If I don't have an ATV yet I'm not even officially a newbie yet, right? I could use some unbridled opinions. We've been suffering without an ATV for 7 years now where we could really use one. I have THREE primary needs, listed in order of importance:

(1) FIREWOOD
I have many acres of forest and I've exhausted all the "easy" trees for firewood. Most of my property is a 20% grade (I'm in the Sierras) and I need to be able to get into STEEP, deep forest with a trailer for throwing in rounds. I'm assuming I'll need at least a 500, probably a 650, for the weight I'll need to pull (trailer filled with rounds, e.g.)

(2) SNOW
Initially, just getting up and down our 26% grade hill when it's under a few feet of snow will be enough. Our Land Cruiser with Blizzaks is good enough when there's less than 18", but sometimes a few feet can pile up before it gets plowed. I'd rather NOT install tracks on the ATV and use chains instead since we're in California where all these feet of snow can melt away as fast as they appeared.

Eventually, I'll probably add a plow or blower. (I have a walk-behind track blower now and while it's effective it takes me 3 hours to clear my road.)

(3) RIDIN' AROUND
I'm an MXer and that's not going to change. However, my wife STILL hasn't been down to the South Yuba River which is a direct shot below our house. (WTF, right?) She keeps saying something about "a horse" and I keep having a hearing problem. Anyway, if she had the quad, and could take our smallest with her (he's allergic to dirt bikes) that would be AWESOME. So I guess 2-up touring capabilities are of third importance.

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Without knowing the reputations or actual capabilities of these machines, these seem like the obvious choices:

- Polaris Sportsman X2 or Touring
- Can-Am Outlander Max 650 or 800

Both dealers are a good hour away and I can't speak for the superiority of one over the other. We have a local Honda shop, but their product doesn't look quite up to the task (but I'm newer than a newbie, so I might be wrong.)

1) Am I missing any obvious alternatives?
2) What would you recommend?
3) What questions should I be asking that I'm not?

Thanks!

/Peter

 

The dump box on the X2 would come in really handy when you're gathering wood.

 

Thanks Jumbo! I wasted my work afternoon reading reviews and pretty much came to the conclusion that the X2 would work best for my needs. The built-in box sure looks convenient.

As for the 550 vs 850 question: The 550 is of course cheaper but I'm concerned about pulling a trailer (I have an old metal John Deere that can hold half a ton or so of wood) up the super steep hills we have. Will the 850 make a material difference or is the 550 all I need? I also want to be able to tow my splitter around the property (I'd guess it weighs 800 lbs.) And then the blower I'm interested in getting at some point seems to prefer some mass behind it.

Thanks again.

 

i would suggest going bigger if your gonna haul those heavy loads. im sure the 550 would be fine but i would play it safe so you dont regret your buying the 550. i kno the 850 will do it so im just sayin

 

Agreed. If you get the 550 you might find it's not enough.

 

I have an X2 that is the older pre-XP version. With the 500cc I tow a 4x4x3' deep trailer full of wet firewood. I'm talking hardwoods, not lighter wood. As long as you have traction the 500 in low range will pull that kind of load without a problem. I have some grades in VT where the hill is about 35 degrees. Not so bad going up with an empty trailer. Got to stay on the brakes going down with a full load or the trailer can really push the quad. I made an extension out of 2x8s to make the box deeper for getting small loads of firewood from my woodpiles to the house. It will do fine in snow up to 18' if it's powdery, a foot or so if it's wet. The newer versions have a more comfortable passenger seat than mine.