UTV pressure

[MIteyMT]

Help,
The wife wants a UTV four seater. We have been hunting and tooling around with our young children for a couple of seasons now in my old 83 argo tecumseh 16hp, and she has enjoyed it. But, she feels that it is loud, slow, and we don't take on serious water. She likes these street legal UTVs, and is wanting one to go out and about in. My problem is I really like my argos. I have never ever driven the 1990 one because I bought it with a blown engine. It is a splined shaft, red, 18 Kohler magnum style that needs a repower (has a hard top). How can I overcome the following problems, and end up with the awesome argo that I want. I am thinking mostly of altering the 1990, as it holds the most probabitlity of being reliable. Problems she does not like are

Too loud

Color is ugly (black or green seems to be ok)

Tires are crappy (this one I have figured out)

Not street legal, so no tooling around little fishing towns and such in AK

Too slow

Is is possible to make my argo into a machine that can compete with a UTV for fun in the sun, around KOA type campgrounds, and on the road, and still be a great Alaska hunting rig.

I don't know which way to go (god forbid springer?)

thanks

[Rock Doctor]

I'll chime in on this, it's not to dis-similar to my situation

My wife prefers a quad..............so, if at all possible, she rides her quad and I drive an Argo. Sometimes she has to wait for me, and sometimes I'm waiting for her.

I think you might be best off to throw a few bucks at the 1990 and get her a used UTV (I couldn't imagine forking out the cash for a new one. My buddy just got a new Bombadier....Pimped out a bit, and before he turned a wheel, he had over $27,000 into it)

I just dropped a new Kawasaki in my Conquest, it's really not a bad job

I am guessing that the loud noise she means is the Trans Howling? I don't think you will get around that one. Some are not too bad, and others screem, I have one of each, and after trying several different additives they haven't changed much. If it's the exhaust noise, you might be able to try a different muffler. If that fails, I suggest ear plugs and muffs.........that way you won't be able to hear her complaining about the noise

I've never see anyone have much luck changing the color of their Argo Body. Maybe one of those "Camo" Sticker Kits.

Even if you went to the trouble of making it "street legal" (Can you make a "Skid Steer" street legal?) They are a PITA to operate on paved surfaces.

You can speed them up, but everything is a tradeoff. Go too fast in an Argo and they get rough. If you start one "Bucking" on the way down a hill, you could be in trouble.

I don't think you will compete with the UTV for "Fun in the sun" in the conditions you describe

Maybe she would be happy with a 4 seater Golf Cart

2 bits......if that

RD

[MaxRules]

If you were anywhere but Alaska, you might have a good reason to get a UTV. You are in probably the best state to own an Argo. You have the terrain that demands an Argo where other areas, such as my home state of Missouri, has very little challenging terrain and an amphib is not required. Also, you are comparing a 20+ year old Argo worth about $1500 here in MO, to a new or almost new UTV worth at least ten grand. Aside from the regular UTV vs. Argo debate, the vehicle age gap is just to large. A brand new Argo is out of this world better than any pre-Frontier/Avenger model. Every aspect of the Argo has been improved to the point that a diehard Max man like myself is proud to drive one. Take your wife for a test drive in a new Frontier 8x8. I believe that is the best machine for the money and when comparing new vehicles, the Frontier 8x8 and a four passenger side X side will be about the same money. If your wife sees the improvements that have been made, you might be able to own a newer, used Argo that will fit you both.

[Bud]

Brandon gives good advice. My wife loves driving our 8x8 Argor Frontier.

She was never comfortable running the Max, but the Argo is another story.

[smog]

I am guessing that the loud noise she means is the Trans Howling? I don't think you will get around that one. Some are not too bad, and others screem, I have one of each, and after trying several different additives they haven't changed much.

Some French-Canadian members are using a Case / New-Holland additive made for tractors. no. 9706315DS named "Friction-modifier"

the guys reported good success with this additive in the Argo BigFoot tranny.

[MIteyMT]

Brandon gives good advice. My wife loves driving our 8x8 Argor Frontier.

She was never comfortable running the Max, but the Argo is another story.

I am lucky, Shannon really enjoys the argo, and so do the kids, but reliability has been an issue, my older machines require lots of little fixes, even if I spend many days prepping them for the field before we go. Most of these are due to tire problems and shear pins, which I have replaced with grade 8 hardware, but still occasionally break. Perhaps selling two older machines and buying a newer one is the solution, but I always think if I maintain one good enough, I don't need a new one, and I keep getting proved wrong

[Rock Doctor]

Some French-Canadian members are using a Case / New-Holland additive made for tractors. no. 9706315DS named "Friction-modifier"

the guys reported good success with this additive in the Argo BigFoot tranny.

I will have to check, but I think I tried that one. Maybe I need to add a little more. Is that one of the ones that cost about $80 per liter?

I am lucky, Shannon really enjoys the argo, and so do the kids, but reliability has been an issue, my older machines require lots of little fixes, even if I spend many days prepping them for the field before we go. Most of these are due to tire problems and shear pins, which I have replaced with grade 8 hardware, but still occasionally break. Perhaps selling two older machines and buying a newer one is the solution, but I always think if I maintain one good enough, I don't need a new one, and I keep getting proved wrong

I also think you're lucky. It's awesome to have a Wife/Partner that really enjoys the AATV/Outdoors thing.
My experience with the newer machines is that they break down too, just as much as a well maintained older machine.
You might be on the right track with thinking to sell both older machines to get one more reliable. If it was me, I would be looking for a newer Conquest, Maybe a 2000-2004ish. I have nothing against the newer models, but I've yet to see any of them do something that an older model will not do.
But does this address the problems of "Street Legalizing", "Noise", "Speed", or "Tooling around the roads in a campground"?


RD

[smog]

I will have to check, but I think I tried that one. Maybe I need to add a little more. Is that one of the ones that cost about $80 per liter?

24$can for 475ml

Sentier 6x6 - Argo Max tera-jet Forum

the additive smell realy bad before you mix it with the oil in the tranny.

s that one of the ones that cost about $80 per liter?

wow, even more insane than a 250$ MAX IV axle from recreative industries ...

[RKlingborg]

becareful which UTV most are not road legal there just golf carts that you wouldnt want to take in the bush. When I was at Pismo had alot of folk ask me about my argo couse it was safer. less chance of tipping over, the UTV have a bad habit of doing that.

[Dirty Harry]

Research the safety of UTVs compared to your Argo. No contest. Those things are infinitely more dangerous than an Argo could ever hope to be. Yes, a lot of accidents are due to driver fault, but the high center of gravity on UTVs make them a prime candidate for roll overs and other mishaps. Putting them into traffic only increases an accident risk exponentially. And any crash between a UTV and a car?? You will be the loser guaranteed. Your family is much safer in that older Argo. Something to think about.

[Moosetalker]

I am having a few of the same issues.

I guide moosehunters, and though tha Argo keeps em dry, and carries one whole. some still grouse about how long it takes to get back from a hunt.
seeing me drive the thing up on the truck with a whole moose in the tub though makes em all want one

Prob is that the area I guide in a lately has an extensive logging/oilfield road system and not a lot of bog like you see in Rockdoctors videos.
Unlike the first area i guided in northwest Alberta it had tons of RD bog .

[azz7772]

leave the kids home take her for a test ride in one and roll it she will be scared for her and the kids and will be glad to ride in the stable argo.

[spookum]

I guess Mity MT never got back to this thread (it is a year old azz but a good one to look at). He ended up with a bandalero engine, and splined axel shaft rig with a hard cab. Search for "the general" and you can find vids of it. His dear wife really took a shine to argos, and he is still teaching me stuff about them. I ended up with the old green pinned argo with the 16 HP engine in it, and im about to get western with modifications and upgrades.

[Rory_mcw]

I love Argos, I had a conquest till recently and now 2 avengers but for where I go I'd rather take my yamaha rhino, it's faster and smoother, I fitted 27" high lifter tyres, some clutch mods and inlet, exhaust mods. Don't get me wrong, I love Argos but if I have a choice I'll take the yam.

[azz7772]

I never remember to look at the date lol