East30
Silver Member
Found a unit with tracks! Wonder about the advantages/disadvantages?
Advantage: traction, ground compaction
Disadvantage: cost, maintenance, pavement travel?
I run Tracks on my X1100 in the winter. The only disadvantage I see is speed, you'll lose darn-near 50% top end, and they are hardly speed demons to begin. I do get better speed on pavement by going to two wheel drive and simply push the front set of tracks.
Advantage for sure when plowing is traction. I was warned when I picked up my blade, and it's well built, is that the tracks could over power the blade due to traction. But, the blade will rollover before any damage I believe would happen to the arms or the blade itself. The tracks really don't compact the snow, there is so much area that compaction is minimal and it floats over the snow. The traction comes from the bite of the many rubber lugs, the tracks themselves don't sink too far into the snow. It very easy to plow over the track left behind, or push with a shovel.
I'd say tracks add about 6" over overall height. I also had to get longer push bars to get the blade out in front of the tracks.
The first picture doesn't show the pulley I added. The second picture shows the straps to attach my hook higher and pulley was added added at the plow itself for easier lifting.

