Argo vs. Max vs. ?

[boncrshr]

Ya' know...it's kinda weird. Every time I think I know exactly what I need out of my Hustler, I go riding somewhere different. This last time when I was following my buddies pickup for 11.5 miles at WOT down the beach, 24mph seemed kinda slow. And riding in sand is weird too....you hit a soft stretch and it kills your speed. However, other than the occasional unforeseen crevice that you seem to hit at light speed, the beach is a silky smooth ride.

The Kidd looks like it might be slow, I couldn't find much info on it. I like the prop option and metal body though.

One thing is for sure...the man in the orange jumpsuit is a bad influence! I guess I will eventually have to get a pallet rack system to hold my different machines.

[Mike]

T-20 has a possi differential
Harder on tires bearings etc but give you better traction

Robio, the T-20 is not a possi differential. It is two separate transmissions in one case. You can barely pull back on either stick and make a sweeping, large radius turn without tearing up the grass as badly as a hard skid.

As for popularity, I'm not so sure that I agree with your statistics either.

[RickMo]

I seen somewhere not to long ago that the 1st Argos with t-20s in them. I want to say that I think that one of them was a supersport model. With 35 or 40 something HP. Let me know if someone knows for sure.I'll try looking for it again sometime.Rick

[RickMo]

I think the picture they showed it was only a 2 seater 6x6.

[whipper-ag]

I kinda heard through the grapevine that the Argo center axle on a 6x6 is positioned lower then the front and rear axle. can anybody verify that? If true, Why? I know that I can sit on the cement with my Spider or my Max,and from a dead stop,spin 360 deg.instantly. If you can do that with your Argo in high gear from a dead stop, on cement, please post a video of it. I have driven an Argo and in my opinion it does not handle as good as a T-20 driven car, especially at high speeds.Which is my next question. Every video of an Argo I see, it's doing 10mph. They must go faster than that. with one exception, Roger S, I've seen him drive fast. Is it because they're hard to handle?
Anyway, this thread is about whats better, Max or Argo. And you now have my opinion. So let's hear from all you Argo guys why that center axle is lower.And now we're all waiting for that concrete 360. When the snow melts of course.

Whipper

[jerseybigfoot]

The old Argos had all the wheels at the same height. the new 8 wheel units are higher on the ends. I am not sure of the new Argo 6 wheelers.
regarding what is the best. I have a Bigfoot, Attex, Hustler and a few scramblers. The Bigfoot is the truck and brush bash-er, The Attex is light and nimble, The Hustler has a 1 minute learning curve and takes all the abuse from the newbies and just keeps going. The 12 hp scrambler goes everywhere the other go only faster, with a good ride better balance, lower cg. Tires also make a big difference. The Rawhides are better for the rocks.
I can hold a beer can in one hand and drive the Argo. cant do that easily with the others.

[Roger S]

edit: jerseybigfoot posted while I was typing..

The 8 wheel avenger was the first argo to have lower center axles.. the 4 middle axles are 1" lower on centerline. Reason is to reduce traction for easier steering effort. Being front heavy, it tilts forward, weight centered basically near the second axle, the rear wheels slightly off the ground, if on a flat and level slab. So turning effort is about like a six wheeler. Or if loaded in the back the pivot center will shift.. but regardless there usually aren't 8 wheels to skid. I did this to my older Response, redrilled and bored the frame and lowered the axles a 1/2".

The parts diagram for the new Frontier 6 wheeler's frame is drawn with lowered holes in the center axles. An argo dealer said the factory considered doing that but the final product did not have it, so it may be just a printing error. All of the older argos like bigfoots, vanguards, response, conquest have level axle centerlines.

Handling problems? front heavy, touchy brakes, and non beadlock wheels/ high psi for rough ride/poor control at speed of the pre Frontier 6 wheelers. The stretched wheelbase and soft tires on the Frontier, along with a 23 hp and a quiet helical gear trans is a long way from your friend's argo. Al James went from his maxII 23 kohler to a frontier and said he didn't miss the II at all.

But unless you beat the steering effort into submission with horsepower, argo's are a dog to turn. You can do the 360 you're talking about, but you have to get the belt engaged first, just for a split second. Get the differential in motion. But that is what I consider the worst about the argo, not that it's an open diff, but that in the 360 with one side locked, the gear ratio to the other side is doubled. Something like the Frontier it's not a concern.. my 8 wheeler stock with taller agressive tires.. that was no fun to turn.

[courtney]

has anyone driven or does anyone own one those land tamer machines? they look pretty cool

[hdble]

I have been reading this thread, kind of funny really, this argument could be about any vehicle in the world.
I have driven many 6x6's,maybe not as many as some,or as fast and springgy as some(Whipper & Bridget) yet, but I prefer the T-20 clad, it's just personal preference. It doesn't make it better or worse,as the old saying goes,"there all good ones till they break,then you call them ##*@$#%@#".
You all know what I'm saying,but we fix them and then go out again.
All these machines are popular,I believe Jeff was right,the region where you live, and your experience make a particular make or model the one you like best.I run an Attex, but much like others, the body basic frame and t-20 are all that is left of the original setup.

Bruce

[mudbug3]

The 8 wheel avenger was the first argo to have lower center axles.. the 4 middle axles are 1" lower on centerline. Reason is to reduce traction for easier steering effort. Being front heavy, it tilts forward, weight centered basically near the second axle, the rear wheels slightly off the ground, if on a flat and level slab. So turning effort is about like a six wheeler. Or if loaded in the back the pivot center will shift.. but regardless there usually aren't 8 wheels to skid. I did this to my older Response, redrilled and bored the frame and lowered the axles a 1/2".

The parts diagram for the new Frontier 6 wheeler's frame is drawn with lowered holes in the center axles. An argo dealer said the factory considered doing that but the final product did not have it, so it may be just a printing error. All of the older argos like bigfoots, vanguards, response, conquest have level axle centerlines.

Handling problems? front heavy, touchy brakes, and non beadlock wheels/ high psi for rough ride/poor control at speed of the pre Frontier 6 wheelers. The stretched wheelbase and soft tires on the Frontier, along with a 23 hp and a quiet helical gear trans is a long way from your friend's argo. Al James went from his maxII 23 kohler to a frontier and said he didn't miss the II at all.

But unless you beat the steering effort into submission with horsepower, argo's are a dog to turn. You can do the 360 you're talking about, but you have to get the belt engaged first, just for a split second. Get the differential in motion. But that is what I consider the worst about the argo, not that it's an open diff, but that in the 360 with one side locked, the gear ratio to the other side is doubled. Something like the Frontier it's not a concern.. my 8 wheeler stock with taller agressive tires.. that was no fun to turn.

Roger,

That was the best explanation of an Argo , of any I,ve read so far