ATV advice

SetterNut · Post by **SetterNut** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:04 pm

I need to get an AVT for my small farm. I have 160 acres, 70 pasture that I have to burn 1/3 of each year, and the rest crop or wooded area .

I have a 50hp tractor with a sprayer, loader, and forks, so the heavy stuff will be handled with it.

What I will be using the ATV for is:
-Sprayer while burning,
-Spraying weeds / brome under plum thickets.
-Access to the place when it is to wet for the tractor or truck.
-Planting bird to work the pups
-transporting things like chainsaw, and light work on habitat.
-Transporting Duck and Goose decoys.
-Some general riding around by the wife and kids.

I would looking at something in the 400 - 600 class.
I am looking at Yamaha, and Polaris here in town. There is also Honda and others within an hour of here.

What is your advice.

Fun dog · Post by **Fun dog** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:39 pm

I vote for Honda. Our Honda ATV with heavy use in traing large teams of sleddogs is still going strong after 16 years.

Post by **ezzy333** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 11:02 pm

Fun dog wrote:I vote for Honda. Our Honda ATV with heavy use in traing large teams of sleddogs is still going strong after 16 years.

So is my Polaris. I have one of each and they are both good . Think if I was you and what you describe I would try to get a new or used gator or something with two abreast seating and a small box on the back.

Tooling · Post by **Tooling** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:31 am

Had a Honda Rancher which was on the small side in hp but was bulletproof - fella I sold it to still uses it today & I think it's 15 yrs old.

Replaced it w/a Grizzly 700 - 7 yrs now and it is still going strong w/plenty of power, never any issue w/it - the power steering is very nice and wonderful at slow speeds - I am not on a farm but work it fairly hard, it's a work horse and has gobs of torque / Neighbor has the Grizzly 550 - loves it

One of my buddies had a Polaris that was the biggest hunk of junk on wheels however that was a lot of yrs ago..apparently they have stepped up and are now very good machines..brother in law has one and drags trees out of the woods w/it amongst other things..3yrs and he hasn't had any issue w/it + really likes it. My brother just bought the latest/greatest Polaris and it is unbelievably nice but he just shines it up and looks at it so no feedback on durability.

In retrospect I really really wish I had bought a Gator - Ezzy is right on w/that (they also offer power steering and although quite a bit more $$ would be worth it IMO)

shags · Post by **shags** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:29 am

We have a 2003 Polaris Magnum 330 that has been used and abused every day of its life with not a bit of trouble. It's used for all kinds of chores, pushing and pulling whatever needs to be pushed or pulled, and we have a roading set-up for it. I run dogs off it almost every day. Whenever it's needed a new part, I've been able to have one shipped with no problems. If it ever quits on me, I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

hettmoe · Post by **hettmoe** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:41 am

All my neighbors use Polaris machines. We, personally use 3 of them in all weather, mainly fencing, moving/checking on cattle,shuttling machinery from field to field ....Lots of miles, and lots of new tires. 1999,2000 and 2001 models are all doing fine...we have no need to get anything else yet.

nikegundog · Post by **nikegundog** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:42 am

MSU Aggie · Post by **MSU Aggie** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:32 am

Any Honda up to 2004 will be prefect for what your needing, they can be found cheap now and they are simple to repair of you do wreck it. We flipped one off a trailer at 80 mph, new guy left in neutral. Drove it back on to trailer, drove into shop and straightened the racks, new handlebars, and some plastic, nothing else wrong. Drive it to this day with 10,000 plus miles

Tooling · Post by **Tooling** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:59 pm

MSU Aggie wrote:Any Honda up to 2004 will be prefect for what your needing, they can be found cheap now and they are simple to repair of you do wreck it. We flipped one off a trailer at 80 mph, new guy left in neutral. Drove it back on to trailer, drove into shop and straightened the racks, new handlebars, and some plastic, nothing else wrong. Drive it to this day with 10,000 plus miles

I don't keep up w/these things..what happened w/Honda in 2005?

MSU Aggie · Post by **MSU Aggie** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 2:19 pm

They changed the way they manufacture their frames. They are still really good atvs, but the newer ones are harder to work on.

SetterNut · Post by **SetterNut** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:36 pm

Thanks for the insight all.

I ended up buying a Polaris 570 EPS. Also got a wench and a plow for it.

nikegundog · Post by **nikegundog** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:45 pm

SetterNut wrote:Thanks for the insight all.

I ended up buying a Polaris 570 EPS. Also got a wench and a plow for it.

A wench? Congrats.....

Max2 · Post by **Max2** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 5:40 pm

Yamaha makes good stuff. don't know anything about Polaris however I have heard some good stuff about them. I would stay with the local business for ease of service & purchase. Either one with proper care should last you a lifetime.

SetterNut · Post by **SetterNut** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:30 pm

nikegundog wrote:
SetterNut wrote:Thanks for the insight all.

I ended up buying a Polaris 570 EPS. Also got a wench and a plow for it.
A wench? Congrats.....

Oops,,,,,,,,,

chicken19590 · Post by **chicken19590** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:07 pm

Honda electric shift is problematic. UTV is the way to go but even used they comand a good price.

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