By Louisiana mudbug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well,sunday was a nice day to go amphib riding,so after I cleaned and greased my Max IV 900t,I loaded it on the trailer,and to the trail I drove. I had planned to cut some new trails and interconnect some already existing trails,and then ride my Max afterwards when I finished.

When I got to the place where every one off-loads their 4-wheelers,I saw about 12 people off loading their 4-wheelers, getting ready to ride the trails. Well,riding with a group of people is a whole lot more fun than riding by yourself,thats for sure!

I proceeded to introduce myself to some of them,and then told them about some really good trails I,d cut most recently. Their 4-wheelers had some really aggressive tires on them ( 28 inch highlifters and 28 Vampires,and 26 inch Gators )I recently installed some 26 inch Gators on my Max. These tires make my Max look super aggressive! I then proceeded to take my newly found 4-wheeler friends down some really good trails I,d made over the last three weeks.

The trail I first took them all on, went down a long low area. This trail goes through water for about half a block, then hits a muddy trail section,crosses a small creek,and then its back down a soft dirt trail again. In most of the water trail sections,the waters climbs about half way up my Gators tires. The next section of trail,took a sharp left,and then proceeded down a creek embankment and back up the other side again. The rest of this trail, goes through some very tight trail sections.These trails cut back and forth with lots of water sections in between.
This trail connects with another trail section at the end of it. It goes right down the middle of a natural water drain, that continues through the woods about two blocks long.After we all got to the end of this trail section,my new 4-wheeler friends decided that they all wanted to go another way. After they all left,I then drove my Max down another new trail I,d been working on the week before. I rode down that trail section for a while,and then spotted an old trail I,d not seen before. I then proceed to use my small chopping axe and prunning shears, to make this new trail section wide enough for my Max.
After I,d finished connecting this newly found trail section with the one I,d made last week, I then rode my Max to the end of it.

After I,d done this,I drove my Max to a small pond, so I could check the water speed of my new Gators. The trail that I was riding on, ended at a pond. I then very slowly drove my Max IV into the water. When I was about 8 feet from the bank , I then found out, that my water speed had come to a crawl. In fact,just about no water speed at all!! Since I was then about 8 feet away from where I,d entered the water, I then began to worry that I might not make it back to dry ground,with out first jumping out,and then swimming back in the cold water with a nylon rope in my mouth. The Gators tires,that I recently installed on my Max,were installed with the V section of the tire open to the front, just like the stock 26 inchers that came on it. Funny thing though,when I put my Max in reverse,I went better backwards with V-section facing to the rear? I finally made it back to dry land. Boy was I glad !!!

But, if this was not bad enough,my next Max adventure gets much worse!

By jerrynuss on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have an argo vanguard with Carlisle Stryker tires and it won't swim at all. If I go into the water and have it in a forward gear it swims backwards. If I have it in reverse it won't move at all. I have put it in the water a couple of times and it is always a concern if I can get out. I've never been able to get it out moving forward. I run it in a forward gear and "swim" backwards then when I get close to the bank I put it into reverse and try and get both sde wheels to get traction at the same time. So I'm keeping it out of water until I get some tires that are better suited for water crossing. I had a great day of riding on saturday until I was going down a slope that was fairly steep and rocky. I guess I pulled back on a brake lever when I hit a bump and ended up doing an endo roll. The machine ended up on top of me upside down. I was laying out prone under the machine and it was stil running with the wheels in the air. Of course I was out riding alone. I had enough wiggle room that I got free of the machine after a minute. I then went around to the top side of the hill and was able to turn it back up on its wheels. It was still running so I shut it off.

I then took a break and checked myself out. No reall damage except some cuts from the shattered windshield. I was about a quarter mile from the road so I put the machine back together as best as I could. I slid the muffler back into place and removed the air filter which was saturated with oil. It fired up and I drove it back out of the woods.

I've got it cleaned back up and checked out. I removed the windshiled frame and reshaped the seat back and rail that was bent, replaced the air filter and topped off the oil.

I was bewildered because I had ridden over that same slope several times so I was either not paying attention, going too fast or pulled back on the brakes.

I learned a lot of lessons from the experience. Des anyone have a good roll cage design or know someone who can build one?

By Louisiana mudbug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

( jerrynuss )

I was shocked at the water speed that I lost, when I switched from the Good year "Dicos" to the Gators.
The Gators are superior in thick mud,but the 26 Good years that came on my Max IV, are the very best tires over all, for both mud and water. I,ve read this time and time again,but now, I,m a big believer! The Gators are great, if the water is not too deep and can dig into the mud, as you drive forward.

But,with the Gators tires,you,re really limited in the water. Really limited, if the water you want to cross is wide and also deep. The Gators perform in water exactly the opposite of the 26 inch Good years. With the factory tires,more throttle meant faster water speed. With the Gators,less throttle means very slow water speed,and more throttle caused my Max to go in a slow circle. I was very nervous for a while with the Gators,because the water I was in,was very deep! I also had doubts I,d get back on dry land! I see now,I should have tied a rope to some thing before I drove into the water. I knew I would give up water speed when I switched tires,but no where near like this!! The week I,m going to reverse my Gators and see if they swim better.

I,m sure they will go through the mud a lot better,with the point of the "V" facing to the front.

By Louisiana mudbug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Some time ago in August of 2004, my friend and I took my Max IV down a long creek to check out its water abilities. We first had to decend a rocky hill side of about 35 degrees or so, just to gain access to the creek we wanted to enter. When we both got to the bottom of the hill,I then had to skid steer my Max 90 degrees and make a hard right turn, so we could enter the creek. As we both entered the water in my Max IV, I thought, hmmm,,this is what its like creeking in a Max. As my Max IV swam with my friend and I down the creek,we soon came to a bend in the creek and I had to steer my Max left and then right again. Not too far in front of us, I could see a water moccasin about a foot long, swimming fast in the water,trying to get away from the churning tires of the Max. In front of both of us, I then saw a narrow creek section, with high sides, that we would have to enter to continue down the creek.I first had to skid steer left, and then right,trying to wiggle my Max IV through this watery challenge. I was very releaved when I finally made it through this tricky section of the creek.As I looked straight ahead,I could see that the creek had narrowed so much, that my Max IV would not be able to make it through.But luckily for us,there was a rolling dirt bank to my left,and also flat enough and wide enough for my Max IV to continue down the creek.As my Max IV struggled to climb up the small mound of dirt in front of us,I sensed some thing was wrong. I then put my friend in control of the sticks of my Max, and then got out to see what the problem was. When I told him to hit the gas,I could see what the problem was. Trying to skid steer through the narrow " S " creek section had caused my left front tire to come loose from the bead.I now had only my right front tire clawing up the dirt mound ahead of us,left front tire spinning on the rim,the middle tires and rear tires swinning wildly away in the water. My friend then said,
" Dave, get your "Pull-Pal". I had bought this a few weeks before, for situations just like this.

ie: no trees close enough or not at the proper angle, to give any needed assistance.

The Pull-Pal is handly tool for times such a this.It has two metal arm extensions about 2 ft long each, shaped like a open 25-30 degree "V",thats bolted together at the opposite end.You then attach a plow bade looking piece on one metal arm,and on the other metal arm,thread your winch cable though a hole. You then push the plow blade of the Pull-Pal into the sand or mud, and then use a "come-a-long" or winch to pull yourself out.This makes the pull-plan blade dig deeper! The Pull-Pal saved the day several times up the creek, and on also on the return trip down the creek. We had to navigate my Max about 40-50 feet or so,up and down a rolling creek bank,before we could once again enter the water. My Max had not swam too far down the creek, before we came to a very shallow section of water,with a long flat, and hardened bottom. Since my Max was now bottomed out on its belly,with the weight of two men, this forced us both to get out. We then both pushed against the roll bar on either side of the Max so we could continue our creek adventure.With the body of the Max unloaded,this caused the Max to float just high enough to clear the ledge that we both found ourselves high centered on. We then both pushed the Max ,on either side, another 30 feet,before we could enter water deep enough to float the Max.
We then both climbed into the Max, right before the water became too deep, and continued our water jouney. I had to steer the Max right to avoid a fallen tree,and then back left again. For the second time,I saw more water moccasins ,two of them,swimming away from us. We had traveled about three blocks down the creek,when it began narrow and get very congested with small trees, and lots of piled brush that had floated down the creek,to rest against them. At this time, we both thought it a very good idea to turn back,since it was now getting close to being dark. In the Max,we swam in the reverse direction that we first came.
But this time,things took a turn for the worse!!

When we had finally made it back to the creek section that we both found ourselves high centered on, we both once more got out my Max. We then both pushed against the roll bar on either side,got back into the Max,and continued our journey down the creek. When we came to narrow "S" creek section I let my friend drive,since he was better backing up the Max than I was. As before, we had to go forward,then reverse direction,trying to skid steer our way through it.
But,unknown to me,this narrow creek section had caused the tire bead to break away on the opposite front tire. We now had no floatation in the front of the Max. As we came across a shallow unwater ledge,my friend said to me,

" Dave, watch out,at the other end of this ledge,it drops off really steep into the water"!

Since there was a small fallen tree in the water to my right,I steered left. Right before I entered the water,my friend says " Dave,watch out". ohhhhhhh NOOOOO!! Unknown to me at the time, neither of my two front tires were holding air. This also meant no floatation in the front of my my Max either! As I slowly skid steered the Max to the left,my Max then drops off the shallow water ledge,into the deeper water. I soon see water pouring in very fast, into the front drivers section. Ohhhh noooo!! I lean right fast as I can, to try balance out the Max,but the water is pouring into the front section of the Max too fast,so this makes no differnce at all! I then tell my friend,we,ve got to jump out,before my Max sinks!
I am forced to jump out of the left drivers side of the Max,because there is a fallen tree in the water on the right front side of my Max. But right before I jump into the deep water,the heavy weight of my body counter weights the Max so much,that water starts to really pour in now, even FASTER! I then yell out to my friend "Jump out now, or my Max will sink for sure!" I,m in water up to my neck and my friend is in water up to his shoulders! The sun has now gone down and we both have about a half hour of day light left.Unknown to me at the time,when I leaned hard to the right of my Max,I kicked out my feet,and pulled off the ignition wires. The day before,we put on my Warn winch,but we forgot to route the wires back behind the gas tank after we put it back on. This left them hanging below the gas tank. This was no problem when I was driving,but when I leaned fast to the right of the max,I kicked out both my legs and my feet snagged the wires off the ignition switch.I tried in vain to re-attach ignition wires in the dark.

"Houston we have problems"

To make matters even worse,we now had no way to power the Max out of the creek we found ourselves stuck in!!In the cool deep water,my friend and I pushed hard against the body of the Max, to gain any foward momentum. We both push hard until the Max came to a halt!! Small fallen tree in the water on my side!! I now have to reach under the water, because the right front wheel is pinned against a tree limb! Man I hate this! I sure hope there is no water moccasins under the water now,or any on this tree limb when I try to pull it away from the right front wheel. I have to reach so far under the water,that the water is now up to my lips! Man,I hate this! When I finally get the tree limb to release the right front wheel,I yell to my friend, "Ok,lets push some more,we,re almost there" I then hear my friend yell back to me " Dave,I,ve got to go home,I promised my mom I,d take care of my granddad while she went to the store". Man oh Man,,can things get any worse for me today ???!!!!
I then say to my friend, " hey,we only have about another 50 feet or so to go". But my friend says "Dave,I promised my mom I,d be home to take care of my granddad at 8:00 pm so she could go to the store. As we both wade through the water and then walk up the rocky hillside,that we first entered the creek with my Max,I,m thinking about a plan " B" Hmmmm???

By Louisiana mudbug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

part 2 of a continued post.

I take my friend home,leave my "uninsured" Max IV in the creek all by its lonesome. Man I hate this!!!!
After I take my friend home, I call another friend from my house. He agrees to help me,so I drive to his house. We both get in his chevey truck and off we go to get my Max. When we finally make it back to the hillside where my other friend and I entered the creek, its now 9:15 pm!
I have to shine a flash light to even see my Max.
I can see it about another 50 feet away. By now,its very dark. I can see the flash lights reflection on the waters surface. I sure hope there is no water moccasins near me now! As I wade into the deep water,I make it splash loudly,hoping to scare off any water moccasins close by. I,m pulling the steel cable of a heavy duty "come-a-long that my friend on the dry ground is holding. This will "hopefully" extract my water logged Max IV.
I now have to reach under the water to tie the steel cable around the left front wheel to pull my Max away from the fallen limbs in the water ahead of it. The cable stretches out to about 4 feet, and to make it reach the MAx I use a 50 foot nylon flat strap. Each crank of the come-along brings my Max about one inch closer! I have to attach and re-attach the cable to the Max over and over again!!. When we finally pull my Max onto the rocky creek section where my other friend and I had first entered the creek, its now 12:30 pm!
With the flash light I can see that the tub of my Max is full of water. In fact,another 6-7 inches and it would be completely submerged! The only thing that allowed my Max float was the middle two tires and the rear two tires! I now have to walk up a hill side on the opposite side that I originally entered the creek,and attach the come-a-long to a tree,with the nylon flat strap attached to it as well,and walk back to my Max and start this slow and long process over again!
I now have to move lot of basket ball size rocks away from the Max so I will not ruin my rims. When we finally get the Max in a postion that is straight enough to pull it up the hill, we then take a short breather and get some thing to eat and drink. By now its 4:45 am ! After we both get some thing to eat and drink,we both decide its best to go to the other side of hill I first entered the creek,to extract the Max.
The reason for this,is because there is black top road that leads to a dry dirt road on the opposite side,with no muddy trails on it. By the time we rachet the come-a-along a inch at a time,attach and re-attach the steel cable to my Max,we finally get my Max half way up the opposite hill side.
This allows my friends chevey truck, that has street tires, to finally pull my Max up to the top of the hill and onto the trailor. When we both finally get my Max loaded onto the trailor its almost daylight,,,6:45 am!!!! Man,what a day!!

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Louisiana Mudbug- I have always ever since starting to run our ARGO into muddy areas worried about this same kind of scenario happening- My dad, who origionally bought an argo as he is a parapalegic and can't walk, used it to go fishing in Michigan and up at our cottage in the developments he works on. THis was like a pair of legs to him in the bush. SInce a few years ago, he really doesn't use it at all anymore so i am mainly the only one that does use it and maintain it (as best i can) With the tires i have, teadless now, almost useless in water, i have already had it stuck several times in deep mud and the only way out is another vehicle pulling it or the winch if their is a winch point nearby- Your story demonstrates the need for safety equipment in the aatv all the time, even for those short trips you never really think you'll run into problems on- its usually at those times you wish you brought it- If you have a cell phone, take it- doesn't have to be on but make sure its charged and ready- I hate using my cell phone- regret ever getting one but it has saved my rear a couple times when im far from the cottage and something goes wrong (like last winter when i ended up in a very bad area in the bush and their was so much snow that i couldn't get the ARGO turned around with the tracks as i only had a 15 foot area to move and their was a massive drop on one side- the other part to that was it was minus 25 celcius and my tires had gone square because of the cold, the friction of the tracks moving on the tires, and the tires moving on frozen axles, created a bad situation and i was frozen solid in 4 feet of snow, no way out- but got in contact with someone in the area with another argo and they got me out 30 minutes later. Best tool i could have used-

GLad to hear things worked out for you though- the winch alone is never enough- i always take a small hattchet and shovel wiht me now anywhere i go and a massive heavy chain just in case i need more than the winch cable can drag or pull. (also helps to weigh the ass end down in the water- 8x8 don't sit well in water)

By Tom Phillips (Dozerdawg) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What neat "or not so neat" stories, so where does a guy find a "pull-Pal" As I've already been stuck duck hunting in the middle of a small river, is the soft silt and had nothing to winch to. Tom

By Louisiana mudbug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

( Tom Phillips )

I found a very good article about the "pull-Pal" on Yahoo explaining the history of it, and also why it was invented to start with. The Pull-Pal is the tool to have if you ever find yourself stuck really bad in deep mud,sand,have no tree close enough, or at the proper angle to attach your winch cable to.I keep my Pull-pal with me at all times when ever I ride my Max IV.

www.off-road.com/isuzu/pullpal.html

By Brett Bonner ( - 65.185.150.3) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

A Danforth Anchor does the same thing at lower cost and greater availability. Plus, it works as an anchor!

By Tom Phillips (Dozerdawg) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Brett: I looked at the pull-pal's and looks like they would work great, at a cost of over $200, therefore the reason I haven't yet ordered one. Where would a person find the anchor that you are talking about. I do think that paying $200 is worth it if you do need it though.
Tom Phillips

By brett bonner ( - 65.185.150.3) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

A Danforth Anchor can be purchased at Wal-Mart. They are readily available. They are light weight. Look it up on the web and you will see what I'm talking about.

Here is some history:

The stockless anchor has a holding power of about twice its weight in air. In the late 1930s Richard S. Danforth and his nephew, Robert Danforth Ogg, developed the theory and designs for a light weight, drag embedment anchor. U.S. Patent 2,249,546 was granted to Richard S. Danforth on July 15, 1941. The Danforth anchor developed holding power of about ten times its weight in air and was widely used on landing craft during World War II.

Of course, that 10 times air weight is water holding power. If you are pulling parallel on land, the holding power is much, much higher.

By Tom Phillips (Dozerdawg) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Another ? for you then - the smallest pull-pal is designed to pull a small SUV, so there's no doubt that it would pull a 8x8 ARGO without any trouble. So does that Danforth Anchor have that type of holding "pulling" power? I guess I'm just not that good at figuring out equations like that. Thanks for your input. Tom

By Brett Bonner ( - 199.82.243.71) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

It is a hard thing to judge. But for a few bucks, you can go out and try a Danforth. If you don't like it, gift it to a boater friend.

A Danforth is much less weight from what I saw.

And if the military uses it, then it can't be that bad . . .

By Abomb (Sharky66) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Does anyone know how much a chapprel 2 stroke would go for?
Also, would it be hard to find one?