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Swamp Rat
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:51 pm: | 
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I have to questions I am hoping someone can help me answer...
Is the snow plows for Argos the same for the 8x8s as they are for the 6x6s? I mean can you take a plow off one (regardless of the size of the actual plow) and hook it up to the mounting brackets on another?
Also, what is the price of a new plow for an argo and is it easy to find a used one? I have many questions concerning snow plowing with an argo. I will ask more if someone is interested in answering. |
David Keeso (Argomag)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:51 pm: |
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The plows are the same for the 8x8, 6x6 ARGO's. They all mount onto the mounts on the axles. The price for them is high, I'll double check tonight what it is. Getting a used one shouldn't be too hard to do. In the classified section of this site (the text classifieds) I have seen a few for sale used, but as I said, they aren't too hard to find. E-mail me and I'll send you the price of a new one.
djhkeeso@rogers.com |
CanadianEh
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:51 pm: |
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David is Correct, the plow is the same for both vehicles. I have one installed my 8x8. Yes it is damn expensive, but it is build extremely strong. The cost also includes a replacement whinch plate (stronger) and fairlead bearing. Wouldn't you know it, this is the first year with the plow and we had record (NO SNOW) fall, BUMMER! Using the plow is a hoot. It still amazes me how strong these machines are. |
David Keeso (Argomag)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:51 pm: |
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The snow this year sucked. I put the tracks on the night of Christmas day and used them twice. The next time I was at my cottage, most the snow was melted, except soem of the trails, so I went out with my 4 year old cuson, and ended up ripping the track off trying to manover. I was running straight and it climbed out. I got it back in, and as soon as I started to turn again, it climbed out again. I was lucky that I didn't rip the tires right off the wheeles, and it took alsot 30 minutes to drive the rest of the track off, doing donughts in the middle of the road with only the lights from the ARGO.
I ended up after finally getting the one the rest of the way off, slowly driving back on the side of the road trying to keep the one track still in snow going to the garage and taking the other off. Hopefully, their will be lots next year. I hope. Where in Canada are you? Anywhere near the Bruce Pennensula? That is where my cottage and ARGO are. I'm only 17 but if you are near, we should load up and go trailing sometime.
Let me know
I have never owned a plow, but their is a guy about 10 minutes away from us that used to be a Argo dealer and he uses one year round for work in the development. All I know is that they are damn heavy and when you are running fast, and hit a bump, (in a 6x6) it feels like the vehicle will nose dive into the ground. |
David Keeso (Argomag)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:51 pm: |
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Swamprat
I e-mailed you the specs on the plow for the ARGO. Are you in Canada or the US? I tried converting the prices to US dollars as well as Canadian, but I don't know the exact exchange rate.
LEt me know when you get them. |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 56
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 02:18 pm: |
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Just got a big dump of snow the AVENGER transmission shifts real nice from reverse to LOW and back when plowing wonder how the t-20's shift from Low to reverse oops, I mean forward to reverse ; maybe FRED can give us some insight on how easy they shift, or maybe he's still out trying to shift and plow.
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Missouri's Max and Argo Dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Brandon_price
Post Number: 212
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 02:38 pm: |
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Haha that's a good one Steve. I'm sure the T-20's shifting difficulty is soley due to it's superior performance. Right Fred?
That is a monster plow on your Avenger. Any pics of you plowing? |
Dave Evans
Member
Username: Dozer
Post Number: 24
Registered: 01-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 02:58 pm: |
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I say you two guys are a-holes, Fred is a nice guy, didn't you Brandon buy your first MAX from him, I seem to remember that. Evans |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 119
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 04:30 pm: |
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The argo plow does work very good. I was impressed last year when I got to plow snow with my Bigfoot. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 224
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 05:45 pm: |
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They're not serious Dave, it's a joke. Consider an apology. |
Argohunter
Intermediate Member
Username: Argohunter
Post Number: 52
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 11:03 pm: |
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Since we have some sensitive readers, I want to place a disclaimer on the following post. Disclaimer: This post is not intended to offend, excite, agitate, upset, criticize, slam or flame anyone about their choice of machine. lol!!
That being said, on to the real stuff:
I don't need a low range to plow snow with my Max, it plows fine in forward gear. I do use low range in my Jeep to save on the clutch when plowing but I don't need it for plowing. I use low range in my other Jeep that has an automatic to slow down the speed while plowing. I use low gear on my tractor when blowing snow with my tractor because I have the throttle up for more PTO rpm and I want to keep the speed of the tractor down. My question is: Do you need low range in the Argo to plow?
My guess would be having to use low range because the Argo goes too fast in high range or the weight of the Argo plow is so heavy that the machine needs low range to move snow effectively or the snow is so wet and dense that you can wring the water out of a snowball.
I've been plowing snow for more years than I want to admit so please don't give me a snow job with your answers (pun intended) lol. Or, did I miss the whole issue here and that it was really about the fact that the Max does not have a low range and the Argo does and that the Argo shifts into reverse better than the Argo does, lol.
You guys in Canada are having the same minimal snow accumulation as we are getting on the south side of Lake Superior so don't feel too bad. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 225
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 10:32 am: |
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I think he just used low range because he had a choice and that's the gear he liked. I'm really surprised there's so much response about this.. oh well the board is slow and we want to discuss something!
Argo's, mainly something like my 18hp 8 wheeler needs a low range in the tight steep stuff due to steering effort/lousy diff design. Otherwise Low is just nice to have like in any other offroad vehicle. Eliminates slipping the clutch/belt and allows controlled wheel speed for rock crawling, easy controlled decent on steep stuff. I can take hands off the controls and re light my cigar on steep downhills that my max friends would rather not even attempt. Can also change gears/reverse on any slope in about 1 second and have outstanding brakes while doing it.
I certainly don't think argo has a better trans. Was a mechanic for decades and saw a lot of gears, standard and automatic. When I test drove argo in the late 90's, I just about lost my interest due to the noisy trans and exhaust in my face. If a max had been around for a test drive I might be a max owner. I enjoy driving a T20 when I get the chance. Some of my max friends probably think, "he seems like an intelligent guy, why is he driving an Argo?"  |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 236
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 02:40 pm: |
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I should have probably just ignored this thread as I think Steve Y. is trying to get a rise out of me. I will state that the Max shifting problem is a new user issue that affects some impatient operators. Reading the owner's manual, a few hours of practice and shifting when just coming to a stop eliminate it as an issue 99.99% of the time. I've sold several Max/plow set-ups and all the owners seem very pleased: not been one word about shifting problems. The question that should be asked is why does Argo need a two speed tranny? Wow, Steve, that is one big plow - does that Argo really have the ability to push it full of snow? Even with the weight of the Avenger, you must need to carry 1000 pounds of payload to get traction?
Dave, thanks for the support, but I will assume that Roger is right and they are just funn'n me.
Yes, Roger, your last paragraph has tons of truth to it.
Back to the plowing: I am a snow blower guy. I live where the wind has been known to blow and those who plow and leave a berm exasperate their problems and work. I try to keep my roads so that the wind can keep them clear and if I do have to remove some snow, I try to keep it far enough away that when it drifts in again that I don't have to keep moving the same snow. |
philip w.cox
Advanced Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 268
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 03:56 pm: |
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Hey Steve- The last couple of snows have been dry and light, BUT I think you are using trick photography. Not even your mossy oak avenger with that red haired retriever in harness ,helping , can push a plow THAT big. Stop yanking Fred,s chain,. Us Max guys owe him a lot for his great advice. Happy riding W. Philip Cox P.S. I see you've got a new max dealer 10 mins. north of Kingston. |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 122
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 04:11 pm: |
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No trick photography here.
Around here I don't get a lot of snow so if I blade it and it drifts back, that just mean I get to have fun blading it again. |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 57
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 05:46 pm: |
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PHILIP- that plow is 81" wide exactly the same width as the factory I got it from SILLS ARGO and the AVENGER can push it easily without any help from my CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER . I have added side spill over plates so the snow just rolls in front of it cause I never angle it.The brackets are factory ARGO but I added an inside piece on to pin the plow on instead of bolts.
 |
philip w.cox
Advanced Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 269
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 10:07 pm: |
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O.K. ,Steve and Chuck, I was wrong, no trick photography, but I still like the red retreiver. W. Philip Cox Nice mod. with the pin replacing the bolt. |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 123
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 08:25 am: |
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I got some video saturday of the Bigfoot in action plowing. Every time I use it, I am more impress with how well it works.
Steve, I like the looks of your mounts. Mine are different. ( I guess since I have a Bigfoot) I had thought about using pins instead of bolts. |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 59
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 12:12 pm: |
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Chuck- I did the same thing to my 2000 CONQUEST plow mounts which are the same mount for a BIGFOOT because they both use the same bearing extension. These are not the clearest pics.
 |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 125
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 12:28 pm: |
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Did you happen to keep the mounts off the conquest?
I notice you have tire chains on the conquest. Do you use them on avenger? I have some I could adjust to fit the rawhide3's but I just haven't had the need to do that. I could see it being useful if it iced and then snowed.
I am planning on making some adjustable sliders for my blade so I can easily adjust for rock size or just pull a pin or two and beable to lay the blade down on pavement.
I am going to try to get it lined out to have some plowing jobs for anytime it snows, but that hasn't worked out yet. |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 60
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 01:32 pm: |
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CHUCK-I sold the plow mounts with the CONQUEST and the new owner plows with it the plow I kept because they are the same for all models just the brackets are different.I have all different kinds of tire chains though the ones for cars are good for an ARGO as opposed to the factory ones but I have not tried any of them on my AVENGER as of yet;my main focus right now is my ARGO-LOCKER its been a challenge but it is slowly coming together. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 237
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 02:03 pm: |
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Steve, I read, but I don't understand! What is an Argo-locker, what does it do and how does it pertain to plowing? |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 61
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 03:46 pm: |
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FRED -The locker does not pertain to plowing directly it acually locks out the differential for TRUE EIGHT WHEEL DRIVE with shift on the fly capabilities.I was a truck puller and off-roader for years and realized there is situations where a locked differential is needed and some situations where open differentials were better.Therefore I will have the best of both worlds so to speak. |
Jack Ouellette
Member
Username: Beungood
Post Number: 43
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 05:19 pm: |
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Wasn't there someone on here who was designing someth9ing like this consisting of cone clutches and was looking for a gineua pig?
Would it be autoimatic or switchable? I would be interested in this. I am leaning toward a Frontier or Avenger.. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 238
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 6 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 05:58 pm: |
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Oh. now I understand; you are trying to make it work more like the T-20. Makes sense to me, but you do know don't you, that regardless what you do that you will not have the complete operator control of either or both sides the way one does with a T-20.
It does please me to know that the Avenger is not yet "the perfect machine". |
R.J. roe
New member
Username: Gone_to_the_max
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2007
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 06:26 pm: |
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ive got to agree with fred, being a max owner. about the only feature that i like about the argo, is the name it is kinda catchy. but other than that the argo will never have anything on the t-20, and that is all that there is to it. |
Bud
Intermediate Member
Username: Budtx
Post Number: 89
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 10:13 am: |
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Steve Y.: I'd like to hear more about your idea to fabricate a locker for the Argo tranny. I too am a weekend offroader (1983 K20 mud truck with a 6" lift and TSLs), and am curious about what adjustments to the Argo can be made relevant to the transmission.
Bud |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 62
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 3 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 01:57 pm: |
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FRED- I didn't know up until my post that you thought the AVENGER was the perfect machine!
AS for complete operator control of both sides- I can power the left side or the right side or both at the same time whichever I choose.
Funny how a MAX dealer/owner would take so much interest in a post pertaining to an ARGO then try to downgrade it, try to think about the facts first next time before you sabotage a post ;thank you! |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 63
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 02:24 pm: |
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BUD-My truck I've had for 18 years it is 78'gmc 1 ton 4x4 6" lift 350 fuel injected 33" bfg mudterrains with a 14 bolt 4.56 detroit locked rear a dana 60 front dana 70 outers with re-splined spicer hubs and lock-rite locker sm465 muncie trans with np205 transfercase custom duel shifters and a duel output P.T.O. to power a direct drive front 10000 pound rhino winch and a direct drive 20000 pound bradon rear winch with 4 power in speeds and reverse from the transmission. |
Bud
Intermediate Member
Username: Budtx
Post Number: 91
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 04:47 pm: |
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Steve Y: That sounds like a nice truck, but you need a bit more winch.  |
Bud
Intermediate Member
Username: Budtx
Post Number: 92
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 04:48 pm: |
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Steve Y: That sounds like a nice truck, but you need a bit more winch. Just kidding! |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 127
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 05:01 pm: |
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Why do you need to plow snow if you have truck like that? |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 239
Registered: 01-2005
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 06:44 pm: |
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Steve, What makes you think that "I thought" the Avenger was the perfect machine? I certainly hope not too many people think that (I've always said that the perfect machine does not exist, but the Max IV with 26" tires (any engine 18 HP or larger) comes the closest). I hate to have to draw pictures to explain my posts, but so as to not have any more misunderstandings, I will be much more explicit in my use of words. It is you and others who sing the praises of the Avenger (and Frontier); especially the new redesigned, improved, and fully functional argo tranny.
Now we find out, from you (an Argo expert with over 1000 hours of argo use), that the great new tranny really could use a locker to be fully functional. Imagine my surprise!!!
I must admit that I am not really surprised, because in situations where one side might have good traction and the other side might be sitting on ice (such as plowing), the "one side drive" could prove frustrating even though I understand from you and others that argo drivers can control both sides; so, why the need for a locker?
What will we all think when it becomes public knowledge that the new 10 inch wide Frontier tire isn't wide enough to give enough contact area to support the machine's weight in the soft stuff? I'm sure it works well as long as it can reach something that will provide traction, but I think it will bottom out just as fast as the other heavy weights in the deep soft stuff. My guess is that a Bigfoot with the 25x12x9 Rawhide III tire will go further than a Frontier. Max II with the 22" tire still has the best PSI on the ground numbers (and yes, the Frontier should be compared to the Max II in performance and price as the Avenger should be compared to the Max IV). The factory spec sheets speak for themselves; I just encourage all to look at them.
You stated in an earlier post that you do not angle your blade. Why is that? Does it have anything to do with "one side drive"? I would think it a lot more productive to be able to drive the full length of one's lane moving snow. Maybe that is why shifting is not a factor with plowing with a max because we seldom shift. When I plow with an angled blade, I drive up one side and down the other just making a "U" turn at each end moving snow over each pass. If it is really deep, I will start at the farthest outside edge and move snow into what I have just cleared (requiring me to go over the whole area at least twice, but keeping the snow far enough away that I always have a place to put new snow). That is why I prefer a snow blower; a lot less work and time invested. |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 128
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 08:31 am: |
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Here are two video clips of the Argo plowing snow this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyO-g0zaxV8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RGumvjAmvQ |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 64
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 01:06 pm: |
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FRED-I really surprised you? OR WORRIED YOU? You found out that the only thing a MAX has over an ARGO is the ability to send power to both idler shafts at the same time regardless of traction was COMING TO AN END!I think this is the REAL issue.
When plowing I like the plow to scoop and roll snow in front to the bank and find this faster to a clean driveway. The AVENGER has no trouble pushing the ever increasing load with the LOW gear keeping the r.p.m. up into the engines more efficient powerband. As for you not shifting while plowing I think we both know why as it was discussed before about t20's shifting issues.
I don't think an AVENGER should be compared to an MAX IV for price and performance when the AVENGER is an eight wheel drive , can haul SIX adults and has a towing capacity of 1800 lbs. Don't see any similarities there.
A FRONTIER and a MAX IV are more comparable.
My thoughts on the ARGO tire at189 are they probally ride the best, mud won't stick to the tread because of the voids, they are caparable in height and will paddle water very well and fit any track design. Thinking I might try a set myself. |
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