Hi all,

I'm new here. I am looking to buy an ATV for use on my very small ranchette (2.1 acres). It will mainly be used to drag a heavy steel diamond-link harrow to spread horse manure around a 1-acre drylot several times a week, and maybe tow a small trailer so I can move some bales of hay from my feed shed to the other side of my property from time to time. Of couse, we'll probably take it out on the trails here too, for fun.

I don't need/want anything fancy..I'm more concerned that it won't break down, won't give me problems with the constant dragging and pulling I need to do with the harrow, and I do prefer to not have to shift gears with my foot - the only other ATV's I've ridden have that and the top of my foot starts to hurt.

I'm willing to look and used as well as new...but would like a starting point. What is the best bang for my buck? I'd like to keep the cost as low as possible since this is mainly going to be a manure-spreading machine.

One other question - my father suggested that I look into using a small tractor instead or even a riding lawn mower (I used a riding mower at my last place, but left it there when we sold the house). He said that all the dragging I'm going to do might burn out the clutch on an ATV and I'd be forever repairing it. True?

Thanks for any advice on brands to look for or avoid, necessary power I need, etc.

Oh - in the winter, our soil here turns to nasty mud - it's more like clay. So I'm assuming 4 wheel drive will be best. ?

Thanks,
Jennifer - Clovis,CA

 

welcome to the forums! i would take time to test-drive some models, but if i were you, i would start with a honda rancher 420 4x4 electric shift with power steering. good luck!

 

I guess it depends on how heavy of a harrow you are going to be dragging. Some will overheat, or shred CVT belt drives and so on.

Although the Rancher 420 is an excellent machine, IMHO there are better machines for your purpose. The Rancher has a punchy top end and handles great, but it is physically smaller and lighter than the other machines in Honda's line up, and not as much off-idle torque as bigger displacement atv's.

The 500 Rubicon has a solid rear axle (won't squat under hitch weight of a trailer), it has low range, is liquid cooled, and it has a hydrostatic transmission which is unique in the ATV world.

It is a similar design to the hydrostat drive seen in some tractors, and is well suited for dragging and pulling.

It does have a centrifugal clutch between the crank and the hydrostatic unit, but as long as you aren't running it so slowly the clutch is slipping all the time I wouldn't think there would be any problems.

Still, if you are dragging a real farm implement intended for a farm tractor, you might be better off with an old Ford 8N or something.

 

I'd suggest the Honda Foreman (or Rubicon, I think they're close to the same thing). I've ridden a Rancher a good bit before and they were solid work machines. And as mostly all Hondas, it was reliable and I never had a problem with it. They're geared lower which would fit towing things well. To be on the safe side, you might as well take one step up from the Rancher and get the Foreman/Rubicon which are 500s. They are solid work horse ATVs. Obviously they come with 4x4 also. Just my opinion.

 

A belt drive in low range will out pull any 5 speed out there without a low range,just look up the winning machins on any dead weight ATV pull competition. Yes I know the 1st gear is very low but still the 1st gear on my friends 500 Foreman is no where as low geard as mine while in low range. The Foreman just does not pull as hard as my ATV we dont even debate about that on our loaded doown camping trips.

They used to make shift trannies ATVs with low range sub trannies but quit doing it for cost savings, so they cop out by saying the 1st gear is extra low.


I also have a 20hp Massey Ferguson "Garden tractor"with Hydrostatic drive , big differance between a "Garden Tractor" and a "Lawn tractor". The Garden tractor will out pull my ATV easily.

 

Check out a Yamaha Kodiak 450 2004 or older. Solid rear axle, liquid cooled and belt driven automatic. 4 wheel drive, high and low range, electric start with reverse. Mine does a great job on the trail as well as towing and with the snow plow/dirt blade.

 

You know i can't believe you guys on here sometimes... This guy comes on here says he wants to pull stuff and he wants it to be super reliable and someone insists a CVT based quad because it won and a pulling contest JESUS! Sure it can pull more faster the gear ratio is unlimited and a polaris weighs 100000 pounds but do it reliably day after day CMON. thats a terrible idea. terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I were you get a Honda foreman ES shift or if you wanna go nuts get a Honda Rubicon. I cant think of any other machines that fit the bill really. The yamahas i would suggest have foot shifters..

 

Maybe an older rhino.. you could get one for a good price, plenty of hauling capacities, 4x4.. Great farm machine

 

honda's are definitely a good choice for working and some trail riding. if you do decide to look at used atvs, The older 300,400 and 500 arctic cats had a 5 speed transmission (The 300 had high low and super low) but you use only the bottom of your feet and had a full floorboard. You UP shift with your heal ,and DOWN shift with your toes(but push down,not up) its a rocker style shifter. I had a 500 manual and put 5,000 miles on it and never once had a problem with motor or transmission. The cats were also known for low gearing and excellent pulling,but not fast. Topped out around 50-52mph. i looked at the site and dont see any manuals anymore,only autos. which despite what people say,a belt in low gear is not that bad with pulling. a guy around here uses a grizzly (3 years old) on his ranch and has 12,000 miles on it without replacing a belt. One friend has 3,000 miles of nothing but hauling wood on his farm with a prowler and a the other friend has 9,000 miles on his rhino ,both belt driven, and no issues. The main thing is to use low when pulling, high gear will burn it up. good luck!