Springers, how, why and are they worth it?

[kghills]

I decided to start a thread where a person could go to get some general springer information on the site. There are lots of great build threads, pictures, videos and discussions here and there on the site but I thought it would be nice to have a place that sort of brought a lot of the info together and gave people a chance to discuss them in general. So here it goes.

Here is a great thread with some springer history:
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/6x6-a...ger-racer.html
It looks like the first springers were for racing. Tube chassis with outer skins or body panels. Here are a few photos from the sites extensive galleries.


The next versions of springers uses an existing body. Some are for racing and some are for trail riding. Some do both. Member whipper-ag has a company called Apache Gear that manufactures kits for the Max II, Max IV and Attex. Here are some build threads:
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/attex...-springer.html
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/max-a...-springer.html
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/attex...-springer.html
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/max-a...-springer.html
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/max-a...-springer.html
Here are the known Whipper springer kits:
WFO Max 4 -AZ
Whipper Spider Attex- AZ
Whipper Scorpion Attex- AZ
Whipper Godzilla Max 4- AZ
Bridget Max 2 SS-AZ
George Apache Attex-NY
Lewis Orange Crush Attex - NC
Aussie Max 2- Australia
Whipper special project- AZ
Jerseybigfoot Copperhead Max 2- NJ

Just because there is not a "kit" for your AATV does not mean you can't have a springer. Member bugeyed 99 designed and built his own springer for his Hustler 950:
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/hustl...er-anyone.html

Also be sure to check out an Argo springer. Lots of info on this thread from our serious trail riders in Canada.
http://www.6x6world.com/forums/argo-...-springer.html

Please feel free to chime in and let me know of things that might be added or changed in this first post and I will modify it. If I missed your build thread please post it and I will add it. If you have a springer tell everyone why you love or hate it and why and what you would change if anything. And for sure post pictures and videos.

Yes they go fast, yes they ride smooth, yes most with bodies can swim, yes they look cool, yes they go in the mud. But do they do any of these things as well or better than a well built 6x6 that relies on its tires and its seat for suspension?

Inquiring minds would like to know or you would not be reading this thread, would you? Keith.

[mudbug3]

Great post topic Keith if some one is thinking about building an amphib springer !

[JoeMeg]

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread. I know I want to assemble my Hustler 880 with the Berkley Jet Pump functional. However,I feel that for this fact,when it comes to serious mud holes,she's gonna be somewhat of a "Trail Queen",lol. So,I have been having serious conversations with myself about how to just build a springer. Then,from experience (lazyness,lol), I won't get into too thick of goo,just to avoid having to clean it all off. I vision the Hustler being used primarily in the Pymatuning valley crusing dirt roads and (hopefully) accessing some of the many small bodies of water in the area.

Joe.

[Mike]

Don't forget our Canadian members and the Argo springers they have been building: http://www.6x6world.com/forums/argo-...-springer.html

[kghills]

Joe, here is some good trail riding springer video of Marc and George. I think it is very similar to the riding you envision.





Thanks for the Argo springer link Mike. I will add it in to the first post for sure.

Keith.

[mudbug3]

Installing a springer kit on an amphib is a great concept if you don't mind being limited in where you choose to take your amphib. For rocky terrain and bumpy roads with light watery mud holes, a springer is a great idea. Hatfeilds and Mckoy's ,atv park is a fantastic park to go to if you own an amphib with a springer kit .In the river bottom lands and the different swamps that my friends and I have to ride in, an amphib with only a suspension seat is much more practical than a springer kit. The people who would make a great candidate for a springer installation on their amphib ,are those with lots of fabrication skills, have the necessary cash on hand to see this project through by paying some one else who has the needed skills ( not cheap to do I have heard ) or some one who has more than one machine like several forum members that have already bought springer kits.


This is a great place to take an amphib with a springer kit.

[kghills]

Hey Dave. While I tend to agree with you on this I also know we both are open track advocates. In the places we ride you could make the argument that having tires and not tracks limits you just as in some conditions having the tracks on can limit you. It would have nothing to do with it being a springer or not. The biggest thing I am seeing from watching George and Marcs videos is tire size and choice. I actually really enjoyed their video and wonder if a bigger tire on a springer might change the game for them in an extreme mud condition like it does for the lifted big tired RZRs you see at the Mud Nationals. That is if those are the conditions you choose to ride in.

Keith.

[jerseybigfoot]

The Copperhead currently has 22" Dirt devils which are slightly shorter than 22RH3's. 25 RH3 will just fit a standard Max2 with some body mods. My next opportunity we will see how the 25's fit. Because of the springer kit width it doesn't look like it but the ground clearance is almost doubled.

[kghills]

You right Marc, the height does not look as if it's that much more than a stock Max II. Does the width cause you any problems on the trails you have been riding so far? Not the overall width, but it seems to me the width of your springer would match up pretty good to that of a Jeep. I could see where if a guy were to run rutted up Jeep trails you might have a problem finding a line to run without high centering. I also think the 25x12x9 RH3s would be the way to go if they fit. Or maybe 24"at Argo tires. They might also swim really well. That might be super cool.

Keith.

[kghills]

The Copperhead currently has 22" Dirt devils which are slightly shorter than 22RH3's. 25 RH3 will just fit a standard Max2 with some body mods. My next opportunity we will see how the 25's fit. Because of the springer kit width it doesn't look like it but the ground clearance is almost doubled.

I grabbed these pictures from the Max Springer thread. http://www.6x6world.com/forums/max-a...-springer.html

These pictures show the 25" RH3 tires on a Max II springer kit. The second picture does a good job of showing the Max II compared to the larger Max IV. To me the 25" tire on the Max II looks very well proportioned. For the environment the pictures were taken I would think the RH3 tire would prove very durable. And here is a quote from the masked desperado that pilots the above Max II that addresses my question regarding springer track width and Jeep ruts I also found in the thread. "When we come up to a rutted trail, we do just what you guys would do with a stock machine if you don't want to get stuck. You put your tires on the high spots & hope you don't slide into the rut if it's wet". Are any of the springers besides the Canadian Argo springers running a true amphibious tire? Are there any good videos showing a springer doing some just off idle skid steering and maneuvering around obstacles. I would think that would be an interesting aspect to see.

Keith.