Gear drive track system

[Frymechanic]

Has anyone tried a gear drive track system like a tank or dozer? I could think of a design or two but wasnt sure if someone has done it.

[hydromike]

....like replacing the wheels and tires with cogs that drive a track? To date, I don't know if anyone has but I've had mental pictures of just such a setup bouncing around in my head for years. It wouldn't be that hard, but the amphibious quality might be hurt a bit with the cogged-driven (e.g., Bobcat) tracks that are out there.

Give us your ideas...

[MikeyM]

If someone tried that, id sure like to see a picture! thatd be cool! I still like the track set up my dad had on his max when I was a kid, theres a picture of one in the gallery somewhere. had the tubes on either end of the tub to support the tracks, but that thing was said to be unstoppable since the tracks extended forward of the tub so much

[jpswift1]

If someone tried that, id sure like to see a picture! thatd be cool! I still like the track set up my dad had on his max when I was a kid, theres a picture of one in the gallery somewhere. had the tubes on either end of the tub to support the tracks, but that thing was said to be unstoppable since the tracks extended forward of the tub so much

I think you're refering to the very first track system that Recreatives put out on the Max II. There was a Max II with that track system that popped up for sale a time or two in New Jersey on Ebay. I think A 6X6World member ended up getting it.

[Frymechanic]

....like replacing the wheels and tires with cogs that drive a track? To date, I don't know if anyone has but I've had mental pictures of just such a setup bouncing around in my head for years. It wouldn't be that hard, but the amphibious quality might be hurt a bit with the cogged-driven (e.g., Bobcat) tracks that are out there.

Give us your ideas...

Exactly! Would require a bit of fab to ensure stability and perhaps a few doner snowmobiles.

[Stonewall]

I thought about this type of setup as well. It would require some type of undercarrage for lower bogie sets if you wanted decent ground clearance. Suspension could also be incorporated into a track system like this.

[hydromike]

It would require some type of undercarrage for lower bogie sets if you wanted decent ground clearance. Suspension could also be incorporated into a track system like this.

At that point, you're basically throwing a Cushman Trackster's tracks underneath an amphib. The mental image gives me goosebumps. Why couldn't you just take the entire bogie suspension out of two old sleds and put them under each side of an AATV? On something like a four chain attex machine, you could use the front axle as a rigid mount for the suspension and drive the track system with the center and rear wheel on each side. You could also incorporate part of the suspension mount into the area where the bearing flanges bolt to the frame. Something along the lines of an extension of the Max IV bearing extensions that they currently use for the track setup.

[Stonewall]

I knew I rembered seeing something like this a while back:

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/automatic-links-ebay-auctions/20472-amphi-track-amphibious-tracked-all-terrain-vehicle-cushman-trackster.html

[JohnF]

Using a snowcat as a model, I think you could get a system like this done pretty easy. You need the snowcat style tracks that have cogs that fit a sprocket on the front or rear axle and use a track tuner type device to turn all the other axles into bogie wheels.

[smog]

you can get waterjet cut HDPE with the required "sprocket teeth" and you can built the tracks with baler belts and angle iron/aluminium

Round Baler Belts

[Noel Woods]

I saw a traxster a few years back and talked to the owner. It looked like a lot of weight for a relatively small amphib, and as such I ruled it out. I know there are some very creative people out there, and someone is bound to come up with a system. I have also researched skid-steer track assemblies, and they are just too complicated as well.
Someone prove me wrong.

[JohnF]

Smog and are are on the same <ahem> track...

Here's a picture that sort of shows it off.


An advantage is no axle windup issues.

[Stonewall]

Smog and are are on the same <ahem> track...

Here's a picture that sort of shows it off.


An advantage is no axle windup issues.

So what happens when you run over something on one side of the track? Looks like that'd run off your bogies pretty easily.

[Frymechanic]

When i can figure out how to draw it to post on here ill show the designs i was thinking of.