Sportsman 335 big enough?

[redhooks]

I don't know anything about 4 wheelers but there is a Sportsman 335 for sale down the road and I'm wondering if it's big enough for a 25olb guy for icefishing and hunting? thanks,

[reinhard1]

i have a buddy who has an old 3 wheeler and pulls deer with it. granted no huge deer yet. my brother has a 350 and weighs 230 at 6foot and has never had a problem with fishing or hunting. good luck.

[Dave S]

I've personally not been impressed with this motor. Father-in-law has it in his machine. IMO it's way under powered for the weight and just doesn't have enough get up and go if you would ever need it to power through any amount of snow or tow/pull anything.

Due to the engine size and weight of the machine, you will find yourself needing low range more often and winding out the engine which it can't handle.

I will say that if you want something in the 350cc range that will be a top notch machine for hunting/fishing, find a good used Honda and forget this Polaris 335.

Just my

[RuddyDuck]

I never owned one, but I have a cousin that has one and I have driven a couple other 335's and they are pretty doggy compared to other ATV's in the 325cc-400cc range. Just no get up and go. Not that something in that range is a racer, but they are just down alot on power compared to others in that class. I had a Polaris Magnum 325 and now have a Cat 400(376cc) and even my magnum had more power than that 335 and the cat is a little better than the Magnum. On the plus side they do have a nice ride with the IRS suspension.

I guess I would test drive it and a few others for comparision. If the miles are low and the price is right it probably still would work as long as you didn't do any heavy pulling with it. A sportsman 400 would be a little better machine though if you like the style of a Sportsman.

Good luck.

[Biggerfish]

I have a 2001 polaris expedition 325 4x4!

Never had a probelem with power. I plow with is also?

I am just under 200 lbs.

Not sure what the diff is between this and the sportsman?

[1johntimm]

Not sure what the diff is between this and the sportsman?

Manual (foot shift) transmission.

[BoxMN]

FWIW - buddy up north has a 325 4x4 (two of them actually, his wife has one too) and has used it for ice fishing and pulling trailer with firewood for years. He also plows many driveways in winter. He also has 500 at his disposal and he recommended I get the 325 when I got one, as he said it was just nicer to ride and use (lighter steering, etc.) and worked for ice fishing fine.

I ended up getting something else, but the 325 will work fine for most things as long you aren't in a hurry and don't need the extra umph. With that said, I always go with the "get the most you can afford" route I got a 450, but that was mainly due to the deal I got on a used one from a buddy. Good luck!

[redhooks]

Thanks for the responses, ill take it for a spin to check it out

[Dave S]

Just an FYI, some of the posts referred to the 325 motor that Polaris had. This is a different motor than that in the 335 Sportsman not to mention a totally different machine altogether.

[snakes]

I have some advice, call me about it some time.

[Tinkhamtown]

I owned a Sportsman 335 for several years just a VERY UNSAFE ATV. When trying to go from 4 wheel drive to two wheel drive the right front wouldn't release until you went in reverse, moved the handle bars back and forth, and hit the brakes.

Than while trail riding the right front just locked into drive violently causing the ATV to steer to the right throwing the rider into the trail as the ATV headed into the woods. As my sons and grandkids used this machine I sold it and bought two 2007 Honda rancher ATs.

Also heard via 500 sportsman owners that they had experience the same problem.

[Big_Sandy_Lake]

If you do common maintaince on a polaris this should not happen. I am assuming your never checked the four wheel drive hub oil level?

[Tinkhamtown]

Garceaus Power Sports

3429 Centerville Road Vadnais Heights, MN 55127 always maintained my sportsman 335. I have never had any of these safety issues with my four Honda ATVs.

[Big_Sandy_Lake]

If they maintained it, they didn't do a very good job!! How do they not discover something like that, did you tell them about it?

[Rippinlip]

Also heard via 500 sportsman owners that they had experience the same problem.

Wow, own 2 500's and Never had even the slightest issue like this one described. Also friends have owned them for years, with never an issue.

To each their own issues and problems. We maintain ours and still going strong.

[Dave S]

The hubs not unlocking has been no secret and the procedure to unlock has been simple. Sometimes it needed you to travel a little farther in reverse to finally kick out but as Rippin mentioned, improper maintenance was one of the causes.

I had a 2000 SP500 and only did this after I overfilled the hubs.