Well out of sheer spite because Can Am has a ban on Canadians purchasing in the U.S. (I saw the dealer notice from Can Am at a U.S. dealer) I purchased two Polaris 800 Sportsman. Wife and I have been having a ball with them. The 900 pounds takes a little getting used to but the power seems adequate. I've heard fo a reprograming package to give it a little more power, but not sure how it affects reliability so I'm holding off until I see some reviews. Good thing they both have winches, these things really are unmoveable when you bury them deep enough. I'm actually glad I didn't get the stretched two seater model, as I've already been through a lot of places they just would not have been able to get through.

BTW, the cost for the two Polaris 800's came in at over 4,000.00 less than the lowest quotes I got from Can AM dealers on two similarly dressed 800's. Wasn't a very tough decision.

 

for air ride stuff... check out www.suicidedoors.com

 

No fun.

TPR

 

sportsman isent 900 pounds lol

 

Well add the two steel bumpers, the fluids, and the winch and I'm estimating you end up with around 900 lbs. The published dry weights on any quad are pure fantasy when it comes to what it actually weighs on the trail.

Evrywhere I go people ask me why I bought wify and I 800's and the answer is really quite simple.

They don't make 1000's! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Thanks for the info Mad Inventor, I've managed to track down the foreman (20 yrs ago) who built almost all the Bush Swampers at Bristol Machine, he is recently retired, and lives just outside of Sudbury. I went up and paid him a visit, he still has a Bush Swamper, he hasn't driven it for 2 years but he said it would still run. I had a long talk with him and enjoyed the stories about the machine, history etc. He gave me an original brochure for the Bush Swamper and also one for the Grizzly along with a drawing of the chain case and sprocket configuration. It looks like it would go anywhere you pointed it, but I agree with you about the maintenance issues. Your description of how it operates is right on, and likewise I think there is a better way to accomplish the skid steer operation, but all in all quite inventive! I took a lot of pics. The main reason for doing the research is I'm designing and building a machine as we speak, the body is all tacked ready for welding, but it only has 6 wheels, but carrys 4 people, but I dont think it will match the hauling capacity of the Bush Swamper! You can't beat 16 wheels pulling full time. If you're interested I can send you the odd pic as progress is being made. I'm really enjoying doing design/build for myself instead of everyone else, lol.

I also bought the Distributorship for Ontario for the "Hoot" a new Canadian built AATV. My friend has the manufacturing rights for Canada and is building them as we speak in Strathroy Ontario not far from me (London). The website is www.hootatv.com I don't know if you have heard of it, but check out the pics and video, it is a nice machine. I am going to be making a trip up Sudbury way in the next few weeks to demo the Hoot and set up dealerships in the area, if you are interested I can drop by.

Regards

 

those thigns sound cool

 

ya i think i saw them somewhere b4

 

By all means drop in, maybe we'll take my 800's out for a ride. Give me a call at 705-524-7523 and we'll set up a meeting time.

BTW, I have a 38 h.p. hydrostatic drive I took out of a Ford cl-20 skid steer loader I used to own itching to be put into a 16 wheel drive atv when I get the time. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

The hoot looks a lot like an argo. I kind of like being able to cruise at 50+ m.p.h. (not 27) when I hit long stretches of road or rail bed between trails though.

 

5 flat tires. ouch!

My son drove something through the sidewall of one of my wifes tires at about 10 miles on the machine, but haven't had any problems since. Tore a lot of chunks out of the edge of the aluminun rims though. Do any of you guys use tire sealer in your tires? I seem to be developing slow leaks on a few tires.