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I am looking to buy an ATV for my deer camp. There are so many to choose from. Wanting peoples opinion on what they own or think is the best ATV for Deer hunting. Must haves are EPS, EFI, independent rear suspension and automatic. Looking at 500cc to 700cc. Price range would be $8,000. to $10,000.
Although I sold mine last year due to family responsibility aka needed a new bathroom, my 550 grizzly with eps was a awesome machine, won't bash other brands but Suzuki stopped making quads for a year so I am not sure why but rumour has it they had money issues. Lots of guys on the fishing boards are complaining about their Polaris not wanting to start in the cold, don't know any one with a Kawi and honda are good as well but my Yamaha was sweet, I miss her, good luck with whatever you choose.
Get a Honda or Yamaha. Nuff said.
Can am outlander xt or polaris xp
Arctic cat.
Suzuki, Honda, or Yamaha can't go wrong. Wonder why preference for IRS. Pros smoother ride for trail rider, but solid rear axle is better option for pulling trailers, greater loads, and work. 500cc range best of both worlds.
This is what I usehttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/05/za7y5ygy.jpg
Honda for sure. The option of pull start is handy, my buddy's can am doesn't have that option. Could leave you in and bad position.
We left an Arctic Cat in the bush for 3 days this year at deer camp. It won't be coming back. The owner is replacing it with a Yamaha.
If you want a work horse, Arctic Cat.:goodstuff:
I use a 500 Honda, with gear selector, the transmission has been around forever and is bomb proof, no worries bout a belt breaking or slipping,good on fuel and not heavy like the larger 750cc models
I love my Kubota 900 Diesel RTV. Can't get a new one for your price range but I picked up a 3 year old unit with 190 hours on it for $8,000. I expect to get 20+ years out of it.
Can haul near anything and has the same payload as a lot of 1/2 ton trucks. Not the fastest unit, so if you want to go fast look at something else. Transmission is hydraulic and bomb proof. Dump box is also hydraulic and unit has auxiliary hydraulic connections for running things like splitters etc. We also use it to pull implements (discs, level) for the food plots.
http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3cb695ae.jpg
http://i1363.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4b03e7ec.jpg
This thread has quite a few pages of opinions on ATVs.
http://www.oodmag.com/community/showthread.php?65958
I am a yamaha fan but for the most part they are all good. For hunting I would recommend a smaller bike, like a 400-500cc. Its harder to get some of those bigger bikes stuck but when they do get stuck, good luck.
Also, I like to keep it simple and alot of the new ones coming out have too many features with the potential to go wrong. EFI is great but if your battery dies you cant just yank the pull start and go.
I also would recommend a bike with shaft drive as opposed to chain.
Good luck
Honda Big Red 3 Wheeler:D
Cool, didnt know anyone offered that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moe
Same on my SuzukiQuote:
Originally Posted by mox72
Roe+
Disregard my comment, all I have ever heard were horror stories about guys being stuck out on the ice with EFI problems, none of them had a pull start.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roe+
I would still recommend getting one with a pull start if going with EFI.
With any ATV, a battery can surprised you.Quote:
Originally Posted by mox72
Roe+
The problem is not with the EFI. It is with the crap they put in regular gas. Run premium in the winter or add gas line antifreeze to your regular gas.(found this out the hard way... twice!)Quote:
Originally Posted by mox72
A friends gas line froze this year and broke. His quad is not EFI.
x2 - I only run premium in mine as well as my boats and snowmobile.Quote:
Originally Posted by krismerry
Roe+
My truck is the only thing I dont put premium in. All small engines and quad get the best I can find, owners manual recommends no less than 91 octane.
Interesting advice about premium. I will be switching all my small engines to it. I do stabilize everything but will switchvanyway.
There are still stations around that sell fuel without ethanol. Just be sure to put the first few liters of premium in your truck or you will wind up with a jerry can with the residual fuel from the pump line from the last user (likely regular with ethanol)
To my knowledge any of the reserves that sell fuel are ethanol free, that goes from regular to high test. No need to run high test in small engines if it's ethanol free. As far as ATV's are concerned, look for something that is dependable, relieable, easy to maintain with just regular maintainence, and one that will last for years. I've got a 97 Honda 450 and other than regular oil and filter changes, along with a couple of sets of new tires, it's been a work horse and doesn't owe me a dime...Only fuel I've ever used in it has been reg gas...
It's not so much about the fuel being premium. It's about using fuel that doesn't have ethanol in it. V Power from Shell is the only fuel I know of that doesn't have ethanol, and I use it in all my engines, as well as adding Sea Foam or Star Tron stabilizer.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
I've never had a problem on the coldest of days with my 700 EFI ATV, although my throttle cable did stick once after unloading it on the ice and taking off. That woke me.
The tank trucks the load the gas on 6 Nations are the very same trucks that load up gas stations off the rez, so I doubt it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bo D
Very good boat mechanic I know has shown me the effects of running high octane gas (91) in boat motors and the destruction it can do. 87 octane, regardless of brand, is good for all the warm months. When storing engines just add an additive like a stabilizer and there won't be any issues.
x2 Was told the exact same thing. Something to do with the motor or motors not running hot enough to ignite and burn all the fuel being fed into the system.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
Well maybe up your way they do, but on the reserve down here I can assure you there is no ethanol in their fuel...Quote:
Originally Posted by last5oh_302
can you tell us more?... I always use 91 or greater on my outboards... From my 4 hp to my135 hp...Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
He showed me damaged piston and remember him showing me something else but dont recall. He said it was a result of running high octane. He also said to never mix 2 stroke oils as 1 is designed for air cooled and 1 for water cooled. Before talking with him I also always but in high octane somehow thinking I was doing the engines a favour but if its not required then there is no point. High output engines may require higher octane and that will be found in the manual. I run 87 through everything with the exception of my stil chainsaw as they told me to only use premium fuel in it. I always use seafoam or some nice additives from amsoil to keep my engines running as they should. Hope this helps....Quote:
Originally Posted by grizzlygreig
I use the same routine. Stihl specifically calls for premium fuel in their equipment as per the owner's manual. All my jerry cans of gas get Sea Foam added to them as soon as there are filled.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
Regarding atv's, I bought a new 700 a/c limited in Sept. I asked the mechanic the same gas question and he said to always use 87 unless it wouldn't be used in the winter in which he said put 91 in for storage although 87 with a stabilizer is preferred...
Quote:
Originally Posted by mox72
My '05 500 Honda Foreman has a pull start. You have to pull a panel off to access it, but it is there...
My 6 wheeled Argo ftw
I've owned and worked pretty much all brands except Bombardier and Kawasaki, for trapping, hunting, and winter running. I'd only recommend two - Honda as my first choice, Suzuki as my second. You do not need, or want anything over 500cc, unless you enjoy having a 700-900lb+ machine buried up to the belly pan in either mud or snow. That's the biggest problem I see now with the new ATVs. They're making them too big and heavy. Maybe OK for tending fences in a farm field, but they are useless with all that weight when you take them into the bush, or on to a frozen lake. The heavier machines are no fun either on a trail. Go try one and you'll see what I mean. I personally don't like any of the high clearance machines - high center of gravity - dangerous and tippy on straight hill ascents and cross hill driving. Don't get anything that has exposed disc brake rotors. I've had them freeze solid with slush, or be ripped to pieces by the granite/quartz grit after the first mud puddle you cross. My best experience has always been Honda. A 500 4-trac will do pretty much anything you need to do (haul a trailer of wood, haul a moose, plow your driveway). If it's just deer camp, hauling deer, and running trails, I'd even get the lighter 450. Worst by far for me was Polaris - broken belts, constant electrical problems, pistons, valves, crappy frame welds. Any Yamaha I've ever had was a pain in the winter for cold weather use/starting/running. Lots of top end engine and electrical problems too. Any Arctic cat I've had, or friends have had, spent more time in the shop than in the bush.
Thank you for everyone's advise and suggestions. I am leaning towards the Honda Foreman TRX500FPE.
EFI won't start with a dead battery....pull start or not.........you need the battery to energize the fuel pump....
i run the artic cat 450.........i bought it for ice fishing cause it has the highest ground clearance on the market at 11".......and in deep snow or slush every inch counts.........it is not by any means a trail machine......like mentioned the higher bikes are tippy on hills and the body roll in corners while running trails is dangerous.......you can't just throw your weight into it to slide the back over when you get in trouble......the rear wheel squats and the bike goes straight...
mine gives me trouble starting in the winter...has since day one and reading threw some artic cat ATV forums i figured out that the relay for the fuel pump was freezing up.........now when i turn on the key and don't hear the fuel pump energize i pull the relay out and warm it in my pocket for a minute then put it back in........
Not to start anything but just adding personal experiences. Buddy at moose camp rolled his 450 honda 3 years ago in an old clear cut, I rolled it off of him. 2 years before that his cousin rolled his 500 honda driving it on the trailer. None of the bigger big bore machines have ever rolled. This winter me and my buddy went ice fishing at scugog, he's also a forum member and it was slushy. I have a 2012 a.c. 700 and he got a new 400 honda for christmas. My ac was cruising no problem with little throttle and that honda was really struggling, I wasnt going hard and he was no wear close to keeping up and he sure was trying. At camp its the big bikes that are pulling the moose out, not the small ones.
There's lots to be said for the actual driver no doubt, but other then the smaller machines being able to get into tighter places there are only positive advantages to having a bigger bike and all that power...
I can on my suzuki king quad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moe
Lower octane runs hotter, higher octane runs cooler. That's why better to run regular in colder months.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bo D
Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
My Arctic Cat decided it was going to light on fire one day. To this day, I regret snuffing it with an extinguisher. I should've let that POS burn! I have a Yamaha these days, and love it!
That's funny my 750 King Quad started with a dead battery using the recoil starter.Quote:
Originally Posted by ratherbe
Roe+
I've been thinking about getting a second Arctic Cat. Parts are relatively cheap, they're easy to work on, and they go where other ATV's can't. Love mine and the front bumper/bush guard is great for pushing those little Hondas through holes when they get stuck.
I can get a recoil starter for it as well (700 EFI) in fact the two previous years came with it. Don't know why they removed it for the 08 model.
I rolled one of my Suzuki 750's once, totally my error, trying to catch up to my buddies on their dirt bikes. hit a patch of sand on a turn and the outside tires dug right in. threw me about 8 feet thankfully. rolled once and landed on its side right beside me. I hopped up and flipped it over and rode it home. cost me 100 bucks for the backing piece for one front headlight, but that was the only damage, so I consider it a cheap lesson.
and for the pull start my 2009, tried it once and it is a arm breaker. 2012 didn't come with one but I've never needed and we use them all year.
Love the machines, have hauled deer on both racks of each.
it's not suppose to...........lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Roe+
I started my 2005 700 king quad with the pull starter and it had a dead battery. Suzuki dealer mechanic told me you pull 2-3 full pull wich somehow energizes the battery or fuel injection pump. Then give another hard pull and should start. I did exactly what he said and it worked.
2010 we shot a bull moose and went in to get it with a 500 polaris belt drive. Blew the belt! Went back to camp got the owners 350 Honda foreman. Pulled out bike and moose effortlessly!
2011 we shot another bull. Went in with a new Arctic Cat 700 belt drive. Another blown belt! Back to camp - got the Honda again!
owner told us his neighbor up the road got a cow earlier in the bow season. The guy had a new belt drive. Guess what? That little Honda pulled them both out!
2012 my partner and I were buying our 1st machines. We both bought Honda 500 foremans - Shaft drive! No problems now!
IN MY OPINION belts drives are great for all round trail riding etc BUT for for absolute TROUBLE FREE stump pulling go with a shaft drive!
Again this is my opinion and my purchase was based on actual events and situations I was in on.
Maybe operator error was part of the reason the belts broke .. don't know
BUT I'm no expert rider and I did drive out both those bulls on the little Honda!
Pulled out moose back in the 80's with 200 Honda 3 wheeler, ( nicknamed the machine " Bob" ) then graduated to a 1986 250 two wheel drive Honda which we pulled a couple of moose out with, have a couple of Honda 400 foreman that we use now, Honda is the best IMO.
I really question your boat mechanic Jeff or how he came to this conclusion since all marine gas sold at marinas on the water are ethanol free reason being that ethanol draws moisture . It would be nice to get 87 ethanol free but it's a hard find and 91 ethanol free is better than 87 with ethanol . I run ethanol free 91 in all my small engines and Yamaha is where it's at for ATV's . Mines carbed and even at 40 below she fires right away . Everything gets seafoam , even the truck when I'm feeling nice . The only real advantage to EFI to carb is when running in mountains and such because a carbed machine needs rejetting .Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
TD
I don't question him at all, he is one of the best around, lives in Georgetown and many guys on here know who I'm talking about. He physically showed me what the higher octane gas can do and explained it to me so the proof is right there. If you are putting seafoam in with your gas then you are wasting your money on 91 octane because it is doing nothing for you and the seafoam is taking care of the ethanol and gas breaking down issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by 400bigbear
If you do a bit of research you can save yourself some money.
Regarding ATV's, I have a 2012 A/C 700 and drove it around all winter. With this being one of our coldest winters and I only put 87 octane in it I don't see how higher octane makes any difference.
Higher octane does not translate into more power as we may have believe when we were younger....
Not a waste at all to still use seafoam even in non ethanol fuels Jeff since it does way more than just stabilize . It's also a cleaner etc . Research it . As far as your mechanic he is but one in a million and many many will disagree with him . How does he know what fuel was being used since even some 91 fuel is ethanol also just depends on the company ? . Absolutely 91 does not give you more power nor did I suggest this . Try and do some googling and on you tube to show you exactly the damage caused by fuels with ethanol . Many of them are marine mechanics . I don't use 91 often in my truck but then again I burn through tanks steady .Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
Ethanol is a far worse enemy than a few octanes .
TD
Agreed, and Sea Foam is also a stabilizer meaning it keeps the gas safely stored for up to 2 years, I believe Sea Foam claims. Just because gas doesn't have ethanol (V Power) doesn't mean it doesn't go bad. I'm pretty sure gas with ethanol just goes bad, but faster than clean gas, without adding stabilizer.Quote:
Originally Posted by 400bigbear
edit- oops, you already said that TD...LOL
For the few extra bucks I use V Power as well, in everything, including my truck (have a programmer to help utilize the extra octane) and for me it's just peace of mind. I started up the Cat yesterday just to giver a run , which I usually do once every few weeks in the winter. I've been running it on V Power since new.
As for broken belts, Cats use the CVT setup like the Yamaha Grizzly uses, and they're both work horses that are not known for breaking belts like the Polaris or Can Ams are. I've worked mine plenty, including towing with it and with 4500 hard km's the belt is still like new. Always use an OEM belt if replacing it though. Otherwise it just may break.
I'm not going to start with you, if you actually read what I wrote I said that if you use seafoam you're wasting your money on 91 octane. I've done my research and am very familiar with seafoam and octane levels as well has what higher octane gas can do to 2 stroke engines that were designed to run on 87.Quote:
Originally Posted by 400bigbear
If you're engine does not require high octane then don't use it, there is no benefit. Again, seafoam will take care of the ethanol issues in relation to water and storage of gasoline.
Regarding the mechanic, he knows way more then you or I, he is an expert. When I'm shown hard evidence plus a very good explanation of the evidence what else is there.....
Jeff, are you saying 91 octane gas doesn't go skunky over time?Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
Also, for Cat owners, the fuel gauge has always been a problem for those using regular gas. Ethanol causes a build up on the sensor and the fuel gauge gives a false reading. Using seafoam or startron helps remedy this, but using v-power helps keeps things even cleaner.
All gas goes skunky over timeQuote:
Originally Posted by last5oh_302
But you are starting something when you make a claim that Seafoam has no benefit at all if your running 91 octane . That just is not true Jeff . Read the bottle . It's fine print but it tells you all . I'm not wasting my money just to say I can .Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
Even 91 non ethanol has a shelf life and best to stabilize it . It's not just ethanol fuel that breaks down . 91 Shell V Power is non ethanol . Anything with ethanol is known to affect lines , rubbers , seals etc in marine engines and others . I think you should maybe ask your mechanic again because its well documented industry wide that fuels with ethanol like 87 octane here are harmful . If 87 octane here was non ethanol then it would be the fuel to use for many things because it fires faster . 87 octane here in vast majority of stations has ethanol . That's the point .
TD
You keep going back to this yet I have not once said that anywhere. Again..... nice and slow.......you are wasting your money on 91 octane gas if you're engine does not call for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by 400bigbear
I use seafoam on every machine I own that has an engine, I love seafoam and it has many amazing qualities and properties, we can both agree on that. You are somehow getting my words mixed up....
Seafoam = good
high octane = wasted money if not required by the engine manufacturer
Hence, what I've said, you're wasting your money on 91 octane. You use seafoam, it acts as a stabilizer, a cleaner, ect ect ect therefore no need for 91 octane.
Ethanol is North America wide and as you stated in the majority if not all 87 octane gas. Manufactures know this, ethanol is not new, and unless your manual tells you not to use it then it is safe for your engine, it's that easy
Nice and slow just so you read your own post Jeff. Your post .. [QUOTE=JeffBondar;769118] If you are putting seafoam in with your gas then you are wasting your money on 91 octane because it is doing nothing for you and the seafoam is taking care of the ethanol and gas breaking down issue.
QUOTE]
Looks to me like you think putting seafoam in with 91 octane is a waste of money . I use 91 shell v power always because it is the only non ethanol I can find . And add seafoam to it so it is stabilized for longer periods .
Regardless though . The seafoam does not take the ethanol out of 87 octane gas . The ethanol stays and ethanol doesn't just cause damage when it separates . It eats things just by being used .. It likes to sit at the bottom of your tank . You call your mechanic and ask him if 87 octane with ethanol is better than 91 octane without ethanol . He would be the only marine mechanic in North Armerica that would say 87 with ethanol is better than 91 without . That or he likes you all bringing in your boat motors and for the cha=ching . Explain to me why since you are in disbelief . That all marinas have non ethanol fuel . I would run 87 although my manual or the carb/air filter cover say 87 or 91 . But I nor you can get non ethanol 87 octane fuel at the majority of pumps . Not even all 91 pumps are ethanol free . Read the pumps .
As far as the $2.00 more it costs me to run my bike 150 kms that's minor compared to the $90 per hr I will have to pay when it needs to go to the fixer . Your woes will come if you continue running 87 ethanol . Don't believe me,that's your choice but your second hand advice is incorrect . I'm done with this .
TD
Here is a link to a very interesting and informative article on ethanol added fuel ;http://www.alloutdoor.com/2013/06/25...tboard-motors/
[QUOTE=400bigbear;769255]Nice and slow just so you read your own post Jeff. Your post ..Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
I'm glad you're finally done because you're twisting words, making bad assumptions, sideways arguments and still not getting what I'm saying...Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
You keeping wasting you're money on 91, it's your money to do what you wish. There are 100+million cars in North America not including boats, bikes, and small engines that run on nothing but an ethanol blended 87 octane, think of the horrible tragedy....
But of course, you are right....
You wrote it I didn't Jeff so no twisting or anything is necessary . Why don't you read Jaycees link and they're hundreds of others out there . Be sure to forward them to the great mechanic from Georgetown . I'm just trying to help with sound advice . Run your 87 ethanol . I don't care . I don't just joyride when I put fuel in my tanks . It can be a matter of life or death .
TD
Life and death...lol. certainly lost all credibility with that one. What a joke. Are we done now. ..Quote:
Originally Posted by 400bigbear
Yes Jeff . I get off the beaten trail year round and no cell phone towers so it's true . The one time I had to row a boat 16 miles going up river while the person with me was headed into a coma for lack of insulin . Could have used that motor that always ran but quit because of crap gas . Ask any hunter or trapper what its like being stranded way back in the bush by yourself or finding someone injured . It can be life or death . Definately not a joke .Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
TD
:goodstuff:,:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by 400bigbear
Been there and don't ever want it to happen again.
I use this good for health and soul.
Attachment 24771
What a loaded question! I'll chime in like anyone else.
Gotta be a Polaris, there are none tougher, I have tried to break them since I was a kid and failed every time. I currently drive a Ranger 500 EFI and I cannot believe how easy this thing is to operate. I am an outfitter so I use things VERY rough. In Spring I turkey hunt with it and haul clients way back in the woods safely and quickly. All summer and into the fall I load bear baits every afternoon, I deer hunt with it. It hauls my outfitter trailer full of goose decoys, blinds and guns no problem through the fields we're are not allowed to drive the truck in. I ice fish with it and it starts with ease when it is -25C. I cut wood with it and haul out massive amounts very quickly with the dump box. I used to hate side by sides when I was younger but now I have fallen in love with our Polaris Ranger. I should have upgraded our Sportsman 400 sooner!
Sorry Jeff, but I agree with BigBear on the fuel issue. This is based on having to speak/deal directly with mech. factory contacts at Echo, Jonsered, Stihl, Honda, Yamaha, Bombardier, Yanmar, Bobcat, Vermeer, etc. etc. for the fleet of equipment we have at my work ( we run and operate a big boat fleet, over 90 chainsaws, brush saws, ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, chippers, etc. ) , and also from my personal experiences at home.
Even the 10% ethanol fuel is bad news for pretty much all small engines. At work - as soon as environmental/emissions standards changed and tolerances got tighter on the carbs, we saw a big effect. Chainsaws were the worst - reg gas with 10% ETOH basically eats anything non-metal in the fuel delivery system. Doesn't matter if you put stabilizer in it. Look at the new trend now, or give Stihl, etc. a call. - most production cutters/arboriculture companies are now running bottled gas because the problem is so bad. We ended up with equipment that was in the shop every second month, for carb overhauls, very poor running/idling/stalling. Even with additive, we got phase separation right in the tank. Two month old reg gas, with stabilizer - detonation in the cylinder - pistons, rings, scored cylinders, seized motors. It got so bad in all our outboards that we installed in-tank water separator filters, as well as filters on our fuel lines. Here's what we do at work, and I do at home for my stuff:
I will NOT run reg. UL fuel in my chainsaws, if at all possible. I only use shell gold 91 without ethanol, if possible. SeaFoam goes in to it for storage life, as well as lube function, combustion chamber carbon removal, etc. If reg ul has to be used - seafoam, keep tank full to reduce phase separation, do not store fuel more than 1 month. If I have any equipment that will sit a long time eg. log splitter - I fill the tank with gas that has Stabil and run it a few minutes. Next time I use the thing, I drain the old gas and put fresh in before stating.
My outboards - Shell 91 with sea foam. No 91 shell - water separator filter, keep tank full, use gas within 1 month, add sea foam. If your motor (outboard, skidoo, ATV) sits for a couple months - I find this is very important - drain the fuel tank of old gas, then "blot -up" the last remaining 4-5 tablespoons of gas that is sitting in the bottom of the tank. This has all the crap in it (varnish residue, dirt). I use a blue shop towel and a wood dowel to blot it. Then purge your fuel line till it's dry, otherwise you're just putting this old gas right back into your machine's carb. Since we've done this routine - gone from constant repair to pretty much smooth sailing. I make sure I buy small jerries of gas and use them up quickly, to try to have fresh gas only.
I use SeaFoam in everything I own. A very cheap investment, and good for my blood pressure.
I use a Polaris 6x6 sportsman, 500cc, six wheel drive, 900lb cargo capacity in the box, 1900 towed, same width as any ATV. Tough as nails, carries all equipment I need, carries deer or tired partner out. Have a look online. Bought my '08 for $5k used. Hydro used them until they jumped to the side by side polaris
I too have a 6 x 6 polaris big boss... I've got the 800 efi and just love it... it's a fairly new machine and haven't had a problem yet, even ice fishing when 30 below... I love the capacity to carry gear... or dog box for the hounds... I never owned a polaris before and have only had this one less than a year... so.. I'm not qualified to really speak on them, but I love it so far... and a fairly smooth ride for such a heavy big machine... on another note... my Yamaha never let me down... ever..
Simplest solution to this would be to have a GOOD battery in good condition. Keep it charged and don't abuse it. Also I keep solar dc charger in 2up just incase I ever was to encounter battery problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by mox72
Buy a good battery and dont try to get by on your bad battery (like most people do).
Won't have to worry about it then and will always crank. Shouldn't ever need the pull. Don't try to leave lights on for hours with the machine not running kinda of thing.
Yamaha grizz 700. Hands down. The hunting gang I have either have one or regret not buying it.
I have a Rhino, and of coarse that is the best. But I intend to get a side by side 6 x 6 Polaris 800, then that will be the best.
If you have not already got it, I'd say 550 cc is the biggest you ever need, bigger is heavier, worse on gas, more awkward in tight bush and more expensive. And the Yamaha Griz is I think king in this category.
Back in the fall of 88, I bought an 89 Honda 300 4X4. I am still using it today and starts like new winter or summer. It has pulled many moose out of the bush and also deer. I have replaced the brake shoes, drum seals and 2 sets of tires. Last year I cleaned the carb. This machine has been extremely reliable. It has been underwater twice with no start up problems after drying the air cleaner. My friend is a Cat dealer and we go riding together. He was surprised the first time out as he could not loose me and I went every where he did. This summer, I lost him on a hill with many rocks and trees. He could not negotiate the tight spaces and I also had to winch his 700 out of a mud hole that I went through. The big machines burn more fuel and are not always better for trail riding. Honda seems to be the only one with an actual transmission, which I prefer.
As for the fuel, I use Shell regular and add Phase Guard. Have had no issues since using this. Recommended by Proctor Marine. I haven't had to use gas line anti freeze in my Honda in the winter since using it.
Looking at 2014 sportsman 400... Well.. My minds made up... Now just gotta sell the wife..
Without being sarcastic, id like to see video of these claims of guys pulling moose out of the bush with 400 and smaller sized quads. Dirt road i can go for or even a small calf but i wont for a second believe them to take adult moose over stumps, rocks, up hills or through clearcuts for a second...
I have never owned a machine bigger than a 350 Honda and have pulled numerous moose out of the bush with them through all the terrain that you mentioned above, I had a 250 two wheel drive that we pulled several moose out with also a buddy had a 3 wheeler 250 that we also pulled moose out with, we called that machine "BOB" and I'm sure that anyone who has pulled moose with a three wheeler will know why. I don't have pics or video of any of this but I'm sure there are lots more moose hunters on this forum that will tell you the same storyQuote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
I do not have a video but personally pulled a bull moose out of the bush and onto a ramp to the back box of a pick up truck with my 300 cc Suzuki king quad years ago no problem at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
Ill dig up video during the week of lots of moose we've pulled out. We have 3 guys with hondas, 2 400's and a 500. No way can thise bikes do it alone. Perhpas we hunt different terrain then most but no single quad, weather it be my 700 cat or the 3 guys that have the 660 yamahas were able to do any mosse alone let along a small honda.
I would like to see how you are rigging your moose to your bike .one bike is all we ever needed to pull them out .Dutch
Ill post video during the week when i have some time to edit. I think my definition of bush is different then others. Even in some clear cuts where 1 bike flipped 4 years ago it took 15 minutes to get 400 yards and that without any moose attached going downhill. We had to 1/4 that 1 to get it out but not dissimilar from most kill sites.
Ive pulled out two bulls with my 650 cat. Get the head up and strapped to the rack then plant your two biggest guys on the front rack. Needed a little tug in one spot with the last one as I forgot to take my plow harness off and hung her up on a stump. We hunt some severely rough stuff. Mind you both moose have dropped dead close to an old trail. I think the 300 Suzukis of past take the cake for moose pullers though. Lock them in super low and crawl.
We have been doing for years. I have personally dragged out moose many times with a 350 Big Bear through clear cuts. If I can't keep the front end down I just have someone sit on the front rack. Do you really think people didn't use ATV's to drag moose when big bore bikes didn't exist yet? I remember pulling a bull moose with a 250cc Big Red trike one year. You do know have know how to drive the things though and I think most don't understand how these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffBondar
We don't strap cameras to our helmets though, not our thing.......LoL. But we do know how to get a moose out of the bush.
Listen Fellas, with all due respect, if you have the option of putting guys either on the front or back for weight and traction we are definitely not talking about the same "bush". It's all good, just different landscapes. Again, I'll post some video and pr pics later in the week
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
For 32 years now we have been doing the same , the best machines were/are the Yamaha Big BEAR and the Suzuki 300 cc.
Our area north part of 54 is mainly high ridges, tough hunting and we have no trouble with the smaller machines, two years ago one of our guys bought a Yamaha Kodiak, that machine all though it had lots of power was too large to get around many obsticles and we reverted to using the smaller machines.
One thing we do is we cut off the head and strap the whole animal onto a large plastic [HDP] toboggan using ratchet straps. Where we can walk the machine follows, on the ridges we use the winch.
Out of our area we have taken out either 25 or 26 moose using this method with no problems , the farthest was 4 1/4 miles from the lake confirmed by GPS.
We use ratchet straps as you can never tie a moose down tight enough using ropes , they always loosen off causing a lot of grief , using the ratchet straps you tuck the front legs in tight to the body and they don't stick out to get caught up on roots stumps and such.
The best ATV for deer hunting is one that makes no noise and doesn't smell. :)
Thanks Moe, finally a picture and good story to go with it.
Would love to see video of some of these other claims. Curious as to what some guys consider "pulling a moose out of the bush" especially with small machines.
Well, while some of you young lads were still in diaper Suzuki king quad 280 cc was hauling moose out of the bush with a simple rope tied to the antlers. Imagine that!
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...osedrag002.jpg
This is how we do it:
http://hench.net/images/mooselift.jpg
:moose:
I keep seeing Hondas are bullet proof, I am looking for a new bike other than a Honda, I have an 04 and 05 sitting in my garage both with tranny issues and less than 2000 km on them. I figure it can't get worse than that considering the tranny is around $2000 from what I understand. I am thinking about Polaris 400 ho, my rubicon was almost $15000 new and the foretrax was almost $11000 I am not spending that kind of money this time around.
The older hondas were tough machines. The new ones are like everything else. Build them lighter and cheaper and pass the issues to the consumer.
When we first started using ATV's it was a 1990 Suzuki 250 quad runner 4x4 (looks same as king quad 300).That bike pulled a lot of moose out for us. We still have 4 members that either have a 250 or 300 king quad.
Everyone else has moved onto the bigger bikes. I still have my 1998 King quad 300. It only has 1600km's on it. That bike will do just about everything I need it to do. Not the best ground clearance, But it makes up for it with that low gearing.
I wish I had some pictures on my computer, They are all old pics. The best one is my brother driving the suzuki 250 with twin calves on each rack while pulling the cow LOL.
Love the Big Red Moe!!!
Yamaha Kodiak gets my vote. Simple, reliable, not bulky and can get through narrower trees
Started a new thread for videos
http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...moose!!!/page2
get a honda or 2nd choice yamaha, good working bikes,