Any recommendations for a good, older model ATV for farm use? Not interested in fast or 4 wheeling / mudding anymore but need it to have a low center of gravity and decent towing capacity on hilly ground and not be too hard on grass in the yard.

Honda Rancher 4x4 will be hard to beat.

Another guy suggested a Yamaha Grizzly. Any general comparisons?

And I just reread my post. It sounds like I am getting old.

Like assholes, everyone has an opinion. In my experience, the people who work their 4 wheelers hard, like ranchers, often choose Hondas. YMMV.

If I was going to buy another one (we have 3), I would not consider anything but a Honda in a 4 wheeler, not a side by side. Also, in my experience, the prices of used ATVs USUALLY seem high to me compared to what you can buy new ones for on sale, clearance, year end deals, etc.

There's probably nothing wrong with a Grizzly, I don't have any experience with one. I'd base my purchase as much on condition and who has owned it, for instance, no kid driven would be a big plus, as on brand, low hours, etc. While mine have electronic shifting, if I was going to buy one used for the long haul I'd much prefer manual gear shifting.

It also depends on what you're going to do with it, I am fat, 300+ pounds, and I still much prefer the smaller 4 wheelers for getting around, etc. If you're going to try to pack 500 pounds of corn on it, plow up the north forty (food plots) or haul out an elk at high altitude, I'd consider a larger engined model.

They haven't been made for years, but if you can find an old Honda Rancher 350 4x4 manual shift in good condition, they are real pearls and nearly bulletproof.

It's been nearly 20 years since I was on an ATV other than my dad's JD Gator. I will be mostly hauling a few bags of feed, pulling a trail/grass mower and probably hook it on to too much trailer weight every now and then in places the truck won't get around easily. Based on how I used to ride them, I know how hard they can get used and would look at a used one pretty carefully. High altitude here is about 2000 feet.

We have a Honda Rancher and all it's had is regular service in 10 years.

Stepchild

You know like has been said everyone has preferences. I like Yamaha, got rid of a 1990 350 just a couple of years ago. Use my 2000 600cc Grizzly a lot. I like the automatic transmission, use it to move around my 24' boat and trailers. 4 wheel drive makes it much easier to steer and a dual range transmission, low is very low.

Honda or Yamaha, those are the only ones I would ever own.


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Local dealer has a new 2015 420 manual shift Honda Rancher for $4700 and the 4x4 version for $5700.

You need to shop around. Just for instance one on line 2015 4x4 is 4800 in Des Plaines In.

Yep, just juggling prices in my head. There are three "local" dealers and several more within driving distance to get quotes. I did not know you could order them online/shipped so will look at that also.

New minor wrinkle, anything wider than 50" is considered farm exempt for sales tax and registration purposes. Apparently, things have changed in the last 20+ years....

I'm not going to research all the ATVs (and by ATV, I mean what are commonly called 4 wheelers, not side by sides, like a Polaris Ranger, Kawasaki Mule, etc), but Hondas and Yamahas are NOT wider than 50 inches.

I know the Mules are which may explain why there are so many of them around here. I will do my homework but this conversation is helping me get on the right track. Thanks for all the input.

Hard to beat the older Suzuki Eigers with their low gear for pulling and work around the property.

Mike where in Mo are you located? I'm in Texas Co. We've had the best luck with Hondas here on the farm. Have a 4x4 Rancher now do things with it we shouldn't. lol

Jefferson City. I make a quick trip up and down HWY 63 about once a month. I'll yell a hello out the window next time I come through.

Honda Rancher's and Foreman's will do almost anything you ask of them, we haul everything with them and except for starter brush's they will last forever!

Holler loud Mike I'm about 10 miles out of Houston.

Houston makes a good pit stop and usually has the best gas prices betweeen Jefferson City and Arkansas.

In the ATV news; my wife now has a new car.
The ATV may have to keep for a bit longer but I think I know what I'm looking for now.