Can anyone tell me how their Prairie performs in the winter in reguards to deep snow? I'm intrested in a 4X4 and wanted to know how much of a limitation the straight axle was in the snow compared to the IRS quads (Grizzly, Sportsman, Rincon).

 

i don't know about 650 or 700,but i have a 360 that is great everywhere but snow.

 

I've run my prairie in the snow with the tires listed below. First off, it was a blast to drive, fishtailed so easily and so controlably. It started not doing so good once the snow got much higher than the clearance in the front. It would just push it and pretty much plow it and then eventually stop. Working in the snow I dragged a whole pile of brush and logs about a mile without much of the problem. That snow wasnt deep though, probably like 3-5inches. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other ?'s

 

I haven't had the 650 long enough to know how it's like to use it in the snow(purchased April 2003) but I can't wait till the white stuff begins to fall and find out,my 400 plowed through everything except the deep stuff but to kind of quote gtchief,once the front end starts to get covered by deeper snow then it will get bogged down.Hope this helps.

 

the prairie is great in the snow infact it is great on any terrain. i have 589's and i turned them around backwards last winter when we got over a foot of snow in 1 nite and the p650 not only went threw it with no problem it would ride rite over 3ft drifts in the fields without 1 problem. so if u want a quad 4 snow (or just about anything) the prairie is your best bet...

 

I run the 589 28 for snow and it will go thru snow with the tires on normally. I find that if I get stuck with the 589 I can back up and second attempt I'm gone. Now I went broke a trail that was 84km thru snow higher than my headlights at night. The lighting at night sucks because the snow debree covers lights, now the night we were out it was bright enough where I could guess where the road and trails were. Only problem I had was overheating at one point because it became so snowed up. Even rincons polaris with chains had a hard time even following me. I found the 650 had no problem at about 30-40km at speed but it could go up to 50 or so. Some other bikes tried to give me a break but they could only go 10 km through the drifts on Honda rubas. I had a blast. Now if you want the ulta snow machine put 28 on the AC 650 and if you don't have fun on that then put a lift kit on it. When I came out of the woods you didn't see me or my bike.... I was one huge snow ball. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] For the first winter I had 25 mudrunners and they did not come close to a nice tire for deep snow. I couldn't even start moving in the deep snow with out the brake on.

 

Thanx everyone for the info, the Prairie seems like a pretty sweet machine.

 

The big Prairies are great in the snow, until about 12". Then ,you'll need a snowmobile ......
They are a blast in the snow, with tires like the 589's, Outlaws, and other BIG aggressive tread tires. LOT'S 'O FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have 589's on my 650 and last winter I got caught in a big snow storm I had 60miles to do never got stock even with my gilfriend seating behind me I keept the throtel in full position almost 90% on the ride so the quad could flot over the deep snow, I have seen at least 20-25 quad stock where the wind had brought over a foot deep most of them where quads with low clearance but I also help 2 grizzly with 11inchs or more of clearance and let me tell you when they get stock with there IRS
they are relly stock because after the frame is touching the ground the weels keep digging for 2-3 inchs so they end up with the 4 tires in the air. another things that is great is a skid plate I just purshase one and I have seen a big difference in mud I should ecpect it to help even more in the snow.

 

Snow is just part of life around here I got the better part of a foot today. For that matter I just finished plowing. The 650 is a blast in the snow and plows great. I usually have to break the trail for the other quads. But most of the big quads due fine. If you want to have some fun run it out on a frozen lake .I am studding my tires this year I ice fish alot.