How safe are these?

[tonyk72]

My last obstacle in purchasing a 6x6 (specifically a MAX IV) is safety. My wife is VERY concerned haing the kids riding around in this...they are both 4 and 8. The MAX I'm looking at has a roll cage and I seat belts (I think). I have about 250 acres out back with various types of terrain and inclines. I plan on riding most of the time (with the kids) on the flatter surfaces and taking it easy. I might take it up a notch when I'm by myself. I agree there is always some risk of getting hurt, but how great is the risk?

[thebuggyman1]

In short, they are about 10 times safer than a quad! That said, I can remember back to my teenage years......I WOULD have rolled one. At 45 I doubt I will now, but anything can happen. It's not the problems you can forsee that get you into trouble. Last summer I ended up upside down in the water. I swamped the machine while trying to climb out the bank of a pond....I'm glad I wasnt seat belted in. Thanks to LarryW, heres the youtube of the aftermath YouTube - Sears sportster being pulled out of water. Just be cautious untill you learn the machine and its limitations, and be especially careful while your kids are learning.

[vader8x8]

Put helmets on them and make them keep their arms inside and the risk is very low. I've never driven a Max but you would have to seriously try to roll my Argo. My kids and their freinds are in mine all the time, I just go a little easier with them in it. Your wife has nothing to worry about. Show her Rock Doctors videos of his daughters ripping around in "their" conquest.

[hydromike]

The beauty about our machines, is that you sit IN them, not *ON* them, like a quad. For whatever reason, I initially thought your kids were going to be *driving* the Max, and weren't just going to be passengers. I've been on lots of rides with people taking young kids (under 6) for rides. We also have a lot of video here of kids under 8 ( I think ) driving machines solo. JR driving Noel's Argo, RD's daughter driving the Argo 8x8 up a beaver dam; you get the idea. Like Vader says: throw a helmet on them and tell them to just hang on. A Max IV (as with just about every other amphib) is an extremely stable machine under just about all circumstances. Rolling a machine is really difficult (outside of racing ) and if you actually DO get into a situation where a machine might get a little tipsy, the Max roll cage will more than likely allow it just to sit on its side. If it doesn't come with seat belts (I think they were factory equipment with a factory-optioned cage), it's pretty easy to add them.

Exposing the kids when they're young will likely cause them to grow up to be ATV-addicts. THAT'S the most dangerous part.

~m

[Dirty Harry]

Tony -

As mentioned by everyone else here these machines are far, FAR safer than any quad or UTV. Yes, UTVs often have roll cages/bars, but their width vs. taller overall height (center of gravity) make them a rollover nightmare of Suzuki Samurai proportions. Research with Google to read up on some of the awful accidents involving kids in UTV machines or on quads. The amphibious ATV has not only a more stable layout (almost a perfect square) but they have a much lower center of gravity as well, which makes them safer still. ...and no quad can offer you a roll bar/cage & seat belts.

Learn the machine and master it BY YOURSELF first, then slowly bring your kids into the fold. I think the 4-year old is too young, but your 8-year old should have no problem taking control if he/she learns the ins & outs of the machine - with proper supervision and emphasis placed always on safety first. They often take to them like a duck to water, especially if it's the first vehicle they are allowed drive by themselves.

I've been to several rides and witnessed families of four tooling around in Max IV machines, and having an absolute blast doing it! It really is a great way to involve the entire family truly together without having the up front purchase price + fuel & maintenance expense and space constraints of 4 seperate machines. Check out the various videos on this site, and have your wife watch them with you, too. There are tons of them, with all types of drivers: young & old, men & women. Good luck!!

[racerone3]

I agree with all the above. My son (now 5 years old) is in each of these pics, and only 2 of them show him riding with his parents He has had the message "keep your hands inside the machine" hammered into his head. He is allowed to ride in any machine with a roll bar/ seatbelts (as long as I know the driver) and anyone who he rides with tends to take it a little easy while he is in the machine. I would rather start him early and enjoy the hobby as a family and with friends. He will have a far better idea of the limitations of the machines whenever I turn him loose behind the sticks.

[Castro]

I go out with my 18 mo old on my lap/next to me and my 5 yo as well. Never had any issues. Safest UTV out there

[Rock Doctor]

Obviously I'm one of the guys that agrees with most of what's been said. I feel that these machines ARE very safe.............However, it IS possible to get into trouble and for that reason I suggest caution when taking youngsters out, untill they are familiar with how they are expected to act.
I know various ways to mess up, but have only seen one machine tipped on it's side and 2 roll over. The only injurys I have witnessed was 1)when a stick reached out and grabed the cloths of one lady, and yanked her out of the machine, dislocating her shoulder, and 2) *This is by FAR the worst danger we face while riding in our area*- One guys machine kicked up a dead Spruce Tree, that looked very much like a spear. The end of said spear drove through the guys neck, narowly missing his juggular vien.............He's scarred, but fine. What I'm trying to convey here is that the hazzards outside of the machine are as great or greater than the ones inside.

Now to the fun stuff, My kids have all been riding in my machines since within a few weeks of birth. Learning to drive them starts at about age 2, and less technical "solo" driving starts at about age 5. If you are not familiar with my vids, here are a few fun ones that you and your wife might like to watch:

Winter
YouTube - Deep Powder Argo Trip

Summer
Older driver is 7, younger driver is 5
YouTube - Girls Driving Argo Conquest Muddy Trail

5 yr old in driver training class, letting loose.
YouTube - 5yr old in "Argo Driver Training Class"


RD

[vader8x8]

Also Be wary of "widow makers". (standing dead trees ) Bump one and it could ruin your day without ever seeing it coming.

[Stonewall]

The only injurys I have witnessed was 1)when a stick reached out and grabed the cloths of one lady, and yanked her out of the machine, dislocating her shoulder, and 2) *This is by FAR the worst danger we face while riding in our area*- One guys machine kicked up a dead Spruce Tree, that looked very much like a spear. The end of said spear drove through the guys neck, narowly missing his juggular vien.............He's scarred, but fine. What I'm trying to convey here is that the hazzards outside of the machine are as great or greater than the ones inside. RD

Also Be wary of "widow makers". (standing dead trees ) Bump one and it could ruin your day without ever seeing it coming.

Note that these types of injurys are just as likely to happen on a 4 wheeler or side by side as they are on a 6x6.

[tonyk72]

Thanks who all to replied. I'm now a proud owner of a Max IV!

[Mike]

Congratulations. Upload some pictures of it to the gallery if you get a chance so we can all check it out.

[1975 Argo 8x8 2-Stroker]

I'm 14 now (and have my own Argo ), but when I was 4 years old, I remember sitting my my grandpa's lap, driving "my" latest and greatest Vanguard, over the years, he got another Argo, so it would be me in the Vanguard, him in the Frontier and my dad in the Bigfoot... those were great times... and I never flipped one over... the only time we have is just being careless (Like climbing and sliding sideways on a hill in winter... or like "thebuggyman1" climbing out of water!) I was introduced to AATVs at a very young age... and now I'm seriously addicted to them,

I just hate how in Canada, there's Argos and a few (not as many Maxes as Argos!) Maxes... that's it... (), down there in the States you guys have ALL KINDS of AATVS...

[argoford]

I agree I never seen a max I would like to try one argo are real stable i have never tiped my bigfoot climb fur trees but never went over

[pcmark]

I think the omission by many AATV riders of basic moto gear -- a full-face helmet and dual-sport jacket -- is a factor in injuries. If you just think of riding among trees, a helmet and proper jacket could go along way toward preventing branch-related injuries previously described. And, if a child were to bounce out, a helmet and proper clothing could be a life-saver. Don't let the slower speeds, stable nature, and sit-in design lull you into a false sense of security -- helmets and proper clothing are wise (and don't forget PFDs for in the water).