What is the best amphibious vehicle

[MaxRules]

The Max IV and Argo 8x8s are best for carrying four people. The Argo is great for hauling lots of cargo or six people on land and four on water. I prefer the Max IV for all around riding. It's fast, fun, and does great in mud and water.
If you are going for a used vehicle, the Argo Conquest 8x8 is a good machine. I prefer it over the Response 8x8 since it comes with a full skid plate and front/rear axle bearing extensions in addition to the larger 20hp engine. They were built from 1993 to 2006 and any year is good, just get the newest/best you can afford.
For the Max IV, I prefer a 2000 or newer year model since that is when they changed to the square headlight design. That model has more backseat legroom and a better engine cover. I like the 23hp Kohler engine and the 25hp Kohler is my favorite. The 18hp is underpowered for the Max IV in my opinion. Get the 26" tires also.

[liflod]

I'll argue the point of the 18 being under powered in a Max IV. I can haul my wife and 3 kids with mine up ,down and through some pretty rough stuff without problems. I have not found any thing to stop me because of the lack of power of the engine. I may get there slower, but I will get there.

Don't shy away from a Max IV because of the 18 Briggs.

The 16 HP Max IVs usually came with the pinned, not splined axles. I would stay away from them unless the price is really good.

I agree with Brandon about the 2000 or newer. You get more legroom with the updated axles,headlights and K-rims.

Your best bet is to start looking on eBay to get a general idea of what the machines are bringing in the free market and go from there.

[Roger S]

Depends on what you want to do with it and how rough terrain, how serious mud you will get into. The argo 8's are roomy and comfortable, nice ride, but the max IV with 26" tires is better in serious mud than an older 8 with the 22" tires.

[liflod]

There is no "best " machine out there. If you need or want to haul 4 people with a newer machine, you are limited to the ARGO 8x8s or the Max IV. Keep your eye on the market and buy the better deal.

Go visit any dealers or owners and get a feel for the machine you think you want before you buy it and then drive as many as you can before you buy.

They all need maintenance and cleaning to keep them reliable. You just don't ride them and park them.

Inspect the machine thoroughly before you buy it. Search this site for what to look for when buying a used machine. Condition of the chains and tub under the floor tells you more than the outside of the machine. You can tell if a machine has been only cleaned up for the sale or its been cleaned regularly.

[fulleraviation]

18 HP

I also have a Max IV with the 18HP. I havent found any situation where the 18 didnt come through, however it does lug some when pulling out Quads or under heavy load. It has never stopped me! I am in the process of changing the clutch spring, which I hope improves the lugging.

**It may lug under a heavy load, but it still pulls out the quads and climbs the steepest of hills w/ 5 people in it!

Rut

[jpswift1]

That 18 HP Briggs Vanguard sure is an excellent motor. It does just about anything that you could ask it to do. Like Fuller Aviation is saying, change the clutch spring to a red one if you want it to have more low end grunt. The red spring allows it to stay in a lower gear longer and the torque of the 18 HP Vangaurd is very impressive and makes the Max IV extremely capable.

I would take a look on craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums for a machine. They pop up quite a bit on there. Also, keep an eye on the classifieds section of 6x6World.com. Here are some Max IVs that I came across on Craigslist.

MAX 4 6x6 Amphibious ATV

Max IV 6-Wheeled ATV

MAX IV 6 WHEEL DRIVE AMPHIBIOUS 4 SEAT ATV

[jerrynuss]

The 18hp in the Max IV is fine but after a person gets to drive machines with the different engines available bigger always feels better. I've got a Max IV with the 18hp and it is plenty strong for running tires and hauling people. If I wanted to haul people, push snow and run tracks then it would be asking a lot of it.

Now I also have M IIs with the 16hp, 18hp and 23hp. All run great but I'll still jump in the 23hp when I want to go out and play in the back yard.

All are capable but as has been said there is no best machine. A person has to consider their needs and budget. My warning is don't go buy one without trying it first and getting an experience person to help you look it over.

There are unhappy aatv owners because they wanted one but didn't know what to look for and ended up with a machine that had been abused and neglected.

[MaxRules]

The 18hp is a fine motor but it's best suited to the Max II. Sure it will take the Max IV anywhere but it's just not as much fun to have your engine lugging through thick mud or up a hill. At one of our more recent 6x6 rides at Flat Nasty, Scott Moore was riding a new 18hp IV. It wasn't long before he was saying, "This ain't enough power for these hills!!!!" He followed us everywhere... it just wasn't as much fun getting there. I did the same thing when I used to ride the 14hp II. It got there, sloooooowly!

[Roger S]

Then imagine that 18 in an argo 8 trying to turn going uphill

Sure is fun, and odd, to climb into a maxII after that. I really enjoyed the couple of drives in Jon Hoaths II w/23 kohler. Maybe that's what made me walk out the back door one day and impulsivly pull the 18 out of my argo and take it apart.

Can you get a used II or IV with the best driveline components without going bigger than the 18 vanguard? What years would they start. Were the k locks standard issue since 98?

[jerrynuss]

Roger you can get a 16hp 500T and it has the same components as the 23hp 850T. The 14hp 450T has been dropped from the model line. It was the only one recently that had the older style drivetrain.

[Mike]

I want it!!

Don't we all? That is Whipper's custom Attex with full independent suspension and a 50 hp 4 stroke.

Here's a link to the thread with more info: http://www.6x6world.com/forums/attex...-springer.html

[jerrynuss]

Buy a big engine 2 stroke Attex if you want zippy

The newer 4 stroke stock engine size doesn't effect flat ground speed that much. They are all about the same on acceleration and top speed. The more displacement will help when there is a load or steep area or deep mud. The engine doesn't have to work as hard and there is more torque but the speeds are not that different.

[Roger S]

How zippy is zippy? Here's a briggs 23 "lawnmower" engine after a can of Spinach.

http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s124/whipper-ag/?action=view&current=d06a69b1.flv

[Roger S]

About this fast

http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s124/whipper-ag/?action=view&current=speedworld024.flv

[mudbug3]

Roger ,,


Thats smokin FAST in a 6x6 , suspended or not !