By Sam7 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have been told that an Argo only pulls from one side, is this true? If it is, does it still work OK?

By MALEB on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have an Argo 8 wheeler and it is truly all wheel drive. Double roller chains drive all 8 wheels equally.

By Al Heilbron on Unrecorded Date: Edit

This is a myth that has been created by max fans and people who are not very well informed on what a differetial is . As long as both sides of an Argo are in contact with the ground, all 6 wheels drive. Should one side lose contact with the ground the operator can apply the brake to that side causing the power to transfer to the other side.
I have owned 2 other 6 wheelers and it took 5 minutes on an Argo for me to decide it is a better system.
My Argo has only been stuck twice and that was when all 6 wheels were off the ground.
The other system is a good system, but it is my opinion that Argos is easier to control and maintain. The trans. on the others are supposed to be sent to the factory for all repairs.

By Frank Mac Pherson on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Al.
An open differential does not drive both sides at the same time. Tie your machine to a tree, engage the transmission, and give it the gas. You will plainly see that only one side will spin. Even if what you say is true, "driving down a trail there is power going to both sides". Who cares! I want power going to both sides UNDER A LOAD! The argo is simply not built that way. Using the tree example, the side with the least traction will spin. That does not give you true 6 wheel drive. The facts are the facts.

By Jimmy (Jimmy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I own an Argo (1998 Bigfoot), a Max (1999 II-600T) , and a 1971 Northway. They are all very good vehicles. A Max is six wheel drive, period. Take the Argo and raise one side off the ground, put it in forward gear and hit the throttle. The side off the ground will spin and the side on the ground will not. Try it with a Max. Both sides spin. Or, raise the Argo all of the way off the ground. Place it in forward gear and have a friend try to hold the wheels on one side from turning. Hit the trottle, the non-held side will spin and the held side will not. You can even spin the side your holding backwards while the other side is spinning forwards. DON'T try it with a Max. Serious injury may result. Now, which one is true six wheel drive and which is three wheel drive?

By Al Heilbron on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I bet you guys think your car is only one wheel drive. Da which one is it the right or the left.
Believe me both sides do drive,unless one side has no traction.

By Ron House (R_house) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

AL,

We’re talking “Amphibious All Terrain Vehicles” at this site – not street machines. To couple the concepts “non-locking differential” and “All Terrain Vehicle” together is one of the biggest oxymoron’s that I can think of – ranks right up there with “Military Intelligence” and “Jumbo Shrimp”.

I’ll have to admit that the Argo would probably make a good Street Machine.

Ron

By Al Heilbron on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If an Argo doesn't drive all 6, then why do they all look like they turn in water?
Is that an open differential optical illuision?

By Fred Sowerwine - fred4 dot on Unrecorded Date: Edit

OK Allen, maybe now we can convince you. Next time you are in the water and all six tires are spinning, reach down on one side or the other and grab a wheel. You will be surprised on how easy it is to stop and you will be able to hold it.

If you have someone with you, have them reach down on the other side while you are holding the tire on your side. As they apply pressure to the side that is spinning, the side that is not spinning will try to spin.

Max people - don't try this, it will tear your arm off and throw you in the water.

By Alan Teryn (Alanteryn) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If there is no resistance both side with turn. the instant any extra pressure is placed on either side, the opposite side (the side with the least traction)will turn. That is fact not illusion.

By D.N. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Argos have 6 wheel drive, theres no queastion about that. Just becouse the Argos drive system and transmition work a little differently than the max atvs does not mean they arn't as good. I have seen argos climb over huge logs and stumps, and to do that a vehicle has to have 6 wheel drive. They turn in water just as good as a max too. In my oppinion maxs skid out a lot on mud and look like they have trouble climbing slipery hills. Argos don't have that problem. When you want versatility, dependability, and reliability there is only one name you need to know, ARGO!

By Joe Droit on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If what you say is true, how come a MAX vehicle took most of the first 10 finishing places at the mud race at Humphrey last weekend? The MAX's out performed the argos in speed, climing ability, and totally put them to shame in the water. Actions speak louder than words. I went to Humphrey looking to see both machines before I purchase one. If you were there and saw what I saw, there is no doubt that the MAX is a better performing vehicle. The argos did perform well they did not have any trouble making it through the mud pit they just were very very slow in the water. You could also see one side spin while climbing the hills. The operators were forced to juggle the steering levers to get the machine to go up the banks smoothly. The MAX operators were able to just give it the gas and it would climb straight and smooth.

They are both good machines. However I am buying a MAX based on what I saw in a head to head comparison.

By the way I did see the factory argo guys working on their machines behind the argo truck. Everybody tries to say MAX's need to be worked on all the time. I can plainly see that all off road vehicles need to be worked on and maintained in order to work well.

By D.N. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I agree with Joe when he says that all atvs have to be maintained. Although I think argos are better than maxs, I still think that maxs are nice vehicles. Before purchasing a max, take a look at some of the othere 6x6 atvs on the market. There are about 8 othere manufacturers out there. Many of those manufacturers make excellent vehicles which can easilly out perform a max. Take a look at the links section of ROUTE 6X6 for more info on these othere amphibious six-wheelers. I recomend the land-tamer or the hydro-traxx.

By Joe Droit on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I feel more comfortable dealing with an established company. Chances are the within a few years those other companies will be long gone. I would never consider a 6 or 8 wheeler unless it was made by RI or OTDG. At least when my machine is 5 or more years old I know I will be able to get parts for my machine.

By John on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I tied my argo to a tree and all the wheels spin thanks for the good way to prove my machine is all wheel drive.

By Fred Eichelburger on Unrecorded Date: Edit

That's wierd. I chained my 98 Big Foot to a tree and only 1 side turned. By feathering the brakes I could almost fool it into powering both sides. So far this machine has been a huge disapointment. It is a real slug in the water. And what is the proper way to change the oil. My dealer told me to suck out the oil with a drill pump. What about the gunk at the bottom of the crankcase? This can't be the way Briggs and Stratton recomends for the oil to be changed.

I guess it's an ok machine it's just not at all what I expected. My friends MAX IV with a 18 hp engine seems to work a lot better in the water. It sure has better balance. On the ground his machine seems easier to manuver. Does any ony have any tricks to make the Big Foot go any faster. It is rather embarassing to be left behind my friends MAX IV all the time. Thanks in advance for any help.

Fred

By D.N. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred, I have always thought that argos are great machines. It seams rather strange that your bigfoot is not performing as well as you thought it would. It looks like a cool vehicle. have you contacted ODG and asked them how to properly change the oil? They could probably help you out. If you are really unhappy with your vehicle you could always sell it and purchas a differnt brand. There are many othere cool 6x6 companys out there. If I were you, I would keep the argo, but everyone is entitled to there own oppinion. Some people like argos, some people like maxs. Thats just the way it goes.

By anthony garcea (Anthony) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You all are a bunch of idiots!!! Stop with all the baby talk a go drive your machines. Youll find 9 times out of ten driver experience is what really matters. Ive owned both a max and a bigfoot and can honestly say they are both good machines but the deciding factor in where it will go and what it will do is the driver!!!! So if you spend a little less time on the computer and more time driving your machine it will amaze you at what it can do with someone competent at the wheel.I remember when i was young and i had a yz 125, that is a motocross bike to those of you who are unfamiliar with the name,one day i went riding with a kid who had a yz 80, clearly a smaller less powerful bike, not to mention speed between the two bikes were not even close with me having the huge advantage! We went riding and let me tell you he made me look real bad. I had trouble keeping up with him all day. Thats when i learned that its the more experienced driver that usually wins even when under powered and over matched.So go and drive your machines and become better drivers so when i meet you on the trails with my bigfoot i wont totally embarass you!!!

By Brandon Price (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well said Anthony. The real comparison we should be talking about is 6x6 vs. 4x4. I still don't understant why quads outsell 6x6s! My Max goes anywhere and does anything. I have had several quads and they have left me walking so many times because I got them stuck! I can drive my Max through mud I can't walk through and then drive it out into the middle of a lake and go fishing. I hope 6x6s continue to gain popularity. Death to the king quad!

Heil Max!

By Alan Teryn (Alanteryn) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have to agree. I have a Honda 200X and I ride with a lot of guys with 2 stroke ATVs. There is no way my 200X is faster(even though it is no longer stock) but after owning this machine for 10 years I do know how to ride it. It usually drives the other guys nuts when I can keep up with them. Driver experience is always the determining factor.

By Ben Knight on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You don't know what you're talking about,argos are obviously better because they have a thing called a differential,if you ever saw a remote controlled car and held one back wheel and the
other side spins,does that mean that it is one wheel drive,NO!its made like that so it won't get
stuck if one wheel get's stuck.I am 12 years old and I could tell you that!Like anthony said,you are all idiots, Get off the computer and ride!You guys are lucky,I have to make do with a honda big red three wheeler with a 7.5horsepower Outboard engine on the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right on,anthony!!!!!

By Jimmy (Jimmy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ben, Ever heard the expression "one wheel peel"?
It is an expression for an open differential. If a vehicle is made like that, why do they offer a locking differential, limited slip differential, and/or positraction for performance and off-road use? Because an open differential sends power to the side with least amount of resistance (i.e. the side in the mud or on ice). However, I agree we should be out riding rather than debating which atv or type of atv is better.