What ATV for my needs?

[Olympus]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a new used ATV and need some help and suggestions. I have a budget of $1800. I'm 33 years old, 6'1" and 220lbs. I already have a side by side, but I use a four wheeler to take out to my hunting property to check trail cams, fill deer feeders, and drag deer out and haul back to camp. I can use the side by side for this also, but an ATV is much handier, easier to haul out there, fits through gaps in trees and trails much better. That's really all I use an ATV for. I don't trail ride or go mudding or anything like that. My 2 year old son likes riding around the yard and neighborhood with me.

 

I had a 1987 Yamaha Moto-4 350, but I just sold it. It was getting to wear things were wearing out due to age and parts were getting hard to find. The muffler was rusted out and sounded horrible and it was getting hard to shift into reverse. But the bike was great for what I used it for.

 

So I'm essentially looking for something early 2000s or late 1990s that would fit my needs. My local CL is full of bikes in my price range, but they're all basically roached. Rode hard and neglected. Hard to find older bikes that have been well cared for. What I do see are several 220 and 250 Kawasaki Bayous and Yamaha Bear Tracker 250s. These are mostly very clean and look well taken care of. I don't know anything about either of those models and even though I don't do a lot of serious work, I wonder if 250 or 220 would be too small for me. Any info would be great!

[mikeexplorer]

Maybe you can find a used Arctic Cat TBX, they usually are 400cc motors and have a dump box on the back instead of a rack. Also has a 2 inch receiver. These have been made back to the early 2000's. The shifter has a hi and low range for extra pulling power.

 

Mike

 

[Ajmboy]

I would see if you can find something a little bigger like @mikeexplorer said. 

[mikeexplorer]

Well you have to consider what his budget is. In low range they can haul a lot. I used my 400 in low range for plowing and this past winter's blizzard, it was pushing a lot of snow no problem.

 

Mike

 

[davefrombc]

My  old Honda  300 FW has pulled some pretty impressive loads too.  For the  uses  described, I would  think  a  250cc  would be sufficient. I'm  one of those  that  isn't over weight .. I'm  just under height.....  at  260  pounds  I  should be  about  7'6" .  I'm  about a foot and  a  half  short .....my quad  takes   it with no problem and still  pulls a  good  load when  called upon to  do  it .

[Ajmboy]

@Olympus did you get an ATV yet?