6x6 or 8x8

[number1cas]

I am in Northern MB, 7 hour drive North of Winnipeg. and have similar conditions to RockDoctor but probably not as deep. I have not had the chance to compare a 6x6 with tracks, however I do have a friend that runs an 8x8 with rubber tracks on the first 3 axles only and 1 tire at the rear on each side, we have noticed a diffrence in the summer as he has more difficulty climbing out of some holes, my theory is that once the front end lifts he is then relying heavilly on the rear tires and not the tracks to push him. It is a noticable diffrence. What does it mean in snow? I don't know yet as we have not run them side by side, but will soon.

I have run my rubber tracks for 1000 miles last summer through everything I could find to run them through, I did not get stuck, not even once. I could always back out if I stopped going forward. I did trips through gravel road, Loon****, gumbo muck, clay, muskeg, large sharp rock, floating grass, hills, sand, fallen logs, stumps, you name it we seem to have it here somewhere. The tracks performed flawlessly I will NEVER run my Argo without them, it is just as fast with them on as with the tires as well. (Mine is anyway) I only ran the tires for about 100 miles and had 3 tire repairs and one is sidewall damage so I had to tube it. I have had no tire punctures since the tracks went on. I tell people who ask about getting an Argo to go and buy the tracks and then pick a machine to put in them!!!! With the PROPER install of rubber tracks on the new Argo's you will be nothing but impressed. Ask your dealer for the install instructions for the tracks, read them and then quiz him to be sure he is following them, it is VERY important for trouble free operation.

[mudbug3]

[QUOTE=number1cas ] I have run my rubber tracks for 1000 miles last summer through everything I could find to run them through, I did not get stuck, not even once. I could always back out if I stopped going forward. I did trips through gravel road, Loon****, gumbo muck, clay, muskeg, large sharp rock, floating grass, hills, sand, fallen logs, stumps, you name it we seem to have it here somewhere. The tracks performed flawlessly I will NEVER run my Argo without them.[ QUOTE ]



I feel the same way about the Adair tracks on my Mudd-Ox.

[Rock Doctor]

RD, just curious which set of tracks you think might work better in the snow. 18" rubber tracks or 18" supertrack? I'm curious to see reviews on the Adair tracks in deep snow, I'm not sure those tracks will improve flotation as much as just traction...time will tell

My opinion is that the Rubber Tracks out perform the Plastic.
I've heard that Adair is in the process of developing wider tracks for snow, the impression I get is that the current Adair tracks are designed more for mud, muskeg, swampy wet conditions. They actually swim too.

I do have a friend that runs an 8x8 with rubber tracks on the first 3 axles only and 1 tire at the rear on each side, we have noticed a diffrence in the summer as he has more difficulty climbing out of some holes, my theory is that once the front end lifts he is then relying heavilly on the rear tires and not the tracks to push him.
.

There are a few guys here that do that, if I'm not mistaken, they consider it to be about 85% as good as full tracks. Some others just track the middle 2 tires, they think that they are almost as good as tracking the front 3 tires, but turning with a load is much easier.
I don't think either of these options work great in loose snow, but might be OK in snow that is packed or has settled.
I also know one guy that has seperate tracks around the front 2 tires, and the rear 2 tires. I've never talked to him about it, so I don't know what he thinks the advantage of this is. He runs a Centaur for work related purposes.

Your friend that runs 3/4 tracks, does he run the wide tracks? and if so, does he bother to put in the axle spacer on the rear?

RD

[number1cas]

RD. He is running the Argo rubber tracks, and I am sure that the spacers are on the rear tires too. He bought the machine from the sands in Alberta, it was used to transport workers, so either they just used a set of 6x6 tracks they had or they believe that it is easier to operate with 6 guys in it on the shortened tracks. The drawback is that the 3rd axle is not reinforced and it cracked the frame. To fix it they have welded plates inside and added an external bracing bar to the 3rd axle on the outside of the tub, for this reason I wouldn't advise running the shorter tracks as the machine is not designed to take those stresses on the middle 2 axles....

I may be mistaken, but I think the Centaur runs 2 tracks on each side right from ODG?
Yeah, just checked ODG site and the Centaur track kit is 4 tracks for some reason?

[Rock Doctor]

The drawback is that the 3rd axle is not reinforced and it cracked the frame. To fix it they have welded plates inside and added an external bracing bar to the 3rd axle on the outside of the tub, for this reason I wouldn't advise running the shorter tracks as the machine is not designed to take those stresses on the middle 2 axles....

I]

Yes, this is not as much of an issue with the 13 or 14" tracks, but once you start addng axle spacers and wider tracks it can be a problem. I ran my 6x6 for quite some time with 13" tracks without issue, and it had no bearing extensions at all. My guess is that there was not enough room in the 6x6 to put a heavy enough load in it to damage the axles/frame.

How are your chains holding out now? I think it was you that mentioned, a while back, that you had about 600 or 700 hrs on your machine and the chain tensioners were starting to ratchet up.

RD

[number1cas]

How are your chains holding out now? I think it was you that mentioned, a while back, that you had about 600 or 700 hrs on your machine and the chain tensioners were starting to ratchet up.

That was me, but it was Miles not Hrs. I now have over 1000 Miles on my Avenger (with the tracks) in 7 months. About 120 hrs, I have very little chain stretch none of the adjusters are nearing the halfway mark yet. Sprockets are good so far too, only a very small amount of wear on the drive side of the teeth. I do clean the tub and oil the chains quite regularly ( every 2 or 3 days of riding) but it is quick and easy to do now. I can do it in 10 or 15 mins if I am in a hurry. Also I use Polaris brand chain lube, it is the slickest stuff I have ever seen. I use it all over the place for any lube issue I find. I have used it for handguns to semi trailer tarps. Very good stuff. In fact I have used it for YEARS and only now am I actually using it for chains !! LOL!

[Rock Doctor]

I use a product called "Milcott 220" (sp?), that I find works very well, I get it in 5gal pails from one of the Bulk Plants here.

I will stop there, I think I'm hijacking the thread lol


RD