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2008 Arctic Cat 700 EFI 4x4 Auto TRV LE

17K views 30 replies 10 participants last post by  freetrapper  
#1 ·
Been look at the 2008 Arctic Cat 700 EFI 4x4 Auto TRV LE. Anyone got one or last years 650 TRV LE? What are your thoughts on getting one. If I get one I plan to get the rear rack and dump bed with it.
 
#3 ·
I will let you know soon. I bought the 07 650 H1 TRV and I am going to get it in November. I CAN"T WAIT. My father and Brother both have 650 H1 (non TRV) and they love them. My dad says that that motor will pull me anywhere I want to go. It gets pretty good reviews online too. I bought it so my wife (or my little boy) could ride with me.

Robb
 
#5 ·
I wanted to get the 08 700 as well. The wait and the price left me to buy the 07 650 H1 TRV las spring. So far it has been a great machine. My single biggest issue has been the limited ground clearance. I know it is the same as about every other quad but it has 2" less clearance and 2" less wheel travel than the single seat Arctic Cats. However I have figured out how to solve this issue so it will not be a problem for much longer.

Now for the good points. No comments on the 650 as you are looking at the 700. The ride is great and the handleing with two riders is un believable. I road two up all the time on my single seat quads and did just fine. However the TRV is sooooooo much better. Riding single the extra 8" wheel base makes this thing a mountain goat. It will make climbing much more comfortable. The extra length makes a little differance in turning but so far has never been an issue on any trails. The extra rear capacity with removable seat and extra rack / bed make this thing the ultimate utility ATV. If you ever ride double or haul a load of anything the TRV is a no brainer in my book.

I have a few pictures of mine at http://www.freetrapper.com/atv/quads.htm
 
#7 ·
I'll let you know soon. I'm picking up the wifes 08 700trv le on Friday with any luck. It wasn't supposed to be here till January so I guess it'll be Christmas instead of birthday surpise.
 
#8 ·
I picked up my '07 H1 TRV the Friday before Memorial Day and now have about 850 miles on it. It has been a great ride. My old machine was (an '04 650 V2 which had about 3500 miles on it when I sold it) was a great ride too. When I decided to get the TRV I was also concerned about the ground clearance. My dealer worked a deal for me to switched the shocks and springs for the ones used on the regular H1's. I switched them before I ever took the machine out of the shop. He took the new stock TRV shocks in trade and I gave him 15% difference. The other shocks all bolted right up and I now have the same clearance as the standard H1. After riding the longer wheelbase machine for the summer, I would not want to go back to the shorter wheelbase. I ride single most of the time but still prefer the longer wheelbase. So far I don't see any disadvantages. My one challenge has been finding a hard box for the rear of the machine that will clear the width of the rear seat. I just found one yesterday that will fit. So I bought it and plan to build a set of sockets into the rear seat assembly like the racks so I can but it on or take it of at will just by pulling a pin. It will also come off with the seat if I pull the pins on the rear seat. That way I can still replace the rear seat with a rack if I decide to.

My wife rides an '05 500 TRV and I have my '07 H1 TRV. Neither of us would go back to the shorter wheelbase.
 
#9 ·
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (m74me @ Oct 16 2007, 08:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
When I decided to get the TRV I was also concerned about the ground clearance. My dealer worked a deal for me to switched the shocks and springs for the ones used on the regular H1's. I switched them before I ever took the machine out of the shop. He took the new stock TRV shocks in trade and I gave him 15% difference. The other shocks all bolted right up and I now have the same clearance as the standard H1.

My one challenge has been finding a hard box for the rear of the machine that will clear the width of the rear seat. I just found one yesterday that will fit. So I bought it and plan to build a set of sockets into the rear seat assembly like the racks so I can but it on or take it of at will just by pulling a pin. It will also come off with the seat if I pull the pins on the rear seat. That way I can still replace the rear seat with a rack if I decide to.[/b]
Great news on the shocks & springs....................... I am planning on replacing my shocks and springs with a set from the TBX. They are the same length as the standard H1 shocks (I am told) and they are rated for a bit heavier load in the rear than the H1 and the TRV. I was wondering if there would be any other issues to deal with and it sounds like an easy although expensive fix.

I have also been looking for some type of hard box for mine to fit around the seat. Pictures and details of yours would be a life saver if you care to share..............
 
#10 ·
I would recomend a lift kit, a 2" lift kit is about 100 bucks and is easy to install. I prefer this set up over the longer shock and spring option because the quad has less body roll with the lift kit than the shock spring option. The suspention loads quicker with compression (as a percentage of travel) with the shorter shocks and this gives better handling, and in my opion the ride is better because the tbx springs are rated for more load. I have a 2" kit on the TRV I ride and i love it.
 
#12 ·
I know if I buy a '08 700 TRV LE that next year they will have it with the H2 and with power steering. That would be real nice and so would the price, probably like the Cam Am Ltd. I plan to go look at one when my local dealer gets one in. I tested the 2007 one with the 650 and was impressed with it.
 
#13 ·
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ms121269 @ Oct 16 2007, 11:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
I look forward to your feedback and nay others on it.[/b]
My dad has a 2007 650 H1 TRV that he purchased almost a year ago. He has 10,750 miles on it. He just put new tires on it, the first set.

I will be honest, he had some internal engine issues that I dont believe are widespread, but rather limited to his engine, but otherwise it has been FLAWLESS.

He litterally drives it daily. Typically he puts on 150 miles in a day's ride. He absolutely loves it. No second thoughts at all. He had a 2005 500 and this thing is head and shoulders better than that machine. Power, mileage, quality, etc.

Great machine. If you get the 700 efi, from what I have heard so far, you will be greatly impressed as I have heard it is very smooth! That is really the only complaint that the motor has a bit of a vibration (650), but I hear that is gone with the 700.
 
#14 ·
"My dad has a 2007 650 H1 TRV that he purchased almost a year ago. He has 10,750 miles on it. He just put new tires on it, the first set."

Man I thought I rode a bunch. Geez, I would need a back and butt transplant if I drove half that many miles. Well, with that many miles I can understand a few problems. Thanks so much from the feedback.

BTW, I wish I could have spelled "any" correctly.
 
#15 ·
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ms121269 @ Oct 18 2007, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
"My dad has a 2007 650 H1 TRV that he purchased almost a year ago. He has 10,750 miles on it. He just put new tires on it, the first set."

Man I thought I rode a bunch. Geez, I would need a back and butt transplant if I drove half that many miles. Well, with that many miles I can understand a few problems. Thanks so much from the feedback.

BTW, I wish I could have spelled "any" correctly.[/b]
Yeah, he doesn't have much else to do! :beer_cheers:
He literally rides through the bank drive thru all around town, etc. Pretty lucky considering he lives in town that he can pretty much ride anywhere without hassle from anyone.

He was wondering if the odometer would show 10000 or 0000 when it flipped over. :thumbsup:
His motor issue was pretty frustrating for him. Had it not happened I have no doubt he would be over 12000 miles right now. He actually had it in the shop 3 times for the same issue. I truly believe there was something wrong from the start and now that should be behind him.

The new motor is considerably quieter, smoother and faster than the old one. There is no doubt the new plant in St Cloud is pumping out some good motors and with all the checks and stuff in place to ensure precise assembly there is little chance that errors happen let alone are widespread.
 
#17 ·
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (freetrapper @ Oct 18 2007, 09:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
There is another popst on this site talking about problems with the HighLifter 2" lift. What lift did you use?[/b]

I have used both High Lifter and White lightning. The use of both requiers the lower muffler support and the right hand side support to be removed. The Highlifter kit needs modification of the support arm (in the highlifter kit) so the top A-arm does not hit it. Also with the high lifter the rear axles have to be removed to install it because a bolt has to be removed and reversed to install the kit. You will cut the cv boot if you do not remove the axle. The instructions are not great on the white lightning kit but if you have any mechanical apptitude it should be no problem. Also with the white lightning kit you have to manufacture a bushing to install in the old shock mount location, (an old style shock bushing insert works perfect), or you will bend the shock mount points when you tighten the bolts.
 
#18 ·
I'll see if I can successfully upload some pictures. The first is a rear view of the new box just sitting on the back of the machine behind the seat. It is not attached yet. I am still working on how to do that. The second picture is from the front of the seat. [attachment=78872:IMG_1503__Small_.JPG][attachment=78870:IMG_1500__Small_.JPG]
 

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#19 ·
Boy, that didn't work the way I expected. One of the pictures got loaded twice and everything showed up in the same post. the pictures aren't the greatest. The machine is inside my trailer and I had to use the flash to get them. But they should show the box. The first is the box from the front. Then two of the same picture of the box from the rear. I also included a picture of the front and rear of the machine to show the difference the longer shocks made in the clearance. You can see that the suspension arms are at the same angle as the regular H1 rather than almost horizontal like it was with the stock TRV shocks. I bought the box with the three fuel packs from a local Industrial Tool store. They had it on sale as a "Hunter's Special" for $199.95. They still had at least five more of them left when I bought mine on Monday. The box is basically the same as the one listed on Montana Jack's site as the Magnum Box. (http://www.montanajacks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1237). The fuel packs are the original style and the ones on this package are seconds. But there are only cosmetic blemishes and the price is certainly right. To buy the box and all three packs on the Montana Jack's site would total over $450. It looks like once I get a good mount system worked out for it, it will work very well. Besides the box space it gives me the capability of an additional almost 6 gallons of fuel. I have two other of the larger fuel packs that I can add. So I will have far more fuel capacity than my back end will be able to endure in a day. Hopefully the pictures answer your questions.
 
#20 ·
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ms121269 @ Oct 18 2007, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
Did AC replace the motor or did he have to pay for it? Sounds like he lives in a good town to have an ATV.[/b]
The motor was replaced. He lives in Pequot Lakes, just North of Brainerd, MN. He said the biggest mistake he made was buying it one week after our deer season ended last year. "I should have bought it BEFORE". LOL
 
#21 ·
I'm looking to purchase a 700EFI TRV in the spring. I'm eager to hear some reviews of the '08's. The last i herd was that they wouldn't be delivered until late November.
 
#22 ·
I just paid for my wifes yesterday. I decided to wait to pick it up as they can hold the start date on the warranty until actual delivery takes place. I really wanted to bring hers and the 250 home but thought it would be silly to be using warranty while they are just sitting in my friend's garage. They are still sitting in crates at the dealer. I'll be bringing them home around christmas, and once I get a turn to ride, I'll write reviews of both.
 
#24 ·
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ms121269 @ Oct 23 2007, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
Freetrapper I noticed on your info: http://www.freetrapper.com/atv/quads.htm that you had 26" wheels on your TRV about how much ground clearance will the 26" wheels add over the 25" wheels. Probably not more than 1/4 ". BTW very nice TRV.[/b]
Opps, I actualy went with 25" Tires when I replaced them. I forgot to change that on the web site...........................

But I do not think it would have made much differance at all. If I was going to go bigger I would go at least 27" or 28". I have a set of 27" Vamps that measure taller than 27" and it does not hurt my power much and gives me about an inch to inch and a half more clearance.

After reading about clearance issues with the Highlifter 2" lift I am still leaning towards the TBX shocks and springs to gain the clearance I am after.
 
#26 ·
Thanks if I get one I would want about an inch more GC but do not want it too involved and or expensive. I probably will change to Terra Cross tires and if the 26" would give me some more GC I might do the wheels and tires together. I do not want it more tippy and I do not think it would esp. w/ the longer wheelbase.