Looking to buy my first 4x4. Some concerns and questions i have for all of you!
Im looking at buying a sportsman, it would be use for plowing, hunting , fishing, and a couple trail rides a year. Here in MN snow can get heavy and alot of it at once. What would work good? I been looking at early 2000 models 600's and 700 twin. Then i came across a 10 sportsman 400 for around same price! Also the wife needs to be able to handle it on the trails. Any body got a 400 or 500 ho that plow alot? let me know your thoughts.

 

The 400 or 500 will plow snow no problem. I plow with my Scrambler 500, and it does a great job. When plowing, you will lose traction long before you run out of power.

What's your budget? Might not hurt to check out prices on new machines. Not surewwhy people here in MN think their used ATVs are worth their weight in gold, but you can probably get yourself into a brand new Sportsman 400 or 500 for not much more than people are asking for used machines.

 

I've been plowing snow with a Sportsman 500 for about 15 years. I never had any problems. I too think you should look at new ones because they have relatively cheap prices.

 

I'm looking to spend a max of 4k . Found some 2010s with over 1000 miles in my range also found some really overpriced for Thor age

 

The 400 Sportsmans where all over the place they were 425cc Full size 400 Sportsmans http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...hicleCode=5830
Then they where 455cc full size http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...icleCode=22630
Then they were 455cc mid size without low range http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...cleCode=143250
Now there back to 455cc full size http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...cleCode=199412

Any ATV with a low range will plow snow. They will break traction long before lossing wheel tuning power.

 

My Honda 300FW does a fine job plowing snow in Chicago. As others have said you don't have to have a huge engine to plow.

 

I had a tug of war with my friends 800 Sportsman and my 500.
Neither ATV moved they just both dug themselfs 4 deep wheel ruts into the dirt.

 

Thanks for the replies. Now how about speed, i like going fast and faster acceleration. Im starting to lean towards a 600 or 700 twin with lower miles, is that almost to much machine? I would want my wife driving it sometime in the future on the trails. Would she be able to handle that big of a machine? Also is there a that big of a power difference??

 

IIRC the 600 only has 8% more power than the 500 H.O. but it has 25% more torque. That could come in handy if you use it for any kind of work. The 500, 600, 700, & 800 are all the same physical size, just different engines. The 700 and 800 are in a whole different class than the 500 power-wise. You have to decide for yourself what's too much power.

 

Honestly, if you can afford to up your budget a little, I'd just go buy a brand new Sportsman 500. There are dealers all over advertising them for $4999 right now. Then you'll have a brand new machine with a warranty and you know it's never been abused, crashed, etc.