Had our Rancher ES stolen last week and are shopping to replace. Very happy with old Rancher ES. It's used for farm work(spraying, crop inspection, pulling small trailer, etc.) and mild trail riding (ie no steep hillls or water deeper than floor boards. My question concerns moving to the AT. Is this tranny reliable for this type of work? Was happy with old machine but like the idea of switching between 2/4 wheel drive. I don't need a bigger machine since wife wants me to conserve money for a house.

 

The AT got dissed in the shootouts for not having much low end power. The impression I get is that even though the 350 gives up ~70cc's to the 400, the less efficient automatic transmission eats up the extra power.

 

I have one of each...if you don't have a need for 4 wheel drive I would just go with the ES. The ES is easier to manuever around and has plenty of power. Even with the AT in two wheel drive it is not as easy to steer as the ES. The only reason I got the AT 4x4 was so I could get to areas of my property only a 4 wheel drive would go. Save some money and replace you Rancher with another ES since you were happy with that one. Take the money you save and buy a good lock and chain[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Um, HwyFlyer, not sure if you know it or not, but they do make a Rancher ES 4x4. I'd personally go with the ES simply because the AT doesn't have a low range. Sure the Trax-Loc on the AT would be nice, but the Rancher's really don't steer all that terrible with the full-time 4x4 anyway.

 

I have both ranchers. I picked up the a/t for my wife because it is more sedate and she could never figure out the shifting. And yes the a/t is more sedate out of the hole which for my wife is great as she could get the ESP front up in the air quite often.

 

just get the rancher es, and get the warn 424 shift kit to take it in and out of 4x4, makes a heck of a difference