I am wanting to buy a 2001 Rancher 2X4 ES and would like to hear your opinions....good or bad, from experience only please.
Thank you in advance.

 

Get the rancher, for sure, but why the 2wd? The 4wd is crazy.... Works just like true 4wd.

 

thanks for the info!

 

I have a 2000 Rancher 2x4 ES and love it. I was just out riding this morning. It handles very nicely on trails and third gear will get you going when you open up into a field. A good friend of mine has a Big Bear 4x4 and another has a Foreman 4x4. Both are really nice quads, but when we hit an open field and I'm in third I’ll past them. I really like the lighter front on the 2x4 compared to the heavier front on the 4x4.

 

the rancher is an awesome quad. Ninty-nine point nine percent of the people on this board will agree.

Both 4x4 ansd 4x's have their places. the 2x's are good for trail riding and just playin around. They will wheelie much easier than the 4x but the 4x isn't hard to wheelie

If ya plan on trial riding on mostly harp pack (read not alot of mud) then the 2x will work nicely.

The only thing the 4x won't do as well as the 2x is powerslid out of a turn. I don't recommend sliding under full throttle on the 4x. The outcome may not be very nice When those front tires hook up----you get the picture

have fun and good luck
cart

 

Greetings, fellow Louisiana rider. I own a Rancher ES 2wd and it is a GREAT machine. I added a winch and can now go most anyplace a 4wd can go, with the added benefits of tighter steering, lighter weight, and I saved approx. $500 over the 4wd model,even after adding the winch. It's a great quad. You'll see!

 

i have owned a 2000 4x2 since november of last year. we live on a large lake and i do a lot of mud riding. i have 450 tires and wheels on my rancher and it gives me a little more height. i of course avoid two foot ruts as when you high center anyone can get stuck. also if you climb steep hills a 4x4 can be better, you have to watch the front end more on the 4x2. i have a winch since it was new and have not used it once. unless you like to take a lot of risks the 4x2 should do nicely. it is a little more peppy and a great trail machine. i have got my 3oo for sale to buy another rancher if it sales. it will be another 4x2. just my thoughts...
rancher

 

Love mine. I do need a winch and I've got my snorkle almost done. I got a pair of 26x12x12 outlaws that I put on the rear when I want to hit the mud. It goes a lot(most) of places that the 4x's go.
I'd like to have a 4x. But if I did have one I'd want it to be a big one. Have the Rancher as a trail quad.

 

I love my 4x2. It rocks!! compared to a 4x4 its quicker, it turns tighter, it jumps better, the back end is alot easier to throw around, it gets better gas milage, and with 26"x12" mudrunners on the rear it will go through 99.9% mud a 4x4 will. Good side of a 4x4, it will go up a hill in reverse(4x2 will not), and it climbs steep hills better. I love mine and would not trade it for a 4x4 unless I did a lot of work or extreme mudding. I've given all of this info with confidence because my best friend and I both have 00' ranchers (his is 4x4 and mine is 4x2) and we ride a good bit. His is 100% stock and mine has 26" MR, 1500lb winch, rhinolined rack.

Either one is excellent depending on what kind of riding your going to be doing.