By Travis Chrystal (Travisch) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Last month I purchased a used MaxIV. It needed a tranny and Richard fixed me up quickly. Its got the old 16 hp tec. single cylinder engine and runs pretty good. I'm an Argo Bigfoot owner so jumping in a Max was somewhat different. I've got about 6 hours on the max now and am still learning the T-20. I've had the Max stuck just as bad as the Argo on muddy lakeshore - a winch is in order for at least one of the machines. I don't like climing hills in the Max as well as the Argo and its damn sure rougher riding. The Max also flexes alot on un-even ground which in the 4x4 world is a good thing. I'd also much rather work on the Max than the Argo as its easier to get at everything. My Bigfoot with the brake cooling kit sucks to change the oil filter.
I'll post more as time goes on.

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Travis what tires do you have on the Max IV? I am guessing you don't have any bigger than 22" because that 16hp Tecumseh couldn't turn the 26s in deep mud. Tire pressure will determine how soft the ride is with any of these 6x6s. An old Max IV with a small engine and small tires is not much competetion for your Bigfoot. The Max IV is best with 26" tires and at least the 20hp Kohler. The big tires are just awesome in the mud because of the ground clearance they give and they paddle really good in watery mud. At the last Deepwater ride, Dean's Max IV 800-T with 26" tires was able to go through two mud holes that no other machine could. He backed out of another when he had a big pile of mud behind him and the Max just pushed it aside.
The backseat room is also very much improved. It now comfortably seats one man and three women :)

MaxRules

By Al Funk (Al123) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What sources do you use to find a used machine?
Al

By Travis Chrystal (Travisch) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Its got the 22 inch goodyears on it. The Bigfoot tires fit though so I'll also swap and test that way. Don't knock that 16hp tecumseh motor its got alot of low end grunt and will almost outrun the Bigfoot on the flats.

By jsaylors on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I also have a Max and an Argo. My Max is an older Max II that has been completely rebuilt. It includes a new 16 hp briggs, rebuilt tranny new chains and new bearings. I just converted it from floatation tires to tires with actual rims. My Argo is a 1999 Conquest with 22x12.50x8 superswamppers and a fiberglass hardtop on it. After I got the max, I stopped even trying to compare the two brands. Other than the fact that they're both amphibious ATV's, they are nothing alike. The Conquest is like a truck. I can throw just about every bit of camping/hunting/fishing gear I own in it and still have room for another adult or two or three or four. If they want to bring they're gear too, I have an Argo amphibious trailer to tow behind it. This years moose hunting trip provided for some of the nastiest peanut butter consistency mud Alaska has to offer. I did get stuck several times and had to winch out because of steep angle mud pit exits, but all in all the conquest trudged right on through.

By way of contrast, the Max II is more like a small roadster. It is smoother riding than the conquest because of softer tires (22x10x8 runamucks, take offs from the conquest). It is more nimble and responsive because of the the t-20 tranny. It goes through the mud equally as well as the Argo. It is much lighter, therefore the 16 hp briggs is fine as far as power goes. In my opinion it is more fun to drive than the conquest. The down sides are -1. Cargo carrying capacity. At 6'4" and 315, I'm just about a full load for it. -2. General ruggedness. I know die hard max fans will fly off the handle and tell me how full of it I am and how the newer maxes have improved but in a side by side comparision, MY Argo is built much more heavy duty than MY max. The body is thicker and stronger on the Argo, the frame is heavier and better reinforced, the bearings are larger, stronger and better sealing. It has double roller chains compared to maxes single roller chains. Overall, MY Argo is a better constructed unit than MY max. -3. I agree with Travis. I feel much safer on the really steep stuff in the Argo. The max just feels more tippy.

In summary, people often bring up the Ford vs. Chevy thing when comparing Max and Argo, but that's not a good analogy at all. A more accurate comparision would be a F-350 pickup to a Mustang. Incidentally, my other toy is a Polaris Sportsman 400 quad with 25 inch vampires all the way around. It too has it's advantages and disadvantages compared to the max and argo. I'm glad I have all three of them. It is kind of like having a lawn mower, a weed eater and a chain saw. All three are tools but very different tools.

With all that said, I still think the best all around ATV is a Piper Super Cub with 180 hp engine, floats, skis, and tundra tires.

By Big Bob Hall on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I give my opinion after owning the Atvs listed below:

ARGO 6 Vanguard........
Max II ........................
Attex Tommahawk......
Sierra Trail Boss.........

ARGO Vanguard: Nice machine, heavy, true does drive like a truck. Good storage, very hard to work on. Way too heavy in the front. No room for driver, NO leg room at all. Nice reat storage. Very strong driveline Overall nice but heavy, really heavy feeling.

Max II also 16 hp. Well balanced machine driving wise. T-20 with springs removed drives easy like a car. Goes anywhere offroad (almost) Easy to work on. which is good because the chain adjustors and jackshafts are a poor design. Nice room for driver and rider, decent storage in rear. Overall nice

Serra Trail Boss: Really heavy duty axles, chain, frame, nice storge body. Very poor transmissions, so poor that it makes the machine junk by todays standards. Nice storage decent room for driver. This could be a excellent machine with a good trans and modern 4 cycle engine, but why bother, just buy something else. Overall: A relic from the past.

ATTEX TOMMAHAWK: 16 HP Nice strong body, very thick in the right places. Wonderful enginnering in this machine. Strong but simple chain set up with cool adjustors. Only 4 chains in this machine! Again the T-20 is great. Excellent off road balance, the best! Small axles look weak, no rear storage at all.
Excellent design in the fold up seat engine lid combination, only problem is that it is so well made you do not have to work on it much. Nice big 6" lights,
Best described as the Porsche of the ATV world. Overall: The best design ever used in a ATV. Only needs bigger axles to be a "GOD"

In conclusion as you can tell I think the ATTEX Tommahawk is the best ATV ever made, so much that I sold the MAX 4000$ and the ARGO 4500$ and took 3500$ and restored the Tommahawk, now I have 350 hours on it and still LOVE it.

BTW: I sold the Sierra long ago

Big Bob Hall

By Kyle L.Vogt (Cmdrvogt) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

In responce to the 2 most recent post's I'd like to say the following :
1. Although I've never seen an Argo in person,I can say they appear to be good machines and just as some prefer Chevy's ,over Fords,some prefer Max'es over Argo's. Bottom line is their both good machines !
2. you can't compare an older Max 2 (or even a Max 4 ) to a 99 Argo! The 2000 model Max 2 is substantialy smaller ,less beefy,when compared to it's big brother the Max 4.I had an oppurtunity to compare side by side a 2000 model Max 2 600T w / a 2000 model Max 4 900T w/26" tires(the 2 I ordered for a customer,the 900t is mine)and the Max 4 dwarfs the Max 2! The Max 2 was quicker to manuever than the 4, but the ride in the 4 was much nicer & was the more stable of the two.Both had solid splined axles,o-ringed heavy duty chains and 5 point bearing flanges w/ grease zerts.The Max 2 600T is a great machine to zip around in ,hunt or over all light duty use. The Max 4 (all I know about is the 900T)is an all around workhorse/fun machine/troop transport exstrordinare.It is a very beefy machine and has taken myself ,passengers and cargo places I never would have imagined and no quad would've dared!
Bottom line is ,you've got to check out the 2000 models,especially the Max 4,then make your comparison. Check out the pic in my profile and you'll see I put my 900T to the test!
Thanks.
Kyle(Cmdr Vogt) PS. The 900T would make a great Airborne dropable troop transport!

By jsaylors on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Kyle, read my post again. I think you missed my point. I wasn't trying to compare ALL Argos to ALL Maxes. I was simply pointing out the differences in MY machines. Yes, I have checked out the new Max IV's and the new Max II's. I find them to be awesome machines. They probably are built better than the older ones. However, the IV's use the same thickness of bodies, the same bearings, the same chains, the same frame material as the Max II's. Bases on that, I would not say that the Max IV is more heavy duty than a Max II. Not "beefier" just a few inches larger. As a dealer, you should find an Argo dealer and check out your competition in person. Just to see what your up against. I have done just that when trying to decide which machine I wanted. I chose the Argo for my new machine but was also impressed with the Max. Thats why I later bought a used one. Now I have the best of both worlds. Lastly, I too have had both machines in places I wouldn't dare go with a quad. But I've also had my quad in places where a Max and Argo wouldn't have been able to go. Can't comment on airborne use. I was a sailor, not a soldier or airman. My philosophy is "There are more aircraft in the sea than boats in the sky".

By Travis Chrystal (Travisch) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

In no way was I using my comparison to form an opinion of one brand vs. the other. I was simply comparing what I have. I would very much like to see and drive a 900T.

By Travis Chrystal (Travisch) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Al Funk (Al123) - I found it in the local Shopper Trader paper for the Cheyenne WY area. I've also seen several Tracksters for sale in it but none have been worth restoring - parts maybe but thats about it. Several weeks ago there was a MaxII and a Hustler for sale in the Denver Sunday paper and this week a MaxII in the Cheyenne daily paper- still for sale.
If your always looking you will sooner or later come across something.

By steve ba on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am interested in buying a 6 wheeler. I have only rode a 4x4 once - a true novice. I am interested in the Polaris Ranger but can't find any user experience. Other machines found on this site look good but may be expensive. I need a work machine - snow plowing, clearing logs etc. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Steve

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The Max and Argo 6x6s you see on this site are priced similar to the big 4x4s. If you get a good deal, you could get an Argo Conquest 8x8 for the price of the Polaris Ranger. The Ranger costs $10,000. It has only a 499cc engine and weighing over 1500 pounds, I don't think it has the power to do much more than haul itself around.
I think you would like the Max IV or Argo Bigfoot. They are both very powerful and have good snowplows available. Both have good cargo/people carrying capacity and are good work machines.

By Phil Herrold on Unrecorded Date: Edit

steve ba,
Glad your considering a 6x6. First question is, how much is to expensive? If you want a good work machine, the 8x8 argo response is heavily built, and low priced for an 8 wheeler. I'm sure that plowing snow and moving logs will be no problem for you. I've moved logs with my conquest that 4-wheelers would cringe at. The Argo Bigfoot or Max IV are about the toughest 6x6s around. You really need to see a dealer and test ride them for yourself.If your lucky, you may find a used machine on ebay for real cheap. Good luck,
Phil

By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Steve -

I agree that the Argo Response is a good strong 8 wheeler. But even the 6 wheelers will surprise you. I had an Argo Vanguard2 (with a 16 hp engine) that could pull as hard as a 24 hp Kutoba tractor. Prices for Max & Argo machines seem to compare well with the big 4 wheelers, and the 6 & 8 wheelers can do more. Where do you live? Route6x6 and the company web sites can point you to dealers.

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

Steve ba,
There are six wheeled machines and there are 6x6 (or 8x8) machines (I'll include them all even though there is a question on some machines if they are really "all wheel drive". Most of what this site is about is skid steer machines. The Polaris Ranger is really just a 4 wheeler with 6 wheels making a pretty cumbersome vehicle.

There is really no comparison machine to the skid steer and if you have a need for its abilities, nothing else will do. It constantly amazes me that so many people do not know about our marvelous machines. The extra expense (if there is any, it comes from add on which the quads don't offer or can't handle) spead over the life of the machine is non-existant because, a Max in particular, with proper maintenance, will last twenty, thirty or more years.

PSI on the ground and traction is what lets any machine get where it wants to go - nothing comes close to the skid steers (and no skid steer is better than (as good as) the Max.

Just compare the specs on any machine you are checking into. I you want a real workhorse and need ability (have tough terrain), a skid steer is your answer.

By stephen bach (Stevebac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks for the replies Brandon and Phil. Polaris claims to pull 1500lbs. Too expensive is over $15,000. I meant by too expensive the Supercat and Centaur(by Argo). My brother-in-law, who owns a 4x4 claims his machine will out pull an Argo any day. I am getting a lot of contradicting information thats why I want to ask owners directly. I tried ebay and couldn't find he Max machines for sale. Need to know what they are listed under.

By snowco on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Anything with "tires" is a piece of "junk", they go flat and then you have "Nothing", TRACKS are the only way to go, and with the price of The "Toys" reaching $15,000, consider a "Super Trackster", you can see on E-Bay, just type in Cushman.
Steve Snow CCOA#6821

By Harry Dusseau (Dirtyharry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HEY! Stephen Bach -

When/if you pick up a 6x6, take your brother-in-law's challenge. Make sure you make a good wager worth your time. Then hook up to his quad and drag that damn thing all over creation! It's no contest. Even a small HP Max II or older 6x6 will outpull a quad. The big Max IV and 6x6 & 8x8 Bigfoot would probably pull TWO quads around! Am I right guys?!

It's best to test one out before you buy. Some fellas here have gone in on a purchase feet first and regreted it because they didn't get what they really needed. (Admittedly though, they are in the tiny minority to the vast majority of very happy amphib owners.) These things aren't cheap, so do some looking and test-driving first if you can. I think you'll be extremely pleased with just howe much these rugged little bugger can do.

Remember... if speed is your main concern, you definately want to try one first. Make sure it's a newer ('99 or '00) model, as they are much quicker than ones just a year or two older. (At least I know the Maxes are. I'm not too sure about Argo.) If you absolutely have to go faster than 45mph, look elsewhere. But... if getting anywhere in any weather with both friend(s) AND gear on board for the ride with you is what you are seeking - WELCOME HOME!

By stephen bach (Stevebac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi Fred, Steve and Harry! The Ranger is supposed to be 6 wheel drive. I don't think that it's a skid steer though. The nearest dealer is about 80 miles away. Maybe thats why people don't know about 6 wheelers! What about Cushman Trackster (always uses a track)? It would seem to me that all the wheels that the track runs on would eventually give problems from the dirt etc. Has anybody any experience with the Centaur? I am sure that I will ignore my brother-in-law and buy a 6 or 8 wheeler as soon as I'm educated enough to choose. I did find one Max and a trackster on ebay last night. Steve

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Steve, $15,000 is more than enough to buy the best of the best. Max IV, Bigfoot, or Conquest are all good choices depending one what you need out of your machine. The Conquest can carry and pull just about anything but it a bit on the slower side. Bigfoot has a faster speed, big tires, and lots of cargo space. The Max IV has the biggest tires available, fastest on water, and by far the fastest on land. Go take a test drive but be ready to buy , you won't be able to go home without one!

I have the smallest Max (14hp) and it will pull any 4x4. Be sure to place a very large bet with your friend on that one. We had a ride today and I rode with a Max IV and Honda Foreman 4x4. There were several other quads there. I can now say, without a doubt, nothing will go where the Max goes. Several mud pits were "Max Only". Quads went in but they didn't come out. I took 31 pics with the digital camera of stuck quads, quads getting pulled out, and then the Max going through the same area with ease. I even got to pull out a Polaris 4x4. Today also proved that 4x4s having more ground clearance is BS. The Honda got stuck in a set of ruts, bottomed out right in the middle of the machine. Both Maxs (mine is said to have less GC than the Honda) went right through the ruts, dragging the bottom, hardly even slowing down. 6x6s will rule again!

MaxRules

By mr. tinker on Unrecorded Date: Edit

please post the pictures so i can show them to my 4x4 buddies. they still believe their quads are superior to anything on terra firma.

By KevinV on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Last summer here in our small town we had a mini-tractor pull. Lawn tractors, built lawn tractors, four-wheelers, Modified (350 C.I. Chevy) lawn tractors and modified 4 wheelers. I brought my Argo Vanguard to run in exhibition class. With me aboard, I think weigh-in was 965 lbs.. Middle of the road as far as the reast of the entries, max weigh-in being 2500 lbs.. After the 1500 lbs class I ran. Their best pull was 128'. I pulled 175', the sled had 7500 lbs. loaded, obviously it did not go all the way up but btter than 50% up the sled. I have video which I could post if anyone is interested.

By Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Kevin: You should send that video to richard of this route6x6 fame! He could then post it for all of us to see.

Bob Brasenwell

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

Kevin, I'm curious. What stopped you: Loss of power or loss of traction?

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You can see the pictures here:
www.homestead.com/max6x6/pota10281.html

MaxRules

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Kevin are you saying you pulled farther than the 4x4 quads pulled? What 'small town' was this in? I would like to see that video. What 4x4 quads were there?

By johnmaiolo on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Anyone know what causes the chain adjusters not to hold tension on a Max II. It seems that they somehow back off. New wear pads were just installed.

By Richard Clark (Richard) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

John:

Chain adjustors not holding on a MAX II: Why???

1. Chain worn out:
2. Dirt in the groves of the locks:
3. Worn edges of the groves:
4. Weak springs:
5. Poor chain alignment:

Richard Clark
ROUTE6x6

By kevinv on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred, Loss of traction, \uboth\u sides just spinning. It was hard packed clay and I have the stock skins, only 1/3 of the original tread. Also I was 550 lbs. lighter.
Brandon, Almont, Mi.. Yes I did outpull them, although I only have video of my pull, it was all that my wife shot. All brands in all states of modifications. Added weight, aftermarket tires, 4 WD.. The announcer can be heard on the video and was really surprised. I will post the video in the near future.

By kevinv on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred, I forgot in the last post, I ran in low gear. I would have liked to run once in high but as an exhibition pull, one was all I was going get.

By shelzac on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon, you are quite a quite a photographer!! Those photos are great. What kind of camera did you get?

Sheldon

By sidley on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I would like to know how any of these 6 or 8 wheelers with tracks compare to snow machines? I live in Alaska and normally break trail in 4 ft plus of snow with a skidoo tundra 2 long track. Not knowing anything about these 6 and 8 wheelers with tracks will they do as good or better?

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

Sidley, I'll just talk about the Max. I don't know anything about your snow machine. I think PSI on the ground is all that matters with a tracked skid steer machine in snow because there is no momentum and not the horsepower. A Max with tracks will go more places than a snowmobile will go WITH THEM BOTH GOING THE SAME SPEED simply because the Max is just under 1 PSI on the ground and very well balanced with the same PSI on the ground at all points of the machine. The Max II will probably climb up on soft snow just a fraction better than the Max IV because the driver is over the middle wheels rather than the front wheels (all Max have the engine in the rear).

A Max in four or five feet of "cold smoke" powder will go just fine up to about 30 degrees of incline. It will leave an imprint of the bottom of the machine in many places and will push about a foot of snow in front of it - it is very important to keep control of the throttle (especially with the Max IV 900T) and to never spin the track.

The Max rides on two 15" wide solid rubber belts (when comparing machines, be sure to allow for the spaces in other track systems when determining PSI on the ground) and compresses the snow into a pretty solid foundation in most snow conditions. If your snow has some moisture, the Max will ride right on top of the snow (sinking in maybe 2" at the most in wet snow).

If you need to get places that power,speed and momentum take you, a Max might not foot the bill, but I have pulled several snowmobiles out in varying conditions and I have always gotten myself where I want to go.

By kevinv on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Sidley,
Compare how? Cargo capacity, speed, depth of snow, range, exposure to the elements? What are you trying to accomplish?

By jerry on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Sidley, where in Alaska do you live? I live in Valdez (snow capital on the world). I have an Argo Conquest with tracks. I'd be more than happy to take you for a ride in it. In answer to your question: The depth of the snow is not a concern with the supertracks. Each track is 18 inches wide and 214 inches long. For basic trail breaking it works great. I've gone through four feet of fresh snow with no problem. The problem is steep or uneven terrain. Most of the snow machining around here is high mountain riding in the Chugach. AATVs arent suitable for that. If you are expecting a tracked AATV to completely replace your snow machine, you'll be disappointed. You won't be able to do any mountain high marking or glacier riding. But for relatively flat, slow riding they're great. Tangle Lakes area is good, so is Eureka Summit. Basically, any area you can ride an atv in the summer is a good place for a tracked AATV in the winter. Concerning snow performance, the info Fred provided for the max pretty much holds true for the Argo as well. For ultimate snow performance, three things are a factor: 1) Low ground pressure, 2) speed, 3) traction. You must have low ground pressure and at least one of the other two. Snowmachines have all three, but in my opinion AATVs are severly lacking in #2 and #3. If they ever get it figured out, Skidoo, Arctic Cat and Polaris will be in real trouble. Hope this helps.

By Sidley on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I guess that I'm looking for something that will replace my quad and snowmachines. Speed of 10 to 20 mph is plenty and yes I do want something that will carry more weight and volume than quads or snowmachines. I need to find someone in the Anchorage area who has a 6 or 8 wheeler with tracks and beg a few hours of their time in the snow conditions that I usually ride. If anyone knows of such a kind person in this area help me to get in contact with them. Thanks.

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Sheldon, I got an Olympus. The pics on my site are 640x480 which is the lowest quality pic this camera can take. I like them the best and they are still high quality. The camera can store 122 pics at a time on an 8mb card which was included with the camera.
I finally got my Hustler back in one piece. It hasn't been started in four months so I wanted to see if it would run. With the turn of the key and a few short cranks it came to life. I couldn't believe how easy it started. It is 20 years old and the easiest starting 2-stroke engine I have ever had. Nothing runs like a Kohler!

MaxRules

By johnmaiolo on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon, how about some pics of that Hustler in action!

By dustin kulwicki (6x6master) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am a first time poster and have been looking for a argo or 6x6 vechical for awhile now. I was going to buy a max 2 but wanted to hold off and get a bigfoot. Now i wanted to see everyones thoughts what do you prefer max 2 or any argo brand. thanks- tell me at dsk6789@aol.com