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Jamie Edwards
New member
Username: Jamie642
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 06:12 pm: | 
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Recently my area has been hit with some big snow storms...20 inches or so. My argo avenger is pretty much worthless in this amount of snow. Tracks are a big investment. I would consider the investment if they REALLY work. I would like to hear from anyone who uses them in the snow. Can you go anywhere in the snow with tracks? In any amount of snow? Thanks!!! |
Kenneth Schroeder
Member
Username: Ken_glen2
Post Number: 31
Registered: 11-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 09:34 pm: |
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Hi Jamie.
we have about 1 ft of snow this winter.
Last winter we had over 4 feet of snow and my freind wiht 18 inch rubber tracks could go any where.I have homemade 15 inch snow machine rubber tracks on 6x6. The problem i had in about 2 feet of slush.Rubber tracks here in Ontario are over 36oo.for 8x8. Ken. |
Jeff bar
Advanced Member
Username: Argo8x8
Post Number: 186
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 10:08 am: |
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Jamie:
I use the tracks from this site on my Conquest, they are great, easy to put on and take off. Work good all at a good price. I did break two segment on a big rock. The replacements were in stock, at only 20$ each. I really like them, you can spend much more, but I do not think that could be better overall.
Jeff Bar |
Dave Keeso
Advanced Member
Username: Argomag
Post Number: 116
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 - 02:06 am: |
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If your going to spend time in the snow tracks are the way to go- they are expensive- however, they maximize the machines capabilities. I have an old ARGO MAGNUM with 18 in plastic tracks, i can run it through very deep snow, it chuggs along slowly but keeps moving. Its when you go to turn that you slow right down cause its pushing lots of weight but with an Avenger, they have much more power to push the tracks. Their are many different track systems out there, most seem to work- I have heard great things about the rubber tracks that ODG sells but again, at what cost. Tracks will also reduce the ground pressure for running through swampy areas and some mud. The new machines are built much tougher than the old ones, they can withstand the added load much better. They are definatly worth while if your going to be doing lots of snow and swamp |
Doug Geange
Junior Member
Username: Dodge03
Post Number: 11
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 - 07:49 pm: |
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Like the others have said already - in the deep snow they are great. I live in Northern Alberta, Canada and we get quite a bit of the white stuff here as well. The Argo seems to be unstoppable with the supertracks (plastic) but I have run into problems on hard packed hills. The tracks seem to spin out. Overall, I would not be without them and on flat - even slightly hilly terrain they make my machine unstoppable. |
tom bo smith
New member
Username: Snowman
Post Number: 6
Registered: 11-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 09:34 am: |
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How does the 6x6 machines work in the snow I was thinking of getting a new max 2 or the argo frontier 6x6 with the 23hp,I have deep snow in our sugar bush to go threw so hill logging paths .I looking to go threw two to three feet of un grommed snow??? |
John B. Cahoon
New member
Username: Jbc2
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 02:11 pm: |
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I have an avenger that I use in my forestry and land surveying business and I would be out of business in the winter without the tracks. It is just an outstanding machine. Every time I use it to get in the back woods of Maine I’m astounded on how well the tracks performs. I will actually go out of my way in the winter to make my trip last longer and tougher to get to the job site because it is so much fun.
As I work for one lady that understand my proclivity for enjoying the job as she does, she
comes along on many of the rides as does as her clients looking for remote locations.
This machine was and is instrumental in closing many remote land sales in Maine. Once they realize that no matter what they can access their property, they are sold if they want to make the investment.
As I will turn 71 on the Ides of March and if it wasn’t for this machine and GPS I would have been retired ten years ago.
The only time I know of that it got stuck was when my son took it out on Houston Pond ice fishing by himself and decided to go riding because of the slow fishing and went up the inlet with flowing water. On his way back out the ice let go and there he is sitting with his eyeballs looking at the edge of the ice. The argo was sitting on a gravel bank, thank god.
Well he strung out the cable on the winch and hooked to an old pine, with inches to spare, and that thing came out just as slick as good be.
Oh yes one other time, I left the argo up north at my brother in laws place and said use it any time you want. Well he did and didn’t he get himself straddled on a blow down with both tracks in the air. He had the remote control winch on the key chain but forgot what it controlled. Well can you imagine the contortions he went through to hook up the winch and finally get himself off that blowdown with the main control on the argo. You had to be there.
It is just amazing where I have gone with the avenger with no fear that I would not come back. Except for the time I lost a wheel on Moosehead lake.
In slush my tracks are useless, just will not go.
take a look at these tracks.
http://www.escargotracks.com/ |
Jeff bar
Advanced Member
Username: Argo8x8
Post Number: 187
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 08:40 am: |
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They are good tracks, if you can afford them. But I can buy many sets of my plastic tracks
Jeff Bar |
Johan
Intermediate Member
Username: Hammr
Post Number: 57
Registered: 12-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 01:20 pm: |
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I live in Ontario and although we don't have much snow this year, we had tons the last two years I had the machine with 13" plastic tracks. Suffice it to say your machine stays in the garage if there is snow up to the skidplate without the tracks. I found it didn't matter how much fresh snow there was, the machine would sink in about 8 inches but no further. It is rather challenging to get back into the machine when it's sitting on powder and you step out and go up to your crotch in snow. I also used it for hauling firewood last winter; picture the back section filled to rounded over with hard maple, while pulling a 6x8 sleigh also filled with about two face cords of green maple. Lots of wieght there and you weren't going fast but it pulled out many of those loads. Fact is if you intend to use the machine in winter, get the tracks, otherwise it along with most ATVs is useless in snow. I did get it stuck the first year but only because I broke through ice on both sides and the belly was hung up on ice but I have since picked my paths more intelligently while negotiating goat paths. My two cents. |
Brian in FABULOUS Utah
Intermediate Member
Username: Brianprovo
Post Number: 66
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 06:59 pm: |
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I have a Conquest which I use a lot during the winter to get to our cabin here in the mountains of Utah. COULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT to do so without tracks. We generally get a lot of snow, not this year as we only have 2 1/2 feet so far. I was have a bit of a power issue at higher altitudes but had the clutch worked on and is now much better.
I, like Doug above, on occasion have trouble with the tracks slipping when going up hill on icy snow. I've seen pictures of users who have put chains on their tracks or paddles. I'm thinking about doing this but chains seem like they would be too heavy. Any one have experience or ideas on this? |
tom bo smith
New member
Username: Snowman
Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 05:52 pm: |
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Hey i guess argo should just make 8 wheelers,as far with tracks,nobody talks about 6x6 doing this good in deep snow they show picture of them in 12 or 14 inches but I can do that with my machine with out tracks.I would realy like to see how a max 2 does in realy deep snow with there tracks? |
Chris Chwaz
Intermediate Member
Username: Buffalomax
Post Number: 69
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 06:00 pm: |
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Yea I would like to see a new 23 hp max 2 with tracks in deep deep snow I have a old 1997 buffalo with plastic tracks that are 12 inches wide that I got about 8 years ago it goes fair in the snow in the ealy spring ,but not in the jan. snow thats fluffy,I seen the ice rubber track they have thats 15inches wide ,and about ten years ago I got a ride in one from a dealer ,but that year was like this one not much snow only about 9 or 10 inches so.And that dealer is over 200 miles form me now.lets see some picture or videos from the few differnt max deals on this broad all the time. |
Brian in FABULOUS Utah
Intermediate Member
Username: Brianprovo
Post Number: 68
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 11:33 am: |
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I was up at the cabin this past weekend and spent most of the day pulling trees to my place to cut this Spring. The Argo did a great job pulling and I never had a problem until around 5:30 when it started to get colder and the snow became slick. the last tree I was towing I had a lot of trouble making it back with as on every hill my tracks would slip. Anyone have ideas on paddles or other things to attach to the tracks so they'll grab better? |
Dave Keeso
Advanced Member
Username: Argomag
Post Number: 117
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 02:30 pm: |
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They have cleats that screw into the track but they have to be mounted to the outside of the track- if they are mounted on the inside they may contact the body of the machine. Thats where they should be though cause thats where the tires are. ARGO super tracks with ice cleats are almost useless cause their is no weight on the outside of the track |
Johan
Intermediate Member
Username: Hammr
Post Number: 60
Registered: 12-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 04:51 pm: |
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Brian, load the back of the Argo with firewood or something heavy, and you will get more traction.
I am with Dave on the cleats being near useless, especially on lake ice. that being said I have not tried ice without the cleats, nor have I had a problem with spinning tracks. Geez, maybe they do actually work a bit. I still think a bit of weight in the back will solve a lot of that! |
Chris Chwaz
Intermediate Member
Username: Buffalomax
Post Number: 70
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2010 - 07:21 pm: |
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I made cleats for my plastic 12 wide tracks out of rubber belting for my buffalo did help alot just was wandering how the new max2 with rubber 15 wide track would do ,or should I get a argo 8 wheeler? |
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