bank climb

[2xmax]

how steep will a max 4 with 26" terra grips really climb? I know this is subjective and depends on terrain but I am looking to ascend a really steep 12' creek bank. Unfortunatley its mostly clay and soil so no real hi grip surface. Dragging water from the creek i'm sure won't help. Of all the cool vids I see of these machines in action they are almost always waterholes that by definition are dead level .Muddy but level.
I've run this thing up some pretty steep banks but short 4-5' .high and solid ground. The max is great fun but I am realizing that while it might literally climb a tree it likely can't climb these banks. Bank is anywhere from 8 to 12' vertical but only about 2-3 feet horizontal\lateral direction.
curious about you alls experience?

[Madtrapper]

I dont know how steep they will climb before they tip, but I have been on enough angle climbing a beaver dam that I had water run over the back of my max1V and it was still climbing. But I run tracks.

[dirtdobber]

Bank is anywhere from 8 to 12' vertical but only about 2-3 feet horizontal\lateral direction

If I understand what you are describing, you are trying to climb a 266% slope, or a 70 degree angle. You need to plan on winching yourself up the bank.

[philipatmaxfour]

bank c-l-i-m-b

if the vertical rise is equal to the horizontal run I think that's 45% and beyond that you are going to need a winch as dirtdobber says and probably someone up there to throw the winch line down to you.

[ARGOJIM]

how steep will a max 4 with 26" terra grips really climb? I know this is subjective and depends on terrain but I am looking to ascend a really steep 12' creek bank. Unfortunatley its mostly clay and soil so no real hi grip surface. Dragging water from the creek i'm sure won't help. Of all the cool vids I see of these machines in action they are almost always waterholes that by definition are dead level .Muddy but level.
I've run this thing up some pretty steep banks but short 4-5' .high and solid ground. The max is great fun but I am realizing that while it might literally climb a tree it likely can't climb these banks. Bank is anywhere from 8 to 12' vertical but only about 2-3 feet horizontal\lateral direction.
curious about you alls experience?

I'm sure there are less perilous exits not far from there, if you have to "scale" your exit then I'd find another. Just the same I don't think I might want to descend that either, sounds like it could be an endo.

[2xmax]

yup "endo" in the making. I would not have guessed 70 degree angle but now that you said it seems about right. Wow! when you say it like that no doubt its a winch and simply drag it up and lower it back down. Banks are like this for probably half a mile in both directions. Well off property that I own till it improves. Certainly would not want to be trespassing especially with this machine. As you all know it leaves turned earth tracks at literally every turn!
Thanks for your perspective. I was thinking a winch would be absolutely necessary but wanted to ask about it. Guess I'm looking for a winch and figuring out how to mount it next.

[mike d]

Rent an Excavator. Dig a pass through it. Don't get caught. Good luck. Mike

[Rusty-Gunn]

My question is, while climbing out of the creek will your tires be fully floating, or on bedrock?
If your Max is fully floating, and climbing out a steep edge, only the front tires may grip dirt, but the other tires are spinning in water and will offer little to no assistance. If this is the case, those two front tires probably won't pull you out of the water. A winch would be best.
If the tires are on underwater ground then the Max would do better.

[2xmax]

rusty gunn
one place i'll be on a couple feet of silt sand. Tricky. any other place its front wheels trying to pull up and back 4 floating maybe kissing some underwater bottom. Sandy,silt area is a possibility as the sandbar gets me up a couple feet. Still tricky since that stuff is easily churned till your sitting on the belly. Don't ask how I know that!
I was wanting a winch anyway. Just one more project to do. Spring here is busy so it may be mid summer till I get to it. Till then the sandbar may be moved due to spring storms. Its always changing.

[countrycummins99]

Best way to find out is go try it my experience with my max has been it climbs stupid steep things.

[msafi65]

I’ve climbed hills steep enough to stick the winch in dirt when coming back down. Coming out of water I winch out if possible. If it slips back in it will sink. Not much fun standing on seat with water at your belt.

[trevorakm1]

I carry a grappling hook that can be attached to my winch synthetic cable if need be. It has saved a few climb outs. I've also encountered prior the winch was installed getting into a small but deep stream. I drive an argo so motor up front. I drove in via a very shallow bank looking at the other side being the more problematic bank. Well I couldn't get up the bank and the current was just strong enough and the water deep enough to keep drifting me sideways as I tried to drive out. That's when it hit me that alone I can't always get out of the vehicle to anchor the winch line ahhhh attach a hook to snag the brush and winch out. Often I find it just needs to hold firm enough to get the front tires up the bank.
Back to my predicament, so I returned to the entry bank figuring an easy drive out, nope. the mud was so soft that my front tires just drove forward and down getting balled up with this mud. With rocking I could get it backed out and into the stream but same result each attempt to drive out. I had my nephew with me and he didn't know how to drive the argo. On the last attempt I got us stuck again and got out. I figured less weight, nope. I pushed him as he drove the argo back into the stream and once floating had him repeat the process of driving out, didn't work. On the last attempt by my nephew he got himself all balled up driving in the current and ended up backing himself up and almost out of the water and he stops on his own, I was Nooooo! keep going and ran over to help pull him up as he made it up without too much digging in. This was my second apiphany, weight distribution and which end is heavier. I just naturally assumed the heavier front end of the argo would help plow through this mud, nope The empty rear end of the argo allowed it to climb out far enough and not sink deeply until there is more floatation from all the tires to prevent it from digging in. This anecdote is always in my mind each bank I try to climb out on.

[philipatmaxfour]

I carry a grappling hook that can be attached to my winch synthetic cable if need be. It has saved a few climb outs. I've also encountered prior the winch was installed getting into a small but deep stream. I drive an argo so motor up front. I drove in via a very shallow bank looking at the other side being the more problematic bank. Well I couldn't get up the bank and the current was just strong enough and the water deep enough to keep drifting me sideways as I tried to drive out. That's when it hit me that alone I can't always get out of the vehicle to anchor the winch line ahhhh attach a hook to snag the brush and winch out. Often I find it just needs to hold firm enough to get the front tires up the bank.
Back to my predicament, so I returned to the entry bank figuring an easy drive out, nope. the mud was so soft that my front tires just drove forward and down getting balled up with this mud. With rocking I could get it backed out and into the stream but same result each attempt to drive out. I had my nephew with me and he didn't know how to drive the argo. On the last attempt I got us stuck again and got out. I figured less weight, nope. I pushed him as he drove the argo back into the stream and once floating had him repeat the process of driving out, didn't work. On the last attempt by my nephew he got himself all balled up driving in the current and ended up backing himself up and almost out of the water and he stops on his own, I was Nooooo! keep going and ran over to help pull him up as he made it up without too much digging in. This was my second apiphany, weight distribution and which end is heavier. I just naturally assumed the heavier front end of the argo would help plow through this mud, nope The empty rear end of the argo allowed it to climb out far enough and not sink deeply until there is more floatation from all the tires to prevent it from digging in. This anecdote is always in my mind each bank I try to climb out on.

Thanks. Good story. Great lesson