By chibear on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I've been looking at argos for awhile now. Drove an 8x8 conquest & liked it. I would like to ask argo owners of any problems they've had with their machines (other than eating things) or with their maintainance. I've downloaded the manual & it looks pretty straightforward to me. Also what is the maximum slope you think the machine can handle uphill & downhill?

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Chibear: No one went after this so I will give you my thoughts.

I have an 8X8 argo. I do like it except the @#$%@#$% Tecumseh 16 it has in it. I cost me a zillion $ to rebuild it and I still need a new carb to get it running right.

In no way does this sour me on an Argo. Like I said, I like it for work. I don't for play.

As for maintainance, what you see is what you get.And there ain't much there!!!! Oil changes are a Bi#*h on mine, but still no big deal.

As far as slope. Well I went up a "measured" 30 degree slope and it was hairy for me, not for the Argo!!! I went up about a 35 degree slope that was very dry and loose and spun out. I would not say that this is the limit, I just happen to spin all 8 on this one hill one time. I say measured because I see people on this board tell people on here that they go up 60 degree slopes once and a while; well I say BS, ain't going to happen except with a winch!!!! Most people don't know what a real 30 degree slope looks like. They are very hard to stand on if it is loose at all.

As far as going down. Well let me just say that I have been down hills that I have hit the bumper rail around the body first when I hit the botton of the hill!!!!! It was a very steep hill. It did have a small ditch at the bottom but I was looking at the bottom of the hill in front of my face!!! They feel more stable than my Attex going up, but I feel better in my Attex coming down.

All in all it is a very good machine, and I think you will be very happy with your new toy!!!

BTW, what motor is in it?

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Attex Bob, remind me never to get into any amphibious vehicle with you when you are going down a steep hill. I am afraid the back will flip over the front after my roll last year. That takes some real braking skills not to jurk it on a hill.

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ha ha ha ha. David, lets just say that not much scaries me, but I was thinking the same thing when the bumper hit and the 8x just stopped!!!! It was like oh crap, is this thing going to endoe? Then I had to gas it so the front end would climb out of the small ditch!!! Like I said, that was my one and hopefully only time I will do that again.

If it was a quad or even a 6X I think it would have went over.

By Missouri's Max Dealer (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The only problem you will have with an Argo is the tires coming off the rim. It happens countless times at every 6x6 ride we have. Max fixed the problem with k-rims and Argo needs to look for a solution also. Not a serious problem, but an annoying one.
Going up a hill is limited to traction. 6x6s don't have enough speed to create traction from wheel spin like a 4x4 quad. My 4x4 would flip on a hill that was to steep while the Max would usually just spin out.
Argo is more difficult to drive downhill like David says. I've seen three of them roll on past rides. All that weight in the front makes it easy to put over with one wrong touch on the brakes. The 8x8 is better balanced and safer. Any Max goes down hill pretty good. An experienced driver can take one down a hill steeper than you can walk down. Max has some good roll over protection that most people buy with the vehicle. You see very few roll bars/cages on an Argo and I see ODG has finally offered a 6x6 with a bar. At past rides, all you see is the people who built a cage for their Argo. The way some of us ride, roll over protection should be standard equipment.

By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Chibear -

I own an 8x8 Argo Response. I've only had two maintenance frustrations with the machine, both related to the Briggs Vanguard engine. The Argo itself is very solid and easily maintained. Except for the Briggs, it is a pleasure to work on and does not require a lot of time for maintenance. Brandon, I'm fascinated my your comment about the tires. I've never had a tire break loose on either of my Argos. What was the terraign like when the tires failed? Granted I don't have experience with rocks, but I have driven through and over fallen trees. No trouble!

By Roger Smith on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I think the tire talk difference is about 2 different tires. Runamuks and Rawhides.

Those of us with runamuks never have a bead come off. But the Rawhides come off all the time and you have to run more pressure than needed to keep them on.

What size diameter K rims are available?

By RickMoMoBigfoot on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Many have seen me have my share of knocking tires off the rims at these rides.I never cared about air pressure in tires,that was most of my problem i guess.I just tryed to get most of them the same. I would get in spots that was to small for the wide bigfoot and i would rip turn out of there and knock front tire off bead,or hammer a root,stump,rock "hard"and it may happen then.But i talked to some others on these rides and they said tubes would fix problem.I put them in and i haven't had that problem again.We all know that anything can happen.I've seen maxs with flats and their share of problems & brake downs at times that i wasn't having any,I still want to help them if i can because i know that shit may happen to me again.I ride mine hard and i brake everything i own anyway sooner or later.I've got roll bar on mine but never rolled.I've seen some roll and almost roll.The two i seen roll was going up hill and they know it was their falt.Down hill not as big of problem as some are talking about,there is a time that you must gas it instead of braking down hill.See these things will stop dead in unbelevable spots.You just got to learn for yourself. Best is to go to a ride and see,if you dont have 6x6 ,ride with someone.Me and my buddy take our bigfoots to these rides and most of time we have no passengers.Later,RickMoMo

By George Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Howdy, Chibear
This is the oldbearhunter "Bubba" from Alaska.Since you are looking at machines you may want to take a hard look at the Hydro Traxx.
I don't get in on these "parts hunting" discussions because I never look for parts for my old Hydro.I drive argoes at work and I like playing around with them, but when it comes to "Maintenance" I'm lazy.There are only two zerks on the Hydro because there's not many moving parts.The wheel motors have never broke down in the last 8 years of use and when I'm packing a moose out of a muskeg bog, the last thing I want is a failure of anykind.
They are a "little" more spendy than the others, but when it comes to rusted chains, worn sprockets,etc. , I just don't have to deal with it.
I spend my off time crawling over logs, ridge running, bog blasting and having a blast, not working on my machine. I have 27 inch tires with 10 inches of ground clearance. I haven't had to put on my tracks yet for anything.
Just a few thoughts.
Bubba

By Mud-Bugg on Unrecorded Date: Edit

( George Hunt,,aka "oldbearhunter" )
I,ve always enjoyed reading your postings about your Hydro-Traxx,,( any Hydro-Trax for that matter )and, all of the many places that you have taken it ------> all with out "any" break downs !!!

This ought to shut up all of the "nay-sayers",when they post about:

-----> all of the many things, that could possibly go wrong, when you own a hydrolic amphib such as yours. busted hydrolic hoses,broken down wheel motors,,broken hydrolic pumps,,ect.

To my great surprise,,in your most recent post,,you stated,,you have not had one major break down in " 8 years " !!!! This statement is most impressive!

The most comon "negative" comment about the Hydro-traxx on this forum board, besides hydrolic hose failure,,is the higher "PSI" on the ground of each wheel,,,because of the much higher weight factor on the Hydro-Traxx,,,,when compared to an Argo or Max.

The common understanding on this forum board,,is this:

the more your amphib weighs,,the easier it is to get stuck ,,in very thick or soupy mud, or high centered.

This is because of the higher total weight of your Hydro-Traxx, when compared to a much lighter "PSI" Argo or Max.

Also,,a lot of this negative feed back, comes from past observations of a Hydro-Traxx, some one brought to Humphrey New York years ago. ( very large amphib event )

I talked the the head guy at Hydro-Traxx,,and, the machine that people here love to talk negative about,was a very early, gear driven,shaft drive "proto-type" ,,,,and, not the Hydro-traxxs that are being sold today.

This same Hydro-traxx was being considered to be sold to the military,,but,,was never built again,,because of design problems they had with it.

This is why all of the new Hydro-Traxx, that are sold today,, have hydrolic wheel motors, and not drive shafts with gear boxes like the one seen at Humphrey years ago.

I also find it strange,that so many Hydro-traxx amphibs, are now being sold to hunting clubs,oil exploration companies,,government agencies,,and military uses.

If a Hydrolic powered amphib, was this unreliable ,and, this much higher maintenance, and, would also get stuck so much easier,why would all these companies,and,milary branches even consider buying one???

By George Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Mud Bug,
What I said isn't quite what I meant. I meant was that none of the hydro wheel motors have failed in the 8 years that they have been used. I haven't owned mine that long. As for the hoses, they are as large as those used on the big back hoes. They are strapped down very neatly so they don't move.I can't see how they could blow since the pump has a kick-off valve and they are on a "demand" system with the sundstand pump.I have gone over this thing with a fine toothed comb and I can't find anything "WEAK".
I don't know anything about the early model, but this thing is almost bullet proof.I have been able to break almost anything,but I haven't been able to break this critter as of yet.Sooner or later I will find out where it is weak, and I will be the first to let you all know. Next week I'm heading for the boggs on the annual moose hunt. Maybe I'll be able to break something then. I'll keep you posted.
Bubba

By roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

the older argos had the problems w/the tires poppin off, the newer ones have the bead locks stamped in the rims.

By George Hunt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Mud Bug..
I have heard all the stories about the wieght problems, and my old hydro has about .8 psi on the ground with my tracks.When you consider the 32 hp. engine and the 8 inches of ground clearance it is awfully hard to stop it.I can float 1000 lbs and carry 4500 lbs.I also have a 4500 lb. wench that is bolted to the frame.I carry 1000 ft. of aircraft cable on a nice little reel.So far my little reel has never been used.
With my 27 inch tires I have 10.5 inches of clearance. I crawl over logs that stop most rigs.
Those big tires "almost touch" each other, so there's not much loss between them.I paddle through mud boggs with those tires that most rigs would need tracks.Let the rumors flow.Then come up and visit me.
Bubba

By Mud-Bug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

( George Hunt,,AKA ---> " oldbearhunter )

As you know, any vehicle,,weither on road or off road,,can and will get stuck eventually,,when the right conditions present themselves to the driver envolved.

I would now like to know,,where and how, you have been able to stick your Hydro-Traxx. What were the conditions and terrain? I am sure most of Argo,s your company uses,,are probably the 8 wheel kind?

I would "assume", with your Hydro-Traxx, being able to turn each side of its wheels in oposite directions,,either fast or slow,,,would surely make a big difference in the mud bogs you have there, over a more traditional skid steer Argo or Max?