I am brand new here and looking for advice on the best working quad for me. It will not be driven in mud, nor will I ever want to drive it over 20 miles an hour. The key uses will be (1) hauling a low trailer on to a rocky, uneven creek bed, loading it with 800 to 1,000 pounds of stone or firewood, and hauling it out of the creek bed to my yard; (2) plowing my 500 foot driveway; (3) hauling a dump trailer full of wood chips; and (4) hauling a deer out of the woods. I expect to need a lot of traction and low end power/torque. I have read various forums and have narrowed my choices down to the Honda Rubicon, Honda Foreman, Kawasaki Brute Force, and Yamaha Grizzly. I will purchase a used 2005, 2006, or 2007 machine with low miles, as plenty are available in the northern Kentucky, central Indiana, and southwestern Ohio area for $4500 to $6000. It appears that many users have their personal preferences, but my concern is with low end power and reliability. Any guidance you would provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome to the forum Homesteader. For working I think you would be better off with a UTV like a Ranger 6x6 or 4x4, or a Rhino, instead of an ATV, unless they're too wide to go wherever you deer hunt. If you get any of the ATVs you named, just keep in mind that the Hondas will have a lot less horsepower than anything else the same size. A Honda 500 has the power of a 400.

 

Try and get a straight axles for towing or a IRS with spring preload set to max. A low range is a "must" and a true AWD or diff lock would help with towing as well.

Any 350-400 4x4 with a low range will tow anything in reason. A 400 Suzuki Eiger/King Quad has all the above except diff lock.

 

I think Jumbofrank is right with the UTV advice. something like a Ranger, rhino, Prowler etc would be right up your alley.

 

Hi, welcome.
Every one has there preference as far as brand goes. I can only go by what I have used.
Most ATV's in the 500+ range will do what you need to do , probably a 400 as well. As was mentioned you want all 4 wheels to drive so a diff lock is good. The polaris has , when in 4x4, all wheels driving when the rears begin to slip.
I think the biggest part in hauling is weight on the machine or the wheels are going to spin no matter what tires you have. I load mine up in the winter for plowing. It probably weighs at least 1050 lbs.
I do similar work with mine and have never been under powered. Traction is the issue.
I'm not sure about the UTV's for that work. I think you are going to high center it on the frame. I think an atv would be more manuverable.
Good luck and for what you want it for it think you are going to do fine with a mid sized to big ATV, I'd stay away from a clutch if you can.
Deerkiller

 

I'm new and in a very similar situation to homesteader. I've used a Honda briefly (96 Foreman) so that is all I'm familiar with. I have friends that are Honda zealots, and as far as I know, won't consider anything else. I'm trying to slog my way and determine what features I need regardless of brand, then choose the best fit. So far my research has determined :

400-500cc
Don't want IRS (Doesn't everyone but Honda have this?)
good low range
Diff lock

I think I want liquid cooled, is this a big deal? What about breaking in the different brands? Going downhill towing a large load needs good breaks. What should I look for? How about auto transmission? Seems like I don't need it.(I'm only familiar with Honda electric shift). Fuel injection vs Carb? It doesn't get too cold here so I'm wondering if it matters?

And the big one, reliability. Everyone says Honda for this, at least at the engine level. Along with reliability is ease of maintenance. Like the OP, I'm looking to buy used, and hoping to not have to replace it very often.

I'm not looking at a UTV. Too expensive and there will be times when it need to be a smaller vehicle.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

It sounds to me like you need one of these and not an ATV at all.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Don't want IRS (Doesn't everyone but Honda have this?) </end quote></div>

400 King Quad,has a straight axles and comes with belt drive or Manual both have low range option.

Kawasaki 360 Prairie also with a low range and Diff lock true 4wd. There Brute Force 650 also has a straight axle as well as low range and dif lock.

Could be more but thats all I can think of.

 

Hmm, SRA & Difflock? Only ones that I can think of are older sra Polaris's or the Kawi Brute/Prairie 360-650-700, Suzuki Twin Peaks 700, Yamaha Kodiak 450(2003-2004), Bombardier Traxter/Quest 500-650, John Deere Buck 500-650's. Most of these aren't in production anymore.

 

Any of those machines you listed would work fine for all, I have an 08 brute force straight axle, and love it. But its a 650 and if you dont plan on going more than 20mph on it, its a bit overkill, But it does have the low range, lots of torque and a diff lock. I dont have a trailer yet to tow, but I have drug tree trunks out of our woods estimated weight of 700-900lbs but hell i dunno.

For what your planning to use it for tho a 400-500 machine would fit the bill better, be more feul efficent and cheaper. You didnt list the polaris but the 500 polaris has a very high towing rate for its size.