O.K. Pick the 4 wheeler Contest

[GulfCoast]

I wanna buy a new 4 wheeler with insurance cash. I dunno what to buy since I have not been keeping up with bikes in years. Whoever can provide me with the most compelling and detailed reasons to buy "Brand X, Model Y, Year Z" wins a free steak dinner (Ticos or equiv) and a 6 pack of the spuds of your choosing the next MSDucks get together in Jackson. (No Rip-em, it ain't all you can eat). Assume I know nothing about 4 wheelers. (Which ain't all that far off the mark). I will only use it for duck huntng. I don't want a used bike.

Hunting mostly flooded crops and brakes. Trails mostly, but a good bit of "field hogging" out to set layouts and then running to the treeline to hide the bike. I usually transport maybe a couple dozen decoys, me and my dog. Sometimes a layout blind with a boot, too. I have a trailer, but would not mind it fitting in the back of a shortbed F150, but that may be a pipe dream. I don't need Camo, but no bright colors. Probably looking at no more than $8K/$9K plus a good rack.

Let the games begin. Winner picked no later than 14 days.

And if I buy it and it leaves me stranded you gotta die.

[Big R]

Okay, I will start it, I personally have never owned anything except HONDAs and would recommend them at a heart beat. I have had a Honda at my house since I was 10 years old starting with the 110 3-wheeler, I still have it, and then to the Big Red 250 and then went to the Honda Rancher 350 4x4. I sold this 4-wheeler last year when my baby boy was born, because I wanted a UTV, but I told my wife it was for our son , and after test driving all models and owning 3-wheelers and 4-wheelers for years, in my opinion the Polaris Ranger is the best piece of Equipment out there, I use that thing for everything, pretty much you name it and you can do it on the Ranger, so if I had to buy a new ATV/UTV today it would be the Polaris Ranger, hands down.

[Dutch Dog]

Once again I vote for Honda. I would get them to add the "bigfoot" kit which is simply a lot more aggressive tires and cool looking rims. (a lot better looking than stock...they really set the machine off) I would get the 500 since it actually has 1 more HP than the 700....HMMM sounded odd to me, but I asked and was told the same thing by another person. I am looking at getting one here next week myself. If you do buy one, let me know.

[duckkiller]

HONDA the only problem I have with them is they quit making the 300 but if I was to buy one now it would be the honda Rancher or the Honda Foreman

[Super Black Eagle]

Contest is over, I have got this under control.

But thank all of you who have participated up to this point.

GC - We need a little more info. Will you be hunting with other people? Will this machine need to transport them? Dekes? Doggs? Pirogues? Marsh? Rice and Beans, Salt Marshes, Bayous or wooded trails to the timber sloughs? Back of truck or trailor? New or used? Camo? And most of all $$$$$$$$? You can set the mark at <$11,000, and do a lot with that, or we can spend as much as you want.

I'll have the Filet, Medium. Ye Olde Steak House on Chapman Highway here in Seymour, TN will be just fine, and I'll take a six piece of Shiner Bock

[stick]

Arctic Cat 500 manual, power to turn any tires, because the mud in the delta is going to eat any standard tire. ground clearance, once you or anyone else goes in and out several times it's gonna get rutted. front locking diff=4 wheel drive. reliability, this engine is built by suzuki which i believe only to be behind the honda on long life, and if you snorkle the air box, about $15 worth of PVC fittings you can drive it through chest deep water, if need be. i had an o3 400 manual arctic cat i wish i hadn't sold, my wife and son couldn't operate because they never knew what gear it was in. that one, and i hope my current 06 500 manual that only has about 15 miles on it, was built like a tank.

[QUACKERS]

THE RUBICON is by far my choice of new atv's. The rubicon being a 500 is more powerful (pulling) than the rincon (650) which is only faster. I like that the honda went to disk breaks which had been there only weakness in my opinion. It has the traxlok 2wd-4wd which is a good feature for riding in the delta desert right now. The hondamatic is by FAR the best on the market. The only thing that the rubicon lacks is ground clearence at 7.5 which you can add a 27" 589 tire with alum rims and solve that problem. Also the Black Rubicon is a great looking bike...

[Doc & Nash]

For what it is worth I would recommend that you look into a utility vehicle ( mule, Rhino, Ranger ect.) If you are going to use it for duck hunting only then the need for a ATV is not there. With the utility vehicles you are able to haul your equipment in a safe manner with out having to worry about attempting to get everything strapped on. Also unless youhunt by yourself there is the saftey factor of transporting people into the hole.

I have been looking at the Kawasaki Mule for two reasons.

1. It is the only mainstream ATUV the has a body made of steel and

2. It also has the new "Trans" model which will convert from the regular two seater to a four seater.

The Ranger is what we use at the Manor ad have had nothing but problem with the transmission.

The Rhino is nice but the plastic body seems a little weak.

I have looked at the Kubota also. It too has a steel body, but if there was ever a time where maintaince was needed it would cost a small fortune. As would the John Deere model.

I am not sure what you hunting inviroment is like but you might also want to look at the ARGO we runtwo of them at the Manor and they are the ticket. Just be ready to have a service bill on them before the start of every season. Seems the Carbs have problems if you do not run the regularly.

But my recommendation would be the Mule.

[QUACKERS]

for transporting dekes and poke boats double r 2 has a built a nice roof rack for this purpose and its seems to work great.

[Greenhead22]

05-06 Honda Rancher 350 4x4.....Manual Shift a must. You go to getting the electric shift/auto tranny, and you are asking for probs. I bought mine from Brookhaven Honda.

[GulfCoast]

Post edited with requested information!

[webbmaster]

How deep of water can you get in with those Mules?

[bigwater]

hell just hop on my back ... i'm big nuff to haul you and two other men. 6 dozen deks.. mallard machine, 5 spinners. and 2 small boned whores.. tell me what time to show. .

don't forget the dawg!!!

[DUCKAHOLIC]

Not gonna pull your chain on this. Just look at what the 4 major 4 wheeler publications picked as bike of the year. The Suzuxi 700 quadmaster. I do not belive all 4 have picked the same bike ever.

[Super Black Eagle]

Prices from Lake Hill Motors in Corinth, MS

2005 660 Yamaha Rhino Camo - $8,699.99
Green - $7,999.99
This would be the purchase for what you described. Pleanty of power to handle anything you through at it, enough room for all the gear you mentioned including your layout blind, and small enough to still handle like an ATV. Also has enough ability to help out around the camp, or pull your trailor around while helping the neighbors clean sticks out there yard.
As mentioned before these machines are ideal for the duck hunter, as you are not obligated to strapping down your blind bag, and your dekes, and your gun all to the rack, in hopes they don't fall off or get caught between those two trees that are just wide enough for your bike.
The Polaris Ranger is slightly more expensive.

If I was set on an ATV I would get the
2006 Honda Rubicon Green - $6,199.99
The Black is awsome - same price

These are absolutely fabulous bikes. There is nothing in a hunting situation this machine cannot tackle. they are well built, and can handle a couple of size larger tires. They are also strong enough to handle the roof rack you mentioned.
A bonus for the atv is that it will fit in the back of your truck.

Hope this helps