What quad would be good for my friend? They are going to be using to pull a trailer that will be loaded down with poop, hay, etc. while they pull it through a soggy pasture.. Suggestions?
Thanks

 

polaris 500 H.O. all the way

 

Actually for pulling heavy trailers get a Straight axle not a IRS where the suspension have to carry the trailer's tongue weight. Any 4wd ATV 400cc and up with a low range optins will work. a diff lock true AWD option may help thing also,if it gets really soggy.

 

My first pick would be the Polaris Big Boss 6x6. Probably the best pick for soggy pastures as it has true 6 wheel drive. 2010 Polaris Sportsman Big Boss 6x6 800 ATV : Overview Anything above a 400 or 500 cc will probably do the trick. My personal 2nd choice would be the Polaris Sportsman X2. It has a nice dump box on the back that can convert over to a passenger seat if needed. Also has 400 lb. rating in the rear. I've pulled many trailers with mine and think it is a great choice with the stiff suspension.

 

i second a solid rear axle atv for this type of work. Once you put about 500lbs(some atvs can handle more,some less) on the front of a trailer it squats the atv, lifting the front end and then you cant turn as well and you loose all your traction in the soppy pasture with your 4wheel drive engaged but hardly doing anything because the tires are almost off the ground. I do speak from experience. if the weight is distributed equally on the trailer keeping the atv level then your ok with an IRS atv.

 

I've been using a Cat 500 with IRS to tow trailer loads of firewood for the last 8 years. Rear wheel bearings finally went out, but I'm surprised that they lasted as long as they did. I'm hauling 600-700 pound trailer loads over a rocky trail, up and down hill.

Squat on the rear end of the quad wasn't a problem because I load the trailer properly. If you have too much weight on the front, you will have problems regardless of the suspension design. Steering becomes ineffective, and you can't turn when you need to. Load the trailer properly, or you'll be sorry.

Other consideration is brakes. Quads can get a pretty heavy load moving, but can they control it, and especially, can they stop it? Most of the larger quads are good to 1000 pounds tow weight. Anything over that... a few years back, a kid on the farm next to mine hitched his dad's grizzly to a round bale on a trailer and took off, probably 2500 pounds. Did okay, until he started heading downhill, and couldn't stop it. That bale ended up pushing him into a fence. Barbed wire fence, and it wrapped around his leg. We had to cut the wire off to get him out. Ouch.

Best quad for towing? Something with a big, torquey engine. 'zuki 700, Cat 500, 650, 700, I know are good. There are probably others.

 

personally, i'd recomend an older jeep rather than a quad if your going to be pulling a very heavy trailer, quads can pull trailers, but that first sloppy spot of mud you try pulling it through, you'll get that trailer stuck with a lightweight vehicle...

 

I second the big boss 6x6. They are some real brutes when work is involved.

 

Really depends on the tow load.. SRA is a must I would think for long term reliability.. We had a suzuki sidekick at this farm I worked at years ago lemme tell ya what when I wasnt jumpin it in the fields we pulled everything with it toughest thing I have EVER seen..