What is better track or dual wheel

[cjdee]

I have a conquest. Looking for more trackion. Better to do a dual wheel setup or put tracks on it? Flotation is a concern.

[smog]

go for the tracks

rubber if you go on rocks/ice/mud/snow


steel cleated plastic for ice/mud/snow


plastic for mud/snow


Adair plastic if you want it to swim/mud/snow


Dual wheel is crap in the woods as it's just too wide.

.

[thebuggyman1]

I would think that tracks would do better in every situation except swimming. But I have little experience with tracks and none with dual wheels.

[Stonewall]

Each setup has it's place. Dual wheels are going to give you the best flotation and least footprint, and are probably your best option for marshy or really wet terrain, where tracks would weigh you down. Tracks will provide you with the most traction because of their continous ground contact patch, but are going to be somewhat heavier and probably make bigger ruts. Tracks would be better for snow. I have absoutely no experience with rocks. (Don't particularly want any either...) Where I am the ground is mostly silt-loam deposited from the 1920s Mississippi flood, and duals would be the best choice. What kind of terrain will you be using your machine on?

[mudbug3]

smog


My Adair tracks have worked outstanding in 8' foot of thick pudding mud and swim VERY WELL in the water. In 6' foot of powdered snow and at high altitude , a standard 14" inch track with a 2" inch track extension on the inside , 6" inch track extension on the out side, an Argo HDI 8x8 ran 20 mph. The only area that an Adair track falls short on is climbing up very hard surfaces with no where to grab traction.

[smog]

The only area that an Adair track falls short on is climbing up very hard surfaces with no spot to grab traction.

I know and the Adair system is very good (my only fear would be the wear on the hinge points (in chains or whatever they chose to use)

But I sold my plastic tracks to get a rubber set as I need to climb on slopes where the snowmobiles already made it icy with exposed rock.

[mudbug3]

smog


I've talked to Argo dealers that sold the Argo rubber tracks before I bought the Adair tracks ,and according to what they told me, there are more components to wear out on the Argo rubber tracks than the case hardened chains that are now used in all of the new Adair tracks. A man I've been told has been running the standard 14" inch Adair tracks in slush,muskeg, water and mud bogs, and still has'nt taken out any links on the round standard chains that were used prior to the case hardened chains. He has been running his Adair tracks for almost two years with minimal wear. I doubt very seriously that you could say the same thing about the Argo rubber tracks if you ran them for the same length of time. The Argo rubber tracks weigh more, cost more, need a lot more maintenance ,plus cost more to run them, than the Adair tracks. But, if you need to climb up exposed rock with ice on it the rubber Argo tracks are what you need.

[cjdee]

Just ordered track from Richard with a few extra links. See how they proform. If not try something different.

[smog]

Just ordered track from Richard with a few extra links. See how they proform. If not try something different.

outch

[JohnF]

... I need to climb on slopes where the snowmobiles already made it icy with exposed rock.

I have supertracks and modified them by adding hardened ice screws used by atv racers. It would be interesting to see if the adair tracks modified in a similar manner might perform well in your condition. Those cleats are sharp and hard and will rip up a concrete driveway.

Not trying to change your mind smog but rather give those adair track owners some more experiments to run for those of us that are future adair track owners.

[mudbug3]

I have supertracks and modified them by adding hardened ice screws used by atv racers. It would be interesting to see if the adair tracks modified in a similar manner might perform well in your condition. Those cleats are sharp and hard and will rip up a concrete driveway.

Not trying to change your mind smog but rather give those adair track owners some more experiments to run for those of us that are future adair track owners.

JohnF

This is some thing that would be easy to do. I could see this modification working very well on ice, but for rocks with ice on them a rubber track will gripe a whole lot better.

[smog]

Not trying to change your mind smog but rather give those adair track owners some more experiments to run for those of us that are future adair track owners.

there's no "one track fit all"

what I know is that ANY plastic track will not do good in the WINTER conditions we have here in eastern Canada. it will work but always end up being towed by an Argo on 20" rubber tracks.

But ONLY the adair will work in the water and be vastly superior in muddy conditions.

[ArgoDude2350]

Tracks are generally better for ice and snow. Dual wheels are better for mud, dirt, ect.

[JohnF]

... but for rocks with ice on them a rubber track will gripe a whole lot better.

Oh, trust me, I understand that all things engineering are a compromise. Since I can only afford 1 set of track, and if mine were Adair tracks, I think this is the approach I would take to extend into the weak area of the adair design. And you might be suprised at the sticking power this cleats add. I can easily climb an iced over metal ramp that was impossible without the cleats. I also need to cover that ramp because the cleats are tearing it up.

I have the supertracks because I constructed a deal where I ended up with basically brand new supertracks, extensions and all, for less than 20% of online retail price. If I had to pay retail for tracks today I wouldn't have any. In Smog's position I would definately not ignore tried and true.

[number1cas]

I have the Argo rubber tracks and so does my friend, at 1800 miles (1 year, 200 hrs) of use I have replaced the hinge kit, no other issues. They are FAR superior to wheels or double wheels or any other set up. Tracks win hands down no argument. Have not had or seen the Adair ones but they look like they would be good too. We went into moose camp last weekend, me on tracks friend on wheels and I had to pull him through a bunch of holes that we just glide over with the tracks on. He tore up the trail like a quad would do, what a mess!!