Author Topic: Working ATV (Read 2777 times)

markc · « **on:** October 21, 2011, 02:10:59 PM »

Put the 450 Kodiak to work at the ranch. Not so easy as the 450 Rhino, but we got it done, eventually.

hillbill · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2011, 04:56:12 PM »

awesum looking rig! well shod and ready to work.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2011, 01:06:44 AM »

those 450s are about bulletproff. We had one at work that we used to backfill dirt trenches we put power lines in. We flogged it terribly and it never gave us a lick of trouble.

markc · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2011, 11:06:25 AM »

It wasn't loaded like the Rhino usually is, but had a feeder and 300# of corn. It is the rough terraine and steepness of some of the trails that is hard on the buggy. Bought that trailer at a garage sale for $40.00 and then welded up the sides to help keep things intact.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:22:28 AM »

if its anything like the old 450 grizzly we had at work it would have pulled that and your rhino too.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2011, 06:05:47 AM »

Yamaha seems to build very good ATV's, i've had decent service out of the two i bought...

Years ago i bought my dad a 400 Kodiak to use, and he put 4,000 miles on it, mostly running his trap line and hunting.

I bought mysef a Grizzly, and it's been a real work horse, it get's used all the time for hauling or pulling something. I load it up with everything i need for a day in the woods, felling tree's,

Yesterday i was hauling firewood with it...

DM

markc · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2011, 10:58:28 AM »

Lloyd, it may well have pulled it all. I usually use the Rhino for a little hay ride I pull for the kids at a fall festival, but this weekend I might just use the Kodiak instead..

Old Syko · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2011, 01:45:46 PM »

What these things will pull really isn't the issue. I've pulled (very, very, carefully and slow) right at 6,000# with my prairie. Stopping is what makes your hair stand up.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2011, 02:13:48 PM »

Quote from: Old Syko on October 26, 2011, 01:45:46 PM

What these things will pull really isn't the issue. I've pulled (very, very, carefully and slow) right at 6,000# with my prairie. Stopping is what makes your hair stand up.

True story, i've pulled a dead tractor to the shop with my 600 Grizzly, also more than one car too. And some pretty big loads of stone off my fields. I also skid logs out with it from time to time too...

DM

Old Syko · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2011, 03:38:50 PM »

Quote from: Drilling Man on October 26, 2011, 02:13:48 PM

True story, i've pulled a dead tractor to the shop with my 600 Grizzly, also more than one car too. And some pretty big loads of stone off my fields. I also skid logs out with it from time to time too...

DM

I don't mind pulling logs and the like since they stop when I do. A friend borrowed my 8' X 12' trailer to pull behind his 400 Kodiak to bring in some creek stone for a new sidewalk. We loaded all we cared to put on it at one time. I would estimate 3000 to 3500# total. Even though I warned him about speed he got a bit too fast and as we started down a shallow grade to a 90* turn he was sliding 4 wheels, screaming like a school girl and gaining speed. He went straight ahead into the woods and somehow didn't hit a thing. Came to a stop about 50" in. By then I was Laughing so hard I couldn't contain myself. He rode mine and I pulled his out and drove it the rest of the way home.

markc · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2011, 10:00:42 AM »

Pulling on level ground, I agree. Pulling up the rocky hills on my place is tricky. There is no going real slow there unfortunately. U have to shower on the throttle at a couple of spots or you get in trouble. I will try to get some pics of that sometime.

Drilling Man, thats a nice looking rig..

markc · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2011, 12:44:23 PM »

Speaking of working. FIlled the blue barrell with water and took the Rhino on wildfire duty. Once the roads were opened, I went to the local lease and put out 6 smoldering fires. Not sure how much that water weighed, but it was a bunch.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2011, 02:47:30 PM »

Well, water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon, so 50 gallons weighs about 417 pounds...

DM

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2011, 01:22:30 AM »

dragging a doe! Thing is it was a 1100 lb buffalo cow.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2011, 07:15:34 AM »

Recently I bought some wheel spacers for my kodiak. It's a whole different machine now. Not tippy at all. I think it was 60 shipped for all 4 wheels on ebay. Here is a link to what they are that wont die as quick as ebay, but they are about twice as much so just for reference. http://www.crjperformance.com/atvwhsp.html I got the ones that widened each side by 2.5". Would recommend them to anyone who's butt draws up on their kodiak when traveling on a steep off angle route. 60 is quite a bit but I would rather keep all 4 wheels on the ground and off of me.

Old Syko · « **Reply #15 on:** November 07, 2011, 03:46:29 PM »

Bugflipper be careful with that type of spacers as they have earned a really bad reputation. Any spacer puts an excess load on wheels, hubs, axles, etc. Billet spacers are a lot stronger and safer and even they add a lot of excess load. They may add stability but at a cost of building in other safety issues.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #16 on:** November 07, 2011, 04:31:17 PM »

Thanks Old Syko I will keep an eye on them and be sure to be mindful.

markc · « **Reply #17 on:** November 09, 2011, 07:00:47 AM »

Nice Lloyd. I've seen that picture before. Does the RZR have a low range?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2011, 07:49:46 AM »

yes it does have low range and it was being used at the time! By the way i run wheel spacers on both my grizzly and my rzr and used them for about 4 years on my last grizzly and never had a bit of trouble because of them and I may be 55 buy my wife said i think im 15 when i drive about anything.

Quote from: markc on November 09, 2011, 07:00:47 AM

Nice Lloyd. I've seen that picture before. Does the RZR have a low range?

Old Syko · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2011, 09:07:21 AM »

Lloyd I'm willing to bet you used a billet type that supports both the wheel and the hub rather than the stud type mentioned here. Even then, spacers put an extra load on things due to increased leverage. I've seen a lot of failed hubs, bent wheels and destroyed bearings from their use. The stud type mentioned here tend to just snap off when you least expect it.

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2011, 01:42:14 PM »

My Rhino has factory spacers on it. I understand why they put them on. However, it makes it next to impossible to put it in a pickup bed if I have to take it somewhere away from Maine. I either end up putting it on a 20 foot trailer I have or on the 1 ton flat bed. I am the only one that drives it and I only run low speeds on a real decent trail system or at my farm. There would be very little chance of me ever tipping over. So I have been toying with the idea of taking them off. Anyone have any opinions on this?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #21 on:** November 10, 2011, 12:07:33 AM »

yup mine are the one piece billet spacers. I didnt look at his link till now and dont think id run spacers like that myself. Also i went with only 1.5 inch on the rzr and 1 inch on the grizzly instead of 2 inch because i too was conserned about the added stress.

Quote from: Old Syko on November 09, 2011, 09:07:21 AM

Lloyd I'm willing to bet you used a billet type that supports both the wheel and the hub rather than the stud type mentioned here. Even then, spacers put an extra load on things due to increased leverage. I've seen a lot of failed hubs, bent wheels and destroyed bearings from their use. The stud type mentioned here tend to just snap off when you least expect it.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #22 on:** November 10, 2011, 12:09:04 AM »

i wouldnt do it. even if you go slow if you get on a off camber hill you could tip. Another thing is that if you did roll with someone else in it youd be opening yourself up to a big law suit. My rzr when it was stock would fit but it rubbed hard on the inside of the wheel wells. After the spacers I had to drive right up over the wheelwells but it actually worked better because once in the wheel wells are another insurance its not going anywhere. If anything you may want to consider bigger spacers to you too can drive up over the wheelwells.

Quote from: Skeeterbaymac on November 09, 2011, 01:42:14 PM

My Rhino has factory spacers on it. I understand why they put them on. However, it makes it next to impossible to put it in a pickup bed if I have to take it somewhere away from Maine. I either end up putting it on a 20 foot trailer I have or on the 1 ton flat bed. I am the only one that drives it and I only run low speeds on a real decent trail system or at my farm. There would be very little chance of me ever tipping over. So I have been toying with the idea of taking them off. Anyone have any opinions on this?

markc · « **Reply #23 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:45:56 AM »

Skeeterbaymac, you can fit your Rhino in your pickup bed? I trailer mine on a 5X10, never tried to put the Rhino in the truck bed. Would be nice though. My Kodiak fits the longbed perfectly even with the tailgate up. Any issues getting the Rhino in and back out of the truck bed?

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #24 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:34:53 PM »

Lloyd, Good point I don't need any liability issues. Not to mention I don't know how prone to tipping it would be without them. It may make it tip over if I had to turn sharp for a pot hole or something.

markc, The issue was it wouldn't fit between the wheel wells. I could run it up over them as Lloyd suggested and I probably will. As far as issues getting it up in the bed. I live on a steep ridge so I can back up about anywhere and drive it on. I have also used the front end loader to put it on and take it off my one ton. That truck is to high to attempt the Rhino on ramps. The Kodiaks go up and down the ramps all the time.

markc · « **Reply #25 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:46:22 AM »

The Rhino entertaining kids and parents at the fall festival. It is popular every year.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #26 on:** January 04, 2012, 05:28:06 AM »

This from two years ago but I did plow yesterday.

markc · « **Reply #27 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:53:24 PM »

Looks good Dave. Do you have heated grips by chance? Know a guy that has a 1 piece heated suit for his motorcycle that plugs in. If I had to plow snow I think I would have one. Brrr.