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The goal of this project is to create an ATV that can act in a Search-And-Rescue role with a focus on emergency communications capability, and can also facilitate shooting sports enjoyment.
We looked at a lot of ATV's in starting our search for the right machine. We decided to take a que from a SAR unit we once worked with.
Since our ATV is intended to be deployed as a search element looking for anything from a foot-moble target to larger, we wanted it to be able to follow their potential paths as closely as possible. Size matters, and in the case of a foot-mobile subject, too big can be more of a problem.
Rather than going for the biggest utility ATV, we wanted to find one of the smaller utility-type ATV's. They offer advantages not only in price, but also in being able to fit into tight places, and being somewhat more agile.
We didn't really look at any of the sport-type ATV's since they are not ideal for our intended purposes. They are not designed to carry loads other than a single rider, and they are designed for speed. Excessive speed is a bad thing when you are looking for someone. They also tend to be noisier, and you want to be able to hear things around you - although even on a utility ATV (or in a Jeep), this still requires stopping periodically and listening. It is also possible to make many utility-type ATV's even more quiet.
We had an opportunity to work with some utility-type ATV's of all sizes, and we found that a Honda Rancher in the 350-450cc range could go places that many other ATV's were just too big to fit. They fit easily through small gates, and along foot trails with relative ease. Many of the larger 600-800cc machines can't fit through narrow gates. We have seen this with larger Polaris units, for example.
The smaller utility units are also more affordable with the right accessories, and don't necessarily need the more expensive options such as power steering.
When you get into a larger ATV, you may find that power steering can become a desired feature, especially at slow speeds maneuvering through tight trails. This will add to the cost, and adds more mechanical and electrical complexity - with potentially greater maintenance and service costs. We found that a Rancher-sized ATV was easy enough to control without the power steering - although it is now available as an option even on these smaller machines. It does make the steering feel a little better over rocks and things like that, but I have found that I can get along just fine without it.
You DO want 4WD. That's critical in helping you to handle whatever nature throws at you. Always use your head - you don't want to get into situations beyond what your skills and equiment can handle, but you also need to give yourself the best tools for the job. We observed that 4WD can often get you through areas around here where 2WD ATV's have been forced to resort to a winch or an assist from a 4WD ATV.
Since we would be carrying our own GPS gear, having a built-in GPS really didn't buy us anything. Some manufacturers offer this, but the built-in GPS units are normally very limited - especially when it comes to integrating and connecting them with HAM Radio gear for APRS. The built-in units normally can't do so, and they are also much more limited in obtaining map updates.
We were looking more for size (smaller rather than larger), agility, reliability, and durability. Those requirements pointed us clearly in one direction - Honda.
We had a lot of experience with Honda machines, and had recently ridden a Honda Rancher AT 4x4 that my brother-in-law had purchased. It was a great machine, and the automatic transmission meant that there was less for the rider to worry about on the machine itself - allowing you to concentrate more on the trail. It was also the right size - not too big and not too small - with an engine mostly commensurate with the size, although slightly underpowered in my opinion. It also had the advantage of being affordable.
We checked out several local Honda dealers and their product line, and decided on the 2008 Honda TRX420FE. The specs for this machine are as follows...
Model: TRX420FE with ESP
Engine Type: 420cc liquid-cooled OHV wet-sump longitudinally mounted single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and Stroke: 86.5mm x 71.5mm
Induction: Keihin 34mm throttle-body fuel-injection system
Ignition: Full transistor with electronic advance
Starter: Electric with optional auxiliary recoil
Clutch: Automatic
Transmission: ESP five-speed with Reverse
Driveline: Direct front and rear driveshafts
Suspension Front: Independent double-wishbone; 6.3 inches travel
Rear: Swingarm with single shock; 6.3 inches travel
Brakes: Front: Dual hydraulic disc
Brakes: Rear: Sealed mechanical drum
Tires: Front: 24x8-12
Tires: Rear: 24x10-11
Length: 80.9 inches
Width: 46.1 inches
Height: 45.1 inches
Seat Height: 32.4 inches
Ground Clearance: 6.5 inches
Wheelbase: 49.2 inches
Turning Radius: 10.5 feet
Fuel Capacity: 3.5 gallons (including 1.0 gallon reserve)
Colors: Black, Red, Olive, NaturalGear Camouflage
Curb Weight: 588 pounds
In the 2008 model year, Honda offered the Electronic Shift system in the Rancher. It has an automatic clutch, but you still have to let off of the gas and push a button to upshift or downshift. That's still far better than having to worry about a clutch, and it's a nice, smooth system. We had tried it before and found it easy enough to use.
The ES Shifting Buttons - Just Let Off Of The Gas And Hit The Buttons To Shift Up or Down.
Honda machines are also known for being highly reliable, and that is a key factor for us. They are also reasonably light (588 pounds) and easy to maneuver with a 10 and a half foot turning radius and a 46-inch width. That makes them agile, and the motor isn't overlyt loud either. Pretty much everything we were hoping for. While power steering would be nice, it is no where near being a requirement to manage this machine.
In terms of dealers, we went with Rob at Monarch Honda in Orem, Utah. They were the only dealer in the area that gave us a straight-up out-the-door price, and that let us take the numbers home and look at them - in detail. Contrast that with Peery Brothers Honda World in Salt Lake City, where they wouldn't give us a price before all of the paperwork was done, and where they said the price was only good until we left that because "it might be higer later".
At Monarch Honda there was no pressure and they had a great selection. They also gave us a great deal, and the process was quick and simple. You can find them here.
We went with the Natural Camo finish. It looks great, and held up very well to trail wear. In terms of looks, I especially like the black wheels.
Our second machine - obtained a year later - was exactly the same model and year but was Green in color, and was again purchased from Monarch Honda in Orem, UT. This allows us to ride together, and allows us to keep common parts, tires, etc.
The TRX420FE is very maneuverable, and we don't find the need for power steering as you might find necessary on a larger machine. We have taken them on some VERY narrow trails and never had an issue. There is a particluar trail that I know of from an old Forest Service map that doesn't see much use. It's very narrow. The branches have grown very low over it, and no larger machine can get in there. The TRX-420FE makes it with nothing to spare, but it gets the rider there safely and comfortably.
Fuel economy is great, and the machines have both performed very well over several years. They are reliable, and not overly noisy. They are also a LOT of fun to ride in a simple recreational role.
One thing I found on this machine compared to the 350AT, is that this machine feels far more powerful. On the 350AT, there is a hill where we ride, and it will hold a velocity of about 30 MPH going up, but won't accelerate beyond that even with the gas wide open.
On the 420FE, I started up the hill with the gas wide open, expecting maybe a little better performance. I didn't look at the speedometer until I realized that I seemed to be going much faster than I was on the 350AT. When I looked down I was at 45 MPH and still accelerating. I let off the gas a bit, and was quite impressed.
I don't know how much power is absorbed by the automatic transmission in the 350AT (or by the weight of that transmission), but I know that the 420FE can give you plenty of speed and power when you need it.
The front and rear racks have just enough room, and we have loaded them a few times with some pretty heavy stuff. You can tell when you have more weight on the machine, but it has never struggled to get us and the load where we are going. The liquid cooling and electric fan does come in handy on hot days, but they have never overheated.
They handle any terrain with ease, and we have done some rock crawling with them. The solid rear axle has 6.3" of travel, and might not be quite as comfortable as a fully independent rear, but it's not bad at all.
The only complaint I have ever had relates to how much my backside has hurt after a full day of riding, but it isn't that bad either. I think part of it is that I'm getting a little older.
I will also add this - the smaller machines offer some margin of safety that I don't think you will have in the larger ones - they weight less. Let me explain.
During a recent trail ride, I downshifted as I was stopping. I hit a small downhill ledge at the exact same moment, and I hit the brakes, but not hard enough at first. The front of the machine went down the bump as I hit the brakes harder (which was a mistake, I should have just let off of them it turned out). The rear of the machine went up in the air and I was not in 4WD so hitting the gas would not have moved the front tires. The machine was vertical for a moment with the rear end up, then it began to fall over on me.
I was wearing a helmet, gloves, long-sleeved shirt and pants, etc. I got my arms out and tried to push the machine slightly sideways as it fell so that it wouldn't be completely on me - and I partially succeeded before it fell.
The other riders I was with immediately pushed it the rest of the way off of me. Aside from being a bit dirty and having a slightly sprained shoulder and a couple of bruises, I was fine. Between the helmet (which had one small scratch we could find) and the American Trails Ventures bags that were mounted on the front and rear of the machine - which provided some excellent padding between me and the machine - everything was pretty good.
In terms of damage to the machine - there were a couple of scratches on the front rack that weren't there before, but there was no damage other than those few scratches to the Honda machine or anything attached to it. Nothing was bent or broken, but it had come to a slight rest before falling, the only momentum was from the fall.
We all agreed that if it had been a larger, heavier machine, it might not have gone as well for my body.
Between the durability, maneuverability, and overall fun, I can't recommend the Honda TRX-420FE enough.
We are fleshing out the ret of our recommendations to fully equip these machines now. This will include two-way radio mounts (and the associated electrical power), firearms mounts, and bags. Keep checking back for these recommendations - coming Summer of 2011.
We are looking at both ATV-mounted (handlebar and other points) and user-carried lights. We are testing a number of products now.
We are writing up the complete suite of American Trails Ventures bags that we selected. They are well made, and provide plenty of space.
We did find that the Garmin Rino 530HCx is a superior solution to kill both the GPS and GMRS/FRS needs. The screen is large enough to be usable on the ATV, there are plenty of free topo maps, and the GMRS/FRS radio performance is excellent. It can also interface with a handheld ham radio as it supports a true NMEA-0183 output. They even have an ATV mount for it. A full write-up is coming.
Due to the limited real-estate on the ATV, putting an HF (High Frequency) radio on is essentially impossible.
Since ATV's are most commonly used as search elements, we are focusing on carrying FRS/GMRS and VHF/UHF Ham Radio gear. If the rider wears an appropriate vest, these can be carried on the rider. We are re-evaluating our recommendation of the Kenwood TH-D7A(g), it's a great radio but there is a more modern option that may be better. It provides both VHF and UHF communications, and supports APRS for transmitting your position back to base automatically.
The primary issue with two-way radio gear on an ATV or motorcycle is in actually using it to communicate. If you are wearing a helmet as you should, you need some form of integrated speakers and microphone. Throat mics can work, but they tend to pick up a lot of vibration. We are looking at some alternatives now.
We are investigating a number of winches and other accessories for the ATV - as on our Project Jeep - to handle the worst possible scenarios. A winch is a must have item. Other items include tree-saver straps, tow straps, and gloves.
COMING SOON.
There are a number of ways to carry a firearm - or more than one for that matter - on an ATV. Some are even specific to the type of firearm.
We are looking at some bags from American Trails, and some of the Kolpin Gun Boot mounts, as well as rider options. Stay tuned.
-- James Bell, Jr. - JeepGunner.com