2WD vs. 4WD ATVs.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: N. Mississippi
We own two atv's....an 04 Yamaha Bruin 4x4 with selectable 4wd and on 05 Honda Rancher with a manual tranny and 4wd. I installed a Warn 424 Select on the Rancher so that I could take it out of 4wd and what a difference in performance! I drive in 2wd 90% of the time but have had to go into 4wd to get through some "sticky" situations.
I crossed the back end of a pond on the land we ride and about half way through, the Rancher dropped down to where water was over the floor boards. I quickly engaged the 4wd and walked on through.
I can't say enough about 4wd atv's....but to each his own.
I crossed the back end of a pond on the land we ride and about half way through, the Rancher dropped down to where water was over the floor boards. I quickly engaged the 4wd and walked on through.
I can't say enough about 4wd atv's....but to each his own.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: eastern nc
I have a 4X4 and have ridden a lot of 4X2's. The 2wd will go most any place you want. My wife's cousin who lives in the W.VA. mtns. told me, if you need 4wd you probably don't need to go there. I think he has a very good point. If you have a 4X4 you will try things and go places you wouldn't in a 4X2.
If you don't get a winch you might consider a come-a-long and a couple of good tow ropes / straps and an auger (mobile home tie down or large dog chain ground screw). If you get stuck and don't have anything to hook to, screw it in the ground and hook to it and pull yourself out.
Last but not least, wear a helmet and don't drink and ATV. They're a blast, you will love it.
If you don't get a winch you might consider a come-a-long and a couple of good tow ropes / straps and an auger (mobile home tie down or large dog chain ground screw). If you get stuck and don't have anything to hook to, screw it in the ground and hook to it and pull yourself out.
Last but not least, wear a helmet and don't drink and ATV. They're a blast, you will love it.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: None of your business
I also ride around in 2 wheel drive most of the time. It's just most fun to be able to kick out the rear at will.
4x4s are great for work as well. The extra weight overall and especially in the front make them awesome workhorses. For example, I felled a tree over a stream. I just hooked up the quad and pulled it over and it was a large tree.
Maybe a 4x2 could have done this, maybe not.
For what it's worth, the 4x4s feel more stable as well.
Mike
4x4s are great for work as well. The extra weight overall and especially in the front make them awesome workhorses. For example, I felled a tree over a stream. I just hooked up the quad and pulled it over and it was a large tree.
Maybe a 4x2 could have done this, maybe not.
For what it's worth, the 4x4s feel more stable as well.
Mike
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: central TX
Osin86 is right. Comparing a Raptor to a 4x4 utility ATV is just too difficult. If you are looking for speed and handling go with the Raptor or 400ex. Like he said "mustang and Superduty". They are very different machines.
We've got a 2wd rancher and a 4x4 Foreman. While the Foreman will go places the Rancher can't, it also seems to NEEDS its 4wd where, in the same situation, the Rancher often does fine as is in with 2wd. The rancher is much more fun to drive in general.
I would go with a 2wd sport quad in your situation. With a good set of tires, a little mud isn't too much of a problem. If you're wanting to slowly climb muddy/steep/slippery banks, ford slick bottomed streams, go through deep mud and tow trailers the 4wd will help. For blasting through trails the 2wd sport quad is the way to go. Neither will do everything though.
We've got a 2wd rancher and a 4x4 Foreman. While the Foreman will go places the Rancher can't, it also seems to NEEDS its 4wd where, in the same situation, the Rancher often does fine as is in with 2wd. The rancher is much more fun to drive in general.
I would go with a 2wd sport quad in your situation. With a good set of tires, a little mud isn't too much of a problem. If you're wanting to slowly climb muddy/steep/slippery banks, ford slick bottomed streams, go through deep mud and tow trailers the 4wd will help. For blasting through trails the 2wd sport quad is the way to go. Neither will do everything though.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: None of your business
Originally Posted by rebocardo
> My biggest problem is that there is a pretty big hill that I am not sure a 2wd can get up
Warn 1700 ATV winch from Northern Tools for <$130. A lot cheaper then a 4x4 ATV.
Warn 1700 ATV winch from Northern Tools for <$130. A lot cheaper then a 4x4 ATV.
It's probably pretty hairy there and getting off might be risky. I use my winch as a last resort and not a game plan.
Mike
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Edgerton, WI
Originally Posted by tdister
Osin86 is right. Comparing a Raptor to a 4x4 utility ATV is just too difficult. If you are looking for speed and handling go with the Raptor or 400ex. Like he said "mustang and Superduty". They are very different machines.
I used to have a Polaris Scrambler and it was a pretty sporty trail quad. You could leave the AWD system off and powerslide the corners and then when things got muddy you could push the AWD button and get power to all 4 tires.
The only thing about the Scrambler that really held it back was the fact that it lacked low-range. However, for trail riding the Scrambler was a great machine that took all the abuse I could dish out and never gave me a moment of trouble.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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I have a Yamaha Grizzly 660 4X4, it will pretty much go anywhere you want. It seems a little roll over happy and heavy. I've never rolled it personally, but both step sons have. If I was to get another 4wheeler I would get a Kawasaki KFX 700, it feels light and it's a lot more fun than the grizzly. My brother has one and he goes everywhere we do on 4x4's. With that bike you can throw it around and shift your weight to get it where you want. I'm not even a Kawasaki fan, but they make a 4wheeler that will take a lot of abuse. my opinion FWIW
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
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Originally Posted by Octane
^I take it you have never heard of all the problems KFX400s have with breaking frames...
I've just seen a lot of Kawasaki's take abuse and keep going. I've also seen a lot of bearing problems on Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki's, maybe they could of been prevented with proper maintenance. Maybe the 400's frame isn't as sturdy as the 700. It was just an observation.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: central TX
Octane, that does look like a pretty good compromise. Wouldn't really work for my needs, but they do look interesting. I just spend too much time with cargo (chainsaw and accessories at the least) for it to work. Plus, I'm a Honda fan 
.
Ours are still fun to ride, they'll slide around with the best of them. When I can afford another one though, as long as these are in good working condition still, I'm definately getting a 2wd sport quad...or a bike.
Is your steering limited when using 4/AWD? The foreman's is reduced quite a bit.
.Ours are still fun to ride, they'll slide around with the best of them. When I can afford another one though, as long as these are in good working condition still, I'm definately getting a 2wd sport quad...or a bike.
Is your steering limited when using 4/AWD? The foreman's is reduced quite a bit.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
My 2005 Rubicon Canadian Trail Edition steering is noticeably harder in 4X4 but not all that bad. Most of the time I have it in 4X2 but it's sure nice to have 4X4 for the really ugly stuff. In 4X2 it slides pretty well
The Hondas really do handle well but usually are down on power compared to the other brands.
Hopefully in spring I'll be buying another 4-wheeler and the Honda will become the wife's. I'd buy another Honda if they had what I wanted, but they don't, so it looks like I'll probably get a Kawasaki Brute Force.
The Hondas really do handle well but usually are down on power compared to the other brands.
Hopefully in spring I'll be buying another 4-wheeler and the Honda will become the wife's. I'd buy another Honda if they had what I wanted, but they don't, so it looks like I'll probably get a Kawasaki Brute Force.
Last edited by Racerguy; Jan 9, 2007 at 08:28 PM.
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From: central TX
Our Foreman is an 03 (rectangle headlights) with the 395cc motor. I've found it has more power than traction most of the time. I guess I don't take it in deep mud much, so I don't need to spin all 4 to sling it. Almost got an 04 but we got too good of a price on this one.
My steering is harder in 4wd, but what I was referring to was the the turning radius. In 4wd you need a pretty big area to turn around in, thankfully it has reverse. In 2wd it does just fine. Sometimes I forget I've lost so much when in 4wd. Are they still like that?
Your right, I definitely liked the handling of the Honda compared to the other brands I rode for comparison at the time. Looks like they've almost all changed quite a bit since then, not sure if that's still the case. Ours have been abused so much and taken it so well I'd have a hard time considering another brand.
My steering is harder in 4wd, but what I was referring to was the the turning radius. In 4wd you need a pretty big area to turn around in, thankfully it has reverse. In 2wd it does just fine. Sometimes I forget I've lost so much when in 4wd. Are they still like that?
Your right, I definitely liked the handling of the Honda compared to the other brands I rode for comparison at the time. Looks like they've almost all changed quite a bit since then, not sure if that's still the case. Ours have been abused so much and taken it so well I'd have a hard time considering another brand.
Last edited by tdister; Jan 9, 2007 at 08:01 PM.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Boothbay Harbor Maine
I had a 06 700 raptor that kicked butt on the track and on trails. With 2wd its all about momentum. Most of the time with mud I could hit it about third gear and work down from that. Brace your self as you hit the mud or you will go over the handle bars. I used to pop the gas to get the wheels about 6 to 10 inhes of the ground before hitting the mud. Also before you go into the mud grab a stick and check the depth, and for ruts. Pick a line that works. Alway have a buddy with you. As far as the differnt brands go thats all a matter of opinion. I let a guy who had a kfx 700 try mine and he traded it in for a raptor like mine. I tried that kfx 700 and it sucked felt like I was driving a bus. Looking back I wished I had bought a grizzly you get more out of a utilty quad. But fast is fun too