Hello all, looking to get a 4 x 4 atv , I have been looking at the brute 750 and Honda 650, would like, efi, liquid cooled, ids front and rear, and fully automatic. I plan on plowing with it and trail riding, I do have some questions for ya.

What other models should I be looking at?

How much better is it to have ids in rear?

When plowing would be using reverse allot, any issues with shift hard?

Any info would be appreciated.

 

The honda isnt gonna be a top choice for work. Its more of a soft riding trail machine. It would plow....but wouldnt be anyones first choice.
Anything over 400cc will work for your situation, have you looked at Polaris?Yamaha?
The irs in back is nice for a soft ride, but the solid axle quads are more heavy duty, and are better suited for work.

 

Check out the Grizzly 700 FI with power steering...it will make your life so much easier having the power steering while plowing and slow trail riding, plus its by far the most comfortable quad I have ever ridden.

Like said above, you dont need a huge machine to plow with...I actually plow my 2 car wide 300' long driveway with my bruin 350 4x4, its an auto also. It would be nice to have a low gear sometimes, but its not absolutely needed; 4x4 is a must though. I plowed my driveway a few weeks back with about 14" of wet snow without a problem. We are supposed to get around 10" by tomorrow night, so I will get to go out and pay again..lol.


Im assuming you meant IRS, which is great on a utility quad. Much more stable on trails because each tire can articulate independently and hold the trial better, easier on the back because of the softer ride, and just much better all around than a SRA model. Really the only negative about IRS with a utility quad is the ground clearance issues. On a solid rear axle quad, you have the same amount of ground clearance no matter how the suspension flexes, the clearance is determined by the tire height. An independent rear axle quad will squat when more weight is added, or when the suspension compresses due to dips in the trail, which normally isn't a problem, but you can bang that rear diff. sometimes on rocks or whatever, so a good set of skid plates wont hurt....the factory plastic ones are useless.

 

Out of the two you mentioned above I like the Brute 750. If I was buying an ATV today it would be the 700 Grizzly with the Brute being my second choice. Having worked on both, the Brute is not a fun machine to work on compared the Grizzly and why I like it better.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: whosnext

Hello all, looking to get a 4 x 4 atv , I have been looking at the brute 750 and Honda 650, would like, efi, liquid cooled, ids front and rear, and fully automatic. I plan on plowing with it and trail riding, I do have some questions for ya.



What other models should I be looking at?



How much better is it to have ids in rear?



When plowing would be using reverse allot, any issues with shift hard?



Any info would be appreciated.</end quote></div>

fits all your needs:
"would like, efi, liquid cooled, ifs front and rear, and fully automatic"

Polaris Sportsman!
Best overall atv out there! The 500 is very popular.
400-800 cc
Straight auto shift makes plowing easy.
Best ride.
AWD with EBS/ADC! Just flip 4wd on and ride all day, no other buttons to push or levers to flip.

 

Definetly check out the grizz 700 for really heavy duty plowing if your not plowing really deep snow look into a grizz 450.

the 700 has power steering and fuel injection, diff lock and low range
the 450 has diff lock and low range.

 

What RickCJ7 said. Also look at the Cat's.

 

I second the Cats. You cant buy an ATV without checking out the features of the AC, like ground clearance, diff locker, speedracks, and 2" reciever

 

Ok, I'll throw something else at ya for consideration..... Just how much will the machine be used for actual working, and what sort of weights are we talking? That is important. I know there will be some howling here, but I recommend you choose something with a solid rear axle if you are going to be hauling a lot of weight. IRS is superior for trail riding and comfort, but the solid rear is the way to go if you are hauling a lot of weight.

Also look at transmissions. I do not recommend a manual clutch. Get an automatic for sure. You can find them from manual gear shift, throughelectonic shift and full automatic... Honda has one that I really recommend on their Rubicon that is different than most of what is out there. Theirs is a hydraulic torque converter much like a cars tranny. It will run in full automatic, or electronic shift modes and is much stronger when working compared to centrifugal clutch/belt drives that most use. It is ONE STOUT PIECE. I have tried, and can't kill mine. I have heard that there is another auto based tranny out there as well now. If you are working it hard, that is what I'd be looking for. Check out teh Rubicon... they are tough brutes. It isn't all about engine size.. getting the work done is. The Rubicon is made for this...

 

Take a look at the AC 700 EFI. Awesome ground clearence, damn fast, diff lock, i have a 650 and plow with it and it works great, the AC is a great machine for the trails because of the ground clearence and the diff lock.