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bremptg
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 2-8-2008
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Recommendations for Quad Purchase
Wife and I are retiring to Baja in November and plan to stay until May. We would like to purchase 2 quads for our yearly stay. We would primarily use
the quads for exploring and transportation to and from the beach. We're not "hot rodders", just an old retired couple. Any recommendations would be
greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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LancairDriver
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Registered: 2-22-2008
Location: On the Road
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Take a look at Kawasaki. I have a Kawasaki 750 which has been a good reliable 4 wheel drive quad. If you are going into desert and beach terrain
exploring, 4 wd is a must. It is very heavy duty machine and is priced competitively as far as quads go these days. The weak and falling dollar is
driving up prices so buying sooner than later will help.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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I think they are all pretty good any more. I would shop based on need (automatic, 4x4, size, etc), Price, and support (where ever you live). Some of
the magazines do reviews and comparisons... Take a look on-line.
I put a couple thousand miles a year on mine.
[img] [/img]
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Polaris gets my vote!
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Russ
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I've had quads for about ten years and just bought a Polaris Ranger. I wouldn't go back to handle bars now after riding around for only about 300
miles. I just took two friends for a ride yesterday. I could talk to them during the trip and had room to collect anything they'd have wanted to bring
back with them. Oh, and my dog, Mason was a long too. Plus cooler and fishing poles and dive gear (too windy to fish or dive). I chose the Ranger
because of the bench seat and more cargo space. Plus they are kinda the bench mark in ATV's and Utv's. 9 gallon fuel tank. Down side: it won't fit in
a truck so a 5'x10' trailer is needed.
3 photos to follow:
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Russ
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Now that the dogs been in it I can't escape alone.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Russ
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And the last one (today). Close up of "Bubba" and my Polaris Sportsman on the trailer in the background.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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RockhouseTom
Junior Nomad
Posts: 73
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Atascadero, CA. / Bahia De Los Angeles
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Mood: Really Ready to Go!
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I vote for Yamaha
We have a 2000 400 kodiak a 2006 450 grizzly and 2006 Rhino 660, all reliable machines that are easy to work on your self. It depends on your needs,
but if your retiring I would recommend a side by side and my choice is the rhino, It will launch my 19ft boat and tow and nice size trailer yet is a
blast to drive. It will go any where the quads will go and then some. only down side is it is wider than the largest quads. In addition you can put
rear seat in to carry more riders.
You did not say if you have experience on quads. If not try them out and compare to a side by side before you buy. You can make good buys on used
quads as many people buy and then decide they are not for them. IRS is important for comfort on wash board roads, most new machines have it, but if
you buy used it's a must.
Here is a picture of my son ready to blast off on the Rhino.
\"FREEDOM\" William Wallace
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RockhouseTom
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Atascadero, CA. / Bahia De Los Angeles
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Mood: Really Ready to Go!
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Here is my son on the 400 Kodiak
\"FREEDOM\" William Wallace
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RockhouseTom
Junior Nomad
Posts: 73
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Atascadero, CA. / Bahia De Los Angeles
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Mood: Really Ready to Go!
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Here is my daughter on the 450:
\"FREEDOM\" William Wallace
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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almost like what truck is best???
here is a place to start. lots of reviews... and like here-opinions.
ATVRider Magazine
http://forums.atvconnection.com/messageview.cfm/catid/17/thr...
[Edited on 5-23-2008 by rts551]
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DianaT
Select Nomad
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Russ
And the last one (today). Close up of "Bubba" and my Polaris Sportsman on the trailer in the background. |
Russ,
We are considering one of those and would definitely need the cover for the dogs in the back. Was the cover a factory extra, or an after market
item???
Also, I like your description. We have also considered two quads---still deciding.
Thanks
Diane
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Russ
Elite Nomad
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Diane, I used doubled up shade cloth and jury rigged it. If you sew (sp) you could sew on a durable edging with button holes in it so could zip tie it
on or use small bungy cords. I plan to remove it from time to time so I just used zip ties and parachute cord. For the back shade I made a wood frame
and stapled down the shade cloth then used eye bolt and tied it to the front cover. I can adjust the height in the back and only use one bungy to hold
it down Ask Shari what she thinks of it.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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UnoMas
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Registered: 2-8-2008
Location: East Cape
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First thing to think of is parts availability. Next is what you will use it for, just riding around for transportation or pulling a small boat up on
the beach, this will determine if you need a 4X4 or a 2X4. Be careful of full time 4 wheel drives as they eat front tires and can be hard steering.
Some have a 4 wheel independent suspension and ride very nice, but are hard on CV joints which are very expensive to replace. After owning a few I
have decided that Honda is the only way to go for me, a bit more expensive but worth it.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by UnoMas
First thing to think of is parts availability. Next is what you will use it for, just riding around for transportation or pulling a small boat up on
the beach, this will determine if you need a 4X4 or a 2X4. Be careful of full time 4 wheel drives as they eat front tires and can be hard steering.
Some have a 4 wheel independent suspension and ride very nice, but are hard on CV joints which are very expensive to replace. After owning a few I
have decided that Honda is the only way to go for me, a bit more expensive but worth it. |
you need an update on prices there Uno. Arctic Cat and Polaris are the most expensive, at least for the mid-size quad 4x4's I was looking at. oops
and edit to add CanAm
[Edited on 5-25-2008 by rts551]
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Bob and Susan
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that ranger looks really nice...$$$$$
we have a gas golf cart but it wouldn't stand up to really rough riding...
we are looking at a mini-micro truck for around "the ranch" and for trips to town
these 3 cyl minis go for about $3500
they are small and can be driven on the highway
we need things that park easily in town
the streets are narrow
our poor samuari won't last forever
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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Ranger, Rhino, Mule, etc all start right under $10k and go up from there. Neighbor payed 15k for a limited edition Rhino.
Lot more than your $3500 mini!
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Russ
Elite Nomad
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Wow! You could get a lot of those mini things for the price of a Ranger.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Roberto
Banned
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I have two - a 2006 Honda Rancher 350, a great, basic ATV. I also have a 2007 BRP Outlander Max 800. This is the cadillac. 4X4, legally carries two
people EFI, two-cylinder, gobs of power, you name it. These quads race in SCORE with minimal mods. Expensive, but awesome.
I like the Polaris Ranger, but I like the RZR even more:
This thing must be a BLAST!
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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V-twin but a gas hog and They are not winning anything!!!!!
and thats a Polaris people. not an Outlander
[Edited on 5-30-2008 by rts551]
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