What used ATV's for hunting land/food plot use?

[Powerstroke]

My friend bought a decent sized chunk of hunting land and we've become painfully aware that its a long walk from the far side of the property when you're dragging a deer. Also with other camp chores and doing some habitat work he's decided he wants to buy an ATV and trailer to help out.

His criteria is bigger than 400cc, solid rear axle and liquid cooled. Neither of us know much about ATV's except for the research we've done.

This will be used for light food plot work since a tractor is usually available, but mostly for hauling tools and supplies for tree work and stand building and hopefully hauling deer.

Please make your suggestions.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Depending on Budget...

I would find a used spotsman 500 or quivelent

[rundrave]

I would recomend a sportsman as well, but the original poster is looking for something with a SRA.

[forcedtowork]

I would look for an early 2000's Arctic Cat. I have a 2000 A/C 500 with the straight axel and have been happy with it. Great Power, shaft driven, full time four wheel drive.

[Dave S]

Pre-IRS Hondas, Suzuki Vinson or Kawasaki Brute Force with SRA would all be excellent choices.

[nonteepical]

try to find (good luck) a '88 yamaha terrapro, the only ATV made with a PTO. They had a finish mower, roughcut mower,tiller and a 50 gal boom sprayer for attachments, the perfect food plot ATV. only 20 years before it's time.

[MNexpoler]

Why must it have a SRA?

[BobT]

Why must it have a SRA?

I'm guessing there's a two wheel trailer involved.

If you're not totally dead set on a minimum 400cc, my 1999 Kawasaki Prairie 300 would do just about anything you might need doing. I use mine to pull a flat two-wheel trailer for rock picking on my farm without any difficulty. I've used it to pull my small ground-driven manure spreader as well as my 300bu gravity box (empty of course). I've also got an 8' trailer for hauling my ATV that I've loaded with up to 16 square bales of alfalfa and hauled it around with ease. That's about 800lb. plus the trailer and my 230 pounds. Newer models were upgraded to a 360cc and they added liquid cooling, engine braking, and front diff. lock which is pretty close to what you're asking for. I wouldn't hesitate to consider one like this.

[Sgt. Schlitz]

I have a 500 Suzuki Vinson and it is currently used exactly like you are describing. I like it.

[Powerstroke]

The SRA is mainly for having the best design for towing/hauling a trailer. BobT is correct. Its much easier to manage that weight on a SRA than over the IRS.

The motor size is not set in stone, just a consideration for having enough power. I won't say there is no budget, because he is looking used, but in general if the cost is worth the machine, then its a deal.

I know he's looked at the Honda Foremans but was wondering what other models fit that criteria.

[KatoMike]

I have both a Grizzly 450 and a Grizzly 700, they both tow my 4x8 steel trailer without a problem (unloaded or loaded with chicken manure). It is a myth that IRS machines make it more difficult to paul a trailer. The Polaris and Yamaha IRS machines are rated to tow more than any Honda (SRA or IRS). I wouldn't rule out IRS.

[BobT]

Quote:

It is a myth that IRS machines make it more difficult to paul a trailer. The Polaris and Yamaha IRS machines are rated to tow more than any Honda (SRA or IRS). I wouldn't rule out IRS

The "myth" has nothing to do with toing capacity. It has to do with tongue weight. A 2-wheel trailer adds weight to the hitch that will squat IRS systems whereas a 4-wheel trailer does not. Heavy tongue weight is about the only reason it can be a concern.

[PurpleFloyd]

You can always buy or fabricate a bar that locks the IRS which eliminates the compression issues if that is a concern.

I used to have a Yamaha Wolverine 350 with a solid tube rear axle and later bought a Sportsman 500 that had IRS and one of the things that I used to use them for on occasion was to move my 6x12 cargo trailer from the street around the back of my house into the field when I wasn't using it and the sportsman was just as capable as the Wolvie.

That being said I got rid of the Sportsman and now have a Ranger RZR and I would never go back to an ATV after having a UTV. They are so much more versatile and I just end up using it in ways i would have never used a quad.

[Surface Tension]

I wouldn't rule out a liquid just for the reason that your not moving any air over the heads while doing grunt work with food plots or hauling heavy loads at a long distance, IMO that is a plus.

That'll open up more options as far finding a used ATV to fit your needs.

Just my

[Dave S]

I wouldn't rule out a liquid just for the reason that your not moving any air over the heads while doing grunt work with food plots or hauling heavy loads at a long distance, IMO that is a plus.

That'll open up more options as far finding a used ATV to fit your needs.

Just my

Totally agree Frank.

[BobT]

I wouldn't rule out a liquid just for the reason that your not moving any air over the heads while doing grunt work with food plots or hauling heavy loads at a long distance, IMO that is a plus.

That'll open up more options as far finding a used ATV to fit your needs.

Just my

I thought the OP was looking for liquid cooling specifically for this reason. I would agree that liquid is the better option. Mine is air cooled and does not have any fan to move the air so I have to be moving to keep it cool. That has proven to be one of the problems I have when I use it in my farming work because it spends too much time idling and can heat the motor up. I have to keep an eye....I mean ear....out for problems. I've been considering trading up to a newer model that offers liquid cooling but the machine just runs too trouble-free I hate to part with it and I can't justify having two machines.

[KatoMike]

I don't see why everyone is always concerned about the IRS squatting? They have way more ground clearance than an SRA machine to start out with...

[BobT]

I don't see why everyone is always concerned about the IRS squatting? They have way more ground clearance than an SRA machine to start out with...

Might not be about ground clearance so much as potential damage to the machine and handling.

[Powerstroke]

We've had access to another ATV in the past and have had overheating issues with it since it was a air-cooled motor.

[KatoMike]

What potential damage to the machine? The manufacturer rates them to tow a certain amount, I think they would know better than someone just making [PoorWordUsage] up.

[Dave S]

What potential damage to the machine? The manufacturer rates them to tow a certain amount, I think they would know better than someone just making [PoorWordUsage] up.

I have seen IRS machines where the drive shafts have come off (pulled off circlips) due to too much weight on the back. Depending on the load to the machine and the squatting involved, most if not all IRS equipped machines will need the suspension lock to keep them from squatting.

[hockeybc69]

Quote:

The manufacturer rates them to tow a certain amount,

Towing limits and tongue weight limits are 2 very different things.

[BobT]

Quote:

Towing limits and tongue weight limits are 2 very different things.

Thank you.

Just take a look around at the number of trucks with the bumper bent downward becasue some fool decided to overload it with too heavy a trailer.

[hockeybc69]

Example

My Kodiak 450 has this for towing capacity.

Towing Capacity: 1,102 Lbs.

They dont list a tongue weight limit, but if you put 1100 lbs on the tongue, that ATV would be TOAST.

[Dave S]

The typical tongue weight for "most" ATvs is 30-35 lbs.