ATV's

[tcoop]

Don't know if it's because I'm getting older or what, but after dragging the small buck thru thick timber & down & up a steep ravine, I'm thinking I need an ATV. Here is what I'm thinking (I should say dreaming about).

-4 X 4 a must
-smaller (so I can get it in john boat for hunting on the river)
-cheap, I really can't afford it now

What else should I look for?

tcoop

[Myk]

Be VERY careful. At a friend's farm someone had one flip on them hauling a deer. He got the handlebars in the face and spent some time in the hospital getting his face rebuilt.

My hunting partners have a small Honda, they're sold on Honda's and that would be their recommendation. Price was their original reason.
I'm not sure why they don't put the deer on the front. Maybe their front rack is too small. But it would be much safer to put the deer up there if you can. Or drag it if you don't mind the fur getting messed up.

Another way to avoid flipping would be to make sure you can get a cart for it.

Get one of those 6 wheelers, then you wouldn't need a boat :)

[Tifford]

Tcoop,

-Get a Honda. I beat the royal crap out of one and it kept on running with no problems.

-You can save a little money by going with a manual shift

-Stay away from polaris. Too many mechanical problems.

-You are wise to go small and light. Easy to lift the rear end around and get it unstuck if it is light

-get a solid rear axle. More reliable

-get an air cooled engine. Less maintance and you don't have to get the mud out of the radiator.

-staft drive is almost maintance free

Don't listen to how much they are rated to carry. lay the deer on the seat and sit ontop of the deer. You should be able to carry a moose if you had to. I had a little 110 cc honda 3 wheeler in high school. I could tow an empty wagon (the kind that you pull behind a tractor and put at least 100 bails of hay on) with that little honda.

In my humble opinion most accidents with these machines occur when the owner first gets his new toy. Take it easy and use it for joy riding when you first get it.

Get a small honda and be happy. If it looks abuised it probably was. Check the oil. Check the bearings by lifting the front up off of the ground slightly....if the wheels wiggle a little the bearing are going. Go up a steep hill and see if the transmission holds up, if you feel it skipping then don't buy it. Look for marks on the handle bars ...either caused by a roll over or by a guy trying to straighten them out after meeting a tree.

Tifford

[tcoop]

Thanks for the tips guys.

tcoop

[Mossyhorns]

Tcoop we must be the same age,I know i need one.Oh my ache'in back.I was still sore from dragging the first doe out.(golf cart is in the shop right now)So i need something thats mine to take where i want.A 4x4 is a must like you said.realtree picked up a quad through Gander Mountain.

[Myk]

I'll tell you guys right now, a bobcat or an endloader is a much better deer hauler. Just scoop them into the bucket with your gear. You can even use it to hang them for dressing and skinning.

Of course one of those might sink Tcoop's boat :)

[tcoop]

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for all the advise. Although I'm not going to use most of it. (I'm kinda hard headed that way.)

I did go with a smaller one. I liked that it had smaller turning radius and was light enough I could easily pick it up & move front or rear. I could pick up the 600 also, but it wasn't easy & I couldn't move it sideways much. I think we can also get it into the john boats. Also, my 10 yr. old son will be wanting to ride it soon, and the 330 is more than enough for him to handle.

Tifford, I know you said stay away from Polaris and I used to think the same thing. However, I talked to my dad and 2 buddies that used to have them or currently do. They were all sold on them and say they wouldn't have anything else. (Dad didn't need his any more, and 1 buddy sold his because he lost his job and needed $$).

According to the salesman (who sells all models) Polaris went thru some major changes to correct the problems that they had w/ their auto tranny belt. I also talked to a mechanic that had nothing to gain by telling me this, but he said that the Polaris were in for repairs about the same as Honda and less than the other brands.

So, anyway, I'm sold. I think I'm going go get it tomorrow. I found it about 1 hr. away $700.00 cheaper than locally.

Here are the details:

2003 Magnum 330 4x4 (new)
NEW Rugged, more powerful Polaris 330, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine with fan-assist oil-cooler.
NEW Drum-shift transmission is easier to shift, now includes a “park” feature.
NEW Sealed, wet-charged maintenance-free battery.
Exclusive Shaft Ride System chassis for optimal strength and durability.
World’s best-selling automatic transmission (PVT), with a new, spliceless belt for 5 times longer life, and our exclusive, lifetime limited belt warranty.
On-Demand true 4-wheel drive with on/off switch, for superior traction over rough terrain
Long-travel (7.1") rear suspension for a smooth, comfortable ride.
Unique Tractionline mount aligns the rear shock with the rear axle for incredible traction.
Available in three colors; Camo Green, Mossy Oak, and Silver. I'M GETTING MOSSY OAK
Delivers true 4-wheel drive traction, competitive ATVs deliver only 3 1/2-wheel drive traction.

tcoop

[Mossyhorns]

tcoop-since you got such a good deal,You can afford to get me one.Mossy Oak will do just fine for me too,BUDDY.......lol

Man i bet your looking forward to haulin some whitetails out of the timber with it.Before you know it you'll have all the accessories to go with it.Did you consider how much easier it makes ice fishin too..(Something else we should do)especially with the shanty,poles,gas auger,lantern,cook stove.

Good luck on your hunts there "Easy Draggin"

[tcoop]

Well I did it, I went and got it. Took the wife and kids out for a short ride before dark tonight. They liked it too.

Sorry Mossy, it doesn't come in Mossyhorns Oak or I would get you 1. :rolleyes: Really I'm broke now and can't afford even the accessories that I wanted. I will be happy to haul out your deer when you come down to hunt or I come up there.

tcoop

[Mossyhorns]

I would gladly let your quad drag my deer.I could drive down to hunt with you.Unless you want to hunt here first.

When you do make it this way Realtree will probably hunt with us too.You will like him he's a pretty cool dude...(hehehe)

E-mail me a motel near by you,so i could make reservations,when we set a date.

[rojo36]

Tcoop congrats on the new ride . I bought mine about four years ago and would hate to think of having to do without one . Last week we winched a buck 300 feet up out of a canyon, I had a hard time just getting me out of . Just ride safe and enjoy .

[tcoop]

rojo36,

What kind is yours?

I ended up going with the 2004 model with another dealer. The 1st one took away the offer for the $49 winch to give me the good price on the '03 model. The winch would have cost me $499 I think it was. Any way, I ended up getting the '04 for only about $50 more than the '03. The '04 comes with an instrument cluster that the '03 didn't have, including a digital and analog speedometer, odometer, tach, hr. meter, and gas gauge. It also has an extra storage compartment under the front rack.

So far I really like it. Yester day my son I took it out and put it thru some pretty rough stuff in the river and up and down some pretty steep hills. It handled it great.

tcoop

[rojo36]

Tcoop mine is a Artic cat 400 the 2000 model . My Winch was thrown in for free so that tells me I paid to much for the bike . I bought mine when I lived in Nevada and there was only one dealer to go to where I lived . The guys I hunt with have the same bike only newer models and they paid a lot less than I did . The 2003 with winch ,automatic and on demand 4X4 went for just over $4900 out the door . I have about twenty miles of trails to ride on my neighbors property and the only access is by ATV or Shanks Mare . Just ride safely they can get to you. I rolled mine in Utah and spent 6 months getting over it . Rojo

[Tifford]

Tcoop,

Congrats!

It sounds like you did your homework. I feel good b/c you at least got answers to their past mechanical problems.

I think the United States military uses them and wanting to keep their contracts alive I bet they did some major overhauls.

I'm glad you got a new one!!!!!!

I'm also glad you got a small one b/c these thing do get stuck.

You are going to love your new toy.

Tifford