Diesel Power Mudd Ox

[George"Bubba"Hunt]

Sports Fans, I just got done with my winter's wood supply.I couldn't do it in the spring when I normally do it due to some back-whacking.
Recently I built a boom on back of my 2010 Diesel Ox. I wanted it strong enough to lift a moose. I did pick up my Polaris 500 4-wheeler on a test.
I took the Ox to the woods and used it to drag logs from the rough hillsides to the landing. I pulled up to 4 logs at a time. The average butt size was about 14 inches, and 15 feet long.
I don't know how many logs I could have dragged, but I had more than enough power to do it with ease. I had to look back to see if I was still pulling logs.
I did shoot some video of the operation. The boom worked great. I will also shoot some video on how I built the boom, and some modifications I done on the machine.
It is nice to have a machine that never boggs down under power, and does about anything without so much as a strain. The light-footed agility is so smooth that the stick movement feels like you are barely moving your hands. It feels like an extention of your hands. I have never driven anything that fluid.It really shows up when you are navigating around stumps and trees on steep hillsides.
This machine adds many more years to my ability to hunt, fish,and run swamps.
I'm kicking 68 and still can get around fairly well. This machine gives me back a lot more years to do what I love to do, and not have to be concerned about those stents and old wobbly legs that are sure to come.Me and my old Ox can go about anywhere I need to go and not worry about getting back.The good part is when I do get back, I'm not sore-footed and all stiff from walking on blisters. I love the lack of pain.

[Matt O.]

Hi Bubba,
Thank You for the good report on the Mudd-Ox. Doing things you love to do will keep you feeling well and able for a long time.

Matt

[mikej]

Bubba, I'm thinking about a mudd ox but have some bogs a man can't walk on. Will sink to the crotch and have to crawl out on all fours. Think I could go throught that with tracks?

[George"Bubba"Hunt]

Mikej, I cross bogs that I would drown in.
During moose season I was riding on top of my rack. My partner was driving the Ox and doing a poor job of it. He managed to stall out in the middle of Black Water Swamp. He fired back up and easily pulled on out. Black Water is a lake covered in moss and mud. Don't know how deep it is, but not a problem.
Every bog can be different, so you can experiment, with someone else there to pull you out.
The MO with tracks will go where you will be afraid to try.

[mikej]

Thanks Bubba, I'm just worried that its too soft for tracks and too stiff to float and will form a suction and the tracks will turn in the muck and the machine won't move. I guess a demo is what I need, but aroung New Orleans there are no dealers of any of that type equipment. Mostly you're in a boat or on pavement.

[akexpress]

you might contact Mudbug to see his machine in action as he has a gas one in Lousiana

[mightymaxIV]

Thanks Bubba, I'm just worried that its too soft for tracks and too stiff to float and will form a suction and the tracks will turn in the muck and the machine won't move. I guess a demo is what I need, but aroung New Orleans there are no dealers of any of that type equipment. Mostly you're in a boat or on pavement.

MikeJ, watch the river run videos with Davids tracked mud ox. Swamps, Boggs, no problem, mud no problem, follow the link

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/trail-rides-clubs-events/15086-mudd-ox-max-ii-video-s-river-run-atv-park.html

[mikej]

NO GUTS-NO GLORY! I'll just have to try. I have more confidence looking at the videos and from your replies-but nothing really looks like the stuff we have. People have lost (completely sunk out of sight) tracked machinery in this stuff.

[Noel Woods]

These machines have tremendous capability offroad. You can't compare a well equipped amphib to anything other than another amphib. My tracked Bobcat does well to operate in light mud. In a swamp it would sink to China.
I stuck my Max 2 in river silt once, jumped out to attach the winch cable to a tree on the far bank, and when I did I sank down to the waist, the mud literally pulled my shoes, socks and pants off as I struggled to pull myself out. I luckily recovered my pants, but lost the shoes and socks in the muck. I only had to winch 3 feet or so to keep going though.

[Roger S]

Why not contact Mudbug, maybe pay his gas down there from Shreveport, for a demo in this bog.

[George"Bubba"Hunt]

Noel, sorry about your shoes and socks. So far I have been through some very sticky mud with water and peat. Up to this point my old diesel MO have kept me in my shoes and skivvies. It scares me to hear about folks loosing their clothes.
I hope to never find such a mess as you did. I'm sure we have some of those things up here. Most of our bogs have ice frozen under neath of the water and mud. You can only figure how things could shrivel up in that kind of cold, and you can surely understand how badly I would hate to get unclothed in that mess.
Luckily I have a good cell phone and a SAT phone to call for help if I do get stuck, but so far those 20 inch wide tracks float over things that still scare the snuff out of me.
Bubba

[George"Bubba"Hunt]

mikej, Noel is right about the amphibs. As long as I have my drain plugs screwed in, my Mudd Ox won't sink any deeper than if it was in water.I have never been close to getting stuck with those 20 inch tracks, but I've had a few scarey moments when I went from mud and grass to water-mud and little else. I could feel the machine wallowing back and forth as it swam through the watery-grassy-muddy place. It was far deeper than I could walk out in.
I have been running the bogs since 1972 when I got my first cushman trackster. That was a great little machine but wouldn't quite float. I sunk it two times and always had to sit down and bawl. After bawling for a bit, I managed to find something to winch to and got myself out.
The trick is having friends with other amphibs who can come and get you.
Sometimes you can judge a bog, but most of the time you never really know what's out there until you jump in. Then you will never forget that place. It's always scarey as heck but some of us old Pharts seem to get a kick out that sort of thing.
Bubba

[yamadog]

Mr. George I was wondering if you have had much chain stretch with those 20'' tracks. I also run 20'' tracks on my ox, and like you I only use it for hunting. I hunt 600 acres of pure swamp. No way to get around except with the ox. I have a tricked out polaris sportsman but that swamp will swollow it. I only have 87 hrs on the machine and chain stretch does not seem to be a problem. I hear alot about chains having to be replaced quite often especially if you are running tracks. I was wondering if I was missing something or if they need to be tighter than I think they are. Thanks jimmy [yamadog] cole.

[Cougar]

Mr. George I was wondering if you have had much chain stretch with those 20'' tracks. I also run 20'' tracks on my ox, and like you I only use it for hunting. I hunt 600 acres of pure swamp. No way to get around except with the ox. I have a tricked out polaris sportsman but that swamp will swollow it. I only have 87 hrs on the machine and chain stretch does not seem to be a problem. I hear alot about chains having to be replaced quite often especially if you are running tracks. I was wondering if I was missing something or if they need to be tighter than I think they are. Thanks jimmy [yamadog] cole.

Are you guys running the back chains or did you take them off? Iam going up to Matts this Fri. to pick my up (tracks) I'll ask Matt. I got 48hrs. on mine and have only tighten my front chains the back two chain are still tight. Cougar

[mikej]

Thanks for all the interest guys. My son in law it turns out can borrow a new argo with tracks from his good friend close by (2 1/2 hours) That should tell the tale. Thanks Noel but I'm trying not to picture a guy with his pants off in a mud hole--LOL.