Hoot,The good and the bad

[coosaridgerider]

I was thinking about getting a hoot in the near future.Anyone have any personal experience with one of these machines and could tell me the good and bad points of them.Thanks.

[jpswift1]

I've heard they had quite a few problems associated with them and their drivetrain was a pretty poor design and not very reliable. I think the new company that took them over reworked them quite a bit and upgraded the engine from a single cylinder to a V-twin.

[mudbug3]

The Hoot was designed to fit between ' state mandated ' 50" inch atv trails. Because of the narrow tub design on the Hoot , this makes it really easy to flip over if you're standing up right while trying to climb a hill and happen to lean over really quick. The center of balance then quickly pulls to the side that you're leaning to. If you're standing up looking over the terrain while driving through a swamp filled with cypress knees and you happen to drive over one , you'll soon find yourself quickly ejected off of the Hoot. Another problem that the Hoot had was the ' reversing wheels ' that are used to back up when ever the Hoot is put into reverse. This design worked very poorly I was told by people that drove a Hoot. In conditions like this, it's best to sit down and minimize this problem. Adding a set of Adair tracks to a Hoot would help widen its foot print on the ground and make it much safer climbing hills.

[rentalrider]

FYI the trails here which require <50" vehicles also require no "skid steering" vehicles. I've never been on one of these hoots, but have been interested in them. I think it would be great for no shanty ice fishing. Of course the older I get, the fewer the times I ice fish without my shanty and heater, and everything but the kitchen sink in back of my 8x8. But I digress

[Southern Comfort Kid]

Hoot-On!

I've had my Hoot since winter 2009-10 and haven't noticed any flip-over problem but I haven't encountered that specific situation, YET! As with riding bikes or jetskis you notice that body placement has alot to do with stability on a Hoot, especially when in the water. It moves good with the Frontier tires. If I have to go up steep inclines I move forward and become ONE with the machine. It always works.

I know the new manufacturer went with the twin 18hp Kohler engine now. I think mainly because they don't make the single 15 Kohler anymore and the Briggs has all of the maintenance access on the opposite side. Sometimes I could use the extra twin cyl oomph with my size. I contacted them about a parts list for converting mine over but they said they didn't have a list, that it was a good bit of parts and re-engineering. Maybe 1 day! I'm sure the twin generates more heat under the hood but it would be a consideration if looking for one, but the 15 single moves my 245#++ more than just fine.

I don't have any issues with the reversers other than they are made for limited backing up, with no real power, but you do have good speed. If you need power to go the other way (like to tow out someone) then you have to turn the machine around and pull in a forward direction. I haven't had any problems with the drivetrain, you just need to keep it adjusted, just like most AATVs.

My main issue was the dealer I got mine from didn't really know how to adjust the drive and brake system. But after going thru the manual and readjusting everything it runs just fine.

The whole camp loves it during duck season in the flooded woods!

Good Points. Gets me everywhere I need to go. Plenty of flat fender space for gun mounts. I added a larger basket on the rear and fold it up to load onto a trailer.

Bad Points? I really have to think hard. Wish I could ride my dog with me in the water! But he's 100# and it's truly a 1 person craft in the water, maybe a small child extra is ok. When I tried I took on some water. I have added a bildge pump and added 2 additional cooling fans for the heat in the south. I found 2 hi speed computer fans that put out alot of cfms with a smaller elec. draw so I usually use them instead of the front fan. I also wish I could install taller tires like those Interco AquaTorque, but it moves really good in the water with the 24" Argo Frontier tires I upgraded to. Wish the seat moved up more for re-fueling. Does tear the ground up in a tight skid-turn. ALL MINOR ISSUES!

It gets the looks!
Bottem Line: NO, it's mine and I won't sell it! Nuff Said! (Take that as my recommendation)

Hoot 6X6 Amphibious ATV at Pot Luck Squirrel Hunt 10/02/2011 - YouTube
Hoot 6X6 at Pot Luck Squirrel Hunt 10/2/2010 - YouTube