Argo Frontier EFI 6x6 Base Model...or Upgrade to 'S' Model?

[alain]

https://youtu.be/YPelzH-bFCI Argo turbo!

[thorn]

This thread has idled for a few months, but wanted to add my thoughts on the turbo offered by Western Skies Argo. First off, Rex and Gary at Western Skies are absolutely fantastic to work with. A couple of months ago the fuel pump on my 2011 Argo went out, and I needed an Argo for the weekend. Rex let me take a demo unit that had been fitted with the turbo. He told me to push it hard and let him know what I thought. My cabin is at about 7,000 feet, so nothing extreme, but the throttle response and power from that demo unit was absolutely insane. When I dropped it off, I told him that I wanted it done to my 2011 750 HDI.

I picked up mine yesterday and I was NOT disappointed. As soon as you turn the key, the lower more menacing rumble from the turbo unit and new muffler is fantastic. You won't be able to wipe the smile off your face, trust me. I have the full aluminum rack and windshield on my Argo (which the demo unit didn't), so I wondered if it'd still climb as aggressively. The last half mile road up to my cabin varies from a 15-20 degree slope, which honestly is a lot steeper than it sounds. My stock Avenger could never exceed 8-10 mph with just me in it. I raced up that hill yesterday with my brother and some supplies for the cabin weighing about 100 lbs, and the governer kept us right at 20 mph. The turbo just wanted to keep pulling.

I can't wait to try it with tracks on, pushing through the powder up that same road. I've always made it, but before the turbo I'd never do much better than 5-7 mph climbing it.

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I wonder if they can put these on older machines like my 2004 Conquest. I would love the extra power in the deep snow. May have to drop them a line. Thanks for the info. Update. I checked their website and the turbo is only for the 750 efi motor.

[Sparx]

Only thing I would be worried about is the extra heat to the transmission, may have to add the classic transmission brake fans to help. My trans already gets hot enough when I load it up through deep holes, putting in my High Torque trans soon and hoping that will help. Also already running synthetic gear oil too. Never noticed it as much in my previous unit with the High Torque trans. That and the clutches keeping up and not overheating as well. Hood fan probably come in handy as well as venting out the hood with mesh screen.

[CarlR]

It's been a while, and I forgot my GoPro but do have some new info/experience with the turbo kit offered by Western Skies Argo. Rex and Gary got me a great deal on a 2016 Avenger LX with the HS transmission, and I had it up to the cabin this past week. I'm really pleased with both my Avengers, and find their individual strengths interesting.

2011 Avenger HDI with Turbo: Nothing I've tried makes it fall under 20 mph, yet. It's just a beast.

2016 Avenger LX: Tops out around 27 mph. My "killer" quarter mile hill at 7000 feet slows it to between 13 and 15 mph with just a driver. I suspect it to take a bigger hit with tracks and with a heavier load. Ride quality is amazing. Steering is effortless. Definitely a more refined machine.

I'll definitely be saving up to turbo the LX as well. Obviously my hill climb comparison is not apples to apples due to the HS transmission in the LX. You may recall that this same hill slowed my 2011 HDI down to 10 mph, so it's interesting to me that the LX does so much better.

Bottom line is that at elevation, and under load, the turbo wakes up these Kohler motors in a major way. Point taken that the extra torque could have an impact on the rest of the driveline, but I'm emboldened by the fact that elevation has stolen a lot of the power these machines were engineered for. Loading them up and driving with some measure of self control will hopefully prevent major failures.

Pair of Avengers.jpg