By ralphbeagle on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am planning on using my ARGO in deep snow. Does anyone know whether I can use the regular tracks or if I need the super tracks? Thanks.

By Skip Saul (Giantdog) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

it all boils down to type of snow but if you got the super track then you would have it coverd no mater what. I have the super track and live in Alaska the avreage snow is any where from five to ten feet we did have 12ft one time but depending on the condition of the snow also counts but I have not had to bad a problem so far what ever I got my self in to I managed to get my self out of I am shure it is because of the super track they do cost more but the investment was worth it in the long run

By Bubba Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ralph, I would pay close attention to what Skip said.
My partner has an argo with the super tracks and I have the 13" tracks on my HT, and I can't follow him in deep snow. They also work well in soft muskeg.You can't count on being in packed snow all of the time.We encounter all types of snow in a single trip.Unless you have a good pair of snowshoes, get the wide tracks. By the way, ALWAYS have a good pair of snowshoes on board.
Bubba shadowmountainoutdoors.com

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ralph, if your in really deep snow, the super tracks will almost always keep you floating up higher in the snow. However,I have used my ARGO with just standard tracks in deep snow and as long as its not turning, it works fairly well. Their are times when wider tracks would help but the super tracks are not supposed to be run in rough conditions whereas the standard tracks can be run through mud, over logs, etc. (thats what my manual said anyway) I have found in the past that if you are in very deep snow (2-3 feet minimum) that trying to turn the ARGO in one place is almost a challange because it has to push so much weight, but if you keep moving forwards while you turn, it does it easily enough.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What's this Bubba! The truth comes out that heavy old HT won't stay on top of the snow in Alaska. Can you imagine what it would do in the High Rockies fluff?

Ralph, you didn't say where you live or at what elevation. If you live where the snow is dry and fluffy and deep, you should get the widest track possible (should consider those 20" wide tracks sold by the Canadian Argo dealer), but if you plan to use your Argo over 3000 or so feet elevation, you are going to have a power issue. If you have the new avenger, you might be OK. I agree with Bubba on the snowshoes.

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I rode around at 10,000ft in supertracks with 18hp in an argo 8, I guess I had a power issue and didn't know it? Sure, it felt gutless like my truck that hauled it up there and any other naturally aspired gas engine at 10,000ft, but it drove everywhere I pointed it in high range. My Response does have the MU transmission which I estimate is 8% lower than the GU.

Snowshoes, hehe. I had the argo a month and went to the Rockies. Before I left, it dawned on me that if I wanted to step out of the vehicle or had to walk out... hmm... off to the outdoor store for snowshoes! Such is the thought pattern of flat landers :)

By Bubba Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred, You know very well that we ALL sink to our belly plate in powder. I was wondering if you had a clue of what kind of snow we get at below temps. Don't you think it may resemble that fluff? I still have more traction than you have in that light weight. You remind me of a contrary old geezer that I once knew up in Montana.:o}
Nice hearing from you again. There for a while I thought I had you scared off!
Bubba shadowmountainoutdoors.com

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I said the MU was lower geared than the GU transmission, it's the other way around. I have the GU.

Speakin' of PSI, I was searching the web and ran across the story of the Snow Cat's, and about the guy named Tucker who was behind it. Very interesting story in the first half of the century. He built vehicles/mobile labs under one psi for artic travel. They weighed several tons.

By Motown's (Bigwolf) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Looks like the topic of discussion is snow tracks. Speaking of snow tracks, I just picked up some of that urethane conveyor belting that I mentioned in some other postings. The roll of belting is about 48 inches wide. I tried cutting it with a razor knife and broke a couple of blades. It's is some tough stuff to cut! It looks like I will need to get it cut down to size by the belt manufacturer. I figured that 48 inch wide snow tracks would be way over kill by more than double.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Roger, I guess the 18 HP Briggs runs better in an Argo than it does in a Max. I feel a power loss with just wheels at about 6,500 feet. Most of my tracked stuff (with a 25 HP Kohler) is in the 5800 to 6000 foot range. Yeah, I still go fine, but not as well as at 4500 feet. I've read many posts from Argo fellas who complain of a power drain when they turn, I was just assuming that this effect would be exaggerated with super tracks on. I stand corrected.

Bubba, I won't argue that max machines might leave a belly track, but they still go (I'll agree that a max won't climb in deep powder the way it will in snow with consistency). What is the elevation where you go? Just how far up on Mt. McKinley can you take your HT?

To compare snow: I'm 6'1" tall and can walk in 26 inches of "cold smoke" powder almost as easily as I walk on dry ground. When it gets tough walking is when that fluff gets a two inch crust on top and you can't quite stay on top. Maybe I should buy a set of snow shoes! Depending on your elevation and how far from the coast you are, of course, could be your snow has a lot more moisture in it than ours does. Don't forget we get -35 to -45 degrees here at times. It has been as cold as 52 degrees below zero at my old place. Maybe you should check into those 20" wide tracks made by that fellow in Canada - then you could follow that Argo.

By Bubba Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fellers, speaking of snow, in the 70's I took a snowmachine trip into a high mountain pass hunting for ptarmigan. The wind had blown the snow off of the ridges and down on a frozen lake.The snow was about 10 feet deep and nothing but powder. When I stopped the snow machine, it immediately sank about six feet down. I spent the next 2 hours stomping a ramp up out of the snow with my snow shoes. I found that the only way I could stop was to make a circle and stop on my tracks. It wouldn't sink in but when I stepped off,I would drop in over my head.
I was in trouble without those snow shoes.It was -50 degrees and a bad time to be messing around. Luckily we made it back out of there.
I have had postings that made fun of some of the things I've said about planning for the worse situation.I lost 4 of my friends in 75 due to getting stuck on a mountain top in a blizzard. I take this stuff seriously. I also teach arctic survival classes to those with enough sence to know that they could die out there.
I carry a kit in my HT everytime I leave the yard, and I spend many days and nights out in the bush ice fishing on frozen lakes at -40 all winter long.Survival Gear is not even a question.
If anyone is interested in what I carry, give me a hoot at my web site, and I'd be more than happy to share it with you.
Bubba www.shadowmountainoutdoors.com

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bigwolf, maybe you can cut that on an industrial table saw that has extended tables.

By Motown's (Bigwolf) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Roger,

Fortunately I know the owner of the belting supply company that provided the belting for me. He is going to have some pieces cut/slit to the size for me on their automatic machine. He also offered to cut them to the correct length and install the belt splices, if I provide the correct over all lengths that I want.

I was thinking about having them cut a set of belts 15 inches wide and another set 18 inches wide. I am also thinking about trying to make set to work with my 26 inch wheels. Not sure if there will be enough clearance or not. I got the idea from the video that Brandon Price has, there is a fellow on the video that made and runs a set of tracks on his Max IV with the 26 inch wheels. It looked like it worked just fine on the video.

Bubba,

I would be great to see a new section on your web site dedicated to wilderness survival techniques!

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

whats the mu and gu transmission that was discussed above?

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Bubba, What lakes do you go back into? Back in my flying days, I used to do alot of flying into lakes down on the penninsula in the summer and winter.

Having lived in Alaska and Montana, the snow is quite alot different. Much less water content in the Montana snow. There isnt anyplace in Alaska as dry as central Montana. Even up north of Fairbanks or over in Tok, regardless of temperature, the snow is heavier.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bubba, i went onto yoru sight the other day but didnt' see any pics of ur machine- are they on there? I also agree with bigworf, some wilderness survival stories and techniques on your site would be interesting to me.

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I dont know Bubba, somethings getting deep in here and its not the snow... :-D That last ones a little bit of a doozy!

I do get a kick out of your stories though!

By Bubba Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David, I do have a shot of my old HT on the web. Click on "Hunters" and scroll down. The pic is my partner on Spirit Lake.
Bill , I go into Spirit Lake most of the time. I also hit Tustamena, Johnson, 4-mile lake off the Taylor Highway, and Bubba Lake near the Robertson River.
I have scratched a sore place on my head trying to figure out how we get WET-heavy snow at some of these dry-subzero temps.You may have been gone a bit too long.At least I haven't found much since I got here in April of 69. Not saying that there isn't some here.I traveled for several years between Valdez and Prudhoe Bay. The snow is a bit heavy in the south but as you go north, things dry out.I have an article I wrote about the snow when I was in the arctic a few years ago. I'll post it if I can find it.
Don't really want to bog-up my web site yet.
Bubba www.shadowmountainoutdoors.com

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David, odg makes a few different gear ratios for their trans.. don't know how far back they go. There's a set of 2 interchangable gears that determine what the overall ratio is. The 2 letter code is stamped on the top, you can read it with the hood open.

My argo distributor told me I'd need the low geared box with tracks and high altitude in the 8 wheeler. I was reluctant to go with it.. being new to aatv's I thought they were pokey enough without a lower gear. Over the years it's turned out great though. I have the runamuks/tracks and it'll go at altitude, and I have another set of taller tires and wheels for low altitude. Plus I modded the drive clutch and made the belt run farther out, that added more top end without changing the low end.

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Bubba, youll have to rub a little lotion on that sore spot, wouldnt want it to chafe! :-) I have been in CA for only five years. Been all over AK for 15 years before that. When have you ever seen it snow in AK when temperatures were subzero? I sure havent but maybe I just havent been to all the places you have. When its subzero its usually clear. In Anchorage and Fairbanks it always warms up to snow. Thats cause that heavy moist air is moving in from the Gulf. When its real cold on the coast you get whore frost. But thats not snow. Way up north in Prudhoe, there is very little snowfall. Mostly just blowing snow. Whats most important is the ratio of snowfall to water content. All alaska snow has a higher ratio compared to say, Utah.

By Bubba Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bill, my old friend, how can I possibly compete with such wisdom? I must concede, dad blast it!!
At my age , must be slipping.
However, I grew up high in the sierra's, spent 3 years in TOK Junction, 17 years in Fairbanks, 2 years at Prudhoe Bay and I can't remember how long on the Kenai River.By the way, it snows whenewver it takes a notion up here, and yes, it can snow when it's colder than a well diggers butt.
I fell off of a pole in Fairbanks in 71, and sank 5 feet deep in the snow, on my back. I'm glad it wasn't packed. It didn't knock the hot air out of me however, although I had a tough time getting my wind back.
You ain't been hanging around in that Orange County, have you?? I hear it is hard to make a snow-ball down there.
Well, old friend, I'd better get off of this putor, I have about 2 feet of snow to blow out of my yard. Sure am glad it ain't powder.:o))
Bubba shadowmountainoutdoors.com

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Yea Im down here in Orange County, make lots of trips to the sierra skiing though. Mammoth has had 97 inches of snow so far this year (Thats more than anywhere in AK so far). Makes for the best skiing in the country right now. Was just up there yesterday. My place up in Montana gets a fair amount of snow as well. Spend a few weeks there every winter (-40 last dec 29). Last year made a couple trips up to Utah to do some skiing.

I know Im living in the land of 70 degrees but Im working on keeping my snowballin skills proficient.

Get on out there and blow that snow away. I see that more snow is forecast for the penninsula. Up to 2 inches accumulation at higher elevations, rain in the valleys! Funny thing though is that there hasnt been much snow reported on the penninsula in the past seven days? Last two days there has been very little precipitation measured. On the 12th there was very light rain. NWS says its about 35 degrees at the airport with a high of 40 expected. Tomorrow its supposed to be 35. Heck even up on Turnagain Pass, there hasnt been any snow the past few days? According to the snotel sight anyway.

But Im sure thats all not correct since you have 2 feet in your yard. ;-)

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If anybody ever wants to do their own bit of research regarding precip, temps, snow and snow water equivalent all over the west including Alaska, take a look at this website. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/

Lots of good actual information. Cept up in Alaska where the snotel sites do not report correctly and are not accurate ;-)

By Bubba Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bill, just messing with you a bit. I stand corrected, only got a foot of snow and then it rained on that. Now have a nice ice rink.It was a nasty mess in Turnigan Pass last night when I came back through.
Get those hackles back down. No one pays me much attention anymore. Can't even get much of a raise out of old Fred.
Back to serious stuff, I am looking around for some material for wide tracks. These plastic things are getting to be a pain.
Any how,that ice in my driveway is sure getting to be a hassle. Don't know what the water content is, but it must be pretty high.:o{
Bubba thewildernesstrail.com

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ah Bubba, I was just ribbin you a bit as well. I do get a kick out of your stories! They are sort of like the stories mountain men used to tell, which is not a bad thing.

Im not that good at stories I guess. Heres one for ya.

I went out fishing and caught three fish. Then I drove home.

Hows that? Not too good huh! So do keep them coming, Ill get off your back. Do I ever remember that damn Alaska ice! Mighty slick and gets thick fast! Over in Kodiak, it would snow two feet and the next day there would be a foot of solid ice. I once fell down in high winds and really could not get back up!

Anyways take it easy and have fun chipping ice!

BC