ATV Recommendation

[Doubled33]

The last time I was around an ATV the Honda 300 was relatively new.

Fast forward through the past 30 years of my life to today and I need a used ATV for around the yard.

I have 3ac grass and light woods. I have a house in front and a barn / shop-in back about 600’ away.

I need it to lug things back and forth and put limbs etc on to haul to a pile or trash.

Would like 4WD I think as in my mind would help pull small tree’s logs better but not sure. Yes/No? Too light to make a difference?

Out of my league on marketplace. Big mud tires, gear reduction, no brakes, snorkel, smokes, timing is off…etc…

What is a good ATV for my needs and should I stay away from the modified ones? 300cc? 400cc? Honda, Polaris, Yamaha etc…

Would like to spend 1 to 1.5k but is this realistic for reliable or is this the turd budget?

What is the average cost to make brakes work?

 

[swsman]

You should up your budget.

How handy are you when it comes to mechanical work?

For your use case full or part time four wheel drive would come in handy, as for engine size 350,400,450 could do what you are planning to do.

Plenty of older Yamaha/Suzuki/Honda/Kawasaki quads out there that will provide reliable service.

When I was in the market about 4 years ago, I bought a 2006 Yamaha Kodiak 450.

It comes factory with a front selectable locker, had a Warn winch on it. I also liked the fact of carburated atv for the ease of maintenance, it even has a pull cord start in the case starter/battery decide to act up.
I went through it, changed oils in engine, both diffs, air filters cleaned and lubbed (keep 3 filters for it).

Came with a good set of newer tires so that saved some $. Something to consider when you look at one, tires are not cheap and use it towards price negotiation.

 

[MileHighRover]

My father is on 3.5 acres (without the light woods you have) and bought a used golf cart to do the exact things you're wanting to do. Maybe an option for you.

 

[bugnut]

More q's than answers. Flat lot or hillside? going to get amazon boxes & mail? off road use or general puttering? snow removal? lawn grooming? good knees? big trees-can't get my arms around or small trees fit in one arm? short wood firewood size or long wood making boards? hunting? fishing? camping,? towing?

Answers change what functions best.

I have a couple vehicles, but used for different functions.

 

[Doubled33]

You should up your budget.

How handy are you when it comes to mechanical work?

For your use case full or part time four wheel drive would come in handy, as for engine size 350,400,450 could do what you are planning to do.

Plenty of older Yamaha/Suzuki/Honda/Kawasaki quads out there that will provide reliable service.

When I was in the market about 4 years ago, I bought a 2006 Yamaha Kodiak 450.

It comes factory with a front selectable locker, had a Warn winch on it. I also liked the fact of carburated atv for the ease of maintenance, it even has a pull cord start in the case starter/battery decide to act up.
I went through it, changed oils in engine, both diffs, air filters cleaned and lubbed (keep 3 filters for it).

Came with a good set of newer tires so that saved some $. Something to consider when you look at one, tires are not cheap and use it towards price negotiation.

Very handy with mechanical work. I don't mind something that needs some work, but not something that needs it all the time and not a complete over haul as my time is better spent elsewhere.

I like your ATV that would be perfect for me I think

 

[Doubled33]

My father is on 3.5 acres (without the light woods you have) and bought a used golf cart to do the exact things you're wanting to do. Maybe an option for you.

gave that a thought, but ATV is better suited with the terrain.

 

[Doubled33]

More q's than answers. Flat lot or hillside? going to get amazon boxes & mail? off road use or general puttering? snow removal? lawn grooming? good knees? big trees-can't get my arms around or small trees fit in one arm? short wood firewood size or long wood making boards? hunting? fishing? camping,? towing?

Answers change what functions best.

I have a couple vehicles, but used for different functions.

Mostly flat. Some of my driveway is concrete, some paved, some gravel, some washed out and needs grading. Basically good at the house and gets worse as you go to the shop. Shop is completely dirt around it. Sandy and soft when rain hits it, but hard when it is dry. No Snow, all off road around the house not in a community where I will drive it to the store. Knees still work. No hunting/fishing. Limbs 4" diameter or so and would like to get longer sections of wood to the splitting area then cut up. Most trees around 18" at base.

 

[willf650]

I have an older Yamaha Kodiak 400. It will do everything you said easily. It only has about 20hp but has high and low range which helps a lot in the utility department.

I would get one that is selectable 4wd and not fulltime. They will all turf your lawn more or less depending on the tires but being able to take it out of 4wd helps. If you are really pulling trees 4wd is a must.

You can go to partszilla and check parts pricing for what your looking at to see what it would take to fix the brakes on a model your looking at. This will also give you a gauge on parts availability for an older atv. An atv in the price range you are looking at will either be beat to hell or older so parts availability may be a concern.

I would probably sell my atv in the range of $2200-$2500 if I were to sell it as everything functions and it has good tires with only about 100 miles on them. Maybe increasing your price point will get you around the hassle of buying a fixer upper.

Needing new tires could be around $500-$600 in just cost of the tire so good tires may be a sizeable value of a used atv.

 

[Doubled33]

I have an older Yamaha Kodiak 400. It will do everything you said easily. It only has about 20hp but has high and low range which helps a lot in the utility department.

I would get one that is selectable 4wd and not fulltime. They will all turf your lawn more or less depending on the tires but being able to take it out of 4wd helps. If you are really pulling trees 4wd is a must.

You can go to partszilla and check parts pricing for what your looking at to see what it would take to fix the brakes on a model your looking at. This will also give you a gauge on parts availability for an older atv.

I would probably sell my atv in the range of $2200-$2500 if I were to sell it as everything functions and it has good tires with only about 100 miles on them. Maybe increasing your price point will get you around the hassle of buying a fixer upper.

Needing new tires could be around $500-$600 in just cost of the tire so good tires may be a sizeable value of a used atv.

Good info. Thanks did not think about part time 4WD and low range. I like it.

 

[swsman]

Very handy with mechanical work. I don't mind something that needs some work, but not something that needs it all the time and not a complete over haul as my time is better spent elsewhere.

I like your ATV that would be perfect for me I think

Like I said up your budget for a nicer used quad.
Gets you riding faster vs a garage project.

I sold a couple guitars I wasn't playing much, that paid for the quad, around $2700 is what I paid.
Guy threw in a cover and a foldable ramp.

It was owned by the same family since new, he has upgraded to a larger frame/bigger engine quad.

Took me about 3 months to find it, saw a bunch of abused ones that people wanted way too much money for. Seller kept his property and garage meticulous, always a good sign that toys are used but looked after.

Brand new Kodiak 450 is likely $10k out the door with fees and taxes, I saw no need to spend that kind of cash for it. New one is nicer and fuel injected but not worth 3 times the cost to me.

You want low range for what you are planning to do with it.
On mine I can select two wheel drive, four wheel drive via switch on the fly.

Have a lever to select four high, neutral, reverse or four low.

 

[Firebrick43]

I think either a 300-400cc honda or yamaha would do nicely. Don't go too big. My wife inherited a 750 kawasaki brute force and hate it as do I hate the the larger 500cc+ polaris 4x4 work models. Too top heavy, hard to steer over a long day, and too damn much maintenance of the carbs buried in the Vee.

Of course a lot of this is dictated by what you thinking about "pulling trees"

Growing up our 2wd 350 warrior was an awesome workhorse. Checking fences, running down parts/tools to a tractor or baler broke down in the field or pulling trees in an old grown up pasture we cleared to the edge to the chipper. But they were all 6-8" in diameter and it was never up large hills.

Even my brute force which can pull more than an old ford ranger pickup, cant pull a 24" and larger log without some kind of logging arch.

 

[mikedodge]

I got a Honda after several people I know who are heavily into atvs recommended it and would do that again.
No matter what you get you'll need to double your budget unless you want to buy someone else's worn out junk.

 

[CJM8515]

4wd, 300cc minimum honda, yamaha or suzuki. 1.5k wont get you anything but clapped out trash, 2500-3500 buys you a decent machine

 

[larry_g]

Having a lot of the needs you have I went with a UTV, 4010 Kawasaki. It hauls, tows, selectable 4wd, has a roof and windshield. For me it just works better to have the box on the back to haul and carry stuff. I can hitch up the wood splitter, put the saws in the back and go to the trees and process right there, Haul the split wood to the wood shed. It goes every day to feed the animals and is easy for two people to ride. I haven't touched a wheel barrow since getting one years ago.

lg

 

[930dreamer]

I was looking at this one. The granddaughter and I went to Kubota world Friday and the dump bed sides by side are nice and $$$.

 

[leadfoot415]

I own 2 Kawasaki Brute Force 750's, a 2013 and a 2015. They plow, tow trailers, launch boats, pull wheelies, and will do 70mph down the road with no issue. They are virtually unchanged from 2011-2023, just minor changes to ECU calibrations and body colors. 2024+ have new plastics and gauge cluster, but the powertrain is the same. Some came with power steering (mine dont have that feature).

Knock on wood, we have had zero failures other than a battery going flat and mine needed tires this year due to the amount of leaks from plugs in the tread. I religiously maintain them, fluid changes, keep clean, and stay out of the water/deep mud (they are not boats). Buy something with EFI, carbs are dumb nowadays.

 

[finn]

I wouldn’t even consider an ATV for the use you describe. UTV side by side) is much better suited. ( But that’s me)

The problem is you’re not going to find a useable UTV machine in the price range you’re quoting.

Brand, in my opinion, isn’t very important for the use you’re describing. Stick with something that has a dealer network and parts availability. Honda, Yamaha, CanAm, Kawasaki, Polaris, and Arctic Cat, and maybe a few more all have machines suitable for dragging things around the yard, and it’s unlikely you’ll wear any of them out. Older machines might have parts availability issues, though.

Buy one that’s been kept in a shed or garage, and that doesn’t look like it’s been in a mud bog all its life.

Look at UTVs before you pull the pin and buy an ATV that might be limited in utility. Where I live, you just don’t see ATVs anymore. They’re just not popular compared to UTVs. The flip side is that makes ATVs inexpensive used. Non runners can be had for $1000 or less, and often include a parts machine. That puts the machine into the project category rather than the tool category, though. One source is older people that have aged out of riding and snow plowing, and have moved on. Problem is those units have sometimes sat for several years and need tires, fuel system maintenance, wiring work, batteries, etc.

Beware of machines owned by kids and young people who have thrashed their machines.

 

[Renegade1LI]

A really good workhorse is the honda foreman 450, basically bulletproof. Had two with plows, pull misty small carts and are virtually indestructible. Usually adult owned with low miles, rarely modded.

 

[Renegade1LI]

This sums it up if you can find one.

The Honda Foreman 450ES (Electric Shift) is a legendary, highly reliable utility ATV produced between 1998 and 2004. It features a torquey 436cc air-cooled engine, full-time 4WD, and convenient push-button electronic shifting. Known for being bulletproof, it remains a favorite for farm work and trail riding.

 

[mikedodge]

You're not going to get a decent used side by side or anything with a bed anywhere near the price range OP is looking.
If you're going to use an ATV for that sort of work you'll need a trailer of some sort. While I think it would be nice to have something bigger an ATV is more fun with their size and I've had no problem doing work with mine hauling a trailer around. But if everything you do with it involves carrying something of some sort yeah it doesn't sound like an ATV is what you need.

 

[swsman]

Buy something with EFI, carbs are dumb nowadays.

People do say that, until they have a fuel pump/injector issue or ECM takes a dump.

In contrast I can field repair a carb and continue on my way, gravity feed so no need for extra complications.

My two favorite rides in garage are:

'15 Suzuki DR650 - legendary reliability, aircooled, mine has a Mikuni pumper carb - it really makes a good bike even better.

Other is my Yamaha Kodiak 450 quad.

If SHTF ever happens these are the two I would flip a coin on and go. Rest will stay behind.

 

[Renegade1LI]

People do say that, until they have a fuel pump/injector issue or ECM takes a dump.

In contrast I can field repair a carb and continue on my way, gravity feed so no need for extra complications.

My two favorite rides in garage are:

'15 Suzuki DR650 - legendary reliability, aircooled, mine has a Mikuni pumper carb - it really makes a good bike even better.

Other is my Yamaha Kodiak 450 quad.

If SHTF ever happens these are the two I would flip a coin on and go. Rest will stay behind.

Plus one for the dr650, my all time favorite bike, great for maneuvering nyc streets.

 

[finn]

People do say that, until they have a fuel pump/injector issue or ECM takes a dump.

In contrast I can field repair a carb and continue on my way, gravity feed so no need for extra complications.

My two favorite rides in garage are:

'15 Suzuki DR650 - legendary reliability, aircooled, mine has a Mikuni pumper carb - it really makes a good bike even better.

Other is my Yamaha Kodiak 450 quad.

If SHTF ever happens these are the two I would flip a coin on and go. Rest will stay behind.

My EFI Kawasaki is a 2014, so 12 years old.

Maintenance to date is oil and filter, spark plugs, and a battery.

My splitter, chainsaws, trimmers, and generators have almost all, and probably all without exception, required carb work. Same for the carbureted Yamaha dirt bike I sold when I bought the efi Kawasaki. Same with the efi boat vs the previous carbureted boat.

You probably couldn’t give me a carbureted small engine if there was an equivalent efi version.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I purchased a 2001 Polaris 400 for 1200.00 CDN about a year ago. I’ve had to change the starter 57.00, changed the an arm bushings and wheel bearings, ball joints, maybe about 200.00 for that stuff. In hindsight maybe would have been better off spending a little more in the first place. But as per you question, the 2001 Polaris 400 had been a good machine for me.
I believe the old Yamaha 660 was a real good machine

 

[leadfoot415]

My EFI Kawasaki is a 2014, so 12 years old.

Maintenance to date is oil and filter, spark plugs, and a battery.

My splitter, chainsaws, trimmers, and generators have almost all, and probably all without exception, required carb work. Same for the carbureted Yamaha dirt bike I sold when I bought the efi Kawasaki. Same with the efi boat vs the previous carbureted boat.

You probably couldn’t give me a carbureted small engine if there was an equivalent efi version.

Yes. That is the long version of what I have to say. Lol.

 

[swsman]

My EFI Kawasaki is a 2014, so 12 years old.

Maintenance to date is oil and filter, spark plugs, and a battery.

My splitter, chainsaws, trimmers, and generators have almost all, and probably all without exception, required carb work. Same for the carbureted Yamaha dirt bike I sold when I bought the efi Kawasaki. Same with the efi boat vs the previous carbureted boat.

You probably couldn’t give me a carbureted small engine if there was an equivalent efi version.

Finn,

If that works for you stick with it.
Rest of my vehicles are all EFI, not sold on a carbureted truck/car myself.

I have a Honda snowblower, older Craftsman lawnmower, and a 2stroke weed eater.
End of the season I run them out of the fuel and put them away. Same with my DR650.

No issues getting them to come to life when the season starts.

I do purchase and use ethanol free fuel for yard equipment and atv. Typically have 15-20gal on hand, treated with Stabil.

 

[finn]

Finn,

If that works for you stick with it.
Rest of my vehicles are all EFI, not sold on a carbureted truck/car myself.

I have a Honda snowblower, older Craftsman lawnmower, and a 2stroke weed eater.
End of the season I run them out of the fuel and put them away. Same with my DR650.

No issues getting them to come to life when the season starts.
Just thinking about it, the only carbureted engine I can think of is the Tecumseh on my old snow blower. I suspect it doesn’t have the small passages that more modern engines do.

I use premium (no ethanol) as the season closes, and all the time on two stroke engines, and drain for the winter.

Some of the carbs just leak like sieves after storage, or floats stick.

Don’t have that with the efi engines.
I do purchase and use ethanol free fuel for yard equipment and atv. Typically have 15-20gal on hand, treated with Stabil.

I’m probably exaggerating if I say they all are problematic, though. The B&S engine on the pressure washer starts on the second pull in the spring , as does the ancient flathead 8 hp B&S log splitter, although I have rebuilt that carb twice and finally replaced it with a clone, since it was almost as inexpensive as a kit.

I just think the EFI systems, where available, are less problematic. They just work, without special care.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I wouldn’t let carbureted or injected be a deciding factor in the purchase, especially at your price point which is fairly low. If it runs and works as it should I wouldn’t foresee any issues with either. Maybe I’ve been lucky but never an issue with either. Just keep fresh fuel in them, non ethanol for storage.

 

[jsaw]

I been using a 2001 Polaris 325 to plow snow, pull a yard trailer. Bought it brand new. Recently replaced lower control arm bushing that disintegrated. Had to replace a regulator/ rectifier, rear master cylinder, engine oil cooler hoses. Had to. Replace the needle and seat in the carb because it would leak. Replaced the vacuum operated fuel pump just to be safe. Of course normal maintenence items and a few batteries. Not bad for a 25 year old machine