Does a Hustler perform better than a Max IV?

[AndyL]

I've had a couple Max IV's in the past, but I was wondering if a Hustler outperforms a Max IV in mud, water, land, handling, etc. I know the Hustler 980 Bigfoot is more comparable, but either a 950/980 comparison to a Max IV is fine. I tried searching and couldn't find anything.

[jpswift1]

I know there are a lot more Max IV people out there and I might catch some flak from some of them for what I'm about to post. I've owned a Max IV and I currently own a Hustler 980 BIGFOOT. I've rebuilt both machines from the ground up and drove both over similar terrain. I like both Max and Hustler, but the Max IV is a step below the Hustler. Here are my findings:

The Hustler is much more stable and has much better weight distribution. The Max IV has the engine mounted high up, above the T-20. The Hustler has the engine mounted behind the T-20 on the frame. This makes the Hustler more stable on steep hills, in the water, and around sharp turns. I've put my Max IV on 3 wheels quite easily, but I've never done it with the Hustler. The Hustler rides better too since you sit more towards the middle compared to the Max IV where you are right over the front wheels. With this being said, the weight being more up front on the Max IV causes it to sink the front end down in the mud deeper than compared to the Hustler.....this is also true when it comes to driving in the snow. The Hustler also has a better hull design up front. It is much more hydrodynamic causing less drag in the water and mud. If you look on a Max IV, it has an indentation on the bottom front of the tub. I personally like the lines of the Hustler much more than the Max IV.

These are just a few things to consider. If you have a chance to get a Hustler, especially if it is a 980 BIGFOOT, GO FOR IT!

[mudbug3]

jpswift1,,


Exellent post on the Hustler Bigfoot and Max IV comparison. What you said makes a lot of sense.

[jpswift1]

Thanks, mudbug. I was hoping you might be able to chime in on this because you own both machines too.

[mudbug3]

jpswift1,


I would have " chimed in " about my experience of both the Max IV and the Hustler Bigfoot ,but, all of the Hustler 980,s that I now own have either chain tensioner issues , or axles bearing issues. With the outside temps hovering at 103-105 degrees , including the heat index , I find it " very hard " to get motivated to work on any of the Hustler 980,s that I bought until the cooler weather arrives.

[Dirty Harry]

JP & Mudbug-

I have been contemplating upsizing to a bigger rig at some point and had always just thought "Max IV" ...until I started reading about the 980 Bigfoot. It looks like a great alternative, especially since it wasn't really all that long ago that they were being built. A couple of questions:

How is the Hustler to work on, especially the ugly stuff like bearing replacement & routine chain adjustment, etc. Also how easily accessible is everything? I know a little about the Max IV guts, as I've ridden with fellas that have them a few times, so I know they are fairly simple to get at (with a few irritating exceptions).

In your opinion(s) which is the better machine to service? While I'm at it, how is parts availability for the Hustler? Is everything fairly easy to obtain, or are many parts a custom-made only high-dollar nightmare??

Thank you.

[mudbug3]

( QUOTE ) " In your opinion(s) which is the better machine to service? "



Dirty Harry ,



In my opinion I would say that the Max IV is much easier to work on over all , because you can remove both the front and rear seats, so the middle and front chains and axle bearings are easier to work on. On the Hustler though , you,d need to remove the upper tub to have every thing exposed like this. But , on a deep tub , 980 Hustler , its really not that bad.The Max IV also has a better chain lay out.


I do like the Hustler 950 and 980 Bigfoot though , because the T-20 is placed in front of the motor , and not underneath it like on a Max IV. This makes adjusting the T-20 chains on a Hustler a whole lot easier. The rear axle bearings are also easier to get to on the Hustler.


As far as replacing the bearings and chains , they are both about the same.



Both the sprockets and axles for the Hustler are available through Richard Clark at Route6x6.The axle bearings can also be purchased too ,and for a very reasonable price.

[jpswift1]

You can get high quality bearings for the Hustler from Buffalo Bearing for about the same or less than the cost of Max IV bearings. Avoid Route6x6 when it comes to buying any parts. He charges insane prices and a lot of the stuff he sells is not very high quality. If you need sprockets you can also buy them at Buffalo Bearing and then just weld them on your factory sprocket tubes if you ever wear them out. If you ever need an axle you can just post up a message here on 6X6World and you'll find them pretty easily or you can just have a machine shop make you some up out of 1 3/16" 4140 material. I think the Max IV and Hustler are pretty much the same when it comes to maintainence. They aren't too much trouble, but the Max IV can give you some trouble since the T-20 is mounted under the engine. If you have to change a diamond shifter or do any kind of work with the T-20, you have to remove the whole engine and stand assembly on the Max IV, which is a pain in the butt. Unfortunately both the Hustler and the Max IV don't have sliders to adjust belt tension, but there are clever 6X6World members that have solutions for that.

[Amphiman1]

one or the other.?

i'ld go with the hustler.....

[duckhunt81]

Yup



The only thing is you will be hard pressed to find someone willing to let go of a GOOD Hustler. You most likely have the opiton of finding one sitting idle in someone's backyard to build, and build it to your needs.

[mudbug3]

I prefer the sleek look of the Hustler Bigfoot tub over the square looking Max IV tub. From the front, when compared to the Max IV, the Hustler Bigfoot has a better approach angle too. The Hustler Bigfoot tub also has taller sides that will allow wider tires like the ASX with out resorting to using wheel spacers.

[jerseybigfoot]

I have had my Hustler for about 9 years after a through reconstruction and re-engine. I recently picked up an older Max4 and recently re-bearing that. I love my Hustler except for the bump in the tub where the center axle sprockets reside. If the bump was removed the Hustler would be perfect. The bump reduces the bottom clearance and hangs it up easily relative to my Max 4. My Hustler has 25" raw-hides but will not go as many places as my Argo Bigfoot. I have a NOS Hustler Bigfoot body that will take the guts from my 950. I was considering using the 950 lower tub as a skid plate for the bigfoot. The max 4 is okay but not as confident going up and down steep hills as the Hustler. I was also considering remolding the Hustler bigfoot pan to remove the bump and re-spacing the axles to put even larger tires on it but that allot of work.

[Dirty Harry]

Thanks for the feedback. One of the concerns I had was getting my hands on decent 980 that didn't cost as much as a new(er) Max IV. Like you guys were saying, no one who knows what they have will part with it without strangling my pocketbook. An asking price which would more or less put me in the same ballpark with a lightly used Max IV.

Steep hills and water crossing are not high on my "must be the best of..." list, so that area is a direct toss-up. I like that big fat tires can be packed under a 980, though. What's the largest size (height) you can go with? Does the 980 require 12" rims or could a 9" set w/25" Goodyear RawHide III's be bolted on? (Don't think they make 9" rims in a beadlock/K-style anymore though, do they?)

I'd love to snag a Hustler because they are rarer than the Max and they do look much cooler - from every angle. Trouble is that the rarity factor will almost certainly command a price tag to go with it. Looks like my only hope is to find someone who has one in a barn with only a handful of hours on it and either doesn't know what they have or just wants to get rid of it. The problem with that is that Amphiman or some other fast-acting board member here will slide in and rip the rug out from under me. (Like on that Sears Sportster/Attex combo buy in Jackson, MI!)

Guess I'll keep looking & hoping. Thanks again.

[AndyL]

Hah, I know I started a big thread just the other day about remolding Attex bodies lol, but I do know who owns the Hustler molds, and he is more than happy to let someone borrow them to press some bodies...hhmmm...attex AND hustler...? i think we're on to something lol

[mark m.]

"(Don't think they make 9" rims in a beadlock/K-style anymore though, do they?)"

Matt O. sells them. They are an excellent rim.