Well, I finally decided to get the Rancher over the Big Bear and got it home this afternoon. I got home late and still managed to put 21+ miles on it. So far everything seems to work great. I havent had it in any mud yet but it runs and climbs hills great. I will give it a bigger test tomorrow.

2001 Rancher 4X4 ES (orange)

PS My wife really didn't want one now she is wanting me to check on a Recon... I may have been better off financially to have gotten the manual shift....LOL

 

Congrats!!! I think you'll be happy. I am, except wish I had gotten 4x4.

The ES only cost $200, and I think it's worth every penny. Kind of a drag when trying to rock yourself out of the mud though.

Dave

 

Love mine. Rocking yourself out of the mud takes some gettin used to, but it can be done.

 

muddyrancher u have 27 inch mudbugs with no kinda power booster at all???

how do they pull on ur low end

 

Call me crazy but yes. I could only afford the larger tires and wheels or the performance mods right now. So I figured if I did the performance stuff first I would be bummed about the power loss when I got the tires. So I did the tires first. There is a power loss, but it is not too bad actually. It has been 100+ here for many weeks with no rain, so I have only been in one muddy situation. It was real thick clay and when I got off the quad, I was in up to my upper theigh so it was really deep. Well, got stuck and had to winch out. I will get some performance mods soon.

 

MuddyRancher,

Do you have a lift kit for those 27" tires? I want to some larger tires on my Rancher but I really don't want to install a lift kit.

If you don't have a lift kit does you tire ever rub the fender?

 

I do have a lift kit for them. The rears rub though. This last weekend was my first ride with them so I will trim the fenders this week. The 27 mud bugs will not fit without a lift. I would suggest some 26s or 25s if you dont want the lift.

 

I didn't know your mudbugs where rubbing. I guess that another reason for me to get the tri-claws. They didn't rub at all but it was close.

Bjordan, you mentioned your wife regarding the Recon. My wife is a petite, real cautious trail rider. She had a blast on the recon but when we got the Rancher 2x4, it made all the diffence in the world. She feels safer and is able to do a whole lot more. The ES with the floorboards is a good thing too. You might want to consider getting your wife to check out a 2x4 before you invest in the Recon. Both are great, one is greater.

 

The only rub when the suspension is compressed. We also did some double riding (very slow) and that made it rub a lot. Not sure how close the TriClaws came to the fender, but the bugs are around an inch away without anyone it it. And with me on there riding like a maniac, they hit when its compressed.

 

so 27 inch is too big of a tire even with a lift for that thing?

why dont u make ur own lift for the thang and make it lik 2 more inches