Abused Wheelers

[Empty Quiver]

Everyone advises against buying used four wheelers. Is it really that common to find an $6500 piece of equipment that someone bought and treated like crap? I couldn't do it myself. Do you tear things up like that?

[glockman55]

I think most of us that pay for our toys take care of them. The occasional spoiled brat that mommy & daddy buy him his toys might fit into that category of tearing the hell out of it.

[Old Syko]

Everyone advises against buying used four wheelers. Is it really that common to find an $6500 piece of equipment that someone bought and treated like crap? I couldn't do it myself. Do you tear things up like that?

It's more common to find one that has been abused than one that has been taken care of.  Those of us who are concerned with paying for things rather than making payments on things tend to take care of things more as they should be.  My quad is an 02 with over 26,000 miles on it and it has certainly been used and in the eyes of some, abused.  The thing is, when I get done doing whatever I choose to do with it, it gets cleaned up, everything checked over and anything necessary repaired, adjusted or replaced.

I've seen quads with 200 miles on them that I wouldn't have drug home and around here at least that seems to be the norm.  Everyone makes fun of me because mine still looks and works as though it's almost new.

[Rex in OTZ]

I know the Alaska village mechanic that said he rebuilt two different Honda rancher transmissions last year, the kids were pulling wheelies with mom and pop's rig, broken suspensions and bent axels and rims are common place.

Its common to find a honda that has been round the block more times than a Barrow taxi cab, one doesent expect a cherry honda for $6k.

In AK the Honda atv is our version of the 1/2 ton 4x4 truck.

So far the Honda is the only brand that stays together all others fail in some manner be it simple breakage or technical like computer quits when its -20F.
Ive seen hondas on the streets at -40F.

I still operate a 1986 TRX 250 in the land of OTZ. I operate a sno-go when its gets really cold if it will start.
Ive seen a honda atc 110 operate at -46F the guy dumped a bucket of hot water on the carb andf head and it pull started fine.

[SHOOTALL]

Yep ! kids tear them up , buyer-be-ware

[Rex in OTZ]

The parking lot at work.
mine is the 1986 trx250 with trailer, one guy has the early 90's 300 with bald tires and another worker has the 06 rancher.

[Spirithawk]

You can look at it in a previous post, my son got me a 1986 Suzuki 250 Quadrunner for less than $100 and it runs and shifts like new. Just needed brakes and an oil change. An elderly man had it and when he died his daughter didn't want it. But that's the exception. Most used ones are being sold because they're wore out. Good deals are out there you just have to be patient, check them out good, and have the money ready when you run accross one.

[nodlenor]

I know some young people are just naturally hard on things like ATV's but look at the TV ads and see where they get some of their ideas about riding them. They make them look indestructable. I guess it is good for sales.

[dukkillr]

Part of it is the unknown in buying anything used.  I've seen and done some things to a quad while elk hunting that I wouldn't advertise at sales time.  I routinely drive them through swamps and creeks.  One place I own and deer hunt now is only accessible by quad or on foot.  Shoot a big buck nearly a mile from the truck and it's time to start trying to get the quad to it.  It may be brutal, but that's why I bought it.

If I wanted a pretty little show quad I'd have bought one.  I bought one to do the work I can't do with a truck or on foot.  Sometimes that work is very tough.  Such is life.

I wouldn't want to buy my quad used, but then I don't plan to sell it either.

[Empty Quiver]

dukkiller You touched on what I am wondering about. What is the difference between working hard and abuse? In the end I think it is a lot of whether or not you are doing it or watching it done. I have a real hard time buying new stuff. I will, but some things are going to get rough treatment from the get go and I see no reason to be the one who removes the shine for $2000.

Having said that, I don't like the idea of buying the shop mechanic a new wheeler either. I'm sorta cheap but don't want to be stupid as well.

Is it a bunch of rumors about that one wheeler someone was taken on, or lots of people being taken by lots of wheelers?

[glockman55]

What is the difference between working hard and abuse?

I think as long as the maintenance was done on it, oil change, valve adj, etc. should be good. The problem is, a lot of people don't, not just the kids that ride the Hell out of them. So when buying used you take a chance, what do you expect? your getting it for a third the cost or more than new.

[dukkillr]

The difference between hard work and abuse, to me, is a third person's judgment.  Some guys get done shooting a tame pheasant on a pretty day and they immediately tear the gun apart and clean it before putting it in the case.  Several of us who hunt hard all year were eating breakfast at a duck club when one of the "pretty" members pulled up and started cleaning his gun.  A guy looked at the rest of us and asked if the season was over today! 

Some guys change the oil on their truck every 3000 miles no matter what.  Some every 4500, some only when the mood strikes them.  Everyone has their own standard.  Some would say that getting buried up to the axles in a flooded creek and nearly getting swept downstream was abuse.  I'd say that was what turkey season.  Some would say parking it all day in 2 feet of water was abuse, I'd say it was duck season. 

The point is, some people love to baby their stuff, play with their stuff, talk about their stuff, and clean their stuff.  Some people buy their stuff to use it, maybe abuse it, and worry about the consequences when they happen.  Sure I want my stuff to last a long time, but I bought it to use, and my free time is worth a lot to me.  If I can hunt an day or two rather than clean my equipment every time it's dirty I will.  If that shorten's it's life, so be it.  I doubt if I'll worry about the condition of my 4-wheeler when I'm 80.  I suspect I will still look back on those hunts with fond memories.

To each their own.  The judgmental tone of "gear guys" bugs me sometimes.  I'll handle my gear, you handle yours.  I may very well be the reason you should worry about buying a used quad.  I'm ok with that.

[Old Syko]

What is the difference between working hard and abuse?

In some cases there is no difference as far as the use of the thing goes.  Abuse however is simple to describe.  Lack of proper maintenance and care.  The guy who thinks his time is too valuable to spend taking proper care of the things he has either won't have them long or will pay dearly after they let him down in the field.  My money is too hard to come by to see it disappear because I refuse to maintain my possessions and because of this fact, mine will still be going and dependable when most others are history and their owners have spent huge sums to replace them time and again.  Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.

[hillbill]

i maintain mine to the max but i have bought sum pretty abused lookin bikes that were fixed up for a 100 or so buks in parts and drove them for years.oh and then sold them years later for more than i had in them.mind yu now these were brand name atvs and i dont mind tearing them down and fixxin them either.

[Rex in OTZ]

I have a young family to provide for, I take care of my rigs as they are my main means of transportation in the Alaska Bush, I see the abuse of rigs allot, useally the folks that dont need them to subsistance hunt they beat en up playing like overaged teenagers through bogs and though terrain milking all the goodie out ther rigs, the rest of us have to eek out a living in a harsh environment, we baby our rigs like our lives depend on it(IT does) for our livelyhood like a farmer would take care of his tractor & farming equipment your not going to see a farmer beating his $175000 tractor.
Buying a new or used ATV is a expenditure of liquid capital not everyone can afford to do every 2-3 years.
In my way of thinking I dont have to beat, bend and scrape off paint & broken plastic to prove anything to folks that I have a hard way in life, If I can I'd rather have her come out at the end the day looking as good as when I started.
Thers working hard and working smart, since im challanged in the smarts department my rig has sufferd various injuries inflicted by my failure to think things through in a hurry, Im happy to say that I veary rarely repeat mistakes.
All I can say is $5000 in Alaska is allot of money just like anywhere else, So in the meantime I take care of my old rig Im not certain of getting another anytime soon.
Just last week I was down the boat ramp one guy had all new everything (outsider) and one the towns elders with his old stuff well cared for I noticed the new stuff all scarred and bent the old stuff was cared for a little worn but nothing like the new, the rifle the new guy had was stainless steel and synthetic stocked and liiked like it had been drug behind a atv, the oldtimer had a well mainatined and nice looking Remingtom model 8 he'd been carrying for ages.
The old timer just went about his business with economy of dollars and motions, he knew what he was about, in the end money is no substitute for experence.

[hillbill]

in response to the last post, only really smart folks rarely repeat thier mistakes.thats what separates us from the opposing party.people that dont take care of their rigs are as my gpa used to say...xxxasses.imagine farming with horses, they take a lot more care.

[deerhuntertyler]

Part of it is the unknown in buying anything used.  I've seen and done some things to a quad while elk hunting that I wouldn't advertise at sales time.  I routinely drive them through swamps and creeks.  One place I own and deer hunt now is only accessible by quad or on foot.  Shoot a big buck nearly a mile from the truck and it's time to start trying to get the quad to it.  It may be brutal, but that's why I bought it.

If I wanted a pretty little show quad I'd have bought one.  I bought one to do the work I can't do with a truck or on foot.  Sometimes that work is very tough.  Such is life.

I wouldn't want to buy my quad used, but then I don't plan to sell it either.

^+1 could not have said it better my self

[SHOOTALL]

Part of it is the unknown in buying anything used.  I've seen and done some things to a quad while elk hunting that I wouldn't advertise at sales time.  I routinely drive them through swamps and creeks.  One place I own and deer hunt now is only accessible by quad or on foot.  Shoot a big buck nearly a mile from the truck and it's time to start trying to get the quad to it.  It may be brutal, but that's why I bought it.

If I wanted a pretty little show quad I'd have bought one.  I bought one to do the work I can't do with a truck or on foot.  Sometimes that work is very tough.  Such is life.

I wouldn't want to buy my quad used, but then I don't plan to sell it either.
[/quote


Yep ! +1

^+1 could not have said it better my self

[Rex in OTZ]

One too many high fly's boys!





Viewd from the back end the front end the swing arms are laying on the ground.

[Ron 1]

i have been looking for a four wheel drive quad for about 2 years
a week ago i found a honda fourtrax 4x4 300 pretty beat up it runs good but no brakes.
the battery is junk the head light dims when it is reved up but the light does work.
the axles are all tight and the tranny works good the tires arnt bad but not good either
out of the blue i said, well it should be worth about $500 anyway.
the owner said $500 dollers and it is yours so when i got my check i went and picked it up.
one of the best investments i ever made.
some used and abused qauds  can be fixed up i will try to get my ol lady to post a pic for me.
so far i love the honda 300 4x4 it goes just about any were i am brave/dumb enuff to take it.
                          rw
 p.s. 3 cans of paint and it looks sweet im ready for deer season  now to build a plow for this winter



(your welcome darling)

[Rex in OTZ]

The dim head lights is because the battery is dead.

Out here on the coast the brakish mud we have round here rotts the electrical in the Lt rear fender area, my battery solenoid was a rotten wad of rust and toasted cable, cops bug me if I drive it after dark as the system only puts out a bout 7.5 volts.

[Pot-Bellied Stallion]

My 1988 350 Honda Foretrax Foreman still runs like new.  I have been places and done things on it that some folks might label "abuse", but I perform all the scheduled maintenance on it and use good oil and gas.  I just finished replacing the original muffler and hand brake cable.  Last year the local Honda dealer asked me when I was going to replace it and I told him I would when this one quits and I can't get it going again.  I not only use it for hunting and fishing in remote mountain areas, but it is also a workhorse for numerous chores around the farm.
Sometimes I wonder if they don't build the newer ones as sturdy as the older ones were built.

[Ron 1]

  to  me it is priceless as i know i could not replace it for anything close to $500
now that i put racks on it and a plow  it is better than sliced bread
not to mention i can or did drive it to my deer and load it on and drove it up in to my truck with the deer on it 
then backed it off and drove to the hoist  i think it has spoiled me (no more manual labor)
i just can not sell her       but thanks for the offer
            rw                                                                                                   

[bigbird09]

i don't have a utility, but I do have a blaster, and to be honest it gets beat on harder than a red headed step child,  but I do the regular maintanaince on it and when stuff breaks I replace it with the best that I can afford.  Actually tbh it is starting to break less now, but then again a lot of it is new.  I'm really finiky about buying used stuff,  you just never know how it was treated before or what its upkeep was like.  If I'm interested in buying I would take it and go over it with a fine toothed comb as well as ask to hear it run and possibly ride it, anything that is amiss I would try to talk him down for my time and part in repairs, if not then off to the next deal.  You have to have some patients when buying stuff used.

[countryrebel]

I look for bent handlebars, new plastic, damaged frame or under carriage, and mechanical defects. My grizzly 450 stays in the garage and I take very good care of it. Lot's of guys trash their machine and wonder why they can't get anything for it when it comes time to sell. That's the difference between mommy and daddy buying your toy's or footing the bill on your own. Another way to tell is look at their other toy's, car, house, lawn mower, etc. If they take care of stuff it will show. I will not ride with some friends simply because they do not care if they destroy their machine or your's.