Hi guys, first post here. I'm buying my first atv this week or next, I haven't even ridden one in several years. The advice I want is whether I need 4-wheel drive on an atv.

I'm in south Louisiana with very flat terrain. Lots of mud, hill/mountains nonexistent. A friend says he 'needs' 4x4 on his atv because he often gets his high-centered, doesn't want to get his feet muddy to push/pull his bike off a little mound. I won't be in deep mud, nothing more than 6"-1' deep. I'll be hauling my 10-year-old son and the occasional 110-200 lb deer, I'm 6'1" 260 lbs.

What do you guys say? I'm thinkin I don't need 4-wheel drive, I'm considering a Rancher 420 2x4 ES.

 

The honda rancher is a realy good choice, Have one myself. I bought the 4x4, don,t use it alot but when I do , I,m glad I got it. Point being its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I won't be in deep mud</end quote></div>

Famous last words.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Not much mud in Louisiana? I never would of quess that.

Put nice aggressive tires on a 2wd and they are surprising.

Not sure about a 2wd Rancher it already has the lowest ground clearance of any Utility and has small 24" tires going against it.

Both the Yamaha 350 2wd and Kawi 360 2wd have more ground clearance and larger 25" tires.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: TLCNot much mud in Louisiana? I never would of quess that.</end quote></div>

Actually, I was saying there's lots of available mud, I won't be in it though. I'm not gonna be traveling through/over anything just for the sake of doing it, just whatever develops between me and the deerstand. I simply can't foresee an atv gettin stuck in any of the places I go. Again, though, famous last words.

 

Most of the time you will not need 4wd, but like said above - better to have it and not need it.

However - If you usually travel with other ATV's then you can always have someone pull you out if you get stuck. Or, instead of getting 4d you can add a winch. It's pretty much a fact that eventually you will get stuck if in a 2wd in a place that you could get through if you had 4wd. If you are way out in the boonies and are traveling alone than having 2wd could become a serious problem. If you travel in a group or have a winch then you will not be stuck for long.

Bottom line - If you can afford it 4wd is nice to have.

Jaybee

 

Thats a great option. I would trust a 2wd with a winch to get me home before a 4wd without a winch.

 

As long as you're never more than 50' away (in the right direction) from a good solid tree, a winch will get you out of anything. I agree that it's better to have 4x4 and not need it, than need it and not have it. Personally I need it to get through bad spots on the trails. A trail may be okay one time and the next time after it rains it fills all the low spots with mud.

 

Its better to have a 4x4 and not need it then not have one and really need it. I would never by a 2x4. I wasn't going to ride in mud either until I been out and tried it. I also ride in snow and need a 4x4. I highly recommend one for the little extra $ its worth it

 

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

Thats a great option. I would trust a 2wd with a winch to get me home before a 4wd without a winch.</end quote></div>

That's provided you have an anchor point to hook your winch up to.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: rpxr400

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



Thats a great option. I would trust a 2wd with a winch to get me home before a 4wd without a winch.</end quote></div>



That's provided you have an anchor point to hook your winch up to.</end quote></div>

Once I ran the winch cable over the top of my front cargo box and hooked it up to a tree behind me. The cable tore up the plastic a little bit but I got out. A 50 foot cable isn't always long enough to hook onto something in the right direction. That's why I put that in my other post. I've also had to lasso a whole bunch of bushes when there wasn't a single tree close enough. I had 50' of cable and 10' of rope but the tree was 62' away. SO close.