I have been looking for a 4x4 alot lately, and have come accrosed many posible options, but i found one that seemed to be a good deal. Anyway, it is a 1995 Big bear 350 with a warn 2000 winch and a cycle country 48 inch plow. Low miles, supposidly in good shape (but they told me i could not look at it for another week while they wait for an a-arm to come in, that makes me a little bit nervous)

Anyway, the purpose of this post is, basically I need a utitlity to do two things for me. Push snow, and get muddy.

Too any of you that own one: Do you think it could live up to the chalenge? Is the engine not powerfull enough to play in the mud? Whats the biggest tires i could put on it? Basically, Do you think this machine would fit me for my tasks? And also, how much would you pay for something like this? And would i need a locker?

Oh and one thing i really need to know, is it automatic or manual with auto clutch?

Thanks

 

I believe it's a manual shift with an automatic clutch. My father owned one(1985)for years till he sold it and got the 600 grizz. He misses the shifting, the big grizz acts like its winding up too much (to him). My uncle owns one now. Both been trouble free. Dad didn't have no complants, really liked it and worked the dog **** out of it. Plowing snow (1/4 mile driveway) plowing the garden (1 bottom plow) It's a real work horse. Don't think they changed much since then. He paid 3200.00 new and the next year they went up to close to 5000. He's always said he wish he would of bought two.

 

The farm that I work at used to have one. We sold it because my boss blew out the seals in the rear end so I put new ones in for him and while doing a tune up I found that the transmition was grinding itself to pieces. You could feel the clutch slipping and there was LOTS of metal shavings in the oil. I mean A LOT. I told them to sell it so they did. We worked the **** out of that thing and it kept going. It had the dual range tranny. I think it was an '87 if I'm not mistaken. I could be wrong. It seemed to lack power the power that my Foreman 400 had but it got the job done just as good. The suspension was a little on the stiff side I thought. Chances are it was changed by '95. They are stone reliable, if you treat them good they'll last you a long time. The only thing that I disliked about them was you had to take the belly plate off to drain the oil and the air filter set up.

 

Oh yea, forgot to mention, my dad sold it to a pastor of a local church camp. I guess he trusted it enough to bet his afterlife on it!


P.S. I always said if I found one at a good deal, I'd buy it.

 

No-one has any clue on how much they think its worth, or any up to date info?

Thanks sonic and need for speed.

Derek

 

Hey Yea u should get it my freind has a 1987 and it's really reliable. they almost never break down

 

I own a 99 Big Bear 350 and i use it a lot for working and hunting. It has never let me down (powerwise and durability). It has a very smooth ride and can haul heavy loads. I use it to pull very large stumps and trees. I also do a lot of mud riding and it can fallow the big bores pretty much anywheres. My advice to you is to put some mud tires on it. I've seen 28" tires on some. A locker shouldn't be necessary unless you like stiff steering which it all ready has. It is a manuel w/ auto clutch.

 

I would say a 95 Big Bear would be worth about 3000 in good condition.

 

with or without the plow and winch?

Thanks guys

derek

 

If your main chore with the machine is for pushing,pulling, and mudding...you would be better suited for the '87 to '96 model Big Bear.

It will outdo all the other models as far as low end goes. The later models just have a superlow first gear versus the sub transmission in the older models. Just don't get an urge to race the late models. The Wolverine engine is more geared for speed than pulling.