By charlie harrington on Unrecorded Date: Edit

About five years ago I owned an Argo 8 wheel twin cylinder fairly new etc. In the swamps during a ten mile trip to my remote cabin it took 11 hours to cover the distance, stuck constantly.The rig would sink down on one side ,you could feel it happen and then it was over. there was no correcting or backing out,It was fun for a while but after sticking it 10,12,14,times it got old.Another hunting trip in the same swamp with my wife we spent the night six miles in, heavy rain rig up on its side sunk in the swamp full of water battery under water.any how I sold the argo Since then I have owned two P word six wheelers and have had great luck in the swamp . Now I want a new rig A 97 Max IV w/ 50 hrs ,20 hp is avaliable for 6000 or best offer.What is a good buy ,and will a Max handle the swamps without expensive tracks? I don't want another bad trip like argo . Everyone says you just didn't know how to drive it ,well I drove it lots of hours and it didn't get better.I would apppreciate advise before the alaska moose hunt starts, thanks charlie

By V. Greg Hintze (Floodrunner) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Charlie, What's a "P Word" 6 wheeler? A Polaris, PowerTrack, what? If you've had great luck in the swamp with it then why the interest in change?

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Argo 8x8s are not that good in the mud. They are heavy and most have the Runamuks (not much tread on those). Let's not forget how they are four wheel drive. I'm sure a Max IV with 26" tires would be much better. Less weight, more ground clearance, more traction, true six wheel drive. If all else fails, get tracks.

MaxRules

By ISAAC EISENMAN (Tropicjungleboy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

AT CHARLIE: I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY EXPERIENCE AT SWAMP ON MY MAX II WORKS TERRIFIC BUT EXTRA GAP AT BOTTOM WILL BE BETTER SO.....THE MAX IV WITH 26" TIRES WITH VERY AGRESIVE PATTERN WILL BE THE BEST CHOICE ON THIS KIND OF SOIL...ANY AATV WITH T-20 TRANS WILL PERFORMANCES BETTER THAN THE OPEN DIFERENTIAL SINCE T-20 WORKS AT FULL 6 WHEEL TRACTION WITHOUT LOOSING POWER DUE TO BRAKING ACTION OR LATERAL SPINNING.....ON TIRES TRY IPT BLACKWATER OR MAXXIM...MAX IV OFFER BIGGER INNER SPACE AT LITHGEST WEIGHT...( A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER ON SOFT SOILS!!!).......ENJOY MAX BOUNCING!!!

By Dave Blackburn (Dave) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Yes Charlie, spell out the P-word 6 wheeler you've been happy with, if it's a power-trac I'd really like to know!
Dave Blackburn

By Bill Berg (Bilber) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I've got about 20 hours on my Max IV 18hp. I've got a couple small but decent mud holes in the back of my place. With both sides pulling, they are no problem. However, I've been experimenting with trying to get stuck to see what to avoid in the "real world". If I hold one side and let the other spin for even a few revs, and then switch, I can get it so that I can't go forward anymore pretty easy. So far, reverse in any fashion gets me out right away, and then I can move right back through the same ruts with basically zero momentum.

Interesting point is that if the Argo really lets the one side slip, I can see where would would stop very fast in very little mud unless you were skilled (or lucky) enough to stop the side that was spinning and get both sides working RIGHT AWAY.

My mud technique is moving toward "do any manuvering required BEFORE hitting the mud, and just keep both sides working straight ahead on the way through.

By charlie harrington on Unrecorded Date: Edit

guess its time to clarify the p word. Polaris!! I have owned 3, different years , engines etc. They do handle the big Alaska swamps even with camping gear and a load of moose on board. One big difference between the argo/max and polaris I feel is the difference between driving and riding, with the polaris one minute you can be taking on the swamp admiring Mt Denali all lost in how great you are handling the swamp,the next you are a part of the swamp doing the back stroke while your machine lays on its side not too far away ,reality check. The argo allows you to drive around in a relaxed fashion , weight shift, lean all you want , you are still driving !!! I have covered the same 20 mile round trip heavy swamp trip to my cabin many times and where the argo left me burried the polaris seemed to cruise just fine if you pay attention and dont get hiii centered !! But still I' m curious about the Max My machine has to handle swamps,rocky mountain trails, creek crossings, carry heavy loads and it must be tough and above all reliable . It doesnt have to be able to swim .Thanks guys charlie


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By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The Max will do much better in the swamp than the Argo 8x8. Max has true six wheel drive, more ground clearance, and aggressive tread. Performance is ok with those bald Runamuks but you really need something with some tread. The Max IV with 26" tires is awesome in the mud and I have never seen anything go where it goes. You need at least the 20hp engine to have good mud performance with 26" tires. You have to be easy on the throttle so it doesn't spin out. Less throttle gets you more traction.

MaxRules

By waynew on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If it dosen't need to flote you might want to look at the polais ranger 6x6 it has 9in of groung clearance a big cargo box and 6 wheel drive. I am only sugesting this beacuse you can also high center these machiens on rocks. the polaris also has good suspension to make the ride better.

By mode70 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a Max IV 1996 I am having a problem with the tranny not engaging on both sides all the time. If someone knows what the problems is please let me know.

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

Mode70, Most likely, it is linkage - check the bar going from the shifter to the tranny (this should be straight). Some people think they can force the T-20 into gear but all they do is bend linkage or break shifter collars. Could have crud around the shifter collars (top of each side, just under where linkage fastens to the tranny), but that would keep it from engaging all the time. Pretty much has to be external (unless a lot of grinding of gears has been done or tranny has been partially engaged and pops out of gear often indicating internal gear damage).

By JT Barleman on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey "Max Rules"
Perhaps you will explain. I own an Argo and an Attex ... and it sure looks to me like ALL SIX of my wheels drive. Unless you break a chain and then you have to come back on FIVE wheel drive ...! So ... what gives ...? Explain what you mean when you say TRUE SIX WHEEL DRIVE ...?

ALSO ... I don't know if anyone else noticed ... BUT ... When I "clicked" to send you an e-mail ... I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw a photo of "MAX RULES" stuck in the mud and being hauled out and Argo ...!

JT aka namelrab@sgi.net

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

JT - The picture on my profile is one that I got from a friend. It is his Argo pulling out a Sportsman. I have no idea who any of those poeple are. Why would I be riding a Polaris???
There is no need to argue over the fact that the Argo is not true six wheel drive. It has a differential. It has power to all wheels and will turn all six when traction is equal on both sides. Max will turn all six even with unequal traction. With both sticks forward, all six will turn even if one side is in the air and the other is on solid ground. Argo will only spin the side that has the least traction. Argo's differential is not very sensitive and many times it does turn all six. It has an advantage over 4x4s because you can use your brake to make the other side spin where traction is needed. The bad thing about this is I don't see many people doing it and think they are stuck. They sit there with it hammered and three wheels spinning with no traction while the other side has plenty of traction but is just sitting there. They are "stuck" because they don't know how to drive. With the Max, all you do is mash the gas and both sides spin.

MaxRules

By Phil Herrold on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Gosh, charlie, I don't see how you're getting stuck in a swamp with an 8x8. Like Brandon said, some people get stuck because they don't know how to drive. If you practice, you could clear that swamp easily. Your runamuk tire's rib patten tread are sometimes more helpful than Rawhide 3's. I find it hard to believe a Polaris quad is handling this terrain better. As for your maxes, I'm not experienced with them but it seems to me any model will also do great in the swamp. these machines'll surprise you.