Tracks or Dual Tires?

[SCMay]

Any updates to the Muck Mud?
I have the same thing on a tidle creek in SC,
I have a stock 1998 Max II with 22'' rawhides, and 18hp briggs.
I got stuck in the what we call "Pluff Mud" and had to winch my self back to land, luckly I had a dock pilings to hook to.
I have made it across the mud with about a foot of water and gunning it to get to deeper water.
but I am looking for a way I can just go anywhere in this muck with out getting stuck, or waiting for the tide with come in and float me up.
any suggestions?

[famvburg]

I've had my Max II for about a month & we haven't had enough rain to make any mud, much less any water, (I'm in Ms.) but I've driven it in the field a few times. I also have a Honda ATC 250ES Big Red that I love. (Hmm. 2 wheels ain't enough, a 4 wheeler is my '69 Bronco, so a 6 wheeler. Maybe a halftrack is next!) Anyway, I gotta ask, dual rear wheeled 3 wheeler????? Is it basically done like putting duals on an AATV?

Thanks man, nice to know. I was wondering about putting some vampires or similar tires on it. Only problem is we have some floating marsh thay may still be a problem.....I sure can't wait to test it out though! I have an '85 dual rear wheel 3-wheeler that does fairly well, I'm hoping the max does better!!!

[Rock Doctor]

I've been thinking about Duals vs Tracks lately
I have the 18.5 wide Adairs on one Conquest and 24" Frontiers on the other. It's becoming rather obvious rather fast that the tires might as well be wheels of cheese when compared to the Tracks. The best answer might be to just get another set of tracks, but since I have all the tires anyway, I'm contemplating Duals on the one machine. It already has a bigger 27hp engine, and with the 24" Frontiers dualed up with 22" Runasucks, it might be more in the same league with the tracked machine.
It's been mentioned that duals would be much wider than tracks, but I wonder if thats the case. Duals will add about 7" to the overall width of the machine, over the tracks............ definatly wider, but not that much.
Anyone know where I could get a set of spacer/adapters for duals, and a rough guess as to the cost? Is it more practicle to just build them myself? Is there such a thing as little "clip-on" valve stem extensions that would allow the inner tires pressure to be checked/adjusted without having to remove the outer tires?
To those that have tried it............. do duals swim better than singles, or do they carry a bunch more water forward to the front of the machine, slowing you down?

Any thoughts appreciated

RD

[Obsessed]

I've been thinking about Duals vs Tracks lately
I have the 18.5 wide Adairs on one Conquest and 24" Frontiers on the other. It's becoming rather obvious rather fast that the tires might as well be wheels of cheese when compared to the Tracks. The best answer might be to just get another set of tracks, but since I have all the tires anyway, I'm contemplating Duals on the one machine. It already has a bigger 27hp engine, and with the 24" Frontiers dualed up with 22" Runasucks, it might be more in the same league with the tracked machine.
It's been mentioned that duals would be much wider than tracks, but I wonder if thats the case. Duals will add about 7" to the overall width of the machine, over the tracks............ definatly wider, but not that much.
Anyone know where I could get a set of spacer/adapters for duals, and a rough guess as to the cost? Is it more practicle to just build them myself? Is there such a thing as little "clip-on" valve stem extensions that would allow the inner tires pressure to be checked/adjusted without having to remove the outer tires?
To those that have tried it............. do duals swim better than singles, or do they carry a bunch more water forward to the front of the machine, slowing you down?

Any thoughts appreciated

RD

For what it's worth...it's hard to replicate the constant footprint of a track...In my experience, an average 8x8 would need 3 tires wide and a newer 6x6 would need 4 tires wide (because of the longer axle spacings) to replicate the traction of a 14.5 in wide mud track...

Upside to duals is increased stability in deep water from additional buoyancy...downside to dual tires is decreased efficiency (grinding clumps of mud and debris between tires turning in opposite directions) and increased maintenance costs

Not to say that tracks are the correct answer for every situation but if you are running in conditions that are too soft or slippery for tires then tracks can completely change the performance level

IMO...in certain situations where both increased traction and increased water safety is critical then perhaps a single track running over dual tires would be a supreme solution...hmmm...now if only someone made something like that...lol

tim

[Stonewall]

If you decide to make some dual spacers, make sure you allow for an inch or two clearance between the outside and inside tires. Don't sandwitch them together, if you do, the valley between them will plug up with mud and cause them to slick over much more easily. This is why duals on tractors are 1' apart or more.