I've been avoiding this, but...I need a quad.

[Beetle-Kill]

A down canyon neighbor has bailed me out 3 time this month, pushing snow with his quad to clear my drive before I got home from work. I owe him big.
So now I'm in the market, but looking for input on used, 4WD quads. Longevity, easy on parts, etc., I need it to plow the drive, maybe hook up a small disc and harrow, plus the wood hauling with a trailer.
Mechanically sound is all I ask, I can live with a beater. So, who likes what?-and what prices am I looking at? Thanks, JB

 

[bogydave]

I like the 450 to 500 cc size.
Nice to have the option of in/out of 4WD (less yard damage when turning corners)
Automatic is nice.

I think Honda is the top dawg for longevity & least maintenance.

 

[fossil]

Disclaimer: I dunno beans about the things, never owned one. But, just a thought...have you offered your neighbor anything for his rig? Maybe he'd like to upgrade or whatever. I'm not being totally facetious here...you both might end up happy if you strike the right deal. As I said, just a thought...I'm sure you'll figger it out. Rick

 

[Beetle-Kill]

fossil, he's way too enamored with his quad to part with it, I wouldn't feel right offering to buy it off of him. It's a Polaris 500, and he's just raved about it in the past.
Nope, gotta find one on my own, just need to figure out what I should concentrate on.
Bogey, I'll look at the Honda's, see what I can find in a used farm quad.

 

[CaddyUser]

I've had a few over the years, but I've had a 400 Outlander for the longest - 8 years. I'd never part with it. Works great, low maintenance, and it's just right for the woodlot. They are pricy new, and hold their value well.

 

[BobUrban]

What is your price point? Problem with used ATV's is that they typically are well "used"!! You can buy new for about 150.00 a month or less with winch, plow and get a cover or trailer thrown in on the deal if you shop around. Look now for a left over 2012 - most will be gone but there may be a couple left out there. Honda has a reputation of longevity but I have owned Yamaha and got rid of a 26yr old one to get my new one that I never did any real repair other than maintenance.

All the big bike manufacturers make quality anymore so shop around for the best deal and go bigger if you can - no replacement for displacement. Especially if you plan to plow snow and pull heavy trailers

 

[maple1]

Can you really handle your snow moving requirements living in a Colorado canyon with an ATV? I can't picture that - ATVs can get up against it pretty quick with anything close to a big snow. I'd be tempted to look for a small tractor.

But as far as ATVs go, I don't think anybody makes a 'bad' one - it might come down to what you find locally, plus having a dealer close by if you get stuck for a part or service.

 

[NH_Wood]

I've had a few over the years, but I've had a 400 Outlander for the longest - 8 years. I'd never part with it. Works great, low maintenance, and it's just right for the woodlot. They are pricy new, and hold their value well.

I"ve only owned by Bombardier too - it's a 2004 Outlander Max 400 (two seat model). Make is now Can-Am. Haven't done anything be basic maintenance and I treat her well. Plow our drive and property to open up the lawn to barn and shed. Good power for a 400 and can select 2 or 4 wd. CaddyUser is right - they hold their value well. Unfortunately, new, the sticker price is shocking - but so are most quality quads. If I had to buy new, I'd be looking at another Can-Am or Honda. Have fun! Cheers!

 

[raybonz]

Personally I think a purpose built machine is the way to go.. I feel a decent snowblower will be better plus they throw the snow not push it.. It would be cheaper to buy separate machines especially if you can get a decent used one on CL etc. I have one I want to sell and it's in good condition that I am selling for $350.00 or BO for example. Too bad you live so far away

Ray

 

[kingquad]

If you plan on doing a lot of deep plowing, then go big (like 700cc) IMO. The Suzuki King Quads will be the best bang for buck. The Honda's are built like tanks, but don't have a differential lock. The Grizzlies are pretty bullet proof too, but have some small issues. I really like the Polaris AWD system too. Basically, every model has it's known issues. Each brand tends to have it's own forum where people hang out, exchange information, and discuss fixes to known problems.

!Power steering is definitely worth the money!!

 

[Beetle-Kill]

What the opinion on an older, low mileage (654), Yamaha Kodiak? I saw one online that's fairly close to me, was asking $2900.

 

[USMC80]

What the opinion on an older, low mileage (654), Yamaha Kodiak? I saw one online that's fairly close to me, was asking $2900.

I sold my 2004 very low mileage for 2600.00. Now i realize i could have gotten 3k easily if I was smart. It was a kodiak 450. Would go through anything. It's the yamaha grizzlys little brother. Push button 4wd and differential lock, with a great engine braking system. Loved the thing, just didn't have the time to ride it anymore

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'm on my 3rd Yamaha and all 3 have been really great. I wanted to go with Honda but although they are built well and have a good reputation, they are just too rough riding for my badly beat up body. The present Yamaha Grizzly (700) we purchased as a year old and got a really nice deal on it. For pushing snow, they do a good job but so far we haven't had to push more than 12-14" at a time and the only time we have a problem is the really super wet heavy stuff. If we had to push much of that I would then put chains on but as it is, we get along just fine without the chains.

 

[Beetle-Kill]

Yeah, this one is an '97 I think but it looked really clean in the photos. It's a 400 also. Something a little lighter and more nimble would be better for me, I plan on using it on the back hill to drag out logs also. It just has to get up that 35 deg. slope first. I'm not in a rush, but I need to start looking.

 

[Jack Fate]

compact tractor, so they can't go 45 mph down a trail but I just put my AC in the window no lifting

mow with it

till garden

maintain 1/4 mi. drive

pull out stuck atv's & others

drill post holes

REAL HYD. system

maybe even make money with it


& I could go on

It's you money & life tho

How's your back?

Cheers

 

[Beetle-Kill]

Jack Fate, point me in the right direction. I'm all good with a small tractor, especially if it has a loader option. If it could climb a 35 deg.slope, that would just be icing on the cake.

 

[maple1]

I think I'd rather do that slope on a tractor than an ATV - especially if there's any working or load involved.

You could always get both.

 

[Jack Fate]

I went JD

The ergonomics where the best for me hands down

Dealer & parts in my area JD WINS (IN MY AREA)

Kubota great bang for buck

New Holland great stuff & lotz options maybe best loaders in compacts ( they go higher than most )

Boomers are the landscapers choice ( New Holland) support 10% of JD in my area anyway

JD'S best resale

All good, pic your poison


ONE LAST THING SIT ON ALL OF THEM & OPERATE IF POSSIABLE

 

[tekguy]

around here you can buy a new Polaris Sportsman 400 (455cc actually for just under 5K) and a 500 for not much more

 

[Ashful]

I flat out don't understand the notion of buying a quad, unless you already have a CUT, and just want the quad for bonus fun. A 25 hp 4wd CUT with quick change loader can do everything a quad can do, and so, so, so, so much more.

 

[Beetle-Kill]

Ok, Ok, - it appears I need to clarify a few things, so we can compare apples-to-apples.
My drive is only about 150' downslope to the house, but it gets drifted in something fierce if I don't do my part in clearing it. Yes, I have a 30" Husqvarna snow-thrower that works fine, If I'm there when the snow is flying! When I show up from work, or the wife needs to leave in the morning(4:00am), I don't want to walk behind that Husqvarna for 20 minutes.
A quad or small tractor would work the best. So, that being said, I'm all ears.
Forgot- Clearing the 2'-3' snow berms at the end of the drive left from the county plow-trucks would be a plus+++

 

[Beetle-Kill]

I flat out don't understand the notion of buying a quad, unless you already have a CUT, and just want the quad for bonus fun. A 25 hp 4wd CUT with quick change loader can do everything a quad can do, and so, so, so, so much more.

I'm guessing CUT = Compact Utility Tractor. A small tractor is my first choice, as long as the cost factor is similar to an ATV.
EDIT- A small tractor has always been my first choice.

 

[Jack Fate]

I'm guessing CUT = Compact Utility Tractor. A small tractor is my first choice, as long as the cost factor is similar to an ATV.
EDIT- A small tractor has always been my first choice.

Sorry but tractors will run $12,000 & up

I don't know any one with regrets for tractor purchase

I do know of a good many atv's that get very little or no use

The sound of that diesel .....Priceless ...... sounds like work gittin'done

 

[Ashful]

I'm guessing CUT = Compact Utility Tractor. A small tractor is my first choice, as long as the cost factor is similar to an ATV.
EDIT- A small tractor has always been my first choice.

Compact util w/4wd and loader:
$25k new
$7k - $15k used

Previous owner of my house was selling his 1000 hour well-maintained 4wd Deere 750 other front end loader, backhoe, and brush hog for $7k.

If that's too rich, check out sub-compacts, or older farm tractors. You can buy an older small 2wd farm tractor (say 8n/9n/2n/3000) for $2k - $3k, or $4k - $5k with a loader. They make up for the lack of 4wd by weight, to some degree.

 

[raybonz]

Sorry but tractors will run $12,000 & up

I don't know any one with regrets for tractor purchase

I do know of a good many atv's that get very little or no use

The sound of that diesel .....Priceless ...... sounds like work gittin'done

Another plus is it's far safer to store diesel fuel than gasoline and you can run heating oil in a diesel too I would think..

Ray