How do you get more power out of a fourtrax 450 es when in snow up to the fenders. With out getting stuck, but had to go in 1st and rock it back and forth. How do i get more power to blast through those drifts.

 

I love Hondas but I got a Scrambler
for rough going it's great. I ride
all year round near Buffalo, New
York, 'nough said.

 

I just got back from a weekend at Peak-n-Peak NY and understand your snow problem. I don't think there is much you can do when the snow gets that deep. The tires start digging into the snow pack and you end up high centered on the snow -the wheels can't even reach solid ground. We had my new Rubicon, a 450s and two Kawi Prairies up there and each of us got stuck a few times. Best bet is to jump off AS SOON as it starts to dig in, put it in reverse and walk it out with a little throttle. It seems that your body weight is just enough extra to sink it since we could walk out MUCH easier then trying to rock it and ride out.

We tried going slow through some deep stuff - got stuck. Tried blasting through... if the deep stuff was long enough we eventually bogged down and got stuck. Tried repeated runs down the same path- got a few more feet and then got stuck. After alot of sweat in frigid temps from pushing and pulling, we gave up on the deep stuff and admitted that our quads may have met their match this winter. We rode on packed snowmobile trails and that worked great - but let's see them ride my trails in August!

 

I have a locker in my 450es and a full teflon skid pan. The skid pan slides really easy on the snow like a tobagon. These really help alot in the snow. Good mud tires will help you paddle through the deep snow too. A lift may help a little , but not much, you have to get ontop of the snow. No point blasting through snow drifts unless you know for a fact the snow is not deep on the other side or you'll be in for alot of work getting back out.

 

Wow, your quads even go in the snow? My Kodiak and my Honda don't go faster than 7mph in the 15" we got. As for doing better in the snow, I found that when you're stuck, gassing the quad while turning the handlebar left and right will get you moving again (this is a technique you use with SUV's if you're every stuck in a ditch). A winch always helps, too. =)

 

Can't add to much more, good advice here. Snow riding adds to the overall experience. Myself, I have to do lots of it because of my livelyhood, and experience will help you learn how to handle it. New tires, and like the guy said, a winch helps, as well as not riding alone.

Go forth and ride.

98 450-s
13700 miles
stock
Blackwaters

00 Kodiak
stock

 

I have read every reply and not 1 person said anything about chains. They help me and my rancher 4x4 a lot

 

I have an 01 kodiak and a plow and I,ve never even had to think about chains. all they do is cost money. I also live in minnesota we have alot of snow

 

I think the best thing is more wieght. If you have more wieght you going to get more traction. I found On my AC500, I go through way more snow when i still have the plow on the front and the box of wieghts on the rear rack. Like I know in my back yard i have some steep hills with about 28" of snow and without ths extra wieght i can barely go anywhere. I will make it through but All I do is spin forver, rocking the machine side to side. But with the wieght on It goes through much easier with no rocking on my part. Just remeber your not going to go like a snowmobile in the snow
matty

 

I have a honda fourtrax 4x4 2001 350 Manual. (all stock parts/tires) it goes through the snow really good untill you sink it in snow so the frame is hung on hard snow or packed. The best thing ive down is bungee corded down 2 shuvles on the racks so I can dig to the ground around the frame wheels. I have never gotten stuck for more than a half hour now (also having a friend with you is almost a must) My tip is make sure you know how much snow is down before your quad goes in. becuase when you get a quad stuck your in for a task. (btw we have about 2 feet of snow avg here on prince edward island) staying on the skidoo trails helps (they hate that I think) winch's are useless if you ask me when ever I get stuck im nowheres near trees. anyways. burnt.poptart.net/4x4 (dont add a www. or it wont work) for pics of my rig