how much can the Rancher at tow. Is it really only 830 lbs. Also, has anyone had problems w/ the hondamatic?

 

ONLY 830 lbs. is quite a bit. I bet it could handle a bit more than that, but the factories probably lower the numbers a little bit. The Hondamatic is awesome. Best automatic that exists.

 

i'm also looking at the kodiak, which seems more powerful and faster. My only concern is the kodiak belt tranny. Does the Rancher have any other advantages over the kodiak.

 

The way ive been told is the tow rating is not what they can tow, its what they can safely stop.....

 

That's about it. Moving your boat and trailer in your driveway is one thing. Heading downhill with over 1000 pounds on a trailer pushing you is another.

We had a kid in my neck of the woods who hooked a large round bale on a trailer to a Grizzly and actually got it moving. Put himself through a fence when he couldn't get it stopped or turned. Barbed wire fence, too.

 

i would think with the engine braking, you could put it in esp mode and put it in 1st, or low range on the kodiak, and you should be able to handle a pretty good amount of weight.

 

Time to set the parking brake and BAIL!

 

I think you can pull more than 850lbs. The way the tow ratings are assigned to each quad is based on the ATV safety councel ratings which states that the quad can be rated for 2 times the claimed dry weight plus 10%. They is why the polaris 700 has the most mfg tow rating. That doesn't mean that it can only pull that much. I have a 700kawa prairie and have pulled my 16' trailer which empty weigh is 1800lbs with 20 square bales of hay. Each bale ranges around 50lbs, so that is an additional 1000lbs for a total of ~2800lbs. You must be careful about your transmission. I only use low range for any pulling now. I learned the heard way when I pulled a SP700 out of the mud while in hi range and burned up my belt. I know that CVT transmissions can burn the belts up in hi range, but in low range, there is virtually no clutch spin to burn the belt. As for as the honda ESP.....I am not sure other than my cousins on our hunting lease have honda 450ES's and they can pull just about the same as me. Just my 2 cents worth.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]