Truth about the reliability of AATV's?

[BluNosDav]

Howdy fellas, long-time reader, first-time poster here,

For quite some time I've thought that an AATV would be the best (not perfect, but most suitable) off-road rig for my family to own, once we relocated to Alaska. For all of the usual reasons: truely all-terrain, can carry/tow a large load, all-season use with tracks, etc, and we're not interested in high-speed. I've also heard that AATV's are relatively simple machines to maintain/repair. But, now that we're here and I've started searching the classifieds, I'm starting to have my doubts about that last part?

Almost every used AATV seems to have the same theme: very low hours per year of use (usually less than 50hrs/yr), and a lot of major parts either broken or replaced (bearings, chains, even engines) during those few operating cycles.

I'm still convinced that AATV's are capable of going places that few other rigs dare to tread. But, at what cost in parts and labor? Is this a mature technology that has met most of it's operating challenges with rugged/reliable components? Or is it still operating on the edge of mechanical design, where an inordinate amount of effort and expense is needed to keep an AATV operating in the field for any sustained length of time?

Not intended to "knock" anybody's favorite rig, I'm just looking for reliable transportation, rather than a hobby that is more tinkering than using.

Thanx in advance for your advice, Dave.

[msafi65]

I've worked on a lot of vehicles that get just the use you are talking about. Usually used for hunting season two to three weeks a year. I've seen 150 hour machines with every moving part worn out. Usually used in the fall and parked wet and dirty, got out in late summer to be used again, no maintance at all. I've also seen vehicles from the 80's that could pass for near new with 800-1000 hours. had some parts repalced but always had axle bearings greased after use in extensive water or mud. Chains cleaned and lubed. These vehicles will go places humans cant walk. If they are maintained and not abused they can last a long time. I have a 1974 MAX II that has gone hunting again this year. You should drive all the major brands before picking the one that suites your needs and budget. Really good used AATVs are rare in Alaska. Look for any signs of being full of water and pick it up with a jack and feel all the axle bearings for up and down play. Argo and Max have made upgrades that have improved on reliability in recent years. look at the newer ones to get these improvements. Hope this helps and good luck finding the right one for you.

[Groundhog]

What he said!

Very well put msafi65!

[liflod]

I agree with everything said and of course I have my opinion also:
I think the majority of people who post on this site enjoy tinkering with their machines and a lot of the posts talk about resurrecting machines that were bought used and not properly maintained by the previous owners. The amount of maintenance required to keep these machines running properly and reliably for years does add up to a significant amount of time spent with the grease gun and garden hose. I also know from experience that most of the issues I have had with my machines have been self inflicted because of the situations I have been riding. When you ride with a group, you tend to be a little harder on the machine than you would by yourself or with your family. I think the modern machines are very reliable and breakdowns caused by equipment failure are few and far between. Failures due to lack of mainntenance are definately more common.

[thebuggyman1]

pics of summer 2009 030.jpgI started out playing in the sand. Most people understand that sand and moving parts don't mix well. I like to say that any day at the dunes without breaking down is a good day The places we like to play with our AATVs is just as bad as sand for the moving parts. It's not the macines fault if it breaks down, it's the mud and water. How realistic is it to expect a bearing seal against a moving axle to hold back every last drop of water and mud? Fresh grease after use will help to force contaminates out...and grease is cheap. Do the maintenance!

[North Country Tough]

Dave this is my own personal opinion,having had these and being around these type of vehicles since they were introduced I have practically seen it all,the early units were fix and ride and fix again,much like snowmobiles of the time,and like sleds the weak were weeded out and competition improved the breed, today's aatv,s are still being built and are still improving,like sleds four stroke engines were introduced in AATV,s years ago a very dependable engine the transmissions are all but bullet proof at least the ones I have owned,as far as the rest of the machine I can only speak for Argo as this is all that I have owned the last thirty years,the axles have been redesigned over the last twenty years and are super strong as is the chain,I use to put on 300 to 500 hours per year in all seasons,my last machine had no major breakdowns and the hour meter was creeping to the 5000 hour mark,mind you the engine was starting to puff the blues but the transmission was never opened,the odd axle here and there mostly due to a unforeseen stump in tall grass and the fact that I run not factory built or offered dual wheels,other than normal wear and tear,Tires,brake pads,belts,plugs etc I consider it very dependable and one of the most versatile machines I own,it plows snow,hauls firewood,gets me to a water access cottage with load,safest winter transport across ice,bush tractor,family transport,these machines we ask a lot out of they travel in conditions year round that other machines cant,all that said I buy new not someone else,s non maintained piece,I maintain the machine to the letter and use it not abuse it,I have seen atv,s and utv,s in need of thousands of dollars in repairs a couple years out due to no maintenance and drowning the engine in muddy water,you can destroy a tank,I would not hesitate to buy another machine but the reality is I will probably be in a home before I need another thats no joke.Moral of this rant if you want the most from a AATV,research the model extensively talk to some owners,buy new,maintain it if you cant then take it to a reputable dealer,its still a piece of equipment and if you ask more out of it than what it was designed to do expect issues,other than that enjoy.N.C.T

[JoeMeg]

Agree with all. Maintenance and Repair do not belong in the same sentence. They mean two completly different things.

Joe.

[Rock Doctor]

I find these machines to be very reliable.............or at the very least they are usually easy to fix if something does go south on a ride. In a little over 20yrs of riding them, I've only had to leave a machine in the bush once, and I could have fixed it "on the spot" if I had cared to take the time.
Really, it's like this: Most, if not all issues can and should be identified when doing your regular maintenance/cleaning. Problems occure when we decide that even though we identify a potential problem, the machine will be fine for one more trip. Most of the time this is true, but sometimes it can bite us in the AZZ.

RD

[lewis]

Just my 2 cents: Ever wonder why one guys car look and lasts longer than the other guys? Why did a car last you Mon and Dad 10 years and when Junior gets it, it only lasts 10 minutes. (I will get back to this point in a moment.)
If these machines were driven in ideal conditions their entire life there would be very little problems with them. But no.......we jump into a mud hole, slam it into a bank of the creek, run through deep water, up steep hills, dust, dirt, hit rocks and trees. Just to list a few of the fun things we do with these machines.

Not knocking 4 wheeler but how many really do what we do with our machines...in the big picture, most people just putter around on some trails and call it a great ride. I think you will find this group a Little bit different. We have a machine that begs us.....go for it....you can do!!! If you don't believe it look at Rock Doctor's videos, Whipper's, Busco Beach, the fellows in Alaska, Georgia and any other video on this site. Very seldom will you see us just riding in a field of clover.

At each ride we have 4-wheelers follow us to see what the capabilities of the machines really are. They can't believe we have....."Just lawn mower engines" i would like to have a dollar for every time i have heard that statement, but we don't have to pay 30-40-50 dollars a hour to the motorcycle shop to fix them either. Which to me is a plus. Once in a blue moon a razor or 4-wheeler will dare to venture in behind us and find out that they have failed to even come close to the capabilities of our machines. Yes we get stuck but we try to get stuck, so we are hard on the machines.

Now comes the fun part: Once your riding and fun is over just like any machine that you depend on you MUST CLEAN AND SERVICE IT. When we get done re-coloring our machines with mud and what ever it must be cleaned and serviced. A pressure washer is a great item to have and is fairly inexpensive and if you don't have one a spray car wash will do. I generally spend about 8 hrs or so after each ride to clean and service...now that sounds like a lot but if you clean your car it takes a couple good hours to clean it up and i am sure you didn't jump into any mammoth mud holes with it. Spraying the machine back down to it's original color just to make sure you brought the right machine home is a must. Removing dirt, sticks and rocks (from the little guy ridding with you who was collecting and you didn't know about until you got home). Cleaning the chains, engine, tires, treating the outer and inner body with a plastic treatment(Black Magic, Soft Touch, etc). Which in my opinion helps when you clean up, mud doesn't stick as well to this stuff and it makes the machine look good.

Once cleaned you can check out all the little things that may have been covered up with mud, dust and dirt. Give it a really good look over inspection. If you find something wrong...fix it now. Grease the bearings clean out(flush the dirt from the bearings)(Argo). Bearing will last a lot longer. Check the tires and look for damage that may have occurred...fix now not later. Grease the chains, check your drive belt and repair anything that was broken from the incident with the tree.

I know i have said a lot, but i have seen machines come in with water standing in the tubs, chains that have not had a bit of lubrication and in just general disarray, because they don't take care of them. No these are not reliable machines, and will cost a lot to repair due to abuse and lack of maintenance. This is why some peoples machines last and others don't.

IMO honestly these are very dependable machines, they only get better, yes the older machines were more maintenance, but our members that like to "rebuild" do it out of love for the sport and having their hands in it to bringing new life into older machines. If you don't like to try your hand at mechanical things and you want to just get in one and ride purchase a new machine. There is room for both with this sport.

Take care of the machine by doing at least the basic maintenance you would do with any piece of equipment and you will have tons of fun with your AATV.

Hope this helps, this is just my 2 cents worth and maybe a little more.

[Old Tucker]

I thank you all for your thought. I Myself am know looking at one of these units. Right know I have a tucker steel track sno cat and If you talk about maintenance. They need a lot of it. We do not abuse them like a aatv owner. It looks like I would be better off buying new If I can swing it. We do not drown our cat in mud holes.
We do require them to be very reliable. The last thing you want is a brake down fifty miles back in the mountains. I do have some inquires about tracks. When I find the Thread. Just my 2 cents

[juggernaut]

What about Hydrotraxx , how reliable are they and what kind of maintenance do they need ?

[plott hound]

sno cat must require about the same attention as a B-12 bombardier.my old man ran 3 of them and they kept me out of trouble at least 4 nights a week.

I thank you all for your thought. I Myself am know looking at one of these units. Right know I have a tucker steel track sno cat and If you talk about maintenance. They need a lot of it. We do not abuse them like a aatv owner. It looks like I would be better off buying new If I can swing it. We do not drown our cat in mud holes.
We do require them to be very reliable. The last thing you want is a brake down fifty miles back in the mountains. I do have some inquires about tracks. When I find the Thread. Just my 2 cents

[Obsessed]

sno cat must require about the same attention as a B-12 bombardier.my old man ran 3 of them and they kept me out of trouble at least 4 nights a week.

so whacha do the other 3 nights ... lol