I'm considering buying a Rancher ES 4x4, but have a couple questions. Some of the trails I ride on are steep, deeply rutted and very rocky. I was wondering how well the Rancher would handle these conditions. Has anyone encountered these conditions and wished the Rancher had different features, ie. fully auto tranny, larger tires, more power,...?
Thanks

 

Hey! .. This sounds like the stuff I ride on my 4x2 !

Joking aside, my 4x2 has climbed just about every place a friends 300 4x4 has gone. (Except where we both needed our winchs to go verticle.)

I think you'll find a Rancher exceptional on hardpack/rocky trail. If you do a lot of mud, you'll enjoy the 4x4.

There was one time I could have used 4wd, which was when I high centered jumping a log. Oh well, thats what the winch was for.

 

I've done alot of riding on steep rocky mountain terrain as well as deep mud riding and my 2001 Rancher ES 4x4 has never let me down. I have no complaints at all with my Rancher. And the 4x4 on the Rancher is great on any type of surface you put it on. You will not be disappointed in the Rancher. The only mods I did to mine was add a WARN 2000 winch and Oxlite Brush Guards and Super Swamper TSL's 26x9.50x12 on front and 26x9.50x11 on the rear using the factory wheels. The Rancher can hadle all that you throw at it.

 

I cant wait to see how my 2001 Stock Rancher ES 4x4 works in snow. Living in central Illinois we dont get much snow but i am in the country so it drifts pretty good.

 

I agree, I can't wait to go play in the snow!


I hope it snows soon, maybe next month!

 

How do the tires affect your power? Do you still have the power to spin the tires in mud? Did they affect your ride any?

 

Tire size affects power in several ways: one of them being weight, aftermarket tires are usually heavier than stock, secondly, going to a larger size tire will change your gear ratio. And yes, I can spin my tires in mud, but sometimes in deep gumbo mud I may have to go to a lower gear than with stock tires, but on the other hand, I might could have spun my tires faster with my stock tires but I would be just stuck in a hole. And the TSL's don't really ride much different than the stock tires, but they really hook up on hills and in mud.

 

I don't think you'll encounter anything in the conditions you stated that will present too much a challenge to the Rancher.

The only change I see from mine, and it involves mud, is the need for some better tires; something that is a little wider and more aggressive for thick soupy mud.