Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Honda Rancher ATV - EPS or not?

My thoughts exactly. My next quad will have power steering and independent suspension. Been rasslin my Foreman 450 around for 18 years, next quad will be easier on the body.

I’ll go with you on straight manual shifting and possibly independent suspension. But if you don’t think 4WD is worth having you ride some fairly easy stuff or you never had 4WD. As a friend of mine put it; take the difference of a 4 wheeler over a 3 wheeler, double it, and you’re almost to the difference of 4WD over 2WD. Having had all 3 and having ridden ATVs for around 35 years I think he still shorted 4WD a bit.

Thanks for the feedback. Having two bad shoulders, EPS sounds like the way to go.
I would also like independent rear suspension, but the Hondas only come with that in their "automatic transmission" models, whatever it's called. I don't like the automatic, as they always sound spun-up and not going anywhere.

😂😂 don’t have it on my 700 kodiak or my 700 pioneer.

I have a 2005 350 Rancher without PS. Last year my wife bought herself a 2012 Yamaha 700 with PS. Both 4X4 - Rancher full time, on demand on the 700.

PS steers better, but not that much on the easy stuff. With bad shoulders (as my wife also has). EPS is the way to go, especially if you ride a lot, which we do not.

As said above, when running trails on relatively flat ground as at our Rec cabin south of here, it doesn't make much difference. When running the mountains north of Fairbanks hunting caribou, first climbing through the timber on badly rutted and muddy trail, it is noticeably better to have the PS. Once above timberline on more solid ground, it is also nice in constantly avoiding the big rocks, holes, etc.

Put over 100 lbs of animal on front and rear racks, it makes a big difference in all sorts of terrain. But we don't go more than a couple miles off-road, anyway, so far.

I used the Rancher for 7 years in Kotzebue. That step-and-a-half tussock ground is no joy- would have been better with PS.

Pee Wee don’t need no power steering

He need amber lamps

Yep, unless you're strapped for cash, spend the dough and enjoy the feature.

Makes spraying weeds a lot easier when you have 1 hand on the wand. Foot shift is how I roll as well.

Buddy of mine has a Yamaha 700 with EPS. About 5mi. back on a trail the EPS broke. Took awhile to get it out to the trailer. Those things have a plastic worm gear in them and is not replaceable. You have to buy the whole unit at around $1500.00. He found a used one.
My Honda Foreman is a 1988 I bought new. At the age of 70 manual trans and steering don't bother me.

That's dumb.

I have two ranchers, one without PS and one with it. No contest, hands down get the power steering. It’s a game changer.

Both of mine are 4x4’s though, maybe 2wd ones are easier to steer. I’d never buy a 2wd ATV though so it’s a moot point.

Yes, it's worth it, especially when you are able to turn out of a tumble that you couldn't have muscled out of without it.

1985 called they want their technology back.. Let me guess you are still pissed about the 3 wheeler ban as well..

Pass the power steering. If you seen the hill I came up in you would’ve been wishing for power steering.

We use 4 wheelers to move cows. Off trail, fairly rough riding terrain.

I have a 700 Grizzly as do most of my cohorts. EPS is a given.


Couple years ago a guy came out to help and was riding an older Honda with the straight rear axle. It was all he could do to keep up, hell the cows were faster than him....lol

And at the end of the day he was tired out and beat up.

They are reliable machines but so are the Yamaha's.


I've said it before but IMO the 700 Grizzly is the holy grail of ATV's, amazing machines.

OP........



does UR DD have PS ?

Had a 93 300 4x4 four trax that I called the Timex as it was so reliable. I sold it this year and bought a 2021 Honda Rubicon DCT EPS.
I took it to Colorado this year and had to camp 20 miles from where I normaly camp as I could not access the area with my truck and trailer because of snow.
I put on over 100 mi. on nasty trails with the Rubicon to access hunting spots and felt the difference. I filled my tag on day 3 with a 6x6 that was 10.5 miles from camp.
I would recomend the Rubicon with the DCT,EPS and IRS as it is the best model Honda makes.

If you don't like automatics in general then get the Honda Rubicon with manual shift. The Rubicons have independent rear suspension.
If it's just Honda autos that you don't like then get a Yamaha Kodiak 450.
Yes power steering is worth it. Have a '10 Rancher and '11 Foreman, both with PS, and would not own a utility ATV without it.

Yep.

Wife and I both have those same machines and they are stellar in every way for ranch life.

The only people that advocate for no power steering are those who have no experience riding in rough terrain on both types.



Get EPS