I have some steep mountain property I want to get an ATV to use on. Would like to haul a yard trailer, logs, wood etc. Super low gears and locker are critical for me, some areas very steep, if I cannot crawl up it I do not want to go up it. I do not want to race up them using momentum. So slow is better.

I was thinking for my budget of around $1,200 my best bet is a Suzuki King Quad 300. Seems like I can find them in working order for my price range, they have hi, low and super low gears, super low being very important. Most important it looks like they came with a front differential locker. I do not want to go fast, just keep going. Seems like buying an ATV without a locker and adding one is not cheap for just the parts.

Are there any other options, am I on the right track with my choice to look for. If there is a better or equal option in this price range used I would love to know. Just starting to learn about these, I am mechanically inclined but never worked on an ATV or motorcycle type engine, mostly just old 4x4 trucks.

Thanks

 

The super low gear works great from what I hear but I would get something bigger for hauling wood etc. All the major brands make good larger cc quads. It will be really hard to find a good one within your budget. Maybe you can find a 400 that cheap but I would still go bigger.

 

So far I have not had much luck finding a bigger CC one with a front locker in my price range, and having done a lot of off roading in steep hills I know how critical a locker can be.

 

You probably won't find another 4x4 utility quad in that price range with a front locker. None of the older Hondas had a front locker. The 400 Big Bear 4x4 did but its going to cost more but it has a very torquey engine and is a great machine for work with good pulling power. I've even seen older 450 Kodiaks for around $2000 and they have lockers and a cvt automatic with high/low range, with a lot more power than those old Suzukis.

 

I have heard shaft drive like on the Kubota is good but some others love Polaris. I have a steep ridge to climb with several turns my little Honda 250 can't get up the steep part, my neighbors Foreman does it easy, and I need to get tools up so thats why the UTV. Any experiences shared would be great.

 

All 4wd Polaris of any year and cc are "True AWD" they do not even have a 3wd mode period , my 500 climbs anything in low range, the only limiting factor is physics when the ATV finally flips back onto itself.

I climb this one tall and steep slope that would be hard to climb on my hands and knees.

It's really the AWD and low range that does it , I,m sure a 400 or 350 would climb it as well.

I tried the same hill with my 1989 350 Big Bear with low range but the 3wd without diff lock stopped it do to lack of traction.

I tried it with my 350 Grizzly with diff lock but having no low range stopped it do to lack of wheel turning power.
So you kind of need both features at once.

 

I now have 2 Suzuki king quad 300's, got them both running great just need a rear axle in one, have it just need to install it. It wan't be till Feb or March till i can get them up to my mountain property. But put these things in the super low gears and locked front end and I have no doubt they will climb almost anything. In 1st gear super low a baby crawling could probably move faster. Plus the engine is attached to the rear transmission and it is manual shift. So there are no belts, nothing to slip other then the clutch. I can't wait to get them in the mountains. Since I want to crawl up the mountains relying on traction, that way I know I also will have traction to come back down safely, I think these are prefect for my needs. If I wanted momentum and speed to help me get up probably not. Using more HP/motor and less gear to go somewhere greatly increases the risk, I am old enough I do not want that risk, I am the tortoise now.

 

Its practically impossible for a belt to slip while in low range.

I have nosed my 500 up to a brick wall while on pavement and watch all 4 wheels spin without the belt slipping while in low range.

Any place where the load or riding conditions threaten belt slip you will be going slow anyways and be in low range.
High range is so you can blast quickly down a easy trail section to get to the fun slow 4wd challenging sections.

 

the kq is a great little machine. they will go any ware even with bald tires. their is a mod you can do so u can run the diff lock in any range instead of super low. takes about 20 min to do and is super easy

 

Problem is a ATV in diff lock steers like the handle bars are welded in place that's why they have the only engage in low safety feature.
Diff lock is only to get you through a slow tuff spot where 3wd just is not cutting it. Staying in diff lock once through that tuff spot would be kind of pointless and uncomfortable.

Going over 30mph while in diff lock would be a harrowing experience to say the least.