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I enjoyed my bigfoot for over 17 years . 1500 hours later the machine was running well of course with maintenance. Three sets of chains , one sprocket, 3 sets of brake pads some carb repairs and two fuel pumps. I was happy with this machine except the fact at best i could go two seasons without it leaking. Always having to pump grease into the outer seals which only wore grooves into the axles was not a solution for a water tight tub. I saw the newer models nothing really seemed to change much until i went to an outdoor trade show last winter.
I went to my local dealer and asked to try out an argo with the admiral transmission. He didnt want me to get it dirty lol so said to keep it in the parking lot. I knew how the bigfoot with the classic transmission would turn on pavement (with great difficulty) so off i went. It was the new avenger with the admiral. I was amazed how easily it could turn without the power loss you would so easily notice with the classic transmission. I purchased the frontier 6x6 st (admiral tranny) this from my understanding is the HDI model.
My review of the new frontier vs bigfoot is as follows. Everything about the new machine is better. I will start from the front and work my way back.
The winch is removable you can get a receiver for back if you want to pull from there. However there is a red handle which you use to release the cable. This can be easily knocked off when making your own trail through the bush. I know, i didnt purchase the brush guard.
The engine is EFI with hydraulic valve lifters. Seems to make less noise. What is nice is no more brake fan (the noise from that thing drove me crazy). All you here is the fuel pump at start up. You would think that with EFI it would be start and go but this kohler needs a bit of a warm up before it will go. If you add throttle too soon the motor simply stalls.
Two less chains because of the admiral transmission and single # 60 throughout the drive system. Its harder to attach double roller.
The frame is better painted and imo built stronger, the axles extensions front and back are a great feature to have weather or not you run tracks.
The floor pans are thicker and fit better in the floor not perfect but better. They just drop in without any clips, never used the bigfoot ones anyway.
The battery placement under the seat is better. The seat is thicker which helps with the bumps.
The HD bearings I believe will be better in keeping the argo water tight. gone are the outer seals
I like the small LED lights that shine down to the floor boards when you are driving at night. nice feature.
If you floated the bigfoot reached down and grabbed a tire then added throttle your hand would stop that side from spinning. However you cannot do this with the new admiral tranny both sides will drive be it in high or low range. I have had it drive one side only but i have been buried in mud which it was stuck anyway. I dont have a full understanding of this but for the most part it drives both sides. The tranny will not countersteer like i have read about from older admiral transmissions.
The transmission is quiet compared to the bigfoot.
After 17 years of driving with sticks I find myself enjoying the handlebar setup. I have at times pulled back on the bar to stop the machine (old habits die hard) but really like the way the brake is in the handle to stop the machine.
I still feel i had better control at higher speed turns when tapping the sticks with the bigfoot but i only have 30 hours on the machine so far.
The new frontier has a better ride then the bigfoot probably from the longer wheel base and different tire design. I find myself driving it faster because the ride is smoother and the handlebar setup is easier to control when bumps occur. The tires will provide you with more speed then the raw hides but have little to no reverse speed.
The higher ground clearance is better and noticeable .
I needed to remove the half segment from the super tracks and add two more full segments to each side so they would fit on the new frontier with older 22 inch runamuk tires.
From the new speedometer to cup holders, accessory power and usb outlet the improvements over 17 years are many just dont try filling the frontier from a gas pump what a pain. This was easily done on the bigfoot but with the narrow fill tube it burps the gas back at you. i have no idea why they argo did this.
In conclusion i hope this helps anybody looking at a new machine vs the older ones. I am very happy with my purchase and the 3 year warranty it came with.
I went to my local dealer and asked to try out an argo with the admiral transmission. He didnt want me to get it dirty lol so said to keep it in the parking lot. I knew how the bigfoot with the classic transmission would turn on pavement (with great difficulty) so off i went. It was the new avenger with the admiral. I was amazed how easily it could turn without the power loss you would so easily notice with the classic transmission. I purchased the frontier 6x6 st (admiral tranny) this from my understanding is the HDI model.
My review of the new frontier vs bigfoot is as follows. Everything about the new machine is better. I will start from the front and work my way back.
The winch is removable you can get a receiver for back if you want to pull from there. However there is a red handle which you use to release the cable. This can be easily knocked off when making your own trail through the bush. I know, i didnt purchase the brush guard.
The engine is EFI with hydraulic valve lifters. Seems to make less noise. What is nice is no more brake fan (the noise from that thing drove me crazy). All you here is the fuel pump at start up. You would think that with EFI it would be start and go but this kohler needs a bit of a warm up before it will go. If you add throttle too soon the motor simply stalls.
Two less chains because of the admiral transmission and single # 60 throughout the drive system. Its harder to attach double roller.
The frame is better painted and imo built stronger, the axles extensions front and back are a great feature to have weather or not you run tracks.
The floor pans are thicker and fit better in the floor not perfect but better. They just drop in without any clips, never used the bigfoot ones anyway.
The battery placement under the seat is better. The seat is thicker which helps with the bumps.
The HD bearings I believe will be better in keeping the argo water tight. gone are the outer seals
I like the small LED lights that shine down to the floor boards when you are driving at night. nice feature.
If you floated the bigfoot reached down and grabbed a tire then added throttle your hand would stop that side from spinning. However you cannot do this with the new admiral tranny both sides will drive be it in high or low range. I have had it drive one side only but i have been buried in mud which it was stuck anyway. I dont have a full understanding of this but for the most part it drives both sides. The tranny will not countersteer like i have read about from older admiral transmissions.
The transmission is quiet compared to the bigfoot.
After 17 years of driving with sticks I find myself enjoying the handlebar setup. I have at times pulled back on the bar to stop the machine (old habits die hard) but really like the way the brake is in the handle to stop the machine.
I still feel i had better control at higher speed turns when tapping the sticks with the bigfoot but i only have 30 hours on the machine so far.
The new frontier has a better ride then the bigfoot probably from the longer wheel base and different tire design. I find myself driving it faster because the ride is smoother and the handlebar setup is easier to control when bumps occur. The tires will provide you with more speed then the raw hides but have little to no reverse speed.
The higher ground clearance is better and noticeable .
I needed to remove the half segment from the super tracks and add two more full segments to each side so they would fit on the new frontier with older 22 inch runamuk tires.
From the new speedometer to cup holders, accessory power and usb outlet the improvements over 17 years are many just dont try filling the frontier from a gas pump what a pain. This was easily done on the bigfoot but with the narrow fill tube it burps the gas back at you. i have no idea why they argo did this.
In conclusion i hope this helps anybody looking at a new machine vs the older ones. I am very happy with my purchase and the 3 year warranty it came with.
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