Sports Quad with Utility Tenancies

[timberxx]

I am looking to buy my first quad. First and foremost I want to have fun on it, so I want a reliable machine. I am looking at a used Yamaha Raptor 350 or Suzuki LTZ400 2004 to 2008. I would include the honda 400ex, but they seem to be too expensive used. I need to keep the price under $2800.

I am 6'3" and 200 lbs.

Here is my breakdown of use.

Once a week I will use it around the house to pull a small trailer (Quadboss makes a hitch for all three quads above). The trailer would be close to 300 lbs.

Once a month I plan to take it to the track.

Once a month I plan to take it trail riding

What do you guys think? Am i doing the right thing going with a sports quad? Can these machines take the abuse of a small trailer?

I can't store two quads, so I need one that can do all my tasks. Am I a candidate for a utility quad?

[North_Star]

It's really up to you. Taking a utility to a track is a brave thing to do. Towing with a sport quad is generally a no-no, even though 300 pounds isn't that heavy of a trailer. The transmissions aren't designed for hauling more than the ATV and a rider on a regular basis. The other issue with this is mounting some kind of hitch on a sport quad--I've never seen it done.

There are a few quads out there that will meet you somewhere in the middle as far as utility ability and sportiness. Look into a Yamaha Wolverine or Polaris Scrambler. I'm not entirely sure a hitch will mount on a Scrambler, though. Taking either of these to a track would turn into a chore.

[reconranger]

In a vain attempt to see what a "sport quad hitch" might look like, I went to the QuadBoss web site. All I keep getting is error messages....so much for that idea.

First off, lose the Raptor 350 idea. It is a turkey!!! The LTZ is a bit of a rever, so I don't see it as something that will want to be lugged down pulling a load. The EX will lug down nicely...one of its huge advantages on slow technical trails, but still it isn't a utility quad.

Personally, I find most "utility" quads to be a fairly distasteful. Most are huge and heavy, and they throw a huge engine in there and put on mushy suspension, so folks will forget what pigs they really are! So, I avoid them as much as possible. When I must ride one, I stick to the lighter medium size ones.

If you are willing to give up the "track" idea and want a "hybrid" machine that tries to split the difference between a sport and ute, the Yamaha Wolverine has already been mentioned. My Honda Rancher 420 is every bit as sporty as a Wolverine, and in the 2wd version they get close to sport quad handling.

Tough combination of requirements!

[deldgeetar]

How about a Kawasaki KFX 700? I had one for 2 years. Gobs of power, same engine/tranny as the Brute Force 650. Big and heavy, but you can ride it on the track. I jumped mine with no issues.

[Goodys_Atv]

since your larger id say a warrior, lots of larger guys like then especially after an 01 raptor 660 rear shock

[T-Cat]

like its been said before the yamaha raptor 350 aka warrior 350 it no good for your size much to small. the polaris scrambler or the rancher 420 would be a good choice i had a scrambler 500 and had a hitch on it mostly to drag trees around the campsite with worked good. I now have a rancher 420 with IRS and the atuomatic tranny on it works good can handle a few jumps nothing big but is really nice on rough conditions soaks up the bumps well. i had a warrior/ raptor 350 and I am 200lb trust me a 500 foreman feels more sporty then it did.

[dust_webbs]

i would go with a scrambler i use mine for trail rideing and then work around the house i roll the yard its a sport quad with the capability of a utility i pulled a model A tractor with it