Hello,
I am looking at buying an atv to use for ice fishing so I dont have to walk so much (herniated disc). I am considering the Polaris 500 HO (kinda fits my pricepoint, but I can caugh up 1-2K if need be). What are everyones thoughts as to which ATVs handle the cold of sitting out on the ice and overall transportation through the snow. A snowmobile is out of the question due to my back.
thanks in advance for the feedback!
Make sure its fuel injected vs. carburated. I have a Polaris Sportsman 700 with fuel injection and it runs great in the cold.
I run a honda rancher 400. More than enough power for ice fishing. When I have a group of 4 or more, I usually pull my aluma trailer behind it with everyone on the trailer, with our gear. Never found snow deep enough not to get threw. Set a chains on the back tires is a must though. I fish Mille lacs most of the time so drifts can get deep. Have never had an issue with it sitting out over night in below freezing temps on the ice.
Wallster ><((((>
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I run a honda rancher 400. More than enough power for ice fishing. When I have a group of 4 or more, I usually pull my aluma trailer behind it with everyone on the trailer, with our gear. Never found snow deep enough not to get threw. Set a chains on the back tires is a must though. I fish Mille lacs most of the time so drifts can get deep. Have never had an issue with it sitting out over night in below freezing temps on the ice.
Wallster ><((((>
Is your 400 fuel injected or carb?
I used to run a 99 500 Magnum, now the sportsman and mine lived outside from oct till spring in the back of my truck and never failed to start….
do you find that the newer carburetor models cause any issues? Or as SmokinBobo stated, go fuel injected?
Mine is carb.
Wallster ><((((>
The Polaris X2 550 EFI is a super machine… 
I am with you on the herniated disc deal, selling my 94′ vmax 600 ice fishing machine due to that deal. 
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The Polaris X2 550 EFI is a super machine…
I am with you on the herniated disc deal, selling my 94′ vmax 600 ice fishing machine due to that deal.
sorry to hear about your back. That is why I am in the market for an ATV. Thanks for the info.
Polaris EFI 4-Wheeler the way to go IMHO… 
I had a 1999 Polaris Sportsman 500 that had 13,000 miles on it and about 1600 hours when I sold it. Carbureted, no problems starting and running. A comfortable ride with good suspension. I currently have a 2005 Bombardier Traxter Max 2 up with about 11,000 miles on it. A not too powerful cold starter and suspension is solid in back so a stiffer ride. The long wheel base offsets that some. I like it for training my dogs but would not choose it for back country use ice fishing. I have a 2003 Honda Rincon with 16,000 miles on it. Great suspension, great starter. The type of transmission it has requires a several minute warmup to function properly. It needs a carburetor kit now but has been and easy starter. I have a 2006 Honda Rubicon with 8,000 miles on it. A great starter and dependable in every way but poor suspension makes for a bumpy, uncomfortable ride. We use our machines to train sled dogs in the early season and even now with only about 3 inches of snow here in the UP where I am at. Today I ran a team 23 miles and took the rest of the day off to watch the Vikings. (Now watching Green Bay vs. Detroit.) These were all carbureted and no real problems other than the rebuild due on the Honda Rincon
I would recommend any machine with good suspension. Lots of low mileage, good machines out there too.
Saying all of that my own opinion is that a snowmachine is easier on the back when it has good suspension. I know that my ATV’s get stuck in lots of snow, especially when towing something. If you plan on getting off plowed roads an ATV will limit you severely. If you go where the plows go you will be fine. By the way, don’t buy your used ATV from a dog musher. Too many miles and the could be speckled with dog [censored]. That is not a unique camo pattern.
I have a honda rancher as well (carb) On the very coldest days it is the only one that will start.. -25 two pumps of primer and will start right up..
been many days up in canada where all the flashy new fuel injected had to sit till it warmed up while we all piled on my little 350.. 
I think that most machines do well in the cold though there may be some models more challenged. I know that my buddy has a Polaris 500 that he hates (cold blooded, eats belts), but that is just his experience. I personally have an 04 arty 500i (carb). It has never failed me. I even tried pull starting it when it was 20 below a couple years back and second pull fired up w/o even hitting the primer. Good Luck!! 
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I had a 1999 Polaris Sportsman 500 that had 13,000 miles on it and about 1600 hours when I sold it. Carbureted, no problems starting and running. A comfortable ride with good suspension. I currently have a 2005 Bombardier Traxter Max 2 up with about 11,000 miles on it. A not too powerful cold starter and suspension is solid in back so a stiffer ride. The long wheel base offsets that some. I like it for training my dogs but would not choose it for back country use ice fishing. I have a 2003 Honda Rincon with 16,000 miles on it. Great suspension, great starter. The type of transmission it has requires a several minute warmup to function properly. It needs a carburetor kit now but has been and easy starter. I have a 2006 Honda Rubicon with 8,000 miles on it. A great starter and dependable in every way but poor suspension makes for a bumpy, uncomfortable ride. We use our machines to train sled dogs in the early season and even now with only about 3 inches of snow here in the UP where I am at. Today I ran a team 23 miles and took the rest of the day off to watch the Vikings. (Now watching Green Bay vs. Detroit.) These were all carbureted and no real problems other than the rebuild due on the Honda Rincon
I would recommend any machine with good suspension. Lots of low mileage, good machines out there too.
Saying all of that my own opinion is that a snowmachine is easier on the back when it has good suspension. I know that my ATV’s get stuck in lots of snow, especially when towing something. If you plan on getting off plowed roads an ATV will limit you severely. If you go where the plows go you will be fine. By the way, don’t buy your used ATV from a dog musher. Too many miles and the could be speckled with dog [censored]. That is not a unique camo pattern.
Thanks for the info, couldnt agree more about the musher comment!!! 
I have ran a Honda Rancher with a 350 carburated engine for years and have had no problems with it starting. Have recently purchased a Yamaha Grizzley 700 with independent suspension and fuel injection.Seems to start well but remember you have to maintain battery well with fuel injection. No pull start.
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…Have recently purchased a Yamaha Grizzley 700 with independent suspension and fuel injection.Seems to start well but remember you have to maintain battery well with fuel injection. No pull start.
This is what I run and have had zero problems. This will be my third winter. I run a battery tender on it throughout the year though and get a new battery every other year just to be safe.
I prefer my quads with fuel injection but I have one with carb and primer that I would trust more to start in super cold weather. And it has pull start as a backup. I have owned sleds for many years and its hard to beat a carbed motor for starting in super cold weather if done properly.
I have a 01 and a 03 Honda 450 Foreman since new, both carburated. Had trouble with cold starts at first. One day as I was cursing my nephew asked if I had primed it. I said WTH, a primer? It took a while to find it but once I learned that neither unit has never failed to start. If cold weather starting is the priority, in that price range I would look for a 2-stroke Polaris ATV.
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I have a 01 and a 03 Honda 450 Foreman since new, both carburated. Had trouble with cold starts at first. One day as I was cursing my nephew asked if I had primed it. I said WTH, a primer? It took a while to find it but once I learned that neither unit has never failed to start. If cold weather starting is the priority, in that price range I would look for a 2-stroke Polaris ATV.
X2 on the primer makes a huge differance when it,s 20 below!!!!
Ajs
My 01 Polaris 500 carb with a choke I have never had an issue starting and working well in cold weather.
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I have a 01 and a 03 Honda 450 Foreman since new, both carburated. Had trouble with cold starts at first. One day as I was cursing my nephew asked if I had primed it. I said WTH, a primer? It took a while to find it but once I learned that neither unit has never failed to start. If cold weather starting is the priority, in that price range I would look for a 2-stroke Polaris ATV.
X2 on the primer makes a huge differance when it,s 20 below!!!!
Ajs
Not sure how much extreme cold fishing I am going to do, but when it sits out all night on the ice at -10 to 0 F, I want that puppy to start!!!
I run an Artic cat bought new in 02 never had a problem with it.
ok,so here is the deal, it is $1500 more for a 550 with fuel injection, larger carrying load, etc, etc, compared to a 500 HO carb unit. I am leaning towards the 500 because 1500 is a lot of $$$ to add Fuel injection and some extra capacity. Thoughts???? also, i thought Polaris had $1000 rebate on these units, turns out, only $500, can anyone confirm??? Thanks guys (and gals) stay safe
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