Why you bought your first 6x6, 8x8!

[nate52]

I had just finished up my complete restore on my 1977 Ariens S-16 garden tractor and was looking for a new project, because i'm the type of person who has to be working on a project in the garage or he gets easily bored. Good thing is i always finish a project before i start another but anyways i was looking around and was thinking about a three wheeler because i do a lot of hunting from waterfowl to deer hunting and the land i deer hunt is about a half mile to a mile from where i have to park. After dragging a couple of deer 3/4's of a mile through a corn field i decided i needed something more practical than my own two legs. I had always looked at the Max 6x6's online but never really had the money to purchase one new and you rarely found any used machines around my area for sale for a reasonable price, so i started looking for a three wheeler that was cheap and needed a lot of work. The three wheeler appealed to me because they were capable of suiting my needs for deer hunting and would come in handy when i start to trap for furs, and not everyone owned one. I was searching Craigslist and found a couple project three wheelers but was a day late every time. Next thing you know my parents sister and i are packing to leave for a family vacation to South Beach Miami for a week and the night before we flew out i decided to take one last look at Craigslist before we left for the trip and up popped a 1973 Attex 400 Chief. Decided this would be a lot more useful than a three wheeler and a heck of a lot more fun, called the guy and no answer so i wrote down the number and decided i would try and call him again once we got to the hotel tomorrow afternoon. Long story short, struck a deal with the guy over the phone in Miami based on the contingency that it was everything he claimed it was such as good transmission and engine and needless to say i couldn't sleep for the entire vacation due to my anxiousness to get home and pick up my latest purchase. Hour trip from my home town to pick it up and an hour drive back with heads turning to look at the wreck me and my dad were pulling home and it was in my garage getting torn down for a complete rebuild. It's now on it's final stages of the build and is like brand new from top to bottom. I'm still dieing with anxiety to take it out and play around in it and needless to say i definitely have a one of a kind machine around here and i like the rarities I'm already looking for another one for when i finish this one.

Nate

[Newtwo6x6]

Always wanted one ever since I was A kid, now I'm a 54 year old kid, I have a 1999 Max IV, But for the time being I work on it more than I ride. Hope to have it on the trails soon.

[Adondo]

Same here, always wanted one. (I'm 53) I've been checking eBay for a long, long time, but any that came up for sale were most of the way across the country. Shipping one is astronomical, and buying a sight-unseen machine seemed like a bad idea. I didn't think flying somewhere and renting a truck was a good idea either, as people who post ads just about always play up the "cream-puff" they're selling, but the reality is it's really a POS. It was too risky unless maybe a "pocket" of machines to see within an hour's drive in a rental car or the like.

So, I started looking at Craigslist, but even at that, what comes up for sale are new and expensive, and can be counted on the fingers of one hand. (Within a few hundred mile radius) I finally found the one I now have in Spokane, which is about a three hour drive one-way. The only other one there is a $6,000 Max IV, and I say "is" because it's still for sale, all these weeks later. I went up on a Sunday, and visited my aunt while there. It was an all day affair. I'd pretty much planned on buying the machine because I built a platform on the back of the truck "just in case."

I remodeled the ramp feature later after figuring out backing it on works the best. The platform works good because the Max doesn't ride up sideways on the wheel humps.

My Max II needed things, as all used machines do, such as a crawling-out center wheel/tire on the left side. (The axle lock let go) The wiring was crap, the transplanted Vanguard ran hot on recycled cooling air, the tires were worn to nubs and dry rotted, it wouldn't idle due to bad/varnished gas, and other fairly minor stuff.

We're closing the shop this week, (Christmas) and I'm ready to try out the new tires. I had Les Schwab install AT101's but they made slabs of granite out of them. (15+ PSI) I tried airing down, but lost a bead. Now, there's tubes in 'em ALL, so I'm going for round 2, hopefully maybe even tomorrow. (With 2 PSI or even less) They're not worth a plugged nickel with 10 PSI. (Jackhammer ride, bounces up & down and gets stuck in soft sand)

Someone mentioned they're being like a tank. I can agree to that one, you just aim the thing, and it goes! I've also noticed that you stay nice and clean. No mud splats. Nor, for that matter, getting your legs ripped off while cross-country thru brush, like you do on a quad or bike.

I'm hooked so far. My days of riding 70 MPH in the sand dunes are over at my age. Now, I'm more interested in exploring places I can hardly walk into, while taking my dog along too. Having room and cargo capabilities is nice too, as I'm a photographer. Getting into places that other vehicles just can't reach will be nice. (Come spring and summer) Even here in the desert of eastern Washington, there are lots of shallow waterways. Most are too shallow for boats, and too deep for bikes or quads.

[mrtlc]

My reason was [safty] ice fishing. We just had two snowmobiles go through this week and a couple trucks. The ice is always something to respect! It's great for dragging out deer in the hills also.

[Trackster]

When I was in middle school there was a guy in town that had a 6x6 and a Trackster. He would groom local snowmobile trails with the Trackster. I was young and impressed and he said that it could go anywhere. I wanted one but that desire faded until I started to work on pipelines. I saw cool tracked vehicles that seemed like they could climb anything. I had my Trackster out today with my son. We were in a swamp that would swallow a 4 wheeler but the Cushman barely slowed down. Pretty sure the kid is hooked too.

NYN

[Garintheair]

I bought my first one, as well used Max II, over 20 years ago on a whim. It had a finicky 2 stroke but I had a blast until I sold it.

I recently purchased five new Max ATV's and became a dealer for Max. I shouldn't have been away this long as I'm having more fun now than I remember then! I decided that I didn't want to spend more time and effort working on them than enjoying them hence new.

After meeting Matt O I am optimistic that there is new life with these machines and I'm looking forward to the new vehicles which will be coming out of Indiana!

[Tomo]

HI
The reasons I have an interest is as follows ,I love all things mechanical . Banana splits show . A friend of mine has a 6x6 machine. Then as luck would have it the Australia max agent rang me with 2 options Max4 at market value 3y/old [should have taken the deal ] or the only swamp fox in aust as far as I no, in the same town as I only 1/2 drive. Fell in love .We all know how the story continues 2year rebuild bla bla bla

But all said and done its a blast ,fishing , crabbing exploring and the kids love it

tomo

[tattooman]

I was 19 and in the air force. Had a small apartment off base. The Guy that lived next door had a yellow 6x6 out by the wood line, just sitting there out in the weather. I could not understand why anyone would do that to such a neat looking machine. (It was a bazzoo)(I did not know that then). I did not see another one untilled my 30s. Again a bazzoo. A young girl was driving it on a farm. Well some more time past and I was hunting on a friends property and behold there was a bazzoo sitting in a field. It did not run. I ended up trading my rifle for it. I never did get it to run. I wish 6x6 world was around back then. I now drive a 93 Max. I often think back to that first 6x6 and I still can't believe it was just left there! What a great thread.

[thejunkman]

I got hooked on them looking at my dads popular mechanics magazines when I was kid

[liflod]

I went fishing with my dad when I was about 8 years old. 2 guys drove an Attex into the lake as we were leaving. About the same time I noticed them on the Banana Splits and really wanted one.
When I was 10 my dad bought me a Lockley Wrangler. The engine blew up and we took it to his car mechanic that also worked on snowmobiles. He had a six wheeler (Trail Boss) behind his garage that didn't run. He sold my dad the engine from that machine since the transmissions were already gone. In my teenage years, I had Honda trikes. They were fun and I really enjoyed exploring with them. I still never had nor driven a 6x6 yet, but still wanted one.
After I moved back into PA with my wife and 2 small children I discovered the Route 6x6 website while looking for information on the Lockley Wrangler I used to have.The bug hit me again. I knew a guy had one at a local driving range. We ended up there for my nephews birthday party and there was an Attex body laying outside. I bought that one about 12 years ago. I've been obsessed since then!
The house I bought in PA is about 3 miles from my dad's old mechanic. We have been pretty close friends and he still had the Trail Boss. He talked about fixing it up and using hydraulics to drive it. Come to find out, he used to sell them and he used the parts from his to fix the others that he sold. My friend passed away about 3 months ago. His wife gave me the machine that has been sitting for 35 years! I plan on restoring it someday, but in the mean time, I'm going to hang it on the wall in my garage.[IMG][/IMG]

[BigMerv]

I was Christmas shopping at Bass Pro one evening with my wife. I'd recently taken up hunting with some of the guys at work and as I was looking over a potential gift for a friend she was yammering about "gettin' one of those buggy things to ride to the hunting camp...yadda, yadda, yadda". I turned around to look at what she was talking about (mainly to get her to be quiet for a moment) and there was a 1000 cc four-wheeler (Arctic Cat, I believe). It was white with an orange seat, had BIG tires and wheels, snorkel kit...you name it. The salesman noticed my wife prodding me toward the four wheeler and made a beeline for us. I explained that I would want one with CAMO, front and rear racks, but with the BIG tires and wheels, gun scabbard...set up for hunting. The price...over 16 grand!

So...I went home to do my research on which four wheeler to buy and looked on YouTube for reviews, ride and mudding videos, when I saw a video of a bunch of guys riding four wheelers at an ATV park through a mud pit. Most were having a devil of a time making it through leaning it from side to side, wearing waders. All of a sudden this guy in a six-wheel drive bathtub comes through with no problem (it was dedwards from this forum). I was hooked. Began looking for a new or used MAX and found a very low hours, like new, 1996 Conquest. Bought it and never looked back. Fun AND utilitarian. What else is there to say?

[Dozerlarry]

Nostalgia had a lot to do with it I guess. I couldn't afford one when they first came out but always wanted one. Found this website and got one. Have a hoot with it.

[fmints]

One name,,,,,,, site member Cbass! He came home from a tour from Afghanistan with a Max II about 3 years ago. I had also recently returned home from a tour in Iraq, and was thinking what "what in the world did Cory go thru over there to make him buy this thing?" It was the oddest thing that I had ever seen. Cory says that there was an old guy that had one in our hometown when we were younger but I didnt remember that part. It had 6 wheels, laterals to steer, and a waterproof hull with a roll bar,,,,,,,, what is this thing.

So, we started working on this thing. Replaced two bearings and swapped the camp green top for a brand new virgin blue top. I was amazed at the working of the machine with the T-20, chains and engine. I was even more amazed when i found out that it actually floated (as cory dives into a pond). I thought then, what a cool machine, not fast but very practical, and family oriented. I was introduced to 6x6World, and after reading a bunch here and there, and looking in the photo gallery, I was hooked. About a month later Cory tricked me to buying my first machine a 93 Max II,,,,, What a great friend!! Since then, we have had our hands on 9 machines, and I currently have a 980 Tall Tub Hustler and a 2000 Max IV. I went to my first Busco Beach Ride October 2011, met with a great bunch of people that loved the hobby just as much or more than I,,, mechanical motor guy talk, good rides and wholesome people,,,,,, I' Hooked!

[Rottsrool]

I normally ride quads, and I purchased a Maxll on a bit of a whim having seen some video of them in action.
Only one problem, I bought it in the middle of December and broke the throttle cable that I'm still waiting for from Ri so I've never really been anywhere with it.
I do now and again go to the garage and sit in it, hoping that one day the big brown truck will show up with the cable.

[riotwarrior]

I've always had a penchant for oddities....imagine that, compared to status quot.

My dad used to work for the forestry in BC many years ago in 70's and had this weird little tracked machine to use to get material and trees for tree planting up into the the cut blocks.

Later he got a six wheeler...don't know type and used that for a while. I was hooked how that went all over and through everything. I knew then had to have one!

I had a Forester mini bike for some time and I'm going to see if it's still around and if so restore it. I remember who it went to but don't know if that ranch still has it.

Anyway an ex GF now ...wasn't then new I was into these rigs and wanted one. She saw the add online for the one I have, we went and put a deposit on it, a week later I had a trailer and went and picked it up. That was 07 or 08 IIRC

Well its up and running and I'm looking for the next one or to build one. This time a tracked beast fully amphibious like a cushman trackster..

Got a line on an old Hovercraft I may get soon, and an old Ski-Doo Alpine twin track snowmobile.

That's the jist...oddities...who wants a run of the mill mountain sled or seadoo or quad when you can have twin tracks, hovercrafts and AATV's

Yaaaa babeee!