Any ideas for upgrading my 2003 Vinson to handle hauling deer out on the racks? Not too comfortable with the small racks, and the low weight capacity!

 

Seems like too much weight for the racks. I know the 30 lb rating or whatever is a little rediculus but I have to think a deer is too much. Why don't you drag it behind? It can easily tow that much. Or get a small pull cart at the farm store?

 

well i know a kodiak is different from the vinson but we tie them to the front rack with out a problem and jeez these racks are steal and bolted to the frame they can hold a deer...if not you got a problem

 

I'm sorry if this is not kosher, but rack "capacities" of an ATV don't mean anything to me. If you can squeeze it on, whatever "it" may be, in your case a whitetail, and strap it down without it falling off, who cares if it's over the weight limit? You're looking to get the carcass back to camp, not go leisure riding when you have a deer strapped on. I will say this, my old Rubicon which may be a bit more utility machine than the Vinson, but similar none the less, was a deer-hauling mamajama. I recall a time last year with a deer strapped to each rack and pulling a cart with two more deer and two guys sitting in the cart, plus me driving. We dealt with many a slimy uphill and downhill on the way back to camp. Did the machine ever stutter for a second? Negative. ATVs are awesome come deer season. I think the new KingQuad will be a worthy deer-hauler as well, though maybe not on the front so much unless we kill Bambi.

 

last weekend I hauled 2 elk off the mountain in two trips with my vinson. halfed both elk and put one half on the front and one half on the back then went back up for the other. I have done this many times with my old king quad. those racks will handle more than you can put on them.

 

Great responses. I have carried bears on both the Vinson and the King Quad. 3 weeks ago, I shot a 300lb. black bear in a "hole" which required VERY careful going in and coming out..very steep....NO PROBLEM. However, I had a tarp that I draped over the back of the seat and the racks. After finally getting this large bruin on there (with the help of my brother) made a smooth ride down to the cabin and then to the taxedermist. These machines EXCELL in the woods. As one response noted; these racks can take alot more than what is rated by Suzuki. I have had a bear on the rear of my Vinson, (only about 150lb.)...no problem. Whatever you do, I would gut these animals prior to loading them as that will help with the weight.

 

During deer week, I'm often riding with one guy sitting on the front rack, and two guys sitting on the rear rack (while I'm driving).

The Vinson does not mind, at all. It's a great quad.

 

Took the Vinson out hunting this weekend. I got a buck within 3 hours of the season opening. I credit the good Karma from riding a Vinson. I didn't haul it out on the Vinson, but had a buddy bloody up his Polaris Magnum for that duty -- no concerns about the ability to haul the deer, but I carried the food on mine so his job was to carry the deer.