Top 10 tips for choosing an ATV for hunting and fishing

Popular vote - who is the best manufacturer of ATVs for hunting and fishing?

Yamaha

Kawasaki

Honda

Suzuki

CFMoto

Stels

Polaris

Irbis

Russian mechanics

Sharmax

Total voted: 2

Vote results

The quad bike is a versatile vehicle. Depending on the type and classification, its purpose and set of technical characteristics change. There can be a lot of differences, but we will consider the most important for us:

Type of	Peculiarities
Sports	A light weight; High speed; Powerful motor; Reinforced suspension; Small fuel tank.
Highway	Low ground clearance; road wheels; Lots of electronics; Bright design.
Utility	Reinforced frame; Large dimensions; Medium and high power motors; High load capacity; Large ground clearance; Off-road wheels.

There are also children's models, but this is a completely different category and we are not interested at all. As for the considered classes, the utilitarian option looks the most attractive for hunting and fishing. This is a powerful machine with large wheels, high ground clearance and a reinforced frame. A great option for both off-road and for short-term trips to asphalt.

Since an ATV is a cross between a car and a motorcycle, it can be closer to either the former or the latter. There are two types of landing:

ATV - models that are closer in type to motorcycles. They most often use a chain drive. They are compact, lighter, and the rider and passenger position is the same as on a conventional two-wheeled motorcycle. In fact, the difference with the bike here is only in the number of wheels.

SSV - this technique is more like a car, or rather a buggy.There may already be a roof and even doors, and the driver and passenger will sit side by side. The steering wheel is the same as the car. Such equipment is larger and more powerful, and it can also have a pickup body, which is quite convenient for hunting or fishing.

Which type to choose is difficult to say. This is more about personal convenience. The first type is more maneuverable and passable, but the second one has a trunk and it is more convenient to travel long distances on it. It should also be noted that if you need an inexpensive option, then you should look towards ATV.

This is one of the most important selection tips. The power of the equipment and its capabilities depend on the size of the engine. ATVs can be different. Today on the market there are models with units over a thousand cubic meters. These are real monsters, which in our case does not make sense to buy. Also, the cubic capacity affects the speed, but for hunting and fishing - this is a secondary parameter and you should not build on it either.

Most often, utilitarian models are equipped with power plants with a volume of 200 to 600 cubic centimeters. Models with larger units are great for rough off-road, while smaller cubic capacity imposes many restrictions. In this case, you should start from where you plan to fish or hunt. If you have to go through a harsh obstacle course to the parking lot, look towards larger motors. On average, the engine is enough for 200-400 cubes.

The more horsepower the engine produces, the more severe off-road the equipment will cope with, and the more weight it can transfer. In addition, power is never superfluous, because you never know what situation you will get into. But we cannot give advice that we should choose the most powerful unit. It will have a large fuel consumption, and the size of the equipment itself will also increase. It is important to find the golden mean here. For utilitarian models, the range from 15 to 50 forces is considered optimal.

For example, if you plan to go fishing in splendid isolation and your path will not run through swamps and quicksand, it is quite possible to choose an inexpensive option with 10-20 forces. But for the carriage of goods, and even a passenger, it is better to look towards motors from 30 and above. We also note that SSV class devices are equipped with more powerful motors. Here you can already find values ​​\u200b\u200bof 70 and even 100 forces.

Most modern ATV models have a CVT. This is the most practical and convenient type of transmission, and the best option for a kettle. The variator is an automatic transmission. It does not need to be constantly switched, which means that the ride becomes more comfortable. But obsolete mechanics still do not go out of fashion. To understand why this happens, it is necessary to compare the advantages and disadvantages of these options:

Transmission type	Advantages	Flaws
Variable speed drive	Smooth switching; Simple control; Fuel economy.	Expensive repairs; Difficult to repair Dislikes shock and vibration.
Mechanics	maintainability; Cheapness when buying and repairing; You can adjust the speed and traction.	Requires manual switching; Jerks when switching.

Drawing conclusions, we can say that the mechanics are more reliable, moreover, if you need a budget option, then such a box will stand on it. The variator, in turn, is easy to manage, but in the event of a breakdown, you will have to pay a considerable amount for its repair.

The advice on which type of transmission to choose is very simple - take the one whose characteristics are most relevant to you. For a teapot, it is better to immediately abandon the mechanics. And if you are used to keeping everything under control, then you need to take it and abandon the variator.

The external dimensions of the ATV do not matter much and it does not make sense to give some advice in this regard. Here you yourself determine the most convenient layout, given the fact that the equipment will have to be transported somehow. But as for convenience and patency, first of all it is necessary to look at the landing height. For utilitarian equipment, the most optimal option is 750-800 mm. It is comfortable to sit on such a technique and you will not get tired after a long ride.

Another important parameter is ground clearance or ground clearance.The ATV implies that it will be used off-road, respectively, the higher the clearance, the better. If you do not plan to climb into swamps or cross dunes, 120 mm is enough. For forest or mountainous terrain, it is recommended to take models with a clearance of 250 mm or more.

Since we choose an ATV for hunting and fishing, its carrying capacity is very important to us, that is, the maximum weight that this equipment will pull without sacrificing speed and cross-country ability. It is difficult to give any specific advice in this regard, since everyone has their own preferences and requirements. Think about whether 100 kg of carrying capacity is enough for you if you yourself weigh 70 kg and have 30 kg left for luggage. Most likely, this will not be enough, because fishing or hunting requires equipment and equipment, and the way back can be burdened with trophies, whose weight is generally impossible to predict.

If we talk about average values, then for utilitarian models it is recommended to take a version with 200 or more kg of load capacity. This is if we are talking about a double option. However, the ATV market is so vast that you can choose equipment with almost any traction, but models over 350 kg are quite rare.

As with cars, an ATV can be carbureted or fuel injected.If you decide to choose electronic injection, that is, an injector, then be prepared for the fact that it will definitely not work to repair it in the field. But with him less fuel consumption. The carburetor is more reliable in this regard, and with a little experience and knowledge, you can fix most injection problems yourself.

Of course, the injector is more preferable and it is better to choose it. But if you are looking for an inexpensive ATV, then it will most likely have a carburetor on it. The reliability of this node is lower, but it is inexpensive and its repair will not empty your pocket.

This is a very large and important topic, so we will analyze it in stages:

Broadcast is how torque is transferred from the engine to the axle. If you have a budget ATV, it probably uses a chain model. It is the most simple and convenient. In addition, replacing the chain is relatively cheap. A more expensive and at the same time reliable option is a cardan. The same as the car, and it is used on powerful models.

Drives. ATVs can be rear- and all-wheel drive. There is also an analogy with cars. For driving on relatively flat terrain, rear-wheel drive is enough. But he is unlikely to pull you out of the swamp, and it’s more convenient to climb uphill when 4 wheels are spinning, not 2.

Differential - This is a mechanism that distributes torque between the wheels of one drive. When entering a corner, one wheel spins slower than the other, making it easier to steer. Some ATVs are able to lock the differential and this is very important for overcoming the most difficult obstacles.

Since we choose an ATV for hunting or fishing, and on the way to them you can encounter a variety of obstacles, the best option is to choose an all-wheel drive drive unit with the ability to lock the differential. But such an ATV will be the most expensive, so some aspects can be abandoned.

The modern market is rich and diverse. Here you can find a model for every taste and budget. As for brands, Japanese manufacturers are ahead of the rest, as usual: Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki. They have top technology, but it costs accordingly. In addition, Japanese ATVs are the most expensive in terms of repair and maintenance. Original spare parts are expensive, and it is extremely difficult to find a replacement for them.

As for the ratio of price and quality, then Chinese and Russian brands come to the fore. The technique is now very popular. CFMoto. The manufacturer has a huge catalog. There are inexpensive models and very powerful options for serious loads. Also worth a look in the direction of brands Stels and Polaris. Decent options and you can find quite a budget analogue of the Japanese ATV.