Looking for used utility ATV recommendations
So, looking to see if a few of you can help share some of your expertise with general recommendations since I am a UTV/ATV noob. In about 6 months I will be looking to buy an atv, most likely used via...
Forum Discussion
dcmac214 wrote:
Any of the Jap brands probably best. We ran into a good deal few years ago, got matching pair of +year-old leftover Honda Foreman 500s. If I'd had a clue as to how very useful they are around the 'ranch' I'd've bought one decades ago. Don't do any plowing or brush hogging with them, but work them HARD hauling, both towing trailers (1 ton trailer & 2-1/2 ton wagon) and trees. And trail riding in Utah. They're nominally 4WD (truly 3WD since there's no lockout for wheels) and I've needed that extra pulling traction a few times.
Don't have experience with ATV snow plowing but don't see how it would be very effective. Used to plow decades ago when we lived in NH and there's no way our ATVs would handle the snows we used to get up there. Maybe if there's a snow blowing attachment it'd work okay.
Friend has a little gas-powered brush hog he pulls behind his ATV. Says it works pretty good.
I would NEVER get a Polaris. Bought pair for Gkids (came with shop manual too), throttle cable on one broke a few weekends ago. Found out (1) shop manual next-to-worthless, (2) frustrating as hail for a shade tree mechanic to do anything more than lube the chain & change the oil. Took 2 weeks to get replacement throttle cable ($$). Found out had to take whole front end apart to replace cable. Ended up breaking choke cable in process of pulling old throttle cable out. I'm now debating whether I bring it to shop and have a real mechanic fix it or get choke cable and take a chance on continuing on my own.
You don't want to take it to the atv dealer some of the ones I have dealt with Should not have been allowed to assemble bikes at Walmart. I have had decent luck out of Polaris except when they had a bad batch of belts 10 or 12 years ago and the one that went under water. They do require more maintenance but the guys that had the Hondas the best thing that ran on them was the owners mouth. They used to go and go till they were a pile of junk one day(bushings and linkage had no grease fittings).The electric shift would break and drum brakes froze. But the Polaris would out mud and perform them all day. This was 10 or 12 years ago.I am sure both have gotten better.
