By Carla Witte on Unrecorded Date: Edit

We are seriously looking into purchasing an Argo 6X6 Vanguard to use for rough trail mowing in very wet marshy area (and also fun). I have been reading numerous comments on this sight in order to get better informed before such a large purchase. It seems that the maintenance required on the 6X6's is an expensive and time consuming nightmare compared to 4X4's (parts costly, battery problems, oil change frequency). Please help out to calm my fears on this topic because I really like the idea of the 6X6 for our use, but may be swiching to a 4X4 purchase because of this setback.

By RickMoMoBigfoot on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Carla, Good maintance and checking your machine and you will never be sorry for getting a 6x6.I've seen 4x4s have their problems. I got a 2001 Bigfoot model in June of that year.And gone to 4 out of town big event rides.Like deepwater and badlands,And tons of trail riding ,I work and have fun with it too.I'll never get rid of it.I've had many 2,3,4 wheelers and a 4x4 too. Try one out and you may be a 6x6 owner too. Rick

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I now own both a 6x6 and a 4x4. They are very different in just about every way possible. I think it will come down to what you really need the vehicle to do. The maintenance is a concern most people have, and the 6x6 does require more. The oil changes is no big deal except it can be difficult to keep your 6x6 clean because of the drain location. Then you have the oil change on the 4x4... and that is basically the extent of maintenance. I prefer 4x4s with grease zerks on moving parts such as those Polaris has. A few pumps of waterproof marine grease and those bearings and joints will last a long time. Most utility 4x4s are all shaft drive so there is no adjustment. Even on some sport/utility machines such as my Polaris Scrambler, there is only one o-ring chain that is easy to adjust.
The biggest downside to these 6x6s is the number of chains. Most have six and the Max II has eight. The Argos have standard double roller and the Max is available with single roller or o-ring. The o-ring last a lot longer with less adjustment, but they are terribly expensive to replace. It costs $120 to replace all the regular chains in my Max II. I buy them from John Deere. Along with those eight chains come sixteen sprockets. It is only a matter of time before those must also be replaced or they trash a new chain quickly.
The outer bearings are the most important part of keeping your machine in good working order. It is important to keep them greased. If they start to leak, they take everything else with them. Inner bearings, chains, and sprockets take hell when water comes flowing in. The Argo has the biggest advantage here because they have outer bearing axle seals on their machines. Max uses only sealed bearings which are not sealed for very long. Recreatives claims to have an outer seal almost ready for production so that may bring the Max up to par.
Amphibians are slow, easy going machines. They perform many otherwise difficult tasks with ease. They are great for work but are never in a hurry. I use mine mostly for trail riding and mudding. It is fun in tough terrain, but a different kind of fun compared to a 4x4. I bought my Max new in May of '99 and just recently bought my Scrambler a few months ago. The 4x4 is a whole new beast to tame and I'm really enjoying it. It has speed and power that I haven't felt in many years. It can zoom down the trails and slide around corners with perfect comfort and control. The suspension is awesome and we have flew more than five feet in the air at Little Sahara sand dunes. The 500cc 38hp high output liquid cooled engine can really rip.
The 6x6 and 4x4 have a lot of differences to say the least. The 6x6 is an old low tech design that will require more of your time to maintain. I won't say it isn't worth the extra time, but the 4x4 sure is a nice machine.