River Run ATV Park video,s

[George]

Those Hustlers are pretty cool.

[mightymaxIV]

Very Cool!

Very cool video mudbug! where are the MaxIV videos? That looked like an excellent AATV proving gound. Next time why don't you try to get a couple of the high lifted quads to try and follow you through!

[rdr]

Oh yeah , that big mud hole the trucks use as a " crazy 8 " track , was the biggest and absolute worse mud hole I,d ever drove my Max IV into . I really wish that boncrshr could have gotten a video of me "STRUGGLING " to get my Max IV out . You would have to see how hard this was to believe it ! Just as soon as I had driven my Max IV five feet into this BIG MUD HOLE , I knew I,d made a BIG mistake ! I tried rocking my Max IV side to side by hanging off my roll bar , but this only worked for a few feet . I tried to unweight my Max IV by standing on the front edge of it and this worked , but hardy moved my Max at all . This was some SOFT and DEEP mud ! The only thing left that I could do now , was to get out of my amphib , and push against it , hoping that the lightened tub weight would give my Max IV the help it needed . Just as soon as I stepped out of my Max in my hip waders , I was chest deep in thick mud with only about 8-10- inches of water on top of it . I PUSHED as hard as I could and leaned over and worked the throttle at the same time . Boncrshr yelled out for me to back up and let them winch me out , but by now I was committed to make it out all by myself , and not let this mud prevail . As I saw my amphib slowly move forward , this gave me the hope that I could make it to the other side . When I was half way across , I could see a log directly in front of me , half submerged in the water . I knew I could not drive over it .The only thing I could do now , was try to push my Max towards the far end of the log , because I knew that I could not drive over one this muddy and slippery . When I had pushed my Max IV as far as I could away from the log ,,I waded chest deep in the mud to the other side of my Max . Now I pushed as hard as I could , while working the throttle at the same time , to change direction . When I had made sufficent progress , I then waded to the other side of my Max , and pushed and worked the throttle at the same time as before . This time I could feel my tires trying to gain traction as I stood on the submerged log . I was now pushing as hard as I could with my left foot , and using my tub and roll bar for leverage . I was hoping some how , some way , my Gator tires could make it over this log and into the deeper water . By now I was just about EXHAUSTED from straining to get my Max out . When my Max had made it past this log ,,things got easier , because the water was now deeper . As I watched my Max IV slowly gain momentum , I hung onto the side of the tub and let the 25 hp Kolier drag me along . This only lasted a few minutes and then it was back to pushing and straining ! The only difference now ,,I was within five feet of driving out . Just as soon as my front Gators grabbed traction , I pulled myself into the drivers seat and drove out ! This was the absolute hardest thing I,ve ever tried to do , with my Max IV . Just as soon as I had driven out , I yelled out to the ATV rider with the 8 inch lift and tall mud tires to try it , but he said " no way " . This was five feet of pudding mud that I,d made it through . The big monster tire trucks had made this mud hole almost impossible to make it across !


This is where a low PSI amphib , with "tracks" ( HOOT ) would excell !

you max with tracks will leave that hoot .

[mudbug3]

Those Hustlers are pretty cool.

George ,

You got that right ! Boncrshr and I were at a section of River Run park that had a BAD mud hole called " suicide hole " . This mud hole was filled with " pudding mud " . This is the kind of mud thats EXTREMELY hard to drive through , because it has very little water on top of the mud . Just as soon as you drive in you high center , and then your tires struggle to find traction while pushing the weight of the tub and driver foward. I was totally unaware of this when I drove my Max IV down a hill about 40 degrees and straight into the large mud hole . Just as soon as my Max IV had all six wheels in the muddy water , I knew I was in for a struggle ! I then started rocking my Max IV side to side , and this got me about 2 feet from where I first entered in . I then tried hanging off the right side and then the left side of my Max IV , with a zip tie holding my throttle partially open . This got me almost half way across . By this time I had a crowd of about fifteen 4-wheelers watching me struggle trying to make it to the other side . When I had reached the point that I could no longer make any forward momentum , I knew then it was time to abandon ship , and start pushing my Max IV for all I was worth . When I had "almost" made it to the other side by pushing the Max IV hard as I could ,while keeping the throttle on with a zip tie , an atv rider watching me yelled out " you need me to help " ? I said sure ,I,m not proud , " come on down " ! I hung off one side of the Max IV and the atv rider helping me hung off the other side . We then got ourselves synchronized in our rocking from side to side . This got me almost to the point of driving out , but an arm size tree limb near the waters edge prevented me . At this point I got out of the Max IV and removed what was preventing me from driving out . By now I had an even larger crowd of atv riders who were gathered around this mud hole watching me . Some of them had video camera,s shooting the action . At this point another atv rider asked me if I had any thing that he could pull me out with , when he saw I was not using my winch . It was not working that day so I had to resort to a long rope . The rider of this BIG tire 4-wheeler managed to pull me about a foot out of the water while I worked the throttle of my Max . This was right before the rope snaped , that had been tied to the front of my roll bar.


After boncrshr and I had answered many curious questions about our amphibs and what they could do , boncrshr decides to drive his Hustler back the way I,d first come across , and up the same steep hill that I came down . I thought to myself , if he can do this I,ll be VERY impressed . This particular mud pit is shaped like a large bowl ,and boncrshr takes a line that is different from the one I drove up , but the drive down is almost as steep . Every one that is gathered around this mud pit watches as Boncrshr drives his Hustler half way across , while sitting down and rocking side to side with no problem. When boncrshr got to the place where I,d first drove in , I was VERY SURE he would,nt make it any further . All of the mud before he made his steep climb out , had been churned up really good when I,d first entered the mud pit . At this point Boncrshr starts rocking his Hustler side to side , while sitting down working the throttle , and then drives up the steep embankment I,d first drove down . VERY IMPRESSIVE ! This mud hole was so bad that none of the atv riders that were watching us , would even attempt to cross .


The light psi of Boncrshr,s Hustler 950 , combined with the exellent traction and self cleaning ability of the 13.5 inch vampire tires on it , put my Max IV to shame that day . His Hustler has less ground clearance and he has a Honda 20 hp vs my 25 hp Kolier .

[boncrshr]

Mudbug is just being nice....he made it all the way to the end of that mud pit.

Here are my two videos of the day. In the second video near the end is the really bad mud pit that Mudbug is talking about.

[mudbug3]

[QUOTE ] That looked like an excellent AATV proving gound. Next time why don't you try to get a couple of the high lifted quads to try and follow you through! [ QUOTE]



mightymaxIV ,


Every time boncrshr and I find a very challenging mud hole to drive our amphibs through , none of the 4-wheeler riders watching us want to try it themselves . Even the high lifted , big tire atv riders won,t try to follow us . I think they have either tried these same mud holes themselves and failed to make it through , or after they see the struggle we go through driving through them , they put this idea out of their head .

[mudbug3]

[QUOTE ] That little MaxII of Noel's was quite impressive in the mud! [ QUOTE]


mightymaxIV ,

Yes it was ! The more we go to River Run Park and continue to find more and more challenging mud trails , the more I,m convinced that a lighter weight amphib ( lower psi ), has a better advantage in the mud .

[Roger S]

Looks like Gustav is going to soak your area, guys. Good luck

[whipper-ag]

Nice videos guys. Mudbug, noticed you had your waders on. Can't loose your shoes that way. I was waiting for your Max to hook up & leaving you standing in the mudhole. You running after your Max in your waders would have been some action footage we've never seen before.

Whipper

[mudbug3]

[ quote ] your max with tracks will leave that hoot



rdr ,


I have talked to Ray Kolis and another man in Canada who are both Hoot dealers. I have also talked at length to both of them about the Hoot and what it could do . There is a big oil company in Canada and all of the amphibs that they have bought for checking pipe lines , have been Argo 8x8,s , until recently when the Hoot was introduced in Canada . This same oil campany is now buying Hoot ETV,s because they are more cost effective than an Argo 8x8 with tracks . In the muskege bogs a Hoot equiped with only Frontier tires will often go places in the muskege that the Argo Avengers won,t even with tracks . This would also include a Max IV with tracks too I,m sure . Ray told me that once an amphib drives through the soft muskege , very often another amphib can,t follow them in the same spot . This gives you an idea just how soft the muskege is ! The Hoot ETV is often able to go places in the Muskege that even a tracked Avenger can,t follow . This is because of the light psi of the Hoot . Rays friend has been an Argo dealer for about 18 yrs , and this is what he told me . He now sells both the Argo line of amphibs and the Hoot ETV for hunters who want to drive deeper into the bush with out resorting to a chain saw as much . Because of the narrowness of the Hoot you can use body english to a much better advantage when compared to a 6x6 or an 8x8 . I notice this each and every time that I take my Max IV to River Run Park with Noels Max II and boncrshr,s Hustler 950 . Both of these amphibs have lower psi than my Max IV . In the deep mud with about 6-8 inches water on top , I have to work more in my heavier Max IV .

[mudbug3]

[QUOTE=whipper-ag;21748]Nice videos guys. Mudbug, noticed you had your waders on. Can't loose your shoes that way. I was waiting for your Max to hook up & leaving you standing in the mudhole. You running after your Max in your waders would have been some action footage we've never seen before.



Whipper ,


Yes I always have my waders on at River Run park . I have never went there and not gotten out of my Max IV to either push myself , Noel,s Max II or boncrshr,s Hustler 950 . The mud was so soft and deep in the Suicide Hole that I fell forward some times trying to walk in it . As thick and soft as the mud was in that hole I had plenty of time to pull the plastic zip tie loop off the throttle . With out that zip tie though ,,I could not have crossed it at all . I learned this trick watching Roger in one of John Swchabs videos .

[boncrshr]

Yeah, I'll second that the quads are content to sit around and watch us play in the mud. I am so glad we started going to these ATV parks because it answered a lot of questions about quad vs. amphib in the mud, and in reality there is no comparison. People are always so curious about our machines....I honestly think if more people knew what they were capable of that they would buy them.

Max is really missing the boat, they should have a marketing vehicle that does nothing but hit the mud parks on the weekends. Show what the vehicles can do and let people drive them through the mud holes....you would sell some for sure. MattO has an awesome product and reads this board, and BW6 has the Hoot dealership, this would be great marketing for them too. These serious mud guys will spend the money for the performance.

This past weekend there were more people at this park than I have ever seen. 400 ATV's had arrived Saturday alone, with more camping on Friday and more coming after we did. We saw some crazy 4-wheelers that people spent some serious money on....all I could think was Man, you coulda had a MudOx, Max, Hoot, Argo, etc.......and I do realize there are some people that like the quads for comfort and low maintenance, but that was not these guys...29" Outlaws, big lift kits, Gorilla axles, snorkels, etc do not make comfortable maintenance free machines...that's pure mudding there.

Oh yeah, the coolest looking non-amphib machine we saw was a lifted Razor with big Outlaws on it...he would not play with us because he had broken a CV joint in the long mud pit at about the 2:30 mark in the second video above. Which we both walked right through....

Last thought on Saturday is that it was a good day to be in the South...that is if you like tons of girls in bikini tops, Daisy Dukes, and knee high rubber boots!! Can I get a Yee-Haw???

[rdr]

[ quote ] your max with tracks will leave that hoot



rdr ,


I have talked to Ray Kolis and another man in Canada who are both Hoot dealers. I have also talked at length to both of them about the Hoot and what it could do . There is a big oil company in Canada and all of the amphibs that they have bought for checking pipe lines , have been Argo 8x8,s , until recently when the Hoot was introduced in Canada . This same oil campany is now buying Hoot ETV,s because they are more cost effective than an Argo 8x8 with tracks . In the muskege bogs a Hoot equiped with only Frontier tires will often go places in the muskege that the Argo Avengers won,t even with tracks . This would also include a Max IV with tracks too I,m sure . Ray told me that once an amphib drives through the soft muskege , very often another amphib can,t follow them in the same spot . This gives you an idea just how soft the muskege is ! The Hoot ETV is often able to go places in the Muskege that even a tracked Avenger can,t follow . This is because of the light psi of the Hoot . Rays friend has been an Argo dealer for about 18 yrs , and this is what he told me . He now sells both the Argo line of amphibs and the Hoot ETV for hunters who want to drive deeper into the bush with out resorting to a chain saw as much . Because of the narrowness of the Hoot you can use body english to a much better advantage when compared to a 6x6 or an 8x8 . I notice this each and every time that I take my Max IV to River Run Park with Noels Max II and boncrshr,s Hustler 950 . Both of these amphibs have lower psi than my Max IV . In the deep mud with about 6-8water on top , I have to work more in my heavier Max IV .

with tracks your ground pressurs is almost 3/4 pond persq in .so i doin't thing the hoot has less gp than that .+++++++ 15 in wide tracks spread it out a lot more than 12 in wide tires . robbie

[boncrshr]

Hey Robbie,

It's funny a lot of us are starting to think along the same line...JPSwift and I were on the phone the other day, I went out and measured my contact patch as best I could, multiplied by 6 and divided my estimated weight. I think I was about 1.2psi.

And yesterday, me and Mudbug were trying to figure out where you can weigh your amphib?? Thoughts anyone??...the original Hustler brochures said 800lbs, but I honestly don't believe I am much over 700...

The waders are a great tool...not only for staying dry, but ticks, mosquitoes, etc. I need to get me a light pair like Dave, I only have the thick insulated ones.

[rdr]

jest looked up the specks to the hoot it is 725 lbs with 22 - 11- x8 so a max 11 has the same amount of GP as a hoot . loks like a nice mechine not kicking it at all but with the same amount of GP as a max 11 . it should be right equal . and those 12 in wide tracks vs a 15 on the max or 18 on argo . they should have less GP than 12 . right .. robbie .