I have been looking at the Rancher AT to take the place of my TRX350FE. i have a few questions about the Rancher AT when you switch it to ESP is the first gear geared low like on the TRX350's how is it for pulling big loads?. What is the automatic transition like does it still shift gears if it does shift gears does it do them smoothly or does it act just like a belt drive ATV? and have you had anything go wrong yet? Thanks, Steve

 

When switched to ESP, 1st gear on the Rancher AT is not quite as low as 1st gear on the Rancher 350. It is still quite low and should pull loads nearly as well as the 350. When in automatic mode the transmission is a CVT, just like an ATV with a belt. You feel no shift points and it is absolutely seamless. I haven't heard of any serious problems regarding the AT and its transmission. I think Honda did its homework with the AT, although it is designed more as a sport/utility than a true utility, much like the Rincon. Some people are upset with Honda for going this route with their new ATV's, but Honda has figured out that this is where the sales and money are. Honda still offers basic utility quads for people who desire such things, so the choice is yours.

 

I have two friends with 04' Rancher AT's. From what they tell me, the AT's are OK, but they are not great. They lack low end power, and are not very good in harsh off road situations. A bunch of my friends and I all went riding this Sunday. My two friends with thier AT's went along, and I wasn't impressed. One of the AT's went off in a mudhole, and got stuck right off the bat. Another friend with a 01' Rancher 4x4, manual shift went in behind him and pushed him out pretty easily. Then to rag him some went throught the mudhole about 4 or 5 more times. Granted the 01 had itp 589's, it easily out performed the AT. But then to make it worse, my other friend with a 03' Rancher 4x4(stock tires) went throught the hole several times, and just to see if he could, he let the 01 sit in the hole in neutral, and pushed him out with the 03. Needless to say this got my friend with the AT pretty pissed. LOL he was in a bad mood the rest of the ride. Finally when we got to the top of the trail, he tried to race the 03. Not a good idea couse he got stripped pretty bad. I'm not tryin to tick off all the AT owners out there, I'm just tellin what I saw. I hope this helps you in some way.

 

If you have a 350FE now you will be dissapointed with the AT. I have had mine since July and has about 400km on it. I have install the HL clutch kit and nothing helps.This machine has no bottom end power.I ride with guys with 350's and 450's both could drag the AT around in circles. We all are running 26" tires and the AT in mud cannot turn them.
The best things about the AT is the 2wd,brake lights,and the suspension is alittle better.

 

Thanks for your replys I'll keep your suggestions in mind

 

my 2 cents,

I love my AT. Just went over 400 miles with it last night, ride a lot in water, mud and Georgia hill sides. I haven't found a place that the machine has let me down. I can say the 2wd/4wd switch is awesome, for a utility you can have a lot more fun in 2wd and the hondamatic transmission has functioned flawlessly. The ability to go into ESP mode and have some control over your gears comes in handy on some difficult terrain. I've rolled it, flooded it twice in rivers, no problems. For me, its been a durable machine.

That being said I have 0 experience with other machines either personally or through friends (they all ride hondas) so I have no comparitive information for you at all. So take it for what its worth.

 

I had an 01 rancher fe. It had gobs of torque and could turn 26" mudlites with ease in nasty holes. If the at is lacking in low end comparitively, even with almost 75cc more displacement, then I would imagine the transmission is to blame. I guess its just not an issue with the rubicon because that engine produces such an exhorbitant amount of low end grunt.

 

Steve

I purchased a 2004 AT in the fall and I absolutely love it. I ride on old logging roads in the bush and the automatic tranny is awesome. As for low end power, it does everything I want it to do, which is launch boats; the boat and trailer combined weigh about 600lbs. Also keep in mind I don't have a normal boat launch, I use a natural sand beach and the trailer tires want to dig into the sand. I own a fishing lodge in Quebec so I use it for other tasks around the camp as well such as delivering firewood to cabins, etc. I haven't found anything that I need to pull that the AT can't handle. Does is have the pulling power of my GMC 4x4? No, but it has not dissapointed me yet.

Dan

 

Got a 04 rancher (329cc) manual shift. I like the bike, but power is something to be desired. Not too much low end. In mud, I can get her to spin donuts but the engine will never accelerate up. Don't get me wrong, it will still spin the tires, and I'm aware that it's full time 4x4. Due to this though, I decided against upgrading to a big wheel kit. I don't think "my little mule" could handle the taller tires without a gear change.

 

The 329cc engine with the auto clutch transmission is the setup with more torque than the 400at.