Ability to climb and descend steep grades.

[ovrszd]

What mods have you made?]

This Sami isn't mine, friend of mine that wheels with us all the time. It's evolved even more from the pics. I wouldn't do the mod list justice to attempt to list it. Wheelbase has been extended, engine swapped for a larger model, transfer gear swap, axle gears swap, etc., etc. I love wheeling with him. Totally amazing what it will do And to tie this into the thread, that incline he's climbing is very, very steep. To get up it on foot you have to crawl up it on hands and knees grabbing onto whatever you can.

 

[dfkrug]

More importantly is a front diff lock. That's the biggest offroad downfall
to the RTV, they do not offer a locking front diff. So you never truly have 4wd. Best you can get is 3wd.

Lockable front diff is common, as it is on 4x4 ATVs. Rear diff, not so much. All 4x4s in the ATV world
use limited slip front diff, or they would not work very well. Most are lockable now. LSD is not locked, but it is
considerably better than open, so you still get better than just 3WD.

Honda Pioneers, last I checked, have no rear diffs at all.

 

[dfkrug]

Yamaha uses a wet clutch to engage the belt drive system. So at an idle the drive belt sheave stops turning. On a Polaris for example, at idle, the sheave is turning and the belt is slipping because of slack. Mash on the gas of a Rhino and the belt drive is engaged by the wet clutch with minimal slippage. Mash the gas on a Polaris and the belt has to tighten, and slip, before movement is felt. Not picking on Polaris, almost everyone else is like that too.

(

Really?

Every belt-CVT system I have ever opened up used a belt that did not slip. A centrifugal clutch was used
when stopping and starting. That includes the Polaris ATVs I have worked on. Sometimes the
centrifugal clutch works with wet multi-plate clutch discs, sometimes it is a dry clutch.

BTW, Nissan is a very successful maker of non-belt CVTs, up to 300hp or so. They use something that
looks like meshed cones.

 

[rmk700]

W

Lack of a "low" range hurts the Honda Products.I have watched videos where they stopped in the middle of a steep hill and the Hondas couldn't get going again.I used to be a huge Honda fan and still thing they make the best small motors but they have fallen behind in the ATV and SxS world.

Not anymore. The Honda Pioneer 1000 has low range. 12 gears, 6 in low range 6 in high range. It also is manual or auto.

 

[Oldpath05]

Anyone want to try these tracks, looks impressive, helps put the real meaning of an all terrain vesicle. Wonder how long they'd last before they fall apart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaR...dngEcaoNak5aFt4rbQAB-ZIuAq5j49Wtj8_r6u0oijmry

 

[dfkrug]

Isn't 100 percent grade only 45 degrees? 45 degrees can be climbed with the
right equipment. Going down is more interesting.

Practically speaking, a 45-deg, 100% slope is not going to be scalable. We are talking tractors here, so you can
not use momemtum, as you would in a dirt bike or dune buggy. Also, I am assuming one would attempt
to go straight up, not at an angle to reduce the slope.

Then, even with very low gearing and very aggressive tread (or tracks), you have the shear resistance of the
soil or rock being climbed to consider.

 

[ultrarunner]

Two years ago the 60 year old 8 and 12" sewer lines were replaced... I have 7 manhole covers on the property... as they all converge.

It was the first time I had seen what a good operator on a small excavator can accomplish...

It was amazing the slopes and ravine crossings... using the tracks, hoe and bade to get where he needed to go... wish I would have had a way to film it...

 

[blackdog2086]

Any issues with the Dual Cone geared "Automatic"?

The reason I ask is the Ford Fiesta has a Dual Cone Auto and has been plagued by failures... it is a technology I know little about.

Seems a brand new Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic is about the same price point or cheaper than some of the ATV and RTV

I've been watching CRAIGS for a couple of years and simply not much ever comes up here in the SF Bay Area...

I paid a $1000 for my Samurai with a noisy transmission... less than $50 for the bearing and gasket set to repair...

No problem with the trans at all so far. I've only had it a short time so hopefully it will be as long term reliable as the Honda's I've had in the past. I have a 2003 Rincon 650 quad that is used and abused almost daily and has never let me down. The Pioneer 1000 is my first side by side and since we've gotten it, the old quad doesn't get much use anymore. I'll still keep it just because it's been a great machine and being 13 years old, I wouldn't get much for it anyway.

I've driven a number of SxS's before, just never owned one, and I must say that I am pretty impressed with the Honda. I really liked the single cylinder Pioneer 700, but the fact that the rear was always locked made it a deal breaker. I drive across my lawn a lot and the locked rear would've destroyed my grass. The 1000 is actually quiet enough to have a conversation with your passenger without yelling, and the suspension is very plush without being so soft it bottoms out. So far my only complaint is the price but I guess like they say, you get what you pay for.

 

[ultrarunner]

Want to check out the local dealer... they have many brands including Honda.

Always better to actually see one first hand and up close.

Neighbor has the least expensive Gator and loves it... no 4wd and 4 wheel brakes is a deal breaker for my steep property...

 

[ultrarunner]

I was wrong... if the Iphone I borrowed is correct the slope is 29 degrees or about 55% grade.... not as steep as I thought.

Here are two pictures in my first Iphone attempt of the new bladed trail.

The third one shows the ranch as the Island of Green in the middle... it is an old pioneer homestead from 1860 and my brother is the second owner... it is surrounded by homes and is one little patch of remaining county in the area.

Started to rain a little earlier in the day and the I could not stand on the slope of fresh bladed earth without sliding... just too slick to get a foothold.

I'm sure once it compacts and drys a season it will be a little better.