Just joined up. I have a 2000 Suzuki King Quad, used about 99% as a utility vehicle around the farm and woodlot.

I'm in eastern Maine, near the Canadian border with New Brunswick.

One thing I've noticed about the Zook (and my Son-in-law's Honda Foreman) is that the turning radius is pretty big, which can be a pain in the woods. Are there any aftermarket suspension or steering mods that help them to turn better? I'm aware that "body english" helps, but that's not always possible in the puckerbrush.

 

Hi. Have cows, hogs, and corn here. Not much of any one, but plenty to keep busy.
The only thing I know of to narrow the turning is to gind down the steering stops a little. Of course, this voids any and all warranty on the front CV joints, but is the only thing I have seen that works.

 

Hi Farmr123. I'm a small operation too, hobby farm, actually. Half a dozen sheep for breeding stock, chickens, turkeys and a llama on 25 acres, 20 of which is woodlot and beaver marsh.

I don't think it would be worth the effort (or warranty problems) to go grinding on the stops. You wouldn't gain enough to be noticable, I wouldn't think. Other than that one problem, I like the Zook, durn thing will go anywhere the tires can find the bottom.

 

Sheepfarmer, hello from Alaska! How's your weather in Aroostook County? I used to live up in Limestone, stationed up at Loring for 4 years. I really loved that place, shame on the politicians for closing it up. I miss all my friends up there. Do you do any deer huntin up there? I know there are some biguns in your neck of the woods.
As for your Suzuki, I wouldn't do anything to those steering stops. It ain't worth the broken parts. Just learn to turn it around on a dime better. Besides that thing will run over anything right. One thing I see done up here is to keep it in 2X2 most of the time so it turns easier, then put it in 4X4 when ya need to. It depends on your swampiness though. Good luck to ya!

 

Howdy, Big Zook! I'm way down on the coast, Hancock county, near the Washington county line. Deer hunting locally is pretty pitiful, better up in farming country.

I do leave mine in 2WD pretty much. The 4WD Super Low is nice for rock and stump crawling, tho. Woods riding is pretty rough around here, lots of second growth stuff, been cut over years ago, stumps, ruts, rocks, wet holes, all sorts of fun. Ol' feller told me "Leave it in 2WD til you get stuck, then put it in 4WD, take the hint, and GO HOME!" ":^)

 

Sheepfarmer:
Good to hear from ya! As for the steering, the only thing I know of that will help, is adding taller, more aggressive tires. I run a '00 AC 500 Auto, and never really noticed steering difficulty. Then, I jumped up from the stock 25x10x12 Titan 489's, to the 27x9.75x12 fronts and 27x12x12 rear Bi/Tri Claws. Immediately, I noticed my 'Cat steered ALOT easier, and even makes a sharper turn as well.

This may or may not be an option for you. You could possibly even go to a narrower front tire, if you didn't want to go bigger. Or, swap the stock tires for a set of more aggressive tires of the same stock size. Basically, the less tread you put on the ground over the smallest area, the less friction is created, and it is easier to turn.

Hope that helps,

Mike