I can tell you to stay clear of any 2004 Polaris 400, transmission likes to jam in reverse, takes time and wrenches to fix it. Any 2008 Polaris 500 Sportsman, serious wiring issues concerning the main wiring harness, it "will " leave you stranded as one second it's fine the next it's a dead bike. Bad wire, to brittle and small a gauge. My buddy owned the 2004 and I have the 2008. Presently fighting with Polaris over the wiring in the 2008 with no success.
For moose hunting a nice ATV fitted out with second seat storage boxes for a bit of gear very use full as it will get into tight areas that the bigger side by sides won't. And depending on terrain will drag of moose out of very nasty places. If you want the very ultimate in a moose hunting vehicle by an ARGO. An ARGO is not fast but it will go places that an ATV could not dream on going. I have both, Polaris Sportsman, the infamous 2008 and an ARGO 8 wheel. They both have there advantages and disadvantages, but if I had to have just one it would be the ARGO, as it is a much more versatile machine. Much more expensive too, but if your patient and shop around good used ones can be had for reasonable dollars.
My ARGO has most all the available options on it, tracks, top, windshield etc. etc. bought it used and I have less money invested in it than the Polaris 500, and that's not taking into account all the repair costs on the Polaris.
All these toys cost money to obtain and money to maintain. Then there's having a good well built dependable trailer to cart all the toys around on. Do not even contemplate in your wildest dreams loading an ATV on some cheap trailer from Home Depot or Canadian Tire with 8" or 12" tires on it and heading up north and off down some pot holed logging road for 40 or 50 miles or so. Those pot holed gravel roads will eat that trailer within the first 10 miles and leave you stranded. So plan on investing in a good solid trailer with 15" full size tires on it, to help save yourself a lot of aggravation. Don't forget you have to get moose tucked onto that trailer somewhere when coming home.
I am sure there's a lot of fellas on here who at one time or another have been, or known fellas who have travelled the Eddy Match road years ago to moose hunt in the Bisco and Sultan areas. That road was infamous for finding and exploiting any little weakness in your truck and trailer as she was the road of 10,000 pot holes. It ate trailers consistently, even got two of ours and we always thought we had good equipment.
Anyways I hope this helps and gives you some ideas for thought.
For moose hunting a nice ATV fitted out with second seat storage boxes for a bit of gear very use full as it will get into tight areas that the bigger side by sides won't. And depending on terrain will drag of moose out of very nasty places. If you want the very ultimate in a moose hunting vehicle by an ARGO. An ARGO is not fast but it will go places that an ATV could not dream on going. I have both, Polaris Sportsman, the infamous 2008 and an ARGO 8 wheel. They both have there advantages and disadvantages, but if I had to have just one it would be the ARGO, as it is a much more versatile machine. Much more expensive too, but if your patient and shop around good used ones can be had for reasonable dollars.
My ARGO has most all the available options on it, tracks, top, windshield etc. etc. bought it used and I have less money invested in it than the Polaris 500, and that's not taking into account all the repair costs on the Polaris.
All these toys cost money to obtain and money to maintain. Then there's having a good well built dependable trailer to cart all the toys around on. Do not even contemplate in your wildest dreams loading an ATV on some cheap trailer from Home Depot or Canadian Tire with 8" or 12" tires on it and heading up north and off down some pot holed logging road for 40 or 50 miles or so. Those pot holed gravel roads will eat that trailer within the first 10 miles and leave you stranded. So plan on investing in a good solid trailer with 15" full size tires on it, to help save yourself a lot of aggravation. Don't forget you have to get moose tucked onto that trailer somewhere when coming home.
I am sure there's a lot of fellas on here who at one time or another have been, or known fellas who have travelled the Eddy Match road years ago to moose hunt in the Bisco and Sultan areas. That road was infamous for finding and exploiting any little weakness in your truck and trailer as she was the road of 10,000 pot holes. It ate trailers consistently, even got two of ours and we always thought we had good equipment.
Anyways I hope this helps and gives you some ideas for thought.
