Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

I'm about to purchase a Honda Rubicon 500 4x4. For our larger plots I have a tractor, but for those deep in the woods/smaller plots I want to use a wheeler. I was just wondering if anyone else uses a 500cc engine and how it holds up? What type of plotting equipment are you using? I'm looking at getting either a Summit or Plotmaster which do you prefer? Thanks!

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

Be careful using a 4-wheeler pulling any kind of implements or you will be putting a new engine/tranny in it. We burned up a new Polaris a couple of years ago.

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

You can pull a light disc, I would not go pulling a turning plow behind it. Other than that a Honda will pull the world. I have a 350 rancher I pull a small disc behind it mainly just to cover the seed not really to break the ground though.

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

I have a Yamaha kodiak 450 and pull a 8' disk behind it made for tractors, been using it 2 years now with no problems, just 4wd in low range and hammer down.

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

That's because you bought a Polaris :D

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

Polaris is not the way to go with food plots, we have a sportsmas 700 that we tried using and it would overheat and shut off after about 5-10 min of use where the kodiak 450 could go about 45 min before needing to be cooled down. something with the polaris being a high output engine I think, liquid or fan cooled makes a big difference too, if it is liquid cooled make sure you watch the fluid levels i went through about 3 tanks of coolant in about an hour with the polaris.

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

x2

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

500cc is plenty to use a atv type disc setup for foodplots. What many don't realize is it's the gearing the brand of atv is setup with, and weight of machine.Some are designed to be work horses, and some are designed more for trail speed. If your looking for a work horse, check into gearing. As a example my atv is a 500cc Arctic Cat. Its tops out at about 54mph down a hill, my brothers 400cc Yamaha will blow it away down a rd like nothing. But hook onto any type of equipment, or small tree. All his machine will do is dig into the dirt in 4wheel. Mine will pull to its hearts desire. For my use I stay away from what I consider more trail type machines. Go with a work horse. Heck I can't see doing 50mph down most atv trails anyways, so whats the sense. But thats just my 2cents.

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

Any ATV is a poor substitute for a tractor, even a small tractor. I know several guys who have trashed ATVs while pulling disks.

RE: Is 500 CCs Enough?
 

I use a honda 400 and it works great no over heating doesn't get stuck just does its job and the gear drive instead of the belt drive is awesome.