New Type of Tracks - Chanel Tracks

[brebett]

Hi, he ships anywhere. My avenger makes 78" with the 20" chanel track and 2 1/2 " spacers. I hope I'll be able to go this weekend. There is a lot o snow here. I think that all tracks are good depending of your need. But I've tried the plastic track years ago and like old trucker said floatation on snow is about all for them. One thing I like about the chanel track is that I will use them year round. But it is a rough ride on gravel road and I don't recommend going fast with them. Another thing if you plan to get chanel track put some mud guard unless you have a top. If not by the time you get home you'll look like a snow man and the argo will be full of snow. But I think that all tracks throw snows.

[Old Tucker]

On the 2002 conquest Its 73" wide with the 20" inch chanel tracks. And I am using 2 1/2" spacers. I do have 1 1/2" clearance between inside edge of track and tub with the tire and rim combo I have.

[thorn]

On the 2002 conquest Its 73" wide with the 20" inch chanel tracks. And I am using 2 1/2" spacers. I do have 1 1/2" clearance between inside edge of track and tub with the tire and rim combo I have.

Thanks for the info. My trailer is 72" wide. I am running super tracks and they run 71" wide. I am wondering if I could get away with running 1 3/4" spacers with 20" tracks and still squeeze onto my trailer. I know one gent on here is running 17" chanels with no spacers and claims not to have any rubbing. They are dam close to the body, too close for me, but pushing them out an 1 3/4" might be OK?

[riotwarrior]

How close together are the grousers on these channel tracks? I'm curious

[Buzz]

Thanks for the info. My trailer is 72" wide. I am running super tracks and they run 71" wide. I am wondering if I could get away with running 1 3/4" spacers with 20" tracks and still squeeze onto my trailer. I know one gent on here is running 17" chanels with no spacers and claims not to have any rubbing. They are dam close to the body, too close for me, but pushing them out an 1 3/4" might be OK?

Well, the wider design works much better, especially with a corresponding paddle body, but I understand your wheelbase concerns.
My advice is to use 2.5 or 2.75" welded spacers and matching track-tuners. Here is how you can do so and keep your desired wheelbase. With 4" inner and 4" outer belts, you will have an 18" wide track just like your super-tracks. We know that "should" fit. If you go with a narrower inner crosser body (and belt) so you can use narrower spacers, you won't be able to run matching track tuners that small, and you lose belt-width and floatation on the inside. These would be huge drawbacks. Instead, you could continue to use 2.5" spacers, add 2.5" track tuners, and simply use a roughly 4" inner belt. This will give you adequate tub clearance. Then, instead of using the typical 4" outer belt, just use a 6" outer belt, making a 20" wide track that is set up properly and won't damage your tub. The best part is that the additional outer belt width past the crosser body will simply fold up if you need to squeeze it between trailer fenders or trees etc. The outer crosser body shouldn't extend past the current location of your supertracks. I'll attach a picture showing 2.75" spacers with 4" inner belts on one particular track. You can see how there is plenty of room to use a 1/4" smaller wheel spacer/tuner combo. I personally would not run that track with any less than a 2.5" spacer simply because of the ability to mount decent-width belts and track tuners. If you want the best performance. Luckily I think the wheelbases and clearances work out in your favor doing so! Hope that helps.

[thorn]

Well, the wider design works much better, especially with a corresponding paddle body, but I understand your wheelbase concerns.
My advice is to use 2.5 or 2.75" welded spacers and matching track-tuners. Here is how you can do so and keep your desired wheelbase. With 4" inner and 4" outer belts, you will have an 18" wide track just like your super-tracks. We know that "should" fit. If you go with a narrower inner crosser body (and belt) so you can use narrower spacers, you won't be able to run matching track tuners that small, and you lose belt-width and floatation on the inside. These would be huge drawbacks. Instead, you could continue to use 2.5" spacers, add 2.5" track tuners, and simply use a roughly 4" inner belt. This will give you adequate tub clearance. Then, instead of using the typical 4" outer belt, just use a 6" outer belt, making a 20" wide track that is set up properly and won't damage your tub. The best part is that the additional outer belt width past the crosser body will simply fold up if you need to squeeze it between trailer fenders or trees etc. The outer crosser body shouldn't extend past the current location of your supertracks. I'll attach a picture showing 2.75" spacers with 4" inner belts on one particular track. You can see how there is plenty of room to use a 1/4" smaller wheel spacer/tuner combo. I personally would not run that track with any less than a 2.5" spacer simply because of the ability to mount decent-width belts and track tuners. If you want the best performance. Luckily I think the wheelbases and clearances work out in your favor doing so! Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info. I just want to get as much flotation as possible for deep snow and really want to go to a 20" chanel type track. How does that set up work on that Conquest in deep loose snow? How do they compare flotation wise to the Super tracks. Do they take more power to turn than the Super tracks or does the gear reduction design offset the additional weight? I know you have done some videos, but I don't know if I have seen the Conquest in deep snow.

[Buzz]

as long as you use track tuners on a single track that has (2) end wrap tires and (2) middle tires (where the crossers don't splay out) you will have the full gear reduction without any additional load given back to friction. Track tuners are necessary if you mix "end-wrap" tires and "non-end-wrap" tires within the same track. When properly set up, an elevated belt track will perform better than an over-the tread design on equivalent machines - horsepower, gearing, etc being equal when you are in conditions that require additional power and difficult skid-turning. Climbing, soft terrain, deep snow. The paddle helps tremendously about the time you sink far enough to engage the floatation of the belt. I'll try to get you some conquest video here pretty soon. It basically turns a conquest (even MU gearing on tracks) into a crawler in low-range. And high-range is more usable. I think even a higher geared conquest would work pretty well. I need to get some video, you're right. Just been too busy screwing around with other projects. We should have some video pretty soon.
Now if you could imagine such a set up but on a machine that makes more HP and can turn a higher RPM + better clutching set up to transfer that extra power to the transmission at a higher RPM as well....then you can get a higher "track speed" and make for some really interesting argo driving.
Forum member "Spookum" is working on such a project at the moment.

[Buzz]

I suppose you could maybe.....it's a big maybe depending on the machine and wheel offset.....run an inner belt of up to 4.5" (safely) with a 2.5" spacer, but I personally wouldn't go any wider because of tub clearance. Just my opinion, but it's not worth it to push the clearance issue. People do, but trust me, it can be risky. I like to have +/- 1.5" clearance. Trying to squeeze that extra smidge of width on the inner belt doesn't really do much except risk rubbing your tub. Conveyor belting is tough. Make up the extra width on the outer belt, it works just as well. A winter kit is an option, but would make your wheelbase too wide for the trailer by a long shot. It doesn't take forever to take a winter kit on/off, but I suppose it could be just enough of a pain that you wouldn't want to do it every trip. Then again, you're only talking a handful of aluminum angle extensions, there's only 2 bolts on each (on the main belt side only), and with a cordless drill and small wrench, you could do it pretty fast. It's something you could do easily with the machine sitting on the ground. It's not like you would need to remove the tracks to do it as the belting is elevated.

[Old Tucker]

How close together are the grousers on these channel tracks? I'm curious

[IMG][/IMG] The grousers spread out as they go around the tire.
I did get a chance to test the tracks today. Between the chanel track to compared to the super track. The chanel is playing in a different ball park. What a difference. I went in places where I would never go before. I was able to drop down into the Xditches and climb right out the other side . Tonight we have a good storm brewing. And they say we could get 30cm of new snow in the hills. I just wish I could be out their tonight.

[radar]

Buzz are those Escargo hybrid tracks in the picture? How deep of snow have you been through with them ?