ATV Capabilities

[Hunter 257W]

I have zero experience with ATV's so have a general question. I am considering buying a Polaris Sportsman 500 from a friend who is offering a very fair price and it has hardly been used. My question is this.

Will this machine drag a deer out of the woods? I have no idea how much these things can pull. And if it won't realistically drag a big deer, would the weight of a deer lift the front wheels off the ground if I make a platform for the rear to lift the deer up onto so I can drive it out of the woods that way?

 

[AllOutdoors]

That unit will easily drag a big deer out of the woods. You may spin out on some steep hills. If you put a deer on the back rack the front end will become lighter..... be careful climbing hills. Best scenario would to probably strap them to the front rack if you choose not to drag. I would suggest dragging your deer until you become experienced with the atv.

 

[Gravey]

That 4-wheeler will pull a truckload of deer. I have a honda 300 and have had 2 adults and 3 deer on it at the same time.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the quick responses. I'm used to pulling/hauling too heavy for the vehicle loads with trucks and tractors so know to take it real easy in situations like having a deer on the rear of an ATV but I also know that you can get in trouble FAST if you aren't paying attention.

OK, I guess I need to talk to the owner and see what happens next now that I know it will do the job!

 

[bigtex]

:o

 

[Backwudz]

I have a polaris 600 and it will pull like crazy ! A 500 is not that much smaller!

 

[TeamMainStreet]

I have seen a 250 Suzuki ozark 2 wheel drive roll into camp with 2 pretty good size boys, 2 rifles a tree stand on the back and a fat doe on the front. The frame was dragging but it pulled it no problem. A 500 sportsman has plenty of power to get you into places you don't need to be. Lol

 

[Chaneylake]

this is what a honda 300 can do.

boat is still on the trailer

 

[Rackseeker]

I always carry my deer on the front. Makes steering a little difficult but overall better and safer. I'm sure the Polaris is a good machine but the Hondas are bullet proof.

 

[JohnnyBond]

Honda's can do this

 

[Gravey]

Honda's can do this

Next time do us all a favor and blackout the driver's face. :D

 

[Tar12]

I run a Arctic Cat 400 4x4. It has a Warne #2500 winch on it.The winch is a must have! Use it to pull deer out of steep ravines and pull the quad out when you bury it to the frame!You can also use the winch to skin your deer. Try it as it is pretty slick! I carry extra rope and cable and there are very few places that I can not go.My 400 will pull my big arse and my son and 3 deer and the trailer loaded with gear with no problem!I do not know how I got along with out it all of these years!

 

[156p&y]

I often wonder this a lot...why in the world would you guys put the deer on the front of the ATV? I race quads and just can't figure this out for the life of me. If you load up the front it will cause the whole geometry at the spindles to be so out of whack the bike will have a much greater tendency to roll than if the weight was on the back. You can only lean back so much before you can't reach the bars if your going down hill as well. If the weight is on the back you can stand up on the pegs and get way over the front end going up hill. The only time I can think of placing the weight up front is if you have a passenger sitting on the backend.

On that Polaris if your going down steep hills put the deer on the back. The Polaris only has a foot peddle for the rear brake and hand lever that controls both the front and rear. If you grab that hand lever and you'll need to going down hill the front end is going to grab and either twist the bars on you and flip the bike or the bike will just flip right over the top of itself slamming you to the ground. It's always easier to jump off a bike flipping backwards than it is one flipping forward.

In my opinion if your new to quads put your deer on the rear rack, you'll hurt yourself putting it on the front. And don't be afraid to stand up on the machine

 

[Gravey]

156...if I'm going to be coming out of steep terrain i put them on the front. One time i had a big doe on there and stood up leaning as far as i could and the frontend was still coming off the ground. A buddy tied a rope to the front to hold it down while i hit 2nd gear and threw crap everywhere getting out. Otherwise i put them on the back. Bought a rhino this year and it is so nice just dropping it in the bed and not having to tie it down.

 

[arctic_cat]

I have never put a deer on the back rack. I guess im alwayse coming up out of a holler when I kill one. Never had an issue with putting them on the front. If I had to go down hill on the way out then I would put the deer on the back.

 

[Savage Knight]

ive pulled my old grand cherokee around the yard with my 99 foreman 450 so I would believe a 500 shouldnt have ANY problems pullin. its hills and loads shiftin you gotta worry about. also it aint like a truck, if you flip it your not inside of it for it to protect you

 

[TNGunhunter]

I run on fairly level ground, but the ole Honda Foreman didn't have any problem hauling these girls 2 miles out of the woods.

 

[fishboy1]

This is not recommended......

Had 2- 250# hogs
2 - 200+lb guys
and 1- 160lb guy on ONE 4 wheeler for 2 miles through a swamp.

Not sure but I think we were overloaded. :D

 

[deerhunter10]

You won't have any trouble just be careful on hills and don't do something your not comfortable with.

 

[fishboy1]

Update.

Last weekend in the same LA swamp.
2 110+lb does
1- 190lb hog.
3 adult morons 200+ ea

One split sidewall, 2 cans of fix a flat, and a hand pump every 10 minutes.

Made it out. :D