She can laugh all she wants. I've been through the Rubicon frontwards, backwards, daytime, midnight over 100 times. I've personally...seen a Rancher 350 without IRS constantly get hung up. It's my cousins, and he just says "I didn't pay much for it, so I don't care if I beat the hell out of it."

Look, there's NO WAY anyone with any intelligence can say that Less clearance is better than more clearance when dealing with rocks and boulders. You can tell me how much bigger your dick is than my mine all you want....but facts are facts. This has nothing to do with Quads, Jeeps or Hovercraft. If you can get more clearance, you can clear bigger and more complex objects. Period.

As for locking. Once again....you can tell me how much bigger your dick is all you want. But when people build Rock Crawlers....They don't put LIMITED SLIP differentials in. Period. There's a reason. They aren't as effective as fully locking.

Attributes of a Rock Crawler. (Watch Monster Garage Episode if you are unclear)

1) Suspension Travel
2) Height(Clearance) both Tires and Suspension
3) Locking Differentials
4) Low-end Torque

This applies to the big boys and the small quads.

I've been through the Rubicon backwards several times, and the increased difficulty, depends on which trail you took coming out of the slab. There are 3 ways, and the one that goes through the original Big Sluice is MUCH harder going backwards, than forwards. But hardly anyone goes that way. Most people don't know the turn and most are too big. Only Jeeps can get through it, without body damage (unless you have a rock crawler) That's the only real difference.

Actually, In my opinion, the Fordyce Creek Trail is harder than the Rubicon.

 

Absolutely! You do NOT need 700cc to go rock crawling. The extra umph helps occasionally...but it's totally not necessary. Actually, I have a 700...but I prefer my buddies 600. The factory clutching, is smoother on the 600, IMO.

1) Clearance
2) Fully Locking Differentials

And you're good to go.

 

Speaking of big dicks, why doesn't your response surprise me?

"Look, there's NO WAY anyone with any intelligence can say that Less clearance is better than more clearance when dealing with rocks and boulders." Really???? Did I dispute this? Point out where I said something to the contrary.

"If you can get more clearance, you can clear bigger and more complex objects." What about the bigger and less complex objects? How in the world did you ever figure this out? I did not say they wouldn't.

There are definitely more capable ATV's than what I have in different situations. The point I was making is it is not ALL the ATV. Put an idiot on a IRS lifted locked big dicked ATV and it isn't going anywhere. Period.

Put an experienced rider on a 2-wd 250cc ATV and he will out do the big dick every time.

You Polaris riders are soo touchy.

Are you sure a locked front differential is more aggressive than a limited slip? I Better watch Monster Garage and find out for myself.

And yes, an experienced rider on a lifted, locked, lots of ground clearance, big dicked ATV will climb over larger more complex rocks than the average rider on a Rancher 350. But you knew that already, didn't you.

 

Re-read my post. I said what I said applies to Jeep, ATV's or Hovercraft. I never mentioned Polaris.

Yes, I completely agree an experienced driver will perform better....that's obvious....but all relative. That doesn't tell someone new buying an ATV anything. A skilled driver will do more with IRS, Lockers and clearance than a non-skilled driver with IRS, Lockers and clearance....just as an experienced driver will do better on a Rancher than a non-skilled driver. It's all relative. I guarantee you put a skilled rider on a kick *** ATV setup to rock crawl and he'll go farther and do more than with a Rancher.

So...if a SKILLED driver can do more.....Why tell someone just learning....Go buy a Rancher? Wouldn't the learning driver deserve just as much advantage?

Honest and fair advice. I stand steadfastly on my post.... regardless of brand (I don't own a dealership, so I could give a crap what brand), if you're doing big time rocks....Go with the IRS, Clearance and lockers. Pass on solid axle and "limited slip"(which should be Limited Lock).

Sorry I was a little frank...but read your first post....75% of it...is tooting your own horn or your daughter's horn. Which btw...I think it's AWESOME she drove through it. 95% of the women won't/can't. I was thrilled(but nervous as hell) when my wife drove my 1947 ****** CJ-2A through the Little Sluice Box...Why? Because if I was hurt or incapacitated, I knew she could get us out.

My Wife going down Cadillac Hill

My Wife this weekend riding in the snow (on my Quad...she liked my new 589's

 

Me to Ken. Sometimes I get a little ruffled too. I apologize for being offensive, don't mean to get like that. I agree with all you have posted about the ability of the ATV's. I read things sometimes and think it is an attack on me, I should have learned by now.

Thanks for patting my daughter on the back. She does us proud. She surprises a lot of people. Her husband busted the front driveline 2 hours into the trail and they didn't take an extra. Their jeep is one like a rock crawler that needs to be trailered everywhere. They are currently building a rock crawler with 4-wheel steering in conjunction with Mt. Logan Off Road in Logan UT with. It should be ready this summer. My daughter will take over the Jeep and they plan on entering competions for women drivers. Her husband is the spotter in their Jeep and was before they got married in Nov. He has tons of trophies from Moab and Ceday City and other event in Utah.

The trails you ride on look a lot like where we spend most of our time on our ATV's. Love the mountains. We ride double. My wife actually drives less as time goes on. I would like her to drive more but she is fine sight-seeing. She is getting really sharp at spotting the wildlife. Not much gets past her anymore. We have two ATV's and the Rancher sits home 90% of the time. The only time it gets used is when one of our 4 daughters go with us.

Sorry for rambling on and boring you.

Have a great ride!!!!!!! (where is Granite Bay?)

 

Ken, after giving it a lot of thought and checking out as many facts as possible, I've ordered a Cat 650. Should arrive at the dealers right after first of year. For the areas and type of riding I'll be doing, I feel the Cat is the best choice for me. Thanks for your input and help. Jeff.

 

I would have to say there is no point to replying to this thread anymore.

 

Dont understand your post.

 

I'm pretty sure you'll be thrilled. I've never drove one...but on paper....you'll be thanking life if hit Fordyce or Rubicon. I can tell you, the Rubicon Tour group that takes newbies down the first part of the Rubicon trail uses the Arctic Cats. They have at least 20 of them going up and down that trail all summer long. I'm sure they wouldn't buy AC's if they didn't work well and weren't reliable.

 

Granite Bay is on the West side of Folsom Dam, about 10 miles S/W of Auburn and 25 miles N/E of Sacramento. I'm 90 minutes from the Rubicon entrance and 50 minutes from the Fordyce Creek Trail (aka Sierra Trek)

I have a friend at work, we're both consultants. He lives in SLC and has ATV's and Snowmobiles...he's DYING to find time for me to take him on the Rubicon, just as I want to drive in Utah. His name is Ryan...but I call him Utah. He told me how many towns in Utah are totally Quad friendly. I can't wait to ride around out there. Road trip.