ATV (quad) range?

[Blacktail135]

 Just bought my 1st quad. A 2000 Polaris Scrambler 500 4x4. It has a 4 gallon fuel tank. We’re going on a trail ride tomorrow and was a bit curious on how far this thing will go on a tank of gas. Thinking of taking an extra gallon in a metal can for emergency. Also will be taking a small chainsaw along. Tried looking up on internet but haven’t found an answer yet. Thanks.

[Blacktail135]

 The ride will be mostly logging roads with some trails. I probably won’t be hot rodding it much. Was told we’ll be out about 5 hours.

[Taco280AI]

I've gone over 110 miles on my Grizz 700 and still had over a gallon left. Was getting over 30mpg while cruising at 30-35 most of the time

[Wanttohuntmore]

Figure about 60-70 miles.   Could be more or less.   I've seen big differences between the same brand and models of atvs.  A spare gallon or two is very smart.

[Mtnwalker]

Pretty sure the Scramblers are fuel suckers. If I remember right I used to get about 80 miles out of my 400ex and the Polaris was more like 50-60 but it’s been a long while

[Blacktail135]

 Thanks for the replies. 32 miles of mostly logging roads with some STEEP (as in front end wanting to smack me in the face) off road stuff and burned 1.5 gallons of fuel. Still not sure of the range I can get out of this machine but I had 2.5 gallons of fuel left when done. 7 hour trip....good enough for me. Still 170 came in handy twice!

[Blacktail135]

Stihl

[Taco280AI]

Sounds like 85 miles with that kind of riding. Just keep track for future reference and get some consistent estimates. And have fun 

[Mudman]

10m hard riding, 20 cruising as rule of thumb.  Keep in mind when low and on reserve/last gallon steep slopes can suck air n cause problems. Is it gravity or pump fed?  Spare plug too?  Tire patch important as well, flats are common.

[C-Money]

My Hondas (420 & 250) go all day with fuel to spare. We've put on 100 miles using green dots and never touched the reserve. I think its a great idea to pack extra fuel on a long day, especially if I'm not familiar with some new trails we plan to explore. So relaxing to take a good ride in the mountains!!

[Blacktail135]

10m hard riding, 20 cruising as rule of thumb.  Keep in mind when low and on reserve/last gallon steep slopes can suck air n cause problems. Is it gravity or pump fed?  Spare plug too?  Tire patch important as well, flats are common.

Don’t know about gravity or pump fed yet. Waiting for delivery of a service manual. Didn’t come with an owners manual. Felt a bit “naked” on the first trip as I knew nothing about the machine (other than it ran good) or how to repair on the trail. I did load up some tools, straps, chainsaw, mixed and regular fuel, hunting daypack etc....I have been looking at internet/YouTube ATV off-road toolkit ideas and plan to put together a better one before our next trip as well as practicing some repairs per the service/repair manual. Can’t believe I didn’t buy one of these things years ago.....it’s saved me a ton of time and work on the place already and I’ve only had it a couple of months.

[Buzz2401]

10m hard riding, 20 cruising as rule of thumb.  Keep in mind when low and on reserve/last gallon steep slopes can suck air n cause problems. Is it gravity or pump fed?  Spare plug too?  Tire patch important as well, flats are common.

I would have to disagree that flats are common, I've logged more then 6000 miles over the last 20 years, most in Rimrock on steep rocky trails(almost no gravel road miles) and have never gotten a flat and neither have any of my friends.  Have also never had a problem with a spark plug.  Are you running truck tires on your SXS. I could for sure see them getting flats but never seen a flat quad tire the seem to be indestructable sometimes. 

[Buckjunkie]

I swapped the factory tires for good aftermarket tires right after I brought my new quad home. Got a few flats with my old quad in Colorado. No problems yet, knock on wood. I have had poor fuel mileage with my old quad (10-12MPG) when I ran it at 7,000 - 11,000’ elevation, but it was carbureted. My new one has EFI and the mileage is much better 20-30 MPG.

I never carried a spark plug, but it’s not a bad idea...never know what a small engine could fowl a plug. I do carry fix-a-flat.

[Mudman]

10m hard riding, 20 cruising as rule of thumb.  Keep in mind when low and on reserve/last gallon steep slopes can suck air n cause problems. Is it gravity or pump fed?  Spare plug too?  Tire patch important as well, flats are common.

I would have to disagree that flats are common, I've logged more then 6000 miles over the last 20 years, most in Rimrock on steep rocky trails(almost no gravel road miles) and have never gotten a flat and neither have any of my friends.  Have also never had a problem with a spark plug.  Are you running truck tires on your SXS. I could for sure see them getting flats but never seen a flat quad tire the seem to be indestructable sometimes.

No, first thing I did was buy new tires though.  Stock tires are mostly junk 4 ply.  Consider self lucky, flats occur.  Its been weird stuff like tire pressure was low and bead went or valve stem torn or freak nail or wire etc.  Its not always nature but maybe ya ride over old fire pit in road/snow stuff that gets ya as well.  Fence staple?  No quads now but have owned 6-7 in past.  Only tire not flat was a mudlight on a Vinson 500?  Who knows...

[C-Money]

I sure don't want any flats! That would be no fun. I have ran over 30 miles with a roofing nail stuck in one of my rear tires. It wasn't leaking and finished the loop without incident. Schwabs fixed the tire and it has been fine for quite a few years now. Still running the original 07 Carlisle tires that came stock on the Rancher.