My first Argo configuration advice and questions.

[scimanstev]

I thought about the plow, but now I pay someone to plow my driveway, and I normally wake up at 5:30 AM. I shower, and leave for work. It costs me $35 a storm, regardless of how many times the driveway is plowed. If I added a plow to my Argo, I would have to get up even earlier, which sucks. I would rather pay, than get up earlier.

Steve

[allwheeldrive]

Wow sounds like you will have EVERYTHING, I like a prepared man. Plan first triumph later!

Only 2 criticisms
1. Have you any experience off roading before? ATV or 4x4?. If not I'd be a bit intimidated with THAT many options. It sound very counter intuitive but sometimes the best tool is the one you invent on the spot than carry. It will take many adventures and sticky situations to master them all, but in time you will become the juggernaut not the machine.

2. This is going to be the BIGGEST problem, you are going to be disappointed in a lack of challenging places to drive. You are SO prepared and have SUCH a good off road machine... Argo with Escargo = force of nature.
That it is going to be next to impossible finding somewhere you can actually push the machine to the limit which is preciously what I can image you want to do. You didn't prepare and buy the best to have a boring time on dirt trails. I'd suggest making friendly with land owners and seeing if they will let you run wild where trails do not exist otherwise everything is going to be a walk in the park for you.

[scimanstev]

I used to go 4 wheeling with a friend, but that was 30 years ago. You are right in that finding a place to ride that can challenge the Argo will be difficult at best. I have ridden snow mobiles, and I used to race dirt bikes when I was a boy. (I came in 4th place once, but there were only four of us racing.) I will do my best to learn all I can, and although there is no substitute for experience, I have absorbed a great deal from the many, many videos I have seen. The Argo is the perfect machine for me. I have known that for many years. I will learn, make mistakes, and learn more. That is why I am willing to spend so much money on this, but only once in my life. I fully intend to be riding well into my 70's and 80's. I will certainly trailer the Argo to different states, and find the most diabolical places to ride that I can. I have done about as much homework as I could. That is how I knew how to configure Juggernaut. Now I just have to survive the wait.

Steve

[scimanstev]

I guess that another advantage, or disadvantage, is that I'm an engineer, and think like an engineer. I am trained to look at as many possibilities as I can find, and solve them before I begin. I create software database systems that automate testing of inertial sensors. This time in my life is for plain old fun. The Argo is the best way I know of to achieve that. It is not fast, but it will be a bit difficult to get it stuck. I have seen video where only twice did I see Escargo tracks stuck. One was a guy coming up a near vertical hill, and he needed to winch himself the last few feet, and the other way when an Argo was coming out of the water, and the trail out was several feet too narrow. For me, it is the extreme versatility of the Argo that drew me in. I can always drive to a local lake, and spend the day on the water. I can go through sick amounts of snow, mud, rocks, or whatever without really worrying about getting stuck. I have seen some comments to videos that say the tracked Argos take the fun out of mudding, but the Argo drivers are clean, and pull the quads out when they get stuck. That to me is extreme power. If someone needs rescuing, I know that I could get them out when other vehicles could not possibly go where a tracked Argo can go. For so many years, I have wanted to be a part of the amphibious community and now I will have my chance.

Steve

[scimanstev]

As has been indicated previously, New Hampshire is not very Argo friendly. The really good trails in the northern part of the state, are actually closed during the mud season. To me that would have been the best time of year to ride. At least they are open for snow season, and I should be able to ride, as long as they stay designated as OHRV trails. I loved the snow video earlier in the thread, and have always enjoyed going out after a fresh snowfall. I plan on taking pictures and videos of fresh snow and posting them. That is a really beautiful time of year.

Steve

[scimanstev]

The pieces are almost in place. I will travel to Barrows Argo again tomorrow morning, and officially place my order for a new red Avenger STR, with a lot of custom options.
It has been a long wait, but this is about to get real!

Steve

[fornarog]

Congratulations!

[scimanstev]

Juggernaut has been ordered. The trailer has to be custom built, but that's OK. Barrows Argo is taking the Argo to the outboard dealer to make sure the shaft length is perfect. We are buying Escargo tracks directly from Canada, and he will drive there himself to pick them up, if there is no other way. He will get the track tuners from Adair Argo, and is making this a total one stop shop for me. I am extremely grateful for everything he is doing. My wife and I took Bob and his wife out to lunch. They are very good people, and we are delighted to know them both. Bob thinks Juggernaut will be the best Argo he has ever produced. We are looking at every detail, and are sparing no effort to get things perfect. We will even weigh it once everything is installed, readjust weight if needed, and know how much human weight can be carried safely on water. Since I work for a company that designs dual axis inclinometers, I will see about hooking one up to a self contained display. That way I will know how steep a hill is, whether I am going straight up, or side hilling. This may be an opportunity for my company, as Bob indicated many ATV owners would want that information. It may keep them from rolling. We also make accelerometers, which output results in g's. If you are driving along, and take a turn, we could measure how much force the ATV is exposed to.

No stone is being left unturned, no detail to small. Juggernaut is being very well thought out, and I can't wait for delivery.

Steve

[mowbizz]

Juggernaut has been ordered. The trailer has to be custom built, but that's OK. Barrows Argo is taking the Argo to the outboard dealer to make sure the shaft length is perfect. We are buying Escargo tracks directly from Canada, and he will drive there himself to pick them up, if there is no other way. He will get the track tuners from Adair Argo, and is making this a total one stop shop for me. I am extremely grateful for everything he is doing. My wife and I took Bob and his wife out to lunch. They are very good people, and we are delighted to know them both. Bob thinks Juggernaut will be the best Argo he has ever produced. We are looking at every detail, and are sparing no effort to get things perfect. We will even weigh it once everything is installed, readjust weight if needed, and know how much human weight can be carried safely on water. Since I work for a company that designs dual axis inclinometers, I will see about hooking one up to a self contained display. That way I will know how steep a hill is, whether I am going straight up, or side hilling. This may be an opportunity for my company, as Bob indicated many ATV owners would want that information. It may keep them from rolling. We also make accelerometers, which output results in g's. If you are driving along, and take a turn, we could measure how much force the ATV is exposed to.

No stone is being left unturned, no detail to small. Juggernaut is being very well thought out, and I can't wait for delivery.

Steve

Cool beans!
Can't wait to see it!

[scimanstev]

It seems I celebrated a bit last night.
What did I do with the aspirins.

Steve

[allwheeldrive]

Congrats on your purchase! Hope it's everything you've wanted. We'll have to go for a ride

[scimanstev]

Absolutely! The hardest part now is waiting for delivery. Then the hard part will be finding challenging terrain to ride through. It should be here by October 1st.

Steve

[mowbizz]

Absolutely! The hardest part now is waiting for delivery. Then the hard part will be finding challenging terrain to ride through. It should be here by October 1st.

Steve

Hmmm....I'm thinking customs might hold this machine, thinking it's a secret military project being smuggled into the USA

[scimanstev]

Then I will have to have a word with customs. I learned today that the factory will build Juggernaut on September 7th. I am in constant contact with Barrows Argo, and I definitely picked the right dealer. He is as excited about Juggernaut as I am. They no longer make them in red, so he is ordering a separate red top, and will install it over the black body. This will be a really custom unit, with a large combination of Argo and third-party parts.

Steve

[mowbizz]

Then I will have to have a word with customs. I learned today that the factory will build Juggernaut on September 7th. I am in constant contact with Barrows Argo, and I definitely picked the right dealer. He is as excited about Juggernaut as I am. They no longer make them in red, so he is ordering a separate red top, and will install it over the black body. This will be a really custom unit, with a large combination of Argo and third-party parts.

Steve

He certainly sounds like a good dealer! Willing to go the extra mile for you!