Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Atv 2x4 vs 4x4

Need a atv and I can't decide. I found a nice 2x4 Honda atv for around 2k only a couple years old;I can pay cash for it. My other option is to wait until the spring and buy a new 4x4 for 6-7k I would have to finance half of it. Looking for something to ride on trails and haul deer out with. Won't be hitting mud if I can avoid it.

Buy the 2 wheel drive .

2 wheel drive won't hardly drag anything that will tear up the ground, if you're planning on doing any food plots.

But it will do just about everything else....

Quads are getting to be a rare bird in my parts...especially 2x4

Its SxS out here....Utah's 75% public land reflects that

Honda is best choice...or Yamaha....4x4 is a better investment

Used market in Utah is great..check link....

Just watch for scams....usually a few dickheads on KSL...

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=33051936&cat=145&lpid=1&search=&ad_cid=1

i see you live in Vt. i assume you will ride this offroad and maybe in the snow. buy the 4x4. and buy one with a locking diff if you can. i have used my 4x4 locked before and i am not a serious offroader. look around for a good used one. i bought a low hours 2007 yamaha big bear 400 for $3500 a few years ago. it was adult owned and like new. i have had zero problems with it and it now has almost 2000 miles now on it and my twin teenagers beat the piss out of it and i am not shy about hauling or yanking anything with it.

You'll love your 2WD until you get stuck the first time.

A 2WD will go most place you want to go but won't do the heavy work

A 2x4 will go about anywhere. but they don,t back up worth a chit on steep hills, if you start down a hill and decide It might be too much or the trail is blocked, you will have to get off and pull it around by Hand, been there done that....They go ok in light snow but not so good when it gets deep, I would go for 4x4.

People up here want almost new price for a 5 year old beat up 4x4. So I will likely buy new unless I see a good deal. Those big bear 400 are nice to bad yamaha discontinued them.

I loved my 4wd until I got stuck the first time...

I stuck it Good.!

An ATV winch is a worthwhile investment...

I winch will be installed immediately either way.

I have a 300cc 2x4 Kaw with a locking rear axle. With the axle locked, It'll climb like crazy with only me aboard but not with a load. I have to keep it revved too high and with a load on the rear its too easy to flip. I can't slow down and keep the traction. In snow its worthless unless chained. Better tires than I have would be a help, though.

I won this in a drawing in '99. I made a big mistake by not paying the extra to get a 4x4 instead. I've regretted it ever since.

The 2wd will go most places you would take a 4wd. But a 4wd will do it nice and slow with finesse. You will not have to rip and tear. Also you still have those places that a 2wd wont do.

I have a little arctic cat 250 4x4 two wheel drives get you into trouble and 4 wheel drive gets you out of trouble

wrangler makes a great point

4x4 and a winch

You couldn't give me 2x4 atv. My fil had one and it was difficult to get up the very slight hill in their driveway with a skiff snow. The miserable machine was helpless in many situations.

Since you live in the nawth, a 4x4 would probably be best, because of the snow, ice, etc.

In the south, either will work, especially if you got a winch. 2x4 may not be as good in the mud, but with a winch, it doesnt make a whole lot of difference. At least up here in the hills of La.

Buy a 4x4 and you won't need a damn winch

I have one of each, the 2X4 was bought for my grandson to drive when he visits here.



His Dad and Mom are the other riders.

I found that the 2X4 was very handy. So much so, that I bring it hunting unless there is a lot of snow.

Hauls deer out fine...



I use the 4X4 anytime I go ice fishing, because of the deep snow we once in a while
run into out on Lake Erie. But a lot of the times it's not even needed then..



Unless you go looking for trouble (or fun!!) you will seldom need an electric winch.
I mounted a boat winch on the front of mine, and needed it a grand total of once in 15 years.
I have a ratchet in the tool box to operate the winch.
Saves weight, and money.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Don't forget the winch! You Won't use it much but it will save your butt when you need it.

I've had mine 4 years now and I've used it twice.