I honestly think a 3500lb is good for this machine. To be honest, I have rode with a lot of machines and non of my buddies run with anything bigger then 3500lb. Now I am sure there are guys out there that will live by it but I am yet to see a side by side that has had a problem with 3500lbs. I have rode with a variety of machines as well...rangers, rhinos, commanders, mavericks. Now I am still on the fence about whether to run a standard rope or a synthetic rope...I honestly cant see the difference in using them...both lasted about the same amount of time...so I'm not sure on that one.