Lost faith in my old Ranger, jumped to a Big Red

MoPops · Sep 16, 2014

I'm always in a hurry, and seem to get frustrated a bit too easy. My 05 Ranger started leaking oil a few weeks ago, I've had radiator, and electrical problems in the last year also. I bought it pretty well used from a Polaris/Honda dealer. It was all the budget would allow. They had a 2010 Honda Big Red there, a guy had just traded for a new Pioneer four seater. It looked new. It was pretty cheap to swap, so I went for it.
So, I "upgraded" to a newer "used" machine. So far so good, it is just so much quieter, and smoother. I wanted to get away from a belt drive. Not sure why, I guess I've read about too many issues.
I've also done some reading about the Big Red (after I bought it, ha) I see why folks aren't happy with the width, but that's not a issue where I'm running mine. I'd also like some more storage with the BR, but i threw a big lockable tub in the back. Holds the chainsaw and gas, oil, tools, etc..
I do need to come up with a hard windshield, I bought a cheap vinyl windshield for the ranger, and had trouble seeing out if it, and it didn't stop enough wind in the winter.

Anybody else out there own a Big Red? Thoughts, or things to look out for?

MoPops · Sep 18, 2014

I'm thinking very few people bought a Big Red. Not that much has been written about them. It's just a farm vehicle for me. I won't be hauling it to the Rockies..

DIXIEDOG · Sep 19, 2014

Hope it works out well for you. The Big Red seems like a decent middle of the road machine from all I've read.. Personally I've never seen one in the trail and I don't know anyone that owns one....I'm not sure why they weren't popular with as popular as Honda's quads are.

diesel lover · Sep 19, 2014

I completely know what you mean when it comes to belt driven cvt's. Their best purpose is for sport and trail. It's not good at all to tow with them. I really liked operating a Kubota Rtv which happened to be a diesel, hydrostatic trans, 4wd. I really like the torque multiplication behind a well built hydrostatic. They have a great pulling and pushing ability.

What does the honda big red have for a transmission?

MoPops · Sep 19, 2014

DIXIEDOG said:
Hope it works out well for you. The Big Red seems like a decent middle of the road machine from all I've read.. Personally I've never seen one in the trail and I don't know anyone that owns one....I'm not sure why they weren't popular with as popular as Honda's quads are.

They are just too wide for the trails. I had a 700 Ranger with a bench seat. The Big Red is even wider, but with two bucket seats. I'm going to have to put something in the bed, facing rear, if I need a third seat.
Thanks for the reply.

MoPops · Sep 19, 2014

diesel lover said:
I completely know what you mean when it comes to belt driven cvt's. Their best purpose is for sport and trail. It's not good at all to tow with them. I really liked operating a Kubota Rtv which happened to be a diesel, hydrostatic trans, 4wd. I really like the torque multiplication behind a well built hydrostatic. They have a great pulling and pushing ability.

What does the honda big red have for a transmission?

It's a three speed automatic with a torque converter. Shifts pretty smooth. Mechanically,, I have zero complaints. I guess I'm a drive shaft guy vs belt.
I do like that there (it seems to me) is no heat coming up from the engine. My Ranger had the fan on all the time.. The BR hasn't had the fan come on yet. I've even let it sit and idle for a few minutes. Plus the fact I can have a conversation with the wife while we are riding. Couldn't do that without yelling in my old Ranger. It had over 950 very hard hours on it though. So it's really not a fair comparison. The big red is like new. I don't know who had it before me, but it wasn't worked very hard at all. It's 2010 with original tires that look new. No wear anywhere on it.
Because they sold so few of them, there's not a lot of after market stuff available. I'm going to add a windshield. That's about it.

dusty3030 · Sep 19, 2014

Big Red isn't a bad machine at all it was features / marketing problem and not a quality one.
Same thing is happening with the new Pioneer's - Polaris, Kawasaki, CanAm marketing people expect a side by side to haul them and all their friends and a cooler and this and that at 70 mph going uphill in chest deep mud.

I've got a Pioneer 700-4 that I love it, I only kept my Ranger one year and sold it to buy this.

I've got some farmer buddies with the Big Reds, one in particular has lived more of its life in water in a rice field than it has on dry land - he has no complaints doesn't really maintain it well or take care of it and after several years still hasn't left him walking.

MoPops · Sep 19, 2014

Good news. Thanks.
I'm just going to work it on the farm. So it'll be perfect for my needs.
Thanks again

dusty3030 · Sep 19, 2014

They aren't powerhouses but they are utility and reliable

crazyal · Oct 8, 2014

I have a Big Red. It's a little wide for the trails but around here most of the trails are wide enough for a small truck so it does fine. I use it for firewood, with the bed full it easily pulls a small trailer loaded up as well. I replaced the tires with slightly larger ones (26" GBC Dirt Devil XT) with much larger lugs. Overall I really like it. It's a little stiff for just trail riding but not that bad.