Ok, Im looking to buy my first QUAD, Im 35 and have never ridden at all.. My home is on 10 acres and I need something that can plow the gravel driveway when the deep stuff falls, I also want something that I can pull a tow-behind mower. I figure I need a utility quad that has 4x4 and can handle my weight 340. Honestly I want the biggest baddest quad I can get, but not sure if I need all that, thats just one of my problems, I always want the most power, whether it's a saw or a microwave! I've looked at the new machines, and I sat on a Brute Force, which was just awesome, but I did not ride it, it was 8 grand... Considering buying used, but because im new and ignorant of what to look for, I don't want to buy someone elses problem. How much power do I need to plow 12" of snow or do I need to just buy a plow for my truck? I don't see myself getting much riding off my property, so I wont be climbing alot of hills or going through mud holes, although I may seek that out depending on how much I enjoy riding. So tell me what should I settle for? Tell me whats biggest and baddest and whats practical for my property needs!

 

I've been using 500s to plow snow in Michigan for 10 years and I wouldn't want anything less than that. It will handle your weight without a problem. Bigger is even better but it's all I can afford. The biggest and baddest is probably the Thundercat 1000. There are several 700s and 800s too. Since it's your first quad I would suggest an automatic. You need to decide if you want a 1-up or a 2-up that can legally carry a passenger if you want to leave the property. Go to each manufacturers website to read the specs. There are over a dozen different models would will do what you need, and anything including a 2-wheel drive can tow a mower.

 

Thanks jumbofrank, I will take your advice and look at the manufacture websites. Im going to look into some used quads too.

 

any brand atv with 500cc or more will more than do what you would like to do. I pull a 60" swisher finish cut mower, and push a 60" moose plow through the snow getting a foot at a time on my 20 acres in northern michigan on my brute 750. The best thing to do now is prolly to go sit on some atv's and see which ones feel comfortable to you and which ones dont to help narrow it down since you now know to look for atleast a 500cc machine. Since you will be using it mostly for mowing and plowing snow *both very low speed tasks* IRS or SRA wont really make any difference.

 

artic cat thunder cat 950cc

 

Well even at your weight, any 500cc quad should do fine. If you want the biggest and baddest, Thundercat is pretty crazy. But it will be more expensive than the 750 Brute Force.

-Krait