My first Argo configuration advice and questions.

[john swenson]

everything looks great steve !! now you see no matter what tracks anyone has, once the tub gets stuck..get out the winch. keep having fun with '' jaggernaught ''. johnboy va.

[mowbizz]

Cool stuff Steve! I guess you are finding out what conditions to avoid in the future!
Slush is nobody’s friend...skidoos, wheelers, snowblowers, and now ARGOS!
I’m enjoying mine bombing out on the frozen lakes!
Yesterday’s trip out ice fishing I found the Argo wanting to pull to the left while trying to go straight...turns out all six tires were almost at zero pounds! The cold snap made them deflate...a quick air up to 5 pounds pressure and she’s back Driving straight again!

[scimanstev]

Well, the top and screens have finally arrived. Friday Bob Barrows came over and fixed the right windshield wiper, and installed the top. We tested it out in the rain, and we were warm and dry.

However, I was driving through 3 feet of slush, and actually got stuck.
The tub plowed through the slush and packed it like a rock, creating a high centered effect. We could not go forward or backwards. Bob got out to attach the winch, and sunk way over his knees. It was almost 60°F, and raining, but the slush he was standing in was effectively ice water. He attached the winch cable to a tree, and I pushed the remote. Nothing happened. Then I tried the main switch, and still nothing happened. I began to panic a little bit, as even with rocking it back and forth, we were stuck. Bob tried to push it out, but couldn't get traction. If Juggernaught got stuck, there was no way I would risk bringing a Jeep down there. Finally Bob found traction, and was able to push us out. His next move would have been to find a log and put it behind the tracks. That would have worked. Anyway, he saw the problem coming, but as I was driving, he let me figure out that I made a mistake. I am actually glad he did, and I am glad the winch failed locally, rather than 3 hours up north. The next day, Bob troubleshot the winch, only to find a bad crimp on one of the connections. It works fine now.

Here are some pictures of the top with screens. I have since removed the screens, which are Velcroed in place, as I won't need them in the winter.



There is another strip of Velcro that we haven't attached yet, that will secure the screens to the inside of the tub.







Steve

[john swenson]

hey steve...merry christmas from us all !! have'nt heard how you and '' juggernaught '' are getting along. any snow yet and how's the machine doing ? johnboy va.

[john swenson]

yea steve...it's a blast isn't it . a few feet will put her to the test. sounds like your going to have your own aatv park right there behind your house !! i want a good deep snow here too in va. johnboy

[scimanstev]

I drove Juggernaught in about 4 inches of snow today, and it was awesome! I want several feet of snow, but saying that makes me very unpopular.
I drove every where I could, and I loved it. These tracks won't get stuck. I have made huge mud holes in my back yard, and I can easily go from mud to snow effortlessly.

These Argo's are beyond awesome. I look forward to growing old with Juggernaught.

Steve

[scimanstev]

We don't get as cold as our Canadian friends, but -15F can happen a few times a year. Winds can kick up over 50 mph in places. Add 2 to 3 feet of snow cover, and we have some great riding weather.

I can't wait to try out Juggernaught with the heater, canopy, and heated hand grips in those conditions. This weekend the mud flaps should be fixed, and I'm not sure about the canopy yet. At least with the mud flaps my riding will greatly increase. It is just difficult cleaning out all the mud, sticks, grass, leaves, and snow if applicable from every inch of the cab. Once that gets fixed, I'm going riding!

Steve

[mowbizz]

Wow! I bet it can get pretty cold up there! Hope the fish are biting up there!

Yup! Can get cold (and windy) out on the ice! Thank heavens for bob houses and heaters!

[John8x8hdi]

I’m from New Hampshire!

Wow! I bet it can get pretty cold up there! Hope the fish are biting up there!

[john swenson]

sounds great steve !! your moving along well with the machine. in terms of the tracks on the rubber mats tearing them loose, try using fender washers with the screws if you have'nt done that. should hold down much better. johnboy va.

[mowbizz]

Mowbizz, where are you from?

I’m from New Hampshire!

[John8x8hdi]

Mowbizz, where are you from?

[mowbizz]

That’s great Steve!
Getting to know these machines is as much fun as driving them...almost. Ice fishing season is coming fast so the wife and I spent the day insulating our aluminum bob house...all done except for the ceiling. That Argo is ready and waiting for ice on the lake but I take it up into our woods about once a week just for fun.

[scimanstev]

Today was a good day. I finally had time to clean up Juggernaught and do any maintenance. This was the first time I had the fire wall panel out, so I drained all the left over water from pressure washing. I vacuumed out any excess, and all the grass, mud, and sticks. I haven't had time to ride it much, but until the mud flaps situation is fixed, those tracks throw up constant debris. I hand cleaned all the floors and fire wall panels, and every surface I could get to. Simple Green and paper towels work wonders. I read here about a purple cleaner, so I will get some of that. I spent most of today looking at every detail and taking my time to get things right. That was the most fun I had working in a long time. Slowly things are coming together. All the insurance is taken care of, and it is registered as an OHRV. Tomorrow I will work in the trailer to secure everything. The tracks are tearing out the screws that hold the rubber mats down in the trailer, so I got some very heavy duty epoxy to glue them down. The only problem is that it is too cold to cure the epoxy. My biggest hold up, is that I am gone at work about 11.5 hours a day, and it's dark. I did buy that head lamp that was suggested, and I have it all charged up and ready to go. I think the mud flaps should be here next weekend. Then the next item is the canopy. The lady attaching screens to it has pneumonia and is working on it from home. Until the mud flaps are on, I may not do much riding as it takes so long to clean. I am planning on taking it to work to show everyone, and have the owners permission to bring it. Once I get everything secure in the trailer I will coordinate with work. I almost had the trailer fall off the 4x4 I had it setting on, but now after a couple of hours on Monday night, it is on three 2 X 10 sections screwed together that is 2 feet long. Much better.

Even though I haven't ridden as much as I would have liked, I am immensely enjoying the riding that I have done, and working on the details of either the trailer or Juggernaught. I know everything will come together. It is just a matter of time.

Steve

[mowbizz]

Hey Steve, I'm glad you'll be joining us with the addition of your new Argo. Good mud flaps are very important to have, as we (Myself and Scott8x8) found out the first day we bought our Argo 8x8. We bought it at SLE in Tennessee and were looking for a place to drive it. My uncle set us up with a farmer's field with tons of cow patties everywhere! Needless to say, our first accessory after that was the mudflaps!

-John8x8hdi

This adds new meaning to the phrase " The s*** has hit the fan!"