Tracks, Boggies, suspension...heaven forbid?

[Old Tucker]

There are folks listening to this conversation and in the process of creating something that will be the best of both worlds, I will say no more at this point but we will see a machine that addresses all these issues very soon.

I now that I, along with quite a few other outdoor adventures' in this little town would love to be able have something we can take the family out in. Yes you do have the ATV. sleds and side by sides. But none are really geared for what a vast majority of riders want them for. Around here anyway.
We will be waiting.

[john swenson]

seems like at heard at busco in oct. the same thing and i believe it was the mudd ox boys. johnboy va.

[mightymaxIV]

There are a few of the side by side around here with tracks and the owners have found they are a little top heavy for tough snow conditions. The Argo is the best bet for a good set of tracks, Low centre of gravity. Even a ATV has quite a centre of gravity with tracks.
A good bolt on system with the track the full length of the argo. And I mean the full length, At LEAST a foot longer on the front then the existing system to help in keep the nose up.
In a way I hope some one is listening to us. And realizes there may be a market out there that no one has stepped into yet.
When I have the Argo jacked up and try to turn the tracks it takes a lot of effort. It was the same with the plastic track. Thats a lot of robed HP just to turn the existing track system. You have all the chains gears axles to move. Their must be a better way. We only have 20 - 30 HP to play with. Why waist it. If the Argo had 50 -75 HP then there would not be a problem. Yes we all know our machines are slow thats not a issue. If we wanted to go like a bat out of hall then we would have a sled and leave the family at home. I would rather take the family. Thats how I look at it.

There are folks listening to this conversation and in the process of creating something that will be the best of both worlds, I will say no more at this point but we will see a machine that addresses all these issues very soon.

[john swenson]

sorry, it's under '' half tracked snow rail '' . johnboy va.

[john swenson]

tucker, that's why it seems like one drive sprocket for the system like the quads bolt on uses would take less power on our machines. check out the video under '' tracked dune buggy in snow ''. shows a sand rail in deep snow. look at the rear track systems he made. very cool. of course it's a high h.p. machine, but the bolt on tracks are sort of what's being discussed. johnboy va.

[Old Tucker]

There are a few of the side by side around here with tracks and the owners have found they are a little top heavy for tough snow conditions. The Argo is the best bet for a good set of tracks, Low centre of gravity. Even a ATV has quite a centre of gravity with tracks.
A good bolt on system with the track the full length of the argo. And I mean the full length, At LEAST a foot longer on the front then the existing system to help in keep the nose up.
In a way I hope some one is listening to us. And realizes there may be a market out there that no one has stepped into yet.
When I have the Argo jacked up and try to turn the tracks it takes a lot of effort. It was the same with the plastic track. Thats a lot of robed HP just to turn the existing track system. You have all the chains gears axles to move. Their must be a better way. We only have 20 - 30 HP to play with. Why waist it. If the Argo had 50 -75 HP then there would not be a problem. Yes we all know our machines are slow thats not a issue. If we wanted to go like a bat out of hall then we would have a sled and leave the family at home. I would rather take the family. Thats how I look at it.

[john swenson]

riot, looking forward to seeing the sketches.i like your ideas. if you can see it in your minds eye, thats the first step. next is developement. wether it's practical or works great or is even something people would want, to me it's the fun of figuring it out. i'm just finishing up some bolt on front wheel 6'' wide tracks to go with my max half tracks to give me some extra footprint and traction. will they help ? probably. they are unique and fun as heck to fabricate. hard to hold down that creativity !! johnboy va.

[riotwarrior]

Also search,I think, Avenger with tracks ranger with tracks deep snow on you tube.
Even with the more power and wheel speed of the 800, the Polaris wasn't able to do more than the Argo in powder and looked much less maneuverable. (as a comparison)

Not sure why, but those rangers with tracks are quite narrow tracks....I'm talking about a bolt on system simlar to what they have...a full length belt and about 15-20" wide...depending on certain things.

The wider tracks of an argo or any other machine equates to far greater capability for flotation in powdery snow...those rangers and other UTV and quads just don't have the track width for decent snow performance IMO

Guess gotta take a picture scan it in B/W then edit it and draw/sketch what I'm talking bout ROFL. Clearly I'm not clear..

[ARGOJIM]

Also search,I think, Avenger with tracks ranger with tracks deep snow on you tube.
Even with the more power and wheel speed of the 800, the Polaris wasn't able to do more than the Argo in powder and looked much less maneuverable. (as a comparison)

[riotwarrior]

Seems you're off the original idea now, but this may be one reason the 4 corners may not work. Though the tracks may be closer on 6x6.

terra jet snow tracks - YouTube

Me off the original idea...nope I don't think so...seeing this is what I'm thinking all along when I started the thread.

[Noel Woods]

Seems you're off the original idea now, but this may be one reason the 4 corners may not work. Though the tracks may be closer on 6x6.

terra jet snow tracks - YouTube

That Terra Jet really sits up high with the tracks. That's a great look for a T.J. and I'm sure it performs well.

[ARGOJIM]

Seems you're off the original idea now, but this may be one reason the 4 corners may not work. Though the tracks may be closer on 6x6.

terra jet snow tracks - YouTube

[riotwarrior]

riot, seems to my visualization of the system your talking about means the rear axle would be the track drive and the center axles would still spin, but the boogie system that bolted to the center hubs would have a plate to match the hub bolts, and that plate mounted to a short shaft thru a bearing so they would freewheel. i think the whole thing for each side could be made to where you just unbolt the wheels, bolt on the system on each side and your off. just a general idea, still questions about space , clearance, etc. i'm thinking along the line of those one's like are mounted on pickup trucks. but each side would be one complete unit. anyway, keep thinking !! johnboy va.

See each of our machines is different in how the axles are supported.

For example if you dig in my muscateer thread you will see my outer bearing is about 1"-2" away from the flange the tyres mount on, this is a very very unique system and the only one of it's kind that I have seen... MUSCAT Corp only! I can quite simple mount a set of spacers on my axles inside and only drive ONE axle, or TWO or as I have now all three.

With spacers on the inside this would allow those axles to float and act as a pivot for a suspended system. or I could tie two of them together to provide a fixed point and only have one with some pivot capability, similar to what the do on Quads.

The idea is to unbolt wheels/tyres bolt on tracks for winter or what have you...

Just thinking outside the box here is all...

[john swenson]

riot, seems to my visualization of the system your talking about means the rear axle would be the track drive and the center axles would still spin, but the boogie system that bolted to the center hubs would have a plate to match the hub bolts, and that plate mounted to a short shaft thru a bearing so they would freewheel. i think the whole thing for each side could be made to where you just unbolt the wheels, bolt on the system on each side and your off. just a general idea, still questions about space , clearance, etc. i'm thinking along the line of those one's like are mounted on pickup trucks. but each side would be one complete unit. anyway, keep thinking !! johnboy va.

[riotwarrior]

Ok so this is still bugging me...how to mount track frames front and rear and the center like they do on quads...then wrap one larger track around the whole setup...this is to me a gooder plan LOL as the track frame pivots on the axle upwards at an angle to climb out of snow....I'm guessing/hoping.