Buying used quad for hunting - suggestions?

Hi

Longtime reader, third or fourth time poster. New to the forum in general, so warm greatings to all. Have been hunting a few years now - mainly on DOC land. Beating the feet and picking up animals here and there. I'm going to take up a bit of hunting out the back of a couple of farms around where I live so am looking to score a quad - finally! Mum says cause I'm in my 40s I am allowed to do a bit of farm boy hunting (I suspect she wants the kids to tag along with me so she can hunt round the shops)

Anyways, I'm sure a number of you use quads. I'd like to draw on your collective wisdom/experience. I don't want to spend anymore than about 3k. So tell me what makes/models you have found reliable. A good cc rating. Any modifications made or attachments you have used that have made the steel horse a better hunting machine.

I look forward to you advice.

gidday mate welcome here......the question you have justed asked is like asking how long a peice of string is so good luck getting a desicion:D.Side note for you get a trx 350! for 3k it will be industrctable.good luck.

Thanks Nechshot.

Not searching for a definitive. It's the array of opinions/ideas that I look forward to reading so I can create a personal idea of what I might settle on.

Welcome along The Rifleman,
I have been using a Honda 450 (450cc) FM2 for about 6 years now. 2wd/4wd selectable which makes life easy. Heaps of grunt and never any issues when it comes to carrying a load of venison and/or a mate. I have mounted some handle bar rifle mounts and have added a switch to turn of the main headlight while the smaller lights remain on. This makes it far easier on the eyes if spotlighting. These have been my only modifications in an otherwise great bike that has never let me down. I hope this helps and good luck for the search.
Attachment 8912

Classic photo :)

I bought a 350cc Suzuki King Quad 4x4 for around the 2k mark.

Awesome bike ... hauls my fat arse about everywhere a man would want to go.

It's smaller than most other Quads and probally wouldn't be a good choice if you want to carry passengers all the time.

But being smaller it easily goes a few places that the bigger bikes struggle with.
Only mod I have done is mount a winch up front for when I get myself into those spots you just cant get out of without a helping hand.

Horses for courses.

What ever you buy check it out carefully for rust in the frame and any major mechanical issues.
A good exaust system is required for stealth.
Cosmetic stuff like paint and plastics is purely for looks which IMO isn't a prime requirement for a hunting bike.

Cheers
Pete

as with p38 i had a suzuki 300 kingquad. it did everything i wanted to do and more. it also has a crawler gear which was handy at times. prob not the best if you want to a trailer with heaps of gear, thats the only thing.

Mate I have had a Polaris 350cc for the last 15 years and that has been totally reliable and I would thoroughly recommend the brand. A rifle rack like you see on Keen Fella's bike would be bloody useful so invest in one and if they have a two for one deal going at the time you could always send the second one to me.

Honda trx 300 best one Honda ever made.stable low centre of gravity.light enough that it can be man handle if bogged etc.bombproof motor.

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Originally Posted by Rushy

Mate I have had a Polaris 350cc for the last 15 years and that has been totally reliable and I would thoroughly recommend the brand.

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Yep, can only concur with that. We bought a Polaris 325 new in 1999, prob from the same place Rushy got his, and its still going strong. Simple controls, full decks, brilliant machine.

Put me down for the Honda foreman !

I have only used 4wheelers - never owned one - but I can tell you now.

Get a rifle holder like that photo.

So damn handy

OK here is my stab at help for ya, i have spent everyday on quads for the last 20 years ridden and worked on them all,
Currently for farm/hunting 2xSuzuki 750,Yamaha Rhino,Honda 350trx.
If you want cheap to run and maintain that will do the job for you the Honda would sure take a heap of beating
This was the first one that come up on a tm search, these bikes can do double that in km just check the engine oil, run it and all the cv boots are good.
Honda trx 350 2005 | Trade Me
The take the kids hunting thing worries me a bit...... unskilled rider, kids on back
For this the Rhino type machines are awesome, our one has a baby seat in it so the wife can help me at work:thumbsup:
They are also a lot more expensive to purchase and maintain:oh noes:
But handle a couple of deer and 3 people with ease:thumbsup:

Thanks for the info and suggestions thus far. Certainly like the rifle holder ideas.

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Originally Posted by Markgibsonr25

Honda trx 300 best one Honda ever made.stable low centre of gravity.light enough that it can be man handle if bogged etc.bombproof motor.

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Have to agree with you there:thumbsup:

I have had a few four wheelers and finally bought a 700 side by side polaris for work and hunting and the only disadvantage is the width at 1.5 m on really narrow tracks but other than that comfort load carrying and saftey you cant beat them.once you have one you will wonder why you didnt get one sooner.

I'm about to sell my TRX350 and have two buyers fitghting over it before advertising 4wd bike they can't be beaten TRX500 comin yum yum these are a grunt machine will carry heaps more and go more places . Just the 350 has got older and needy or would be keeping it

I went to a bike dealer and asked if they had any fresh trades to get rid of i ended up with a 2009 400 king quad fro 2000 blody brillant bike. there is a 350 honda with a burned clutch on trade me looks good clutches are easy enough to do your self they are a good bike. i would avoid the older suzukis because of there suspension and a few other faults but thats only my opinion.

Honda TRX400FA4 2004


Closes: Mon 22 Apr 1:59 pm (#580656604)


Yamaha Grizzly 450 2009 Closes: Fri 26 Apr 9:00 pm (#583489834)

Yes the old honda fourtrax 300 or trx was the quad all others were measured against but trying to track down a good used one is hard , I have a yamaha 400 kodiak and really rate it compared to suzukis and hondas I have used on the farm .

honda... trx 300, 350, 450 or 500... will always hold their value. Go to your local bike dealer, you would be supprised how many bikes never end up on TM! I got them to lower the asking price and a full set of new bearclaws.

trade me #: 582065959
i need to get rid of it, it needs a new home
open to offers

not wanting to derail the thread here but on this subject - I'm looking at something like a CRF230 with a carrier on the back, I weigh around 100kg with 20-25kg of gear is this too much for a bike to handle? what is the limit a carrier can take?

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Originally Posted by Timmay

not wanting to derail the thread here but on this subject - I'm looking at something like a CRF230 with a carrier on the back, I weigh around 100kg with 20-25kg of gear is this too much for a bike to handle? what is the limit a carrier can take?

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Dude look for a late model drz 250 electric start. More bike for less cash. Carriers are good but dont stack them up to high your better off with the gear in a pack on your back especially if your riding tight trails. Making your bike top heavy isnt awsome.

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Thanks CD. Your not the first to recommend one of them. Yeah it would probably be packed in my pack and just laid down on the back, nothing would be really tight.

Theres a nice one in taupo on TM - Need to factor in the price of a trailer or a ute...

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Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

Dude look for a late model drz 250 electric start. More bike for less cash. Carriers are good but dont stack them up to high your better off with the gear in a pack on your back especially if your riding tight trails. Making your bike top heavy isnt awsome.

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+1

Attachment 9287Attachment 9288Attachment 9289 The Honda TRX 420 4x4 has been a reliable beast and fitted with a home made baffle is also very quite. the old yamaha is also a good work horse.

Cheers Rob

would that fit on a toyota hilux wellside sr5?

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Originally Posted by Remington700.270

would that fit on a toyota hilux wellside sr5?

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Yes


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Originally Posted by BRADS

Yes


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Still fit if double cab ??? .. IIRC my DRZ400 wouldn't back wheel just off tail gate ??

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Originally Posted by Happy

Still fit if double cab ??? .. IIRC my DRZ400 wouldn't back wheel just off tail gate ??

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Tailgate down mate

do all the Hondas dash's fail?