Three ATV manufactures are currently offering ATV models that are 100% geared to do some serious mudding. Each come outfitted with tall mud tires, winch, snorkel, independent suspension and power steering.
Both the Polaris and Can-Am models also feature high mounted radiators with electric fans. This enables the motor to run at normal operating temp when the quad is completing submerged in mud. Otherwise it wouldn’t take long to overheat the motor and you’d have to shut down and wait for things to cool off before you continued fording through the mud.
Highlights
The Arctic Cat MudPro 700 Limited is by far the most affordable of the bunch. Key feature its missing is the relocated radiator and it has slightly smaller 28 inch tires. It does have the smallest motor of the group, but 700cc’s is still very capable in any mudding situation. It does have the traditional steel racks which are more versatile in accommodating whatever you rig up for packing long rides.
MSRP $11,599
The Can-Am Outlander 1000R X mr has the tallest tires, at 30 inches, a half inch taller than the Polaris’s 29.5 inch Outlaws. It has a nice addition of secondary foot location for passengers. To help keep your hands and the grips clean it includes hand guards, which look to be made by PowerMadd. It also features a nicely thought out skid plate that starts below the front bumper to allow the front of the machine to slide over the top of the mud and not allow the mud to directly pack into the frame.
MSRP $14,299
The Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is outfitted with the famous High Lifter Outlaw 2 tires. It’s the only model to feature radial bent lower a-arms to provide more clearance and a high mounted winch which keeps you from having to reach down into the mud to grab the line. The inverted radiator fans are especially unique because that allows for the coolest air possible to be fed through the radiator fins. That’s very important when it comes to mudding in hot conditions when the machine isn’t moving fast.
MSRP $13,999
Polaris and Can-Am do offer other exclusive mud models with smaller engines, but those models (excluding the Outlander 850 X mr) don’t come with winches.
Hopefully in the future other brands such as Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki will start building some mud ready machines. In the mean time check out our list of the best ATV mudding accessories and you can turn any machine into a blackwater monster.