6x6 high center issues solved?

[foxvalley]

For the most part YES!!!!
I spent the day with my neighbor transforming his bigfoot into a monster. First, we took off the 25" tires and rims,and replaced them with 22" carliles,new rims, and spacers. Then we added 18 1/2" tracks. This exact setup with the same 14" tracks was still getting high centered,but with the added width of the 18" tracks is just enough to walk the unit over. There was no issues with the wider tracks,and I really believe this is the ultimate setup for a 6x6.


We dropped this thing into mud filled ponds, cattail marshes, mud filled ditches,and the deepest darkest bowels of my swamp trying to get stuck......no dice!! All I can say is WOW!!!

[gimmegreens336]

Hell yeah, nice!

[Rock Doctor]

Looks good
Did you widen the 14.5" tracks out to 18.5 or did you just get another wider set of tracks?

I like the 18.5's that I have on my daughters Conquest, but It's a little tight getting through some of the trails. I just ordered another new set from Tim, but this time I will keep them 14.5" wide and see how it works out. I will probably put the 18.5" ones on my Conquest and put the new 14.5" ones on her machine. Mine has the larger 27hp engine and lower geared Trans that will help turn the wider tracks.

RD

[foxvalley]

DOC! Long time no chat.
No, we had a different bigfoot with the 14.5" tracks,but I don't think it's the tracks fault for getting high centered,I think the shorter argo in general is the problem. Seems to me that the longer argos just always have part of the tracks making contact. This is a new set of 18.5 tracks. I'm guessing the 14.5 tracks on your daughters unit will work great. The only issue that we had were that the spacers had a little run out,(wobbled) Seemed the tolerances could be better. Take care!

[rz14rt]

I have just purchased a bigfoot and want develop a trail out to a creek and pond back of my property. I have walked out on homemade swamp shoes but it is an ordeal as the first section is very dense black birch thickets with 1 inch stalks and the second is marsh/muck/swamp with firm tufts of grass. My feet get hung up.
My concern with the argo is getting high centered up on the tufts. My trail is already cut mostly through the thickets. In the marsh I hope the argo presses down the tufts enough to not get turtled but they are pretty firm. Anyone have any experience with these tufts of marsh grass? If I get stuck, is there some kind of anchor I can use with my winch? I only need one path out, do you suppose I could tramp the tufts down bit by bit and then be OK?

[trebmaster]

just drive over them. they will get packed down as you use it

[Noel Woods]

That machine has a great stance. It gives new meaning to the term "Bigfoot."

[rz14rt]

Well I took it out into the tuft swamp and had to winch out 4 times. I made it to within 20ft of the pond and had to winch around and head back as I used up most of the day. I thought I might have to leave it out overnight and trying to walk through this stuff is a killer. These tufts are semi-rotten woody brush bases overgrown with marsh grass: not really solid and not really soft. They are 24in tall 18in around and about 18in apart. They can be pushed over but are tough and retain thier shape. They swallow an axe so chopping one out takes 20 min. I think this must be a common landscape in Michigan where marsh grass overtakes woody brush land.
I followed my same trail back and did not get stuck...barely. I really had to commit and keep my speed up. I hope I have pushed these things down a little.
I think about tracks or duals but these could double what I have into the bigfoot. I would like any thoughts or ideas. Thanks, GENE.

[Rock Doctor]

I would like any thoughts or ideas. Thanks, GENE.

How long is this trail that your having trouble with?

RD

[rz14rt]

200 or 300 feet. one end is firmer ground the other is the pond. the pond has no bank but a 20 foot muck and tuft lead-in.

[thebuggyman1]

What part of Michigan are you in Gene? If you are trying to blaze a new trail that once conquered will get used regularly.......A second machine would sure help. It takes only a few seconds to tug out another machine and try a different route. Tracks will always help in the real soft stuff, but may not really be needed.
Is this Argo new to you? I ask because I recently learned that driving an Argo is much different than driving a t-20 machine....it's a skill I have not mastered yet. I get stuck too easily and have a harder time getting out......and if you think that's funny, you should see reverse. On a t-20 machine the sticks get pulled back to go in reverse, sticks fwd is braking. In short, there are some highly skilled people out there who seem to be able to make their machines go through anything. Maybe Trebmaster can give a few pointers, he will take his bigfoot through anything.

[Rock Doctor]

200 or 300 feet. one end is firmer ground the other is the pond. the pond has no bank but a 20 foot muck and tuft lead-in.

I was just wondering if fixing up that bit of trail would be an option, or if you ride in conditions like that constantly?
Couple logs here, a few branches there.............. After a few trips, to crush down the mounds, you should be good to go.
Just thinking out loud here,

RD

[rz14rt]

Thanks for the responses guys. I appreciate your thoughts.
I am in Interlochen MI and am new to the Argo. I like to think I drive it fine but you know, I'm sure I delude myself some.
I would be happy to develop one trail to the pond. Maybe I go back and forth a few times and get stuck a few more times then have a good trail. That still leaves the last 20 feet. I could put down some timbers and make a ramp. I don't really want to do that.
Thanks again, GENE.

[rz14rt]

Tracks

What do you suppose I would end up spending on tracks and I think 22in tires right? Do they fit on the same rims? Are tracks more useful on a longer machine?
Would dual tires be less?

[Rock Doctor]

What do you suppose I would end up spending on tracks and I think 22in tires right? Do they fit on the same rims? Are tracks more useful on a longer machine?
Would dual tires be less?

This is kinda one of those " 6 of one, half dozen of the other" things. Dual tires might be a bit less in initial cost, but you will loose in the long run with repaires and replacement parts. You could Dual it with 24" (160$) or 22" tires (140$) + rims and spacers..... My guess is about $2,000.00 to $2,250.00 (You could cut that cost quite a bit if you went with a non-swimming tire)
You said you were running a Bigfoot? That has 25" tires, right?
I could be way off here, but I think you can put Adair tracks over the 25" tires. I just tried to have a look at the Adair Argo Website, but can't get it to open for some reason. Prices are listed there.
Tracks on a 6x6 make the machine unstopable, they will take you places you can't imagine.

RD