What 4 wheeler to buy
#6133401
01/21/18 07:06 PM
01/21/18 07:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610 Wisconsin
Lance Squires
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610
Wisconsin
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I'd like to buy a 4 wheeler but know nothing about them. I need advice on what you all like for trapping. Do you feel it's worth the money to own one for trapping?
57 years trapping. It's who I am. Every day is still as exciting as it was when I was a kid but a little more work.
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133415
01/21/18 07:12 PM
01/21/18 07:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992 Ohio, USA
Ave
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
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I love my Honda 250 recon. If you get one for trapping, make sure it’s a utility and not a sport. Mine has racks that I mount buckets and totes on.
Ave don't go where the beaver don't flow
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133426
01/21/18 07:16 PM
01/21/18 07:16 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512 Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
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Honda is generally considered the best. It's all I'd own. Mine is a Rancher. Foremans and Recons, Rincons and Rubicons would probably also be well suited for trapping.
Last edited by yotetrapper30; 01/21/18 07:17 PM.
~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133437
01/21/18 07:23 PM
01/21/18 07:23 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,547 NC, Orange Co.
QuietButDeadly
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,547
NC, Orange Co.
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Been running a Honda Foreman 500 since 2014 and never had a minutes trouble with it. It is just limited as to the load it can haul. I am upgrading to a Honda side by side for more cargo capacity. The SxS cargo box is rated at 1,000 lbs and with 4 wheel independent suspension, it will ride a little better also.
Life Member: NCTA, VTA, NTA, TTFHA, MFTI Member: FTA NRA NWTF
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133458
01/21/18 07:35 PM
01/21/18 07:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 76 Clearfield County, PA
hubler13f
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 76
Clearfield County, PA
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I own 4 myself a 2001 Honda Recon 250, a 90 and 91 Honda 300 FourTrax, and a 1999 Polaris Sportsman 500.
The 2001 Recon 250 is an awesome little machine especially for making your own paths in uncharted territory, its light enough to throw around and control. Starts easily in 0 weather. Downside was I am 6' 275lbs. and the rear axle bearings went after about 5 years of abuse.
The 90 and 91 300 Fourtrax are awesome, they are workhorses, plenty of power and take all the abuse you can throw at them. I have pulled car trailers and carts with a half ton of rocks loaded over uneven terrain with no problem. Downside is that the brakes suck, but if you learn how to downshift right you wont need them. Been running without brakes for 7+ years.
1999 Polaris Sportsman 500, I have owned it since 2004 and put more money in parts into it than gas, In Short IT SUCKS! always broken down.
My parents just bought a NOS 2016 Honda Foreman 500 for our camp 2 weeks ago, It's shiny and its got lots of goodies and all but I don't like it, I hopped on it this morning checked about 1/4 of my line took it back to the barn and hopped on my 91 Honda Fourtrax and finished my checks. That old 300 goes better in the snow and seems to have more power than it does.
-OIF 05/03-08/04 -OEF 03/06-12/06 -OIF 11/07-01/09 PTA Member District 4
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133467
01/21/18 07:42 PM
01/21/18 07:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610 Wisconsin
Lance Squires
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610
Wisconsin
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Thanks for all the feedback. I would be using it mainly for trapping farm country and need one that will travel through mud and deeper snow. I won't be doing any brush busting or hauling real heavy loads. I do want to be able to haul passenger since I pick morel mushrooms, hunt and fish.
57 years trapping. It's who I am. Every day is still as exciting as it was when I was a kid but a little more work.
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133471
01/21/18 07:46 PM
01/21/18 07:46 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,320 vermont
vermontster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,320
vermont
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I have had two 350 honda ranchers for 14 years. No problems start every time. Just replaced the original tires last year. Love them.
The bitterness of poor quality last a lot longer than the sweetness of low price
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133474
01/21/18 07:48 PM
01/21/18 07:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610 Wisconsin
Lance Squires
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610
Wisconsin
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I'm also going to need one that I can plow my driveway so i'd need a model that would plow. Any comments on that?
57 years trapping. It's who I am. Every day is still as exciting as it was when I was a kid but a little more work.
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133480
01/21/18 07:50 PM
01/21/18 07:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,154 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,154
Alaska and Washington State
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I have four Yamaha Kodiak 450's, 2003-2004 models, I'm pretty sold on them. I can't say much bad about Hondas though, except that Honda didn't offer the option to shift from regular 4x4 into true 4x4. That may have changed recently though.
"My life is better than your vacation"
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133489
01/21/18 08:00 PM
01/21/18 08:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610 Wisconsin
Lance Squires
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610
Wisconsin
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Thanks again. How do they work in the snow?
57 years trapping. It's who I am. Every day is still as exciting as it was when I was a kid but a little more work.
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133491
01/21/18 08:01 PM
01/21/18 08:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,295 Northern MN
Osky
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,295
Northern MN
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I will be the odd one out. I have Arctic cat 500's in my camp and they have been bulletproof. 10 years no parts issues no problems. One is automatic, one is manual. I bought over Honda and others at the time because they have 4 wheel independent suspension. That is huge in the ride comfort. Without tracks, none are great in deep snow. If your going to plow get a machine with some weight and horsepower. I will buy cats again, and plan on it, the big upgrade will be power steering.
The top names are all pretty good, I chose these.
Osky
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133496
01/21/18 08:04 PM
01/21/18 08:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 94 Wyoming
HTF307
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 94
Wyoming
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I'm also going to need one that I can plow my driveway so i'd need a model that would plow. Any comments on that? You could put a sand/salt spreader on this and actually pack some product.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure,the creed of ignorance,and the gospel of envy,it's inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery- W. Churchill
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: harrison72]
#6133560
01/21/18 08:44 PM
01/21/18 08:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 93 NW Penna.
natfintaxi
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 93
NW Penna.
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Yep, Artic cat 400, great machine.
plan your work, work your plan, your plan WILL work.
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Re: What 4 wheeler to buy
[Re: Lance Squires]
#6133563
01/21/18 08:45 PM
01/21/18 08:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,657 Mountain View, AR
ShaneT
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,657
Mountain View, AR
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Put me in the Honda camp. I have a 92 model 300 Fourtrax that will not die. A few months ago I bought a new 2016 420 Rancher 4x4 manual transmission and power steering. It was the last 2016 on the lot and the last year model that they were pairing the manual tranny with power steering. I got a steal of a deal on it. 1500 below sticker price. It only has 50 miles on it but I love it so far.
Something the guys in the service department at the dealership told me is beware of the Rubicon if you plan on pulling or pushing a load. They said it would run like a scalded ape but when it came to handling loads the transmission wouldn't cut it.
"Good Lord, thank you for your endless bounty. Lord please give me the strength to gather what I need"
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