will a 2001 scrambler 500 4x4 be able to keep up with a 1998 and 2005 sportsman 500 on the trails and in mud? also in comparison how is the towing with the scrambler to the sportsman?

 

Trails and light to medium mud the Scrambler will smoke a 500 Sportsman but in deep mud say 12-24 in deep the Sportsman will rule.On towing the Scrambler will smoke a belt if you try to pull the same things a Sportsman can pull in low gear.

 

ok but will the scrambler be able to go through 12-24' deep mud or will i burn a belt becasue the gear ratio is too high? I know that the transmission in a scrambler is the same as High on my dads sportsman 500 and he finds that it is too high for trail riding. Would this be the case with a scrambler 500 4x4?

 

To get through 2 ft of mud you will need a Sportsman with big agressive tires.The Scrambler will do most mud that you will find.
Not sure what you mean by too high.But the Scrambler is an excelant trail machine.

 

will it be able to rock crawl and climb up huge hills?

 

Hi there I'm brand new to the forum.
I myself have 400 scrambler and it's pretty darn good at hill climbing, but with rock hounding you might want to get a skid plate for the swingarm.
A couple of years ago I was riding mine down the trail with large rocks sticking out and when we came to a stop, my brake caliper mount was broken and hanging down. I had to tie it up with a piece of rope. So when I ordered the new caliper mount I got a new skid plate too. It takes a hell of a beating and is still holding up.

 

Mine rock crawls great but I have full skids too.

 

Scramblers are mud monsters and trail tigers. They have the ease of an automatic and are exciting to ride too. And they will go places a true sport quad cant.....you can always use your dads sportsman to tow something if it needs it.

 

im just afraid that i will smoke a belt on a hill or smoke it when stuck in mud

 

the scrambler will hold up to all of that, but I would be careful what your towing.

I race my scrambler in (hare scrambles) xc racing etc. The thing hasnt skipped a beat and its a awesome trail quad. We have to cross rivers, climbhills, go over rocks, you name it we race through it, over it, up it etc.

I use my scrammy to race, plow my driveway and pull my ice house and havent had one problem yet.

Take care of your machine and it will take care of you.