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Four wheeler

gcreekrch said:
My Grandad in N. Dak used to buy a new Cadillac for a ranch vehicle every year through the 50's and 60's. As a very small boy I can remember riding with him as he gathered cattle off a pasture with one.
A story Dad would tell about Grandad involve a neighbor and an old ewe with weak twins that he loaded in the back seat from the pasture. The neighbor inquired, "You're not going to put that stinkin' old sheep in the car, are you?"
Grandad replied," They paid for it, they can ride in it."
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There was an old rancher over by the Little Rockies years ago that owned 2 vehicles- a new Cadillac (he did the same- buying a new one every year) and an old army Jeep...The only time he used the Jeep was when conditions got so bad the Caddy couldn't make it-- but that Caddy was the main ranch vehicle- be it fencing, herding cows, hauling out a few sacks of cake, or whatever....
 
Jessntx said:
Trouble with the 4 wheelers is you can't carry anything with you
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The side by sides don't work as well as a traditional ATV for herding animals. They're just not manuverable enough if you get an animal that keeps wanting to head back.

For minor fence repairs, I have quad boxes that strap onto the front and rear racks. I can carry more in those boxes that I was ever able to carry on horseback. I keep the boxes stocked with insulators, nails, splices, hammer, fencing pliers and wire cutters, everything I'm liable to need for a quick fence repair.

For major fencing, buy a good quad trailer, and that solves the issue. I've got an old 10 foot homebuilt trailer with dual axles (used to be a sprayer frame) that I'm going to convert into a dedicated fencing trailer. Then when I'm done, I don't have to worry about emptying out a truck box. I can just leave everything, posts included, on the trailer for the next round of fencing. I'll probably weld up some toolboxes for sides on the trailer, and I won't even have to clutter up my shop with fencing equipment.

Rod
 
DiamondSCattleCo said:
Jessntx said:
Trouble with the 4 wheelers is you can't carry anything with you
Click to expand...

The side by sides don't work as well as a traditional ATV for herding animals. They're just not manuverable enough if you get an animal that keeps wanting to head back.

For minor fence repairs, I have quad boxes that strap onto the front and rear racks. I can carry more in those boxes that I was ever able to carry on horseback. I keep the boxes stocked with insulators, nails, splices, hammer, fencing pliers and wire cutters, everything I'm liable to need for a quick fence repair.

For major fencing, buy a good quad trailer, and that solves the issue. I've got an old 10 foot homebuilt trailer with dual axles (used to be a sprayer frame) that I'm going to convert into a dedicated fencing trailer. Then when I'm done, I don't have to worry about emptying out a truck box. I can just leave everything, posts included, on the trailer for the next round of fencing. I'll probably weld up some toolboxes for sides on the trailer, and I won't even have to clutter up my shop with fencing equipment.

Rod
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All good ideas but for those of us that have back issues the seat in a side by side allows us to be out there. I can no longer ride a quad. They tweak my disks too much. We do have a Suzuki and a Honda that have both been reliable. A quad along with a side by side can do all the herding needed here. Moving every few days helps get the cows trained anyway. :wink:
 
I would go with the yamaha. We have a big bear and it never breaks, no matter what we put it through. Last year we got a 2008 yamaha grizzly, hands down the best one we have owned
 
Since it was brought up that you cannot pack anything on a 4-wheeler here are some pictures of my husbands "fencing" rig at a 4x4 crawl. He was laughed at by these weekend warriors with their jacked up Toyotas.
He finished 5 over all, but was in 3rd when he finished his run. :D
I think there were 18 drivers total.

4x4crawl2007040.jpg


4x4crawl2007042.jpg


4x4crawl2007043.jpg


4x4crawl2007044.jpg


4x4crawl2007045.jpg
 
per said:
All good ideas but for those of us that have back issues the seat in a side by side allows us to be out there.
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Maybe an old guy like you needs to head to the home instead? :P ;) :lol: :lol:

Rod
PS I feel safe making comments like this because my wife has been giving me gears for the last couple days about my back. I lifted a newborn wrong when moving it into the barn and threw something out back there. I've been wimpering and whining like a little girl :)
 
DiamondSCattleCo said:
per said:
All good ideas but for those of us that have back issues the seat in a side by side allows us to be out there.
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Maybe an old guy like you needs to head to the home instead? :P ;) :lol: :lol:

Rod
PS I feel safe making comments like this because my wife has been giving me gears for the last couple days about my back. I lifted a newborn wrong when moving it into the barn and threw something out back there. I've been wimpering and whining like a little girl :)
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I can take it. Forces a guy to us his head instead. Of course if that lesson had been learned first I could be riding a quad. :D
 
2002 Sportsman 500, the only problems I've had are the Helical clutch, or whatever the thing is caleld for the front wheel drive. EXPENSIVE to fix.
 
We've got three hondas, 2 foreman and 1 rancher. Awesome machines!! Ms. Wyoming Rancher's machine is proof at that mileage.
 
Our '98 Honda Foreman 450 ES has about 12000 on it and the electric shift is starting to get a little grumpy. It does not always make a clean shift between gears and needs to be rocked back and forth a bit to get it to shift at times. It has done a good job for us but is in the shop right now for brakes, starter and a bit of other service works.

The 4 wheeler that I really like is the Bombardier with its swing-through driver's seat. But they are out of my price range.

One thing that you might want to consider if you are buying a new machine is to upgrade the tires when you buy it. The stock tires are very light (like not many ply rating) and usually not the best tread design. If you never work in mud or thorny circumstances, the stock tires are probably fine.
 
Good point about the tires, Burnt. After seeing where some of these folk run their cows, heavy duty everything might be called for.
 
One of those "gentle" bought horses started all of this when he dumped the hubby in the middle of a hard packed dirt road with rocks.
Hubby either broke his ribs or seperated them, he refused to go to the Dr. For some reason every time since then when he gets thrown he re-injures those same ribs. It takes him a couple of months for them to stop hurting.
 
burnt wrote
burnt said:
Our '98 Honda Foreman 450 ES has about 12000 on it and the electric shift is starting to get a little grumpy. It does not always make a clean shift between gears and needs to be rocked back and forth a bit to get it to shift at times.
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My neighbor told me if you open up the shifter bracket on the handlebar and blow it out it will shift better. I haven't tried it yet but plan to. I have also heard the electronic shift will be a little slow if your battery is getting weak.

Wyoming rancher, do you ever stay home :???: Anyway I think you win the prize for most miles on a 4 wheeler. Is yours a Foreman or Rancher.
 
efb said:
burnt wrote
burnt said:
Our '98 Honda Foreman 450 ES has about 12000 on it and the electric shift is starting to get a little grumpy. It does not always make a clean shift between gears and needs to be rocked back and forth a bit to get it to shift at times.
Click to expand...


My neighbor told me if you open up the shifter bracket on the handlebar and blow it out it will shift better. I haven't tried it yet but plan to. I have also heard the electronic shift will be a little slow if your battery is getting weak.

Wyoming rancher, do you ever stay home :???: Anyway I think you win the prize for most miles on a 4 wheeler. Is yours a Foreman or Rancher.
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:lol: It's a Foreman. Yep, it gets used since I don't use the pickup anymore unless it's hooked to a trailer. I do all fencing on it, put salt out on it (did you know it can carry 8 blocks and a border collie or two :-) ), check cattle, check heavy cows, patrol neighbor's fenceline for his breachy cattle... :lol:
 
I'm almost ashamed to say it, but we bought our first 4 wheeler a week or so ago. My knees are such that I can't ride horseback any more (feel like it's the end of an era--horses are my first love)...anyway,
we looked into it and we bought a Yamaha Grizzley. It was a toss-up between it and a Honda. What decided us was the ride of the Grizzley 500 (or 550, can't remember the number exactly) and the way you have to
use reverse on the Honda. So, guess we join the ranks of the 4 wheelers.
We are going to get another one, once we are sure we like this one, BUT
the dealership has a brand new 2007 MULE that they have on sale for $7800 and we are deciding about that. However, Mr. FH has a 1977 International Scout that is his first love, and he uses that for everything, including fencing. And it only cost $1200...

Decisions, decisions. :P

Good luck! And I'll bet you'll be happy if you get the Honda at the auction.
 
Taking that things sound positive for you and Mr. FH, faster horses. None of my business but hope all is good.


One generic point that I'd like to make about looking for an ATV is to pay close attention to the fenders and running boards, because the better they are designed means that less of what you're driving through that you will end up wearing. I really seem to end up "going green" :lol: on the Grizzly, but not so much on the King Quads.
 

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