[tbzep]

The Rancher is my first ATV and I have been surprised at its performance. I had a calf bolt and run off on the 4th. I put the Rancher in mud holes, swampy areas, down in ravines, up steep hills, through the trees, and more over the last three days looking for it. I got into swampy ground up to the bottom of the floor plates and crossed gullies where I had to lay over the front end to keep upright. I almost decided my winch purchase was a waste of money (not installed yet), until I got into a very steep situation where I couldn't pull out without flipping it. I ended up backing out and going another route. The winch would have pulled me up, but the time needed to extend it and tie into a tree would have taken just as long as rerouting. Needless to say, I'm very impressed with the machine in stock configuration.

To bring closure, I found and caught the little beast last night. After 48+ hours without a meal, she was still alive and strong as an ox. She was born on the morning of the 4th and was only 8-10 hours old when she took off so it was a miracle to me that she was still alive and fighting so hard. Even though she is female, she has been named Forrest Gump because when she took off, she never stopped running. She went through two multi strand electric fences, an 8 ft nearly vertical wall ditch, a near 20 ft deep gully, and more as she disappeared into the woods not to be seen by anyone again for about 40 hours. Needless to say, if she doesn't turn out bat poop crazy, I think I will keep her. That's some great physical and survival genes that need to be passed on!

 

[SlammedRanger]

I enjoyed your story and glad to hear your using that honda for what it was designed for! I also cleaned up the very end for you. We are trying to stay family friendly. And i also understand everyone will slip up now and then.

 

[mrbb]

I think most folks that never owned a 4x4 atv, are impressed with what one can do
its amazing at times how they can get thru things that would stop a 4x4 truck dead in its tracks, or even make just walking hard!
just watch youtube and you'll see things, most normal folks wouldn;t even think about trying and many guys doing without issue LOL

but same issue is, some times when you do find that place you do get stuck, or can be a tuff place to get out of alone , winch or not!

but there still fun and highly useful tools on a property!

also glad that calf made it, mother nature can be hard on young things!

 

[tbzep]

I enjoyed your story and glad to hear your using that honda for what it was designed for! I also cleaned up the very end for you. We are trying to stay family friendly. And i also understand everyone will slip up now and then.

Sorry about that. I figured the forum software would **** if it wasn't allowed. :blush:

BTW, I checked on her this evening and she's happy as a clam and seems fit as a fiddle. No signs of dehydration, and I didn't tube her or anything.

 

[SamUK]

As you say, it's a miracle she's still alive after bolting at such a young age. I'm in the thoroughbred flat racehorse industry and work at a stud in England, UK. We had a foal born 3 weeks ago who we named luitenant Dan, he was born with both fore legs (fetlock joints) severely upright, he had to have splints for 24hrs and he was as good as any other new born. One of the lads named him after the forest Gump quote, ' Lt Dan, you've got magic legs'!

 

[tbzep]

One of the lads named him after the forest Gump quote, ' Lt Dan, you've got magic legs'!

Maybe they will get together with a goat named Bubba and start a shrimp fleet!

 

[creed82]

The Rancher is my first ATV and I have been surprised at its performance. I had a calf bolt and run off on the 4th. I put the Rancher in mud holes, swampy areas, down in ravines, up steep hills, through the trees, and more over the last three days looking for it. I got into swampy ground up to the bottom of the floor plates and crossed gullies where I had to lay over the front end to keep upright. I almost decided my winch purchase was a waste of money (not installed yet), until I got into a very steep situation where I couldn't pull out without flipping it. I ended up backing out and going another route. The winch would have pulled me up, but the time needed to extend it and tie into a tree would have taken just as long as rerouting. Needless to say, I'm very impressed with the machine in stock configuration.

To bring closure, I found and caught the little beast last night. After 48+ hours without a meal, she was still alive and strong as an ox. She was born on the morning of the 4th and was only 8-10 hours old when she took off so it was a miracle to me that she was still alive and fighting so hard. Even though she is female, she has been named Forrest Gump because when she took off, she never stopped running. She went through two multi strand electric fences, an 8 ft nearly vertical wall ditch, a near 20 ft deep gully, and more as she disappeared into the woods not to be seen by anyone again for about 40 hours. Needless to say, if she doesn't turn out bat poop crazy, I think I will keep her. That's some great physical and survival genes that need to be passed on!

Awesome story! I love my 2016 Honda Rancher. I have ridden the infierno out of it, and with 2900 miles and 310+ hours, it's still putting a smile on my face and taking me places I didn't think it could.

 

[alloutdoors]

Nice story and agree with many comments regarding how well these units crawl into and out of spaces. If you ever get the chance to ride in an ATV park you will see evidence of where liquid courage or stupidity or bravery, take pick but some of the claw marks up literally vertical surfaces is spooky it was even attempted and nothing of interest for me?

 

[_Wilson_]

@tbzep , i enjoyed the story and your right you should keep her as a brood cow in the future ! Her genes need to be passed on!

 

[Goober]

Great story your approach of backing out and finding a better route was the best part. Too often we hear otherwise--the job goes undone, the equipment gets damaged or folks get hurt. Good job

 

[Jkwilson]

My Rancher is my number one farm tool. I put a winch on the front and a Titan basket front and rear. It's like a tool box that can drive anywhere. I've used the winch to tighten fence, pull limbs off of fences and out of the pond. I keep my fencing tool box in the front basket and a couple of 5 gallon buckets in the back. I have a set of gun grips mounted that carry guns, shovels, weed trimmer, calf catcher, calf puller and anything else with a handle. Boomless sprayer with a gun keeps the weeds under control.

 

[alloutdoors]

Great story and might have named her "independence" LOL

 

[Menard_LaPue]

Calf on the 4th of July sounds a little late. You might want to work on your timing next year? All those kids need to grow up together so they don't run off!

 

[tbzep]

Calf on the 4th of July sounds a little late. You might want to work on your timing next year? All those kids need to grow up together so they don't run off!

I have a very small farm. If I separate the bull, I get torn down fences so I leave them together. As for the calves growing up together, I have six of eight born within 10 days of each other, one came yesterday, and the other coming any time as her sides are about to explode and her sack is full. :smile

 

[Menard_LaPue]

I was joking, for sure. Nobody tells the bull what to do.

 

[tbzep]

I was joking, for sure. Nobody tells the bull what to do.

I tell him. He just doesn't listen. However, when he head butts a round bale down the hill before I can get the ring over it, he now knows he's going to get hit up side the head by whatever I can get my hands on. :devil

 

[_Wilson_]

I'd lock him in a barn and feed him good, (TRY to keep his mind off of what coming up) n get him healthy a beefed up, he's got a good job, in the future....

 

[tbzep]

I'd lock him in a barn and feed him good, (TRY to keep his mind off of what coming up) n get him healthy a beefed up, he's got a good job, in the future....

Gotta keep him in the pasture. He looks mean (big wuss in reality) and keeps trespassers away. :wink:

 

[_Wilson_]

Yeah there good for that! I'm just picky when it comes to cattle, had a a black angus bull 800 Lbs started breeding (i thought) too soon, n he turned out fine, haha ended weighing a cool 2600 lbs when i sold him.

 

[tbzep]

Yeah there good for that! I'm just picky when it comes to cattle, had a a black angus bull 800 Lbs started breeding (i thought) too soon, n he turned out fine, haha ended weighing a cool 2600 lbs when i sold him.

This one was about that size when he started breeding and did a great job, but I don't have a big herd.