By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a question that I have been wanting to ask for a long time. I read the Route 6x6 discussion board every day for the last 5-6 years. The main reason I read is to find out what others are doing with thier 6x6s and hear their stories. When I read this board all I hear about is someone's tire popped of the bead, throttle is frozen, or some other BSing and it is always the same thing. No one, except me and very few others, ever talks about their expeditions. I love hearing about your rides. Why not talk about them?
I am forced to cross the line and read riding stories on the quad forums. They tell stories about how they flipped down a hill, ran from the cops, or just got a big ride together and had a great time. They have countless personal web sites where you can see quads (and their riders) buried in mud or watch a video of a brand new Yamaha Raptor rolling down a big hill. If you look on the Route 6x6 links page, there is a fairly wide selection of personal sites. One problem though, they are never updated! Some sites were very cool two years ago, but please add some cool pics.
I posted info on the new 20hp Max II a few weeks ago. Lots of good info that I thought surely someone would have some comments on. No one gave half a rat's a$$. Here is the first good change on a 6x6 and no one cares. On the quad forums, they have endless conversations on new models. They can even talk forever about a future model and one that isn't even going to make it to market.

MaxRules

By Alan Meeuwsen (Albo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Brandon
Here is a story but it ain't to cool.When I got my new Max2 800T last thursday I took it out on my friend Daves farm and decided to find out what it would and would not go through so I headed out across the field through the deep snow.It had rained and thawed the previous couple of days so the snow was quite slusshy and heavy. Anyway to get to the point I got stuck within about ten minutes.The body was sitting on about 14" or so of snow and the wheels could not get any traction at all.Dave got his farm tractor and pulled it out however he came real close to getting the tractor stuck as there was soft mud under the snow.Of course there were two of us in the Max and I had no experience with the sticks and made the mistake of slowing down and trying to turn around when I started getting into the deeper snow.Pretty dumb huh! I think if I would have kept my speed up and blasted straight ahead I could have made it through to where the snow was a bit shallower.Live and learn I guess.On Sunday it was colder and the snow was a little stiffer and I could go anywhere I wanted to then. Oh by the way when I picked up my Max the dealer told me that RI said that they may come out with a 25hp Max2 maybe by this fall.

By Ed West on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Maybe some of us are just more interested in resolutions to technical issues like tire, engine or throttle problems instead of hearing your claims of climbing 90 degreee walls and jumping over 6 foot boulders. Talk about BSing!

By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon,
Sorry you're disappointed. I do not know about the other people who use Route6x6, but I use my machine as a tool. The ride is secondary to getting the job done. Usually, anyway. The exception is when my wife and I use the Argo to take her around our land or down a nature trail. (She is disabled and cannot walk as far as she used to.) The rest of the time the Argo is used to maintain our property. There is not much to write about.

By Mark M (Mark2) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon,
Well I don't have to many stories to share with you right now. I've had my Conquest a few months now and have just got it past the break in period.

I will say that I am very happy with it so far, other than the damn thing could use a windshield wiper. :-)

I was having a great time this Monday with the last snow fall we had. I guess we had gotten a foot or so of snow and it came down pretty quick and the heaviest started right before rush hour. Where I live there is a pretty good hill to get up to my neighborhood. There is only one way in and out of here and it is up that hill. I had the chance to take it out around the block with the fresh snow. So I will drive by it everynow and then and se if any one is stuck. I helped pulled five cars up that hill. It was really a lot of fun. The biggest was a work van filled with who knows what. I gave them the end of the strap I had and had them hook it up. There was no way I was putting the hook on and rip out the bottom of some one's car. I just put it in low gear and hit the gas and up we went. The track would spin somewhat but not to bad once you got moving.

Other than that I had a great time jumping snow banks and just driving around. Soon I hope to take it to a riding area near me.

Mark

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Alan, I have heard about the 25hp Max II but I don't know if it will really happen. I think they should look at other engines that put out more power with less displacement. Polaris single cylinder 499cc high output engine, 38hp. Little bit of a difference there.
I like your story but don't understand how that is not cool. I get stuck countless times on each ride. The fun is all about trying to get out of the impossible. You are right about the mistake you made on 'slowing down'. If you don't have the gas mashed to the stick and giving 'er hell then you probably won't make it far.
Ed, it is fine to think it is impossible to climb hill steeper than 25 degrees. I don't remember saying anything about six foot bolders but I'm sure it is possible. If someone would want to jump their Max ten feet in the air just to see if they can land it, I would love to hear the story. BSing is a fun and a big part of ATVing.
Doug the only suggestion I can make is that you take your four wheel drive 8x8 and go tame some terrain. I think you will find it to be a lot of fun to use the Argo for recreation in addition to work.

MaxRules

By jkemp22 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon,
My buddy and I went on a night ride a few weeks ago. My buddy drives an Argo Vanguard and I an Attex 400 Chief. The weather was cold and there is about 8" on snow here in MI. We were riding down the frozen creek when I came to a part of the creek that was not frozen and the current was flowing fast. I decided to drive around the spot because the ice was about 10" thick on each side and I figured it would be hard to get out ( the creek is about 20' wide and 15' deep more like a river). I got around the obstacle and drove onto the frozen creek flats that are about 4' deep. As I was driving along I suddenly fell through the ice. Usually when this happens if I get momentum going I can break the ice until I find a solid piece and the machine pulls itself out. In this case the ice was too strong to break and I could not get momentum.

Next to me came the Argo about 20' away. He to fell through the ice in the same manner. We were both stuck good in the middle of nowhere and in a real jam. No comes the true test the Attex is stuck (one of the best 6x6 made) and the Argo stuck (in your opinion a piece of junk). I put the hammer down on the Attex and it started to pull itself out. The Attex pulled itself out to the back set of tires and that was all she wrote. The machine started to fill up with water and the engine stalled. If I didn't have a bilg pump the Attex would be 4' under without a dought.

The Argo then tried and tried and finally pulled right out of the dreaded ice hole. My buddy then came over and pulled my Attex out of the hole. That was a scray run for me and the Attex and on that day the Argo was the winner hands down.

Hey Brandon you asked for stories and Mark gives you a good story but because he has an Argo you give him a cheap shot what's up with that? The Argo is a good 6x6/8x8 and I have been comparing the Argo to the Attex in many tests over the last year.The Argo can hang with all the 6x6 even the Attex. I will be posting some of the results soon. I just bought a Max II and will conducting further tests with all three machines.

Thx Kemp

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Kemp, I was commenting on Alan's message about getting stuck in snow. Mark's message was not yet posted when I typed that. I would not bash Mark's story just because he has an Argo. Who knows, I might own one someday.
Mark, isn't it cool to haul lesser vehicles out of trouble spots? Pulling power is the strong point of the Conquest. It is also a lot of fun to take it out on a big lake with an outboard motor. We had four people in a Conquest at Deepwater and cruised around on the lake like a boat.
Kemp, I do a lot of ice riding in the winter. I noticed many of the older 6x6s cannot handle floating at a steep angle. I have had my Max climb up on the ice like that with no water getting in. Just by looking at my Hustler I can see it would be flooded quick. I like how my Max drives on ice. It is very smooth and you can slide around easily. I was suprised in how easy it is to steer and control even on ice. One time I got real wild and slid into the shore sideways at about 15mph. Max went up on three wheels but it was still a long way from rolling over.
Keep 'em coming.

MaxRules

By Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi guys,
I dont have a 6x6 anymore--had a Allis Chalmers a few years ago--but I am fascinateed by the machines. I have seen a number of posts about people getting their 6x6/8x8 stuck. Is a locking differential type device possible on this sort of rig? If all wheels were locked together (temporarily) and driving would you be able to unstick the machine in most cases? Are there units that already offer this option? I ride a Rokon so don't have to worry about getting stuck :) only getting covered in mud. It seems like a "locker" of some kind would save some digging and pulling. Idealy something like the ARB locker for a 4x4 truck that locks the differential with the flip of a switch. Bad idea?

Bob

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bob, you don't have to worry about getting a locker for the differential. Just buy a Max and you already have true six wheel drive. The 25hp Max IV with 26" tires is nearly unstoppable in mud. It is possible to turn even with power to all six wheels, just slip one side a bit so it turns slower than the other side. I have used this method many times to turn while in deep mud.

MaxRules

By Mark M (Mark2) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon, yeah pulling all those cars and trucks up was a lot of fun. It is great to see the look on their face as you drive up in your AATV. Then say sure I can pull you up this hill. That low gear really does come in handy.

I havent yet gotten the chance to take my Argo in a lake, pond, stream, pool, whatever. I look forward to that part but I'm a little nervous about going on a frozen lake and say half the vehicle goes through the ice.

Mark

By Ernie Savinsky (Lucky45) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

to all: faces and amazed looks at what that thing out on ice is great! a 5 acre pond is adjacent to a busy state highway. When I go out on ice or water in warm weather its scarry b/c gauckers might cause an accident on road trying to look see! You have not had fun? till you forget drain plugs and fall thru ice and fill with 2 feet of ice water. Oh yeah I got a Warn 2500 ATV winch which corrects my mistakes WHEN THE Max II yets stuck even though Brandon won't believe this is possible.

By pete6x6 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Guys,

The bottom line is your going to get stuck it just depends on how much fun you had doing it! Isn't that the whole point? Hehe

By jkemp22 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Guys,
One time I was riding with my buddy near my house. The terrain is creek bottoms so it is mucky and slimy. We floated down the Creek (Garnet on the Argo and myself on the Attex). WE came to a portion that is always muddy and always impossible to pass. I mean everytime we try to cross this section we get stuck. As we approached the shore I took off and tried it first. At the time the Attex had the original Firestone paddle tires. I got stuck of course and this time I could not back out. Then Garnet tried it with the Argo. He to got stuck but a little worse that me. I finally had to get out of the machine and attempt to free it up. When I got out I sank down to my knee. It felt like there was no solid base. WE had to use the winch to free the Argo and then he pulled me out. I have Rawhide III's on the Attex now I can't wait to try that spot this spring. You can always get stuck it just depends how bad...Kemp

By wayne w on Unrecorded Date: Edit

this is a great idea brandon I to have been reading posts since there was only one topic i think it was you fravorite atv and why it took a while to catch on but once it did it has been one of if the most usefull resorces avaible. with so many healpfull and knoledgeable people willing to healp you its perfict I know this isn't a story but i just want to thank all the people that make posts and keep up dated on whats going on. we also need to thank Richerd for comming up with tha idea. thank you all and keep tha posts comming and most of all have fun 6 wheelin.

By waynew on Unrecorded Date: Edit

one moor thing the idea of a 6x6 chalange has been washed arround a few times and this year is the year we need to do it. 6x6 and 4wheelers are at a all time high new companies are comming out and the 6x6s are gaining some respect in the atv industry with a couple of adds and reviws in the papers and magizenes people realise the use full- ness of 6x6's. This spring when the ground un freezes I will talk to a max dealer and argo dealer and try to have a shoot out (as the quad owerns would say). I think this is the biggest riverly and feel its a good spot to start. I will give honest opinions and take picks and vido tape the hole thing so you can decide for your self. IF any wone else has a opertunity to do this please take it it would be good to have a couple diffrent opinions to compare. thanks for tha time and spring is right arround the corner.

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I had my tires swapped around the right way for mud ( V pointing forward) for a while to see if it really provided better traction. I have now swapped them back for water. Yesterday a friend and I were riding on a trail in the woods. It was right after a heavy rain. I drove half way up a hill and stopped to make it spin out and dig some mud off the hill. After five minutes of playing around on this hill it had deep ruts with mud flowing down it. It was very slick and muddy. The hill was about 50 feet from top to bottom. I could make it probably a good 40 feet up the hill until it got even steeper and could not go any farther. The tires would just slick off and really have no traction. I went back to the bottom of the hill and put it in reverse. I backed up the hill so the tires would be in the direction for the best mud traction. The Max went up much easier and made it to the top because the tires cleaned themselves. I think the tires actually have equal traction either way. The major difference comes in when you start spinning. V pointing back for water speed causes the tires to slick off with mud and have no traction. V pointing forward allows the tires to self clean and gives more traction. I will probably be swapping the tires again for the best mud traction going forward.

MaxRules

By Harry Dusseau (Dirtyharry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I think I might try a directional swap this spring, too. I do little or no riding in deep water. One of the main reasons I bought a 6x6 was for the muck-crossing ability. My Grandfather's woods are full of old swampy sections that have drained but are still slicker than snot just beneath the surface. Some of the fields are very soupy/mucky in spots. The MAX's true 6-wheel drive and super-low center of gravity make quick work of the slippery mud, steep creek banks and rotted logpiles that I routinely encounter in my rides. I will try the V-forward position and see how it works for me.

RIDE ON!!!
DirtyHARRY