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4 wheeler

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RLH

05-12-2005 18:27:52

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at 54 im thinking about getting a 4 wheeler to check cows how big ? do i need 4wd ? what brand? I like looks of 220 kawaski bayou any help would be appreciated

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dr.sportster

05-14-2005 19:42:57

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

Buy the 220 Bayou new.It has a low first gear for pulling stuff around and is easy to service.It is NOT 4 wheel drive which is only needed for woods use crossing streams etc and not for yard use.The Bayou is the most ATV youll find for the money.5 forward gears plus reverse.

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Ryan - WI

05-13-2005 20:30:17

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

It sounds like this may not be needed (as you are looking at a 220) but I want to caution you against getting a huge machine. Most guys I know get a huge 600 cc beast. I on the other hand have a 1989 Suzuki 160cc. I absolutely love it! I plow my driveway, pull a small trailer with anything and everything and use it in the woods and the farm. The best thing about a small 4 wheeler like the one I have is that if it ever does get stuck, I can just get off and pick up the rear end and move it. My love of my small machine was augmented two years ago during deer hunting. We were moving a homemade ladder stand and after hooking it to the back of my ATV I just walked right through the woods to where I wanted to go. I went through many passages between trees that would have been impossible for a Million CC Beast.

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chris in md

05-13-2005 18:07:36

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

There seems to be a variety of opinions here, as always!
I bought my suzuki quadrunner a few years back used, but it was lightly used by a guy I knew, so it was in good condition. In short, it has been invaluable. Get the front and rear racks, they make a lot of difference, you can toss tools and stuff in there and not have to tie it down, I can't think about not having them. Mine is full time four-wheel drive, which is noticeable in steering, acceleration, etc, but it helps in a lot of areas. It would be nice to be able to use it in two-wheel drive, to cut down on tire wear, etc. It also has high/low range, which is great for pulling stuff, I can pull haywagons around if need be. Like someone else said, the atv and the skid loader are the two things once you have you won't know how you did without. Good luck and have fun!
-Chris

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Leland

05-13-2005 17:27:53

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

If you want one I am looking to sell one I have an 03 arctic cat that will take you anywhere you want to go and I don't need it anymore will make you a good deal if you are close to ILL

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kyhayman

05-13-2005 14:30:18

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I've bought 2 things in the last 15 years that I can not for the life of me see how I got by without, a skid loader and a ATV. I didnt do the research you are doing, just decided to get one, wanted a Honda, wanted a decent sized one, and wanted 4WD. Bought a 1999 Foreman off ebay one Sunday morning for $3000 out of Florida. Great machine, glad I got the 450 too. It has become a God send for dealing with we hay. I can flip a windrow using the ATV to pull the rake and not worry about pressing water up through the windrow. Worth its weight in gold checking cows in the mud too. Just be careful, I flipped mine last fall, going less than 5 mph checking cows.

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Davis In SC

05-13-2005 09:54:02

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

If you buy an older one, I suggest one that will let you disengage the 4 wheel drive.... My 85 Honda 350 is always engaged, & it is really hard to manuver in tight turns. It just wants to plow straight ahead. I wears your arms & shoulders out being so hard to turn....

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WyoDave

05-13-2005 08:15:43

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I really think that it depends on what you want. We run 4-wheelers a lot here. For us checking cows can easily be 10 miles to and from a pasture which means a bigger machine that is faster is quite nice. We also use them as irrigation machines so 4 wheel drive is a must. If you're close to your animals and won't be in a lot of mud and snow that 220 sounds about right. New ones start nicer, ride nicer and are generally quite reliable. I put 5000 miles on my new honda rubicon last year with no problems at all. Old ones are easier to work on and fix if anything goes wrong. Just like old tractors versus new tractors. Old ones can do certain things and cheaper than new but if you're spending a lot of time on one, I'd go newer. Just my opinion.
David

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M Nut

05-13-2005 07:09:29

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I see at lot of posts for used ones. I tend to disagree, but I live in a recreational area, many atv dealers around, and thousands of ATVs. I have bought 2 new ones in the past two years. The used ones are only $800 less than a brand new one here, and are complete junk. Kids have beat the crap out of them on jumps and in swamp holes. I have a 400I Arctic Cat 4x4 for little chores and a 650 Bombardier for more grunt work. Have the winch on the 400 for stretching fence, and pull the trailer loaded with posts and wire with the 650. Use both for hearding cattle, but the automatic in the Bombardier is quicker. I guess it depends on what you want to do with them. I use mine every day, and usually in place of a small tractor. I have 30hp tractors that just sit because it is easier and faster to use the ATV. If you take care of them, the last forever. I wash them weekly, and armoral them twice a year. Had the Arctic cat serviced last week, and the mechanic thought it was a warrenty machine comming in. In reality it had 2000 miles of grunt work under it's seat. Once you have one, you'll never want to be without it again.

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Matt Page

05-13-2005 06:27:58

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

Agree with find a good used older model. We have a Yamaha 250 and a 350 from the late 80's and have used them constantly since without any problems. They are both still good machines, I'm herding cows on one this weekend. They are standards, two wheel drive, with simple accesories. It seems like newer ones are revved too high and go too fast for normal using, they are hot-rods and cost entirely too much. A little winch in the front I think would be the only thing I would change, for the times my want to overloads my can. matt.

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dhermesc

05-13-2005 05:22:27

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

My dad in law is 67 and bought a used Kawasaki 325(?) 4X4 when he turned 65 first time he had ever owned or ridden such a vehicle. The cattle lots where just getting to be too much for him to walk through. He thinks it was the best investment he's made in the past 10 years. Pulls an old compact pickup bed cart with no problem for range cubes or to haul back sick calves (also works well for giving eager grand children rides in).

I agree with the posts below about buying used - as long as some kid hasn't ripped the **** out of it racing and jumping, the older units are pretty stout. His was also sitting for a number of years and was aquired in a multi part trade (cow, horse and tractor also involved).

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BBx

05-13-2005 04:39:49

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I think the Bayou would do you well. I have a Honda Rancher 350 4x4 and it is far more machine than I need for similar chores.
We have a little early 90's Suzuki 125 2x4 at our deer lease that is pretty amazing. We use it to haul deer out of the woods, carry two grown men, carry up to 300 lbs of corn at a time to the feeders, etc. Goes thru mud, water, up steep hill sides, etc. with no problem. One of our guys stuck his 4x4 Surburban in sloppy mud with a trailer behind it once. We disconnected the trailer and pulled the trailer out with the Suzuki so he could get his Surburban out.

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Ibby

05-13-2005 03:28:02

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I agree with the post concerning new machines. Avoid them. I bought a 1996 Yamaha 400 4x4 for $1800 in rough cosmetic shape, but excellent mechanically. I had to replace the tires (eBay can yeild new ones at 50% or less than retail price - people put oversized tires on new machines and sell the original ones for pennies on the dollar)

With the new rubber, We hauled 100 cords of wood out of a swamp with it, pulled pickups out of the mud and I swear it could climp trees.

we also have a Honda Fourtrax 250 4x4, and I think this is the right machine for you. Standard shifting, no hi-lo range, just 5 forward and 1 reverse. Simple, MUCH less expensive than many others, and my kid's favorite machine. It'll haul a fencsing trailer at 1 mph, or zip up to 40 after a cow.

2wd is cheaper, but if you got ANY mud or want to use it in snow, it won't do what you want as well.

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jfky

05-13-2005 02:50:28

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

we owned a 220 -good little machine. Only problem was that the wheels stuck out from under the fender and it threw water and mud all over you-you might fix that with wheel flanges

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NC Wayne

05-12-2005 23:30:49

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

Based on what I see and hear around from my buddies that have different makes and models of the newer machines I can make a couple of suggestions. If your not dead set on brand new machine, don't buy new. If you don't want to spend an arm and a leg, don't buy a new one. If you don't care about things like a digital dash, new electronics, etc, don't buy a new one. If you truely want a reliable machine that will last forever, don't buy a new one. If instead you want to spend a fair amount on a machine that will still be running years from now, find yourself a Honda from the late 80's or early 90's with manual shifting, etc. I've got a '87 250SX 3-wheeler, my boy has an '86 Fourtrax 70, and Dad has a 86 200 Fourtrax. Mine had set for nearly 10 years without being run when I got it, the 70 and Dad's 200 had both been setting for close to 3 years without being run. In every case all that they needed was to drain the tank, clean the carb and do a little TLC liie replacing the plugs, changing oil, etc, and in the case of the 70 replace the coil. In each case the engine on each one fired up as soon as it turned over and ran like a top. Mine has been run hard for nearly 6 years now and except for changine the oil and putting tubes in the origional tires it hasn't needed a thing done to it. The other two have been going since the end of last year and haven't need anything other than what I said above to get them running. The boys down the street traded in their older Hondas for newer ones with electronic shifting, and all the new gadgets a year or so back. I think they spend more time in the shop and therefore more money on them than they could have bought several of the older ones for. One of the boys made the comment to me one day that he wished he had listened when I told them to leave all that electronic crap sitting on the showroom floor...my brother in-law has a Polaris and it's constantly broken down and needing something...other neighbors have Yamahas, etc and their needing work almost as much as their being ridden.....and I could probably think of a few more if I tried really hard..... So, my suggestion, for what it's worth, is you can't beat an older Honda without all the thrills and frills and other assorted fancy electronic crap to break and keep it in the shop and in your wallet instead of under your butt in the field where you need it to be. Again just my .02

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CLW

05-12-2005 22:28:30

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

RLH, I am 62 and I bought a Honda Foreman ES 4X4 (432cc) two years ago. Unless you really are going to be in deep mud or on ice, the 2 wheel drive is going to go 90% of the places the 4X4 will at a much lower price, both buying and upkeep. The Honda has always been the one the others tried to catch quality wise. Suzuki may have done that. They rate first in most test with there 500 and 750 I think it is. A friend of my son has a Kawasaki 325 2 wheel drive and he goes anywhere my son does on the Honda. Most make a good machine if you take care of them. The 220 Kawasaki would more than likely work. If you are like me I gave up the daredevil stuff long ago. I would stay under 500 cc. and get the one you like.
CLW

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CLW

05-12-2005 23:04:09

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to CLW, 05-12-2005 22:28:30

Link

After reading this, I think the 220 will do you well. CLW

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Mr.Nick

05-12-2005 21:11:10

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I would recommend 4x4 esecially as it comes in handy during calving season with mud and snow. Another thing you should take into consideration is the transmission. The automatic found on most of the Polaris models works pretty good (Personally own a Magnum 500) for checking cows. One feature I like even more than the Polaris tranny, is the one found on the Honda Rubicon and possibly the newer models. It allows you to switch from automatic, to the ESP which lets you select the gear 1-5 manually. If you have any more questions feel free to shoot me an email.

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Leland

05-13-2005 17:31:38

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to Mr.Nick, 05-12-2005 21:11:10

Only bad thing about polaris is that I have had tp pull several back to camp after they tried to cross stream and got belt wet and that is there weak spot.

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hogman_2002

05-12-2005 20:42:52

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

If you're looking for something that will last, I would get a Honda. We have a 2001 Honda Rancher 4x4 ES with a little over 10100 miles on it.

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DLM

05-12-2005 20:15:41

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

I would go for a 400 or 500 Polaris Sportsman
they realy ride nice. You should be able to find a good used one. I bought mine last Dec. used it is a 2000 Polaris 500 with 615 Mi. 85 Hrs. for 3500.00 . Good used ones are hard to find but they are out there. Don

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mattd

05-12-2005 19:51:11

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to RLH , 05-12-2005 18:27:52

i would look at a new polaris 400 sportsman. i have one and i wouldnt get anything else. the independent rear suspension really makes it have a cadillac like ride. i dont know how much you would like to spend but mine was 5500. the all wheel drive isnt really necessary but if you are goin to use it in a lot of mud or in the winter in snow the it is a must. some are probably going to tell you that polaris break down all the time and servicing is a pain. but that may be true years ago but not the new ones. you should at least test drive one. HTH

matt

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Dean K.

05-13-2005 15:37:51

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to mattd, 05-12-2005 19:51:11

I bought a used 99 arctic cat 400 4x4, had 500 miles, now about 1800. It's real handy for rock picking, spot spraying and pulling a little brush hog. I cleaned up a bunch of overhanging trees along the edges of fields and drug the pieces off with it. You'd be surprised how much you can pull in low range. Like the other guys mentioned I wish it had selectable 4wd, being fulltime it steers a little heavy. Mine is liquid cooled with an electric fan which is probably a good idea for farm use, low speed, heavy loads and idling. I mounted a winch for a snowplow, expanded metal racks front and rear for chainsaw, tools etc. It's not fast by any means, 40mph is near redline. Suzuki builds the engines for Arctic Cat, no complaints, though my 2whlr's a Honda. For me the 400 is just the right size, enough power to drag stuff around, but not enough to get me in trouble. Good Luck, DK

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Leland

05-13-2005 17:34:57

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to Dean K., 05-13-2005 15:37:51

Yours is liquid cooled my 03 400 is oil cooled I did not know that the 400s had anti freeze in them like the 500s

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Dean K.

05-13-2005 20:28:52

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to Leland, 05-13-2005 17:34:57

The 99 400's are liquid cooled, don't know when they changed to oil cooled. I wanted to add if he's thinking about a 4wd, and 4 stroke engine, 400ccs is about as small as I'd want to go. I prefer the manual transmission since mine gets used in place of a tractor. DK

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Leland

05-14-2005 06:27:12

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Re: 4 wheeler in reply to Dean K., 05-13-2005 20:28:52

I agree with you on the manual trans I like mine better than an auto and as far as a 400 goes mine scoots down the roadabout 55 mph plenty fast enough on something that small.

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