ATV recommendation

I could only recommend a Honda. Not only do they have a tremendous amount of notoriety as a reliable quad, they have a ton more owners. Parts are easier to find on Ebay, dealers are easier to find if you need parts fast, and the support network out there is huge.

I went from a Polaris scrambler 500 to a foreman 500, and was amazed how much more data there was out there for the quad. A full factory service manual in PDF took me about 2 minutes to find online, something the other brands can only dream about.

By-pass the Arctic Cat. I've put many miles on both the Yamaha's and AC's. I've been stranded several times by the AC's and will never use another. Like your Yamaha, I've been really pleased with the comfort, power, and dependability of the Yamahas I've owned. Stay with either Yamaha or Honda. And make sure your get a winch on it, you may never need it, but when/if you do, it is worth its weight in gold.

Amen on the winch. I use mine more in pulling off junk piled up on property corners than pulling the ATV up creek banks.

I really want a CVT type belt drive like what is on my Yamaha and that kind of limits my choices. No up and down shifting.

Screw a 4 wheeler. Get a side by side for a LITTLE more money and WAY more functionality!

I was shopping for an ATV at the end of last year. The new Honda Rancher impressed me with its move to a 400 engine and they are all fitted with 4wd. There are two selections. The select shift model with the familiar straight axle rear end and a true automatic model with an independent suspension. After I heard the price, I spent $900 and rebuilt the 2002 model. The engines just keep going and going.

The 700cc Honda Rincon I drove is the smoothest riding ATV I've ever been on. Could not tell it was shifting gears, it just kept a constant smooth ride up an down hills.

With you on this Kris. Because of hills and rough going I would want a clutch and manual transmission, mine does not and going down a r1dge using the brake and keeping the RPM's up so the clutch does not release is a pain and is dangerous. Poor choice, but typical of those who design without knowing anything about what they are designing for. Even need the brake to control starts in rough going where it takes power and a jump might turn you over. I often have one wheel off of the ground in some places I go.
The side by side is much more useful than any 4 wheeler I have used.
jud

I have a really nice CanAm Outlander Max, but at 10k new in 2007 it probably does not fit within a reasonable surveyors budget for a work machine.

One Would Be...

a damn fool to survey out of a quad. Two thoughts, where are you going to put your equipment, and do you really relish the sight of a grown man "pumping" another grown man on a quad?

> Screw a 4 wheeler. Get a side by side for a LITTLE more money and WAY more functionality! :good:

Two men on a quad designed for one rider, could be considered a couple of yahoos.
One man on a quad designed with racks made to haul camping gear now piled with $30k worth of surveying equipment, could be considered a yahoo. Either way don't be a yahoo.

AS3

I have a 2005 CanAm outlander, seven years old and not one issue, belt drive (P-N-R-L-H) and very effective hold back power. I have had to do zero work except for an annual tune up, oil and filters, etc. Nothing has broke and I mean nothing in seven years.

CanAm hasn't been in the ATV business as long as others, when they started producing them they did a clean sheet design, of course they have decades of experience in the snowmobile market.

1. Trailing arm rear suspension instead of a swing arm, way better handling, ride and tire wear.

2. Ski frame, it will ski over small logs, etc., without hanging up, look at one.

3. Viscous drive 4X4, very good, AFAIK, only ATV with that system and basically the same as the jeep QuadraTrac

4. Rotax power, these are world class power plants, high revving and tons of power.

5. Made in North America (Canada) expect the engine.

SHG

> Screw a 4 wheeler. Get a side by side for a LITTLE more money and WAY more functionality!

My next one will be a 2 seater. i've got an 04 kawasaki praire 360 4x4 that has been flawless since i bought it new but i really envy the functionality of a Mule. a couple of guys at hunt camp have them and they are just far superior for hauling gear and 2 people.

I went cheap in '07 with a Honda Recon. The best $3,500 I ever spent. Even though it's 2x4, with straight axles, it takes me anywhere I feel safe driving it. My homemade equip boxes fit perfect for my gear, etc and it hauls great in my 6x8 enclosed trailer. I don't really use it for anything other than work, so can't comment on the trail riding aspects. But on open road for continuous topo, it's a breeze.

One of the great things about it that it is light weight (around 400 lbs), so I can scoot it around by the racks when I need to. Try that with a 700 Arctic Cat or one of those two seaters - you'll bust a nut for certain.

My next one will be 4x4, manual shift, independant suspension, and a Honda. I think the Rancher is either a 350 or 450, so thats the one if this economy ever turns around. I used to have a '96 Kawasaki that was pretty good. But it was full time 4x4 (bad), and always had starting issues.

I have a 1995 Suziki 4x4 and a 2002 Arctic Cat. Both have treated me well and have been an important part of my business. Many hours, many very tough hours on both.

I totally agree on the CanAm outlander...with that said..i have also had experience with the Honda and the Yamaha... all three great machines....anything else just does not compare.

I have a polaris 800. I wish it had power steering. The newer 850 comes with it. I can add it for $1250.
I kind of like the side-by-sides.

I think the Polaris is a very smooth ride. A smooth ride is important.

Nate

I have the new Polaris 850 twin 4x4 ATV without power steering and love it. It has plenty of power (my son and his buddy told me it would do 75 mph with them on it - "oh son, tell me you didn't...) The power steering would have been nice, but I just don't think it would have made me much difference because it's not too hard to turn without it. I like the fuel injected engine and the auto transmission. It has an exhaust brake for going downhill, though I have never needed it. I would like to have a side by side also, but there are many places I go that I couldn't use it although others would claim that there ain't no such place. Both would be nice, though. I have never had a problem with a Polaris, although I have friends who have. I also love the smooth ride and independent suspension.

I agree with the side-by-side recommendations. I have a Polaris Ranger XP...it is a beast...will get another this year if all goes well. Those things are expensive though...a quad is half the cost...so I hear you if price is a factor.

FYI, I've never owned an Arctic Cat, but hear their reliability is not as good as the Japanese stuff.

I have the rtv 900 Kubota diesel side by side. Kinda pricey but it can carry and pull about anything. I would go on safari with that thing.

I agree on the side by side IF size and cost isn't an issue, but it is not easy to get one in the back of a survey truck with all the other stuff, just something to think about, really depends on your needs. Of course, I think they are safer and have more utility, but just not practicle for my use.

SHG

I agree, my former job had a 1988 Honda two wheel drive model and that thing was completely trouble free. Started up every time.