By Doug Barker on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Anyone have any thoughts as to why an ATV that uses articulation for steering wouldn't work.
It would seem to have the advantage of not stopping half of its wheels when turning.
Doug

By Speed on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Doug,

I have considered this option many times. The one thing I cannot get around is having to use differentials to take up the difference in radii when turning. If solid axles were used, I doubt that you could get it to articulate. Using the differentials would kill the ability to get through the mud. One option would be to use a ratching type of locker such as the Lock-Right. However, this too would try to straighten the vehicle out because the drive would be routed to the inside front wheel. The big articulating tractors that I have seen use diffs, sometimes with the ability to manually lock them if it starts to get stuck. This way it could be used as full 4 or 6 wheel drive going straight and then open the diffs when you need to turn.

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

Sure it works - the old Pugs were made that way, but they had the same problem all diff powered machines have (only the tire without traction spins). I had a late 60s Pug. They also don't float and don't climb very well and were almost as heavy as a little pickup.

If you want a machine that puts power to all wheels when turning and that will go about anyplace, get a max and learn how to slip steer it.

By Alan Harper on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You don't necessarily have to have
differentials. A Coot has live axles and works
nicely. It articulates, but not for steering. The
downside to the full 4WD is the turning radius
is about double what you would expect. Like
Doug said, it would be nice if I could lock them
only when needed, like a tractor. I guess every
farmer has forgotten to unlock the diff at the
end of the row once, only once though.

By Dudge on Unrecorded Date: Edit

MULE M274 VEHICLE
Has anyone had any experiance with a MULE army vehicle?
I've checked a few out on the net and they appear to be pretty awesome. I know that they're not amphibious but could one be made to float?
The specs say that they can fjord 18" water.
Thanks

By EugeneKochnieff on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Correction fred, Not all diff driven machines do as you say, any diff/integral drive will out perform an open diff or the hallowed t20 for that matter.

By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dudge,

The Mule is a small off-road cargo carrier. It looks like a flat platform on four wheels, with a seat and steering wheel at one end. They use an air-cooled engine mounted under the platform, and some varients have four-wheel steering. They can be driven from the seat, or the driver can walk along side, and still control the machine.

By Dudge on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks for the info.
Has anyone driven a mule in extreme conditions?
(mud, trails, hills, woods, etc.)
How do they perform?
Thanks

By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dudge -

You might want to check out the Military Vehicle Preservation Associate at www.mvpa.org. I know that there are people in the MVPA who own Mules, and perhaps someone can tell you about the vehicle's performance. I've seen mules and mule parts available in the MVPA Supply Line publication.

By phil on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The idea sounds simple at first but when you hit the first tree in the left front tire all the vehicles mass will try to break any steering linkage you have thats why the are steered with hydraulic cylinders. Second I built a garden tractor size center articulated vehicle and the first major steering problem is thet when you drive between two posts and you are to cloce to the one on the right.When you steer left the front will turn left but the rear turns right and the rear tire will hit every time. You can only steer after you pass the obstruction. It you slip sideways into a tree between the tires you can't drive the vehicle free, it must be pulled sideways to free it. Don't let this stop you from dreaming what do you think about the first person to build a 6x6, I would love to see the first version of that!

By Dudge on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You know you're getting older when you realize you can't reinvent the wheel.
We have spent many hours and have tested several models only to come to the conclusion that its all been done.
The current AATV designs are the product of decades of trial and error by hundreds of people.
I'm savin' my money for a new Argo.....
Dudge

By Ted Stanfield (Ted) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I hit a thigh high railroad tie post with the rear wheel of my 4 wheel steer coot while in reverse. The govener came loose when I started it and it took off full throttle. I found my self with the rear tire on top of the post before I could get it shut off. There was no damage,just hurt pride. It didnt even try to spin the wheel out of my hands. Wouldn't bet on this happening again,just got lucky I guess!

By Craig Bramscher (Dreammedia) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Is the 60's PUG you refer to the same company as the current PUG? I am seriously considering their Badlands model, with articulation, just because they are the only ATV out there with room to hall the kids and a factory roll bar. This is a wifely requirement to take the young kids out.
Anyone have recent experience with these?

By Craig Bramscher (Dreammedia) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Is the 60's PUG you refer to the same company as the current PUG? I am seriously considering their Badlands model, with articulation, just because they are the only ATV out there with room to hall the kids and a factory roll bar. This is a wifely requirement to take the young kids out.
Anyone have recent experience with these?

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

Pretty sure the current PUG is a different beast than the original. The original went Bankrupt. Current outfit could be using the same or some of the same Technology, but the info I saw recently, two of the three models were regular 4 wheel or 6 wheel "little pickups" . Yes, the Badlands B624 is articulating (and expensive for such a limited use vehicle) and very similar in design to what I had. FWIW, get an Argo or Max if you have tough terrain to traverse (if it is really tough get a Max), otherwise get any of the little pickups/glorified golf carts (Mule, Gator, Haulmaster,Pug, club, etc., etc.).

By balduc2t on Unrecorded Date: Edit

do they have a web site for the new pug if they do can you post it

By matt435 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred are you coming to deepwater or humphry? Matt

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

Matt, Not in April for sure, I am considering Humphry in July, but probably not this year. Always something - now I find out I need a new shoulder that takes a year to heal up. Have things to do before and need to make plans for the recovery time. Sure wish they could just swap parts the way we can with our machines.

The link to Pug: Pug Power

By Craig Bramscher (Dreammedia) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

http://www.pugpower.com/ I know the 8x8s are great, just need something very kid friendly for the wife as well. The "Personnel carrier" on the pugs looks ideal, regardless of amphibious cability.

By Craig Bramscher (Dreammedia) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I keep looking at, and just bought a couple of COOT's. I really like the articulation, and though I realize they are not a 6x6, I see them in the same spirit.

If someone where to go into production of a COOT today, do you think there would be a market? Any thoughts?

By Craig Bramscher (Dreammedia) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I keep looking at, and just bought a couple of COOT's. I really like the articulation, and though I realize they are not a 6x6, I see them in the same spirit.

If someone where to go into production of a COOT today, do you think there would be a market? Any thoughts?

By Kristine Bennett on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I've had both a 6 wheeler and a Coot. My Coot was 4 wheel steer they did make then front wheel steer also. I use my Coot far more then I did my 6 wheeler. I was carring hay to feed the livestock to going out and getting firewood and skidding logs with it. It was handy to have I could take it places where I couldn't get my 4x4 it was also use for fun too! I'll be honest my 6 wheeler was far more agile but it was a play rig not a work rig.

I have on the drawing board a unit like a Pug only it's going to be shorter and a little more compact. I'll be useing Cushman axles and I'm not sure but they may be lockable. I'll find out when I tear the two scooters apart. The newer Pug I saw use an Ford Escort transaxle turned running fore and aft seens to work well for them. Just a side note I think it was jacobson that also made an areteg like the Pug I think they still do I know I've seen then on a couple of golf courses in the past few years.

Any of you ever seen a Mogater? It's also an areteg. The first one I saw was in Alaska about 15 years ago.

Just to let you guys know some of us woman remember the ATVs when they first came out! And we can drive them and fix them too.

Take care all and enjoy the muddy water as you make a splash!

Kristine

By Jonathan ( - 205.188.114.152) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi! Has anyone seen the ATVs offered by PowerTrac? I don't think I'd want one but what interested me about them was they used hyrdaulic drive on all six wheels. No more adjusting chains. I used to have a Hustler ATV and the chains were a pain. The PowerTrac has a steel body which I think would be a problem. I remember how I bounced that Hustler off rocks that would have done a job on steel, which also rusts.