Help! What Quad bike would you recommend?

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xch4r

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Hi there, so we're going to invest in a quad but literally have no clue about what we need for what we want it to do!
So I thought you lovely people might have some advice...

We need it to be able to tow a trailer for moving poo/bedding/hay around, be able to tow an arena grader/leveller for the sand and rubber school, and be able to attach a topper to it as well.
We have 20 acres and 20 stables if that helps with an idea of how much work it will do.

What would you suggest?
 
I would suggest that it is very important to get some professional training to use it. Possibly best to go on the training course first and then they can suggest a suitable quad bike for your intended use. Local agricultural college will be bale to point you to a local training establishment.
 
I started with a Honda 250 and it did all the jobs you listed, now have Yamaha Wolverine 450. The Yamaha is road legal and is capable of 52 mph were the Honda would only do 25mph I absolutly love it. I can go from poo picking, carrying water to nipping 4 miles down the road to the feed merchants with out getting in the car all dirty. I am changing mine next year to a Polaris sportsman 850 they are great for work and capable of 85 mph. As already said do get training wether you go on the road or not I have training, licence and fully covered insurance ( insurance is £130a year). Hope that helps.
 
Not sure if this will be entirely helpful but I hope so. I found myself in much the same position as yourself, needing to buy a quad for similar jobs (school, topper, harrow...). I found looking such a minefield and advice was so varied I didn't find it very conclusive. In the end I decided to go with a Honda because I they've been around forever, are well thought of and are generally pretty tough even with rather ignorant lack of maintenance! Not the cheapest but if you can afford one I think they are generally considered the best, or at least the safest bet. I happened to find one on ebay not to old and a decent model for a very good price because its highest gear doesn't work, couldn't suit me better I wouldn't have a use for it anyway. Good luck with your search, it's not easy.
 
I have a Honda fourtrack - well I think that is what it is called?!

It does everything you describe and more, and has been very reliable. I have a similar amount of acreage, and some of it on steep hills, and it copes well. I use it to harrow and roll, and it would be fine for towing a topper if I could afford to buy one! It happily tows a small trailer and use it to level the school etc etc and is a very useful bit of kit.

The only problem I have heard with hondas is that they are very sort after, and therefore more 'nick able', so keep mine hidden away.
 
I bought a 'garden tractor' instead of a quad because quads are so prone to being pinched. My little Hayter is essentially a more meaty version of a ride on lawn mower, it tops the fields and with the blades raised can do everything on your list, secondhand it was well under £1000

Its not as speedy as a quad so maybe not ideal for your 20 acres but we couldn't do without ours
 
We have a Polaris Sportsman. I can't remember which one, but I think its the most powerful one. It is brilliant. We use it most days on the farm, for carrying things around and pulling the field maintenance implements. Its a good, solid beast, easy to use and reliable.
I would also agree with the others that a quad training course is essential. They don't just go over driving it (up/down hills, turning, hitching/unhitching implements, reversing with and without a trailer etc), but will also go over maintenance and daily checks. Four of us did it, so we got someone to come to the farm to do the training and assessment the next day.
 
Best to go with one of the Japenese brands(Honda,Yamaha,Suzuki,Kawasaki,in that order)or a Polaris just for the ease of getting spare parts.They are ,however,pretty reliable if serviced regularly.Minimum 350cc for what you intend and four wheel drive.I recommend Honda,my 350cc Fourtrax is eleven years old,gets used every day,and apart from a few very minor niggles(starter motor brushes and a new parking brake cable)has been fantastic and i couldn't live without it.Be warned tho',they are all thirsty beasts,i get about 15mpg which is quite normal.Polaris make a diesel which you could run on red offroad but they are expensive.Good luck,try a few before you buy.
 
An old one for not much money. Looked after they go on for ages - mine is 17yo and still going strong. New ones are too tempting for thieves - and best advice is to paint it pink, an old pink quad is the bottom of the list for thieves!
 
We have a Kawasaki KVF 650cc and can highly recommend. Our land is a mix of flat and fairly steeply sloping and it copes well towing a tipping trailer full of muck, harrow, roller, etc. We tried a 400cc and it just didn't feel powerful enough on the hills.
 
Thanks guys! Knew I could count on you. So sounds like either a Honda or Polaris min 350cc. Had no idea about getting training or license either! Will be showing my other half this thread :)
 
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