out there. I've been hearing so many bad thing's about Polaris on this site, who should I believe?

 

how much do you weigh and how tall are you?
Do you want to shift or do you want a auto. On the logging roads do you want to go fast(like55)?

 

Believe no one. When I was looking about 2 months ago, this site was a big help for me. After talking to many dealers, a independent repair shop, reading posts on this site and as many reviews as I can I deduced that Honda was for me. It will not be for everyone. I prefer to have something that has a rock solid requtation (sp) than have all the new fancy stuff. I am sure that others feel differently. If you are going to use your quad for hunting, then I would not think that you would need things like automatic transmission and independent rear suspension, but depending on where you hunt, that may be what you want. In my opinion, when Honda adds something to their bikes, that feel that it is not a fad and they have engineered it to the max. Yamaha also makes a good bike, they are relatively trouble free.

 

Maintenance free? Or perhaps more accurately stated, low maintenance?

Methinks you undeniably limit your candidate population, Ahunter, without listening to or evaluating anyone's opinion. Check owners' manuals. How much preventive maintenance do the various rides demand?

The requirements you mention are admirably satisfied by a vast armada of 4X4 utility quads now on the market, the lion's share of quad types sold.

I think your post invites the preferences of others; however, your preference alone should drive your purchase. Truth be told, the difference in capabilities between quads in your eligible population is only marginal for the appllcation you mention.

Your preference is the sole discriminator among this sea of capable machines.

Tree Farmer

 

Well said Tree Farmer