Author Topic: Honda Rancher (Read 3357 times)

pastorp · « **on:** November 16, 2008, 04:45:41 AM »

Greetings all, Any opinions on the Honda Rancher. I've been looking at a Recon but may consider a 4WD Rancher. Are they worth the ext-er cost? How about longevity and maintaince? Thanks, Byron

john keyes · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2008, 12:17:51 PM »

I have two '06 rancher 350's, love em to death. one is electric shift and the other is manual, I bought probably the last two carbureted/oil cooler models around.

One thing about the electric shift, you have to pay more attention to charging the battery than the manual shift.

One issue with both of them...not sure where you live but they are not the most fastest warming up son of a guns....you can't crank em up and let them idle to warm up, they will die.

But if you are buying a new one I'm sure it will be EFI and probably won't act like that.

handi270 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2008, 06:23:55 AM »

I've had an 07 rancher since June. It is a four wheel drive, I run it in two wheel most of the time.
Automatic shift, but you can switch to ESP and do your own shifting.

One feature you might have to get used to is the automatic braking when you let off on the throttle. I do a lot of riding on the bluff overlooking the Red River, a lot of up and down riding, so it is a big help for me.

The Rancher is a utility atv and not a speed demon. It is designed to work around the farm, etc.

Plenty fast for me, and fits my needs.

I like it a lot.

mod586 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:19:50 PM »

i got a new forman 450 es in 1998 2 batteries and aset of tires later still going strong. no other work done on it except yearly oil changes

coyote170 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2008, 04:09:25 AM »

My 06 is a class act,has the ES 2wd and a warn winch,have only had to use it once!
Am giving it to my wife and am getting an 09 we are starting to ride together and
do a lot of light trail riding!It will go where the big boys play,except in the mud,Honda:
Always in the woods,never in the shop!

torpedoman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2008, 12:39:51 PM »

I think mines an 02 mod that i use daily to get in the paper and work it hard plowing snow in the winter and fire wood gathering in the fall. I had to replace the brushes in the started this year. not what i'd call high maintaince. I plow 5 drives and 3/4 mile of road so it gets used a bit

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2009, 07:52:19 AM »

I've got an 02 that has been worked hard, Nothing has been done to it but oil changes, still has the original spark plug, Its made to work and it dose it fine.

Blue Duck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2009, 04:53:21 AM »

I have a 2001 Honda Rancher 4x4 and I love it. 7000 miles and never a problem.

jpsmith1 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2009, 10:31:52 AM »

As previous posters have stated, my '04Rancher is a very durable machine. Besides changing the oil and having factory recall service (really unnecessary, but it was free) done, I haven't had a problem with it.

GIven my choice, I would buy another, but with the manual shift. I have a problem with the electric shift. Not that it doesn't work, I just want to shift on my terms, not let the machine do it for me.

northernbill · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:35:22 AM »

I have an 02 electric shift and have worked it to death, but it still runs great. I only have 1200 miles on it, but probally 1100 of those were skidding logs, plowing my food plots, or plowing snow. Its a great machine. The only problem I ever had was shifting problems, it turns out the "angle sensor" goes bad sometimes. I have had to replace this $40 item twice, not really a big deal. This is one purchase I can honestly say was money well spent.

buckweet · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2009, 06:16:59 PM »

i have an 05' rancher, and just love it !! always runs , has never needed anything... just keeps on ticking, 1100 miles on it so far.. replaced rear tires with mudlites, awsome !! goes anywhere, . mine is full time 4x4 , best deal out there..
cannot go wrong with the rancher.

weet

Oldshooter · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2009, 06:24:05 PM »

We have two hondas, a foreman 4wd and a rancher ES 2wd.

both are excellent machines, MY teenage son has not been able to break either one
The 2wd rancher will go anywhere you would want to go with a set of 589's on the back
I highly recommend the honda rancher or foreman

gwindrider1 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2009, 08:29:01 AM »

I bought the first green manual shift Rancher to hit the dealers in 2000. Been beatin' the crap out of it ever since. All it does is run! I don't think you can beat that! I have know others with the ES option who have had considerable problems with their trannys, but those were the early models.

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2009, 07:19:52 AM »

I moved to bush Alaska back in the Late 1980's and Have seen ATV's operated in some the harshest conditions imaginable, the one thing that stands out is Hondas continue to endure not only the environment but abusive operators as well, my first was a 1980's Honda Big Red 200 shaft drive then a ATC185 (great machine) a couple Suziki's (250R,300 utility) neither one was any good, I now operate a 1986 TRX250 2 wheel drive and have driven it on rivers and snow packed winter trails (-40F) I'd say the newer heavy machines are a whole leap forward from the old machines (in some ways better designs)
here in the cold electric anything dosent last long the frailitys of moderndesign and mass production of plastic parts just dont hold up to poorly designed equipment, I have seen to the Ranchers in the shop for transmission work as the kids of familys owning them had broken them while pulling wheelies (allot of wheelies) My co worler just drove to work his 1990's era Honda 300 4x4
If Hondas are takencare of reasonably they'll last a long time
If I hadent killed my 1986 TRX 250 yet by operating in Northwest Arctic coast of Alaska (30miles above the circle) I'd bet a Honda is a good machine.
They do have other ATV's here Honda by the Majority, followed by Yamaha (mostly sport ATV's) then Polaris, Bombardier, Cannondale and in compitition for last place is them Korean ATV's they break down Quick I know of some Suzuki's still around but none them running.
The Forman and Rancher's is wide spread here and likened to the Ford F150 here, the Recon250 has a good following too, its a good rig as well and cheaper to buy, I found its allot lighter than my older & much more heavy '86' TRX250, the trails here is across tundra and bog the two schools of thought is more power and big tires for floatation they also cut up the trails tral bad, I like the lighter 2wd and use a wider tire for better flotation.

torpedoman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 16, 2009, 05:18:00 PM »

01 rancher here it has done a fine job of plowing all the snow since i bought it and i ride it down to get the paper every morning (just not up for a half mile walk before my coffee) I had to replace the starter brushes last winter still on the original battery.oh yea I've changed the oil on schedule.also used to drag in firewood.

doc623 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2010, 02:31:07 PM »

I have a rancher 06.
I acquired an electric wench that I would like to used on it but I do not want to mount on the frame as I would like to be able to use the wench on the tractor and/or the truck.
Can anyone recommend a way of mounting or accaching this wench?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2010, 02:50:31 PM »

Quote from: doc623 on February 18, 2010, 02:31:07 PM

I have a rancher 06.
I acquired an electric wench that I would like to used on it but I do not want to mount on the frame as I would like to be able to use the wench on the tractor and/or the truck.
Can anyone recommend a way of mounting or accaching this wench?

I have seen them mounted on the front rack, it keeps them out of the water better. To make it removeable, you would have to bolt it to a frame or plate and remove that, but it could easily be done.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2010, 01:48:45 AM »

brother in law has one and its been a great bike. Only compaints he has is that he cant take it out of 4x4 for the trails its a bit slow for a 500 and he wished he would have opted for the auto transmition version.

doc623 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2010, 05:33:51 AM »

I have a rancher 06.
I acquired an electric wench that I would like to used on it but I do not want to mount on the frame as I would like to be able to use the wench on the tractor and/or the truck.
Can anyone recommend a way of mounting or accaching this wench?

I have seen them mounted on the front rack, it keeps them out of the water better. To make it removeable, you would have to bolt it to a frame or plate and remove that, but it could easily be done.
[/quote]

Ok. How?
Not very mechanically inclined but have some firends that are. Can you give some details?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2010, 06:36:01 AM »

Ok, you mount it on a metal angle iron frame or metal plate, use j bolts to attach it to the top front rack and plug it into the 12 volt outlet that is usually provided on the atv. When you want to remove it you loosen the j bolts and put it where else you wanna. Now some of the new versions have plastic racks so that may be a problem but I'm betting they have metal tube underneath so there is where you will want to attach the j bolts.

markc · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2010, 07:32:19 AM »

If you can attach a receiver hitch front and rear, mount the winch onto a plate with a receiver hitch draw bar. That way you can use it front or rear, and remove it completely with the pull of a pin.