I would have that in writing and signed by the owner of the dealership. I've had sales guys tell me that trucks haul or pull over the rated limits etc. When I've asked them to include in the sales agreement that the dealership would reimburse for any and all damages caused by that over load -- guess what happened?
ATVs / RUVs with tracks
- Thread starter JimMorrissey
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I would have that in writing and signed by the owner of the dealership. I've had sales guys tell me that trucks haul or pull over the rated limits etc. When I've asked them to include in the sales agreement that the dealership would reimburse for any and all damages caused by that over load -- guess what happened?
austenjonesufg
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hello
everybody thanks for the post.
everybody thanks for the post.
jimgerken
Veteran Member
I own a CanAm (Bombardier) 800 Max (two up model), and have installed the CanAm Apache track kit on it. I was fortunate to find the track kit a year old used, and saved half the money. My impressions: Speed is reduced by about 1/3 with this kit. So top speed is about 50, ehich feel VERY fast. Steering is more difficult than with tires. Steering is impossible when stopped, you must steer while moving. While moving, it is not a big problem. My wife operates and loves it (OK, actually the whole idea was hers to begin with). In four wheel drive mode, it rarely spins a track, even though it has about 65 horsepower available. Nothing will stop it from going through snow. It is not really like riding a snowmobile, since you are sitting upright, and more exposed to the wind, you get cold faster. Definitely HAVE to have a windshield on there. It actually floats in moderate density snow. For instance, she and I went riding one day last winter. She took the CanAm, I rode my two wheel drive Polaris sport machine, just for fun and to see how far I could get. Of course there was a limit to my two wheel drive, and soon I was stuck where the trail comes out of the woods near the top of a hill and crosses an open field. The snow drifted there about three feet deep, and nothing had disturbed the snow, so it was really soft. I stopped as soon as I saw the deep stuff ahead, and I was trying to get it turned around so I could go back, when she came blasting past me, right through all the deep stuff, and on across the field. I figured she'd come back, but did not for several minutes, so after I got my machine turned, I started hiking after her. I had to walk about 200 feet through the deepest snow, around a corner and up the hill a little, to find her. I was wading, almost swimming in it. Snow up to my crotch. I noticed her tracks had sunk in about six inches. The machine weighs about 650, and the tracks are about 60 pounds each. Certainly the gross weight on the whole rig with operator was over 1000 pounds. I caught up to her, and together we rode back to my machine, again barely sinking in. Plus, clearance is greatly improved over tires, because the tracks raise the machine about 6 inches. I think our has almost 15 inches of clearance at the frame (less where the suspension comes downward on each side). The thing will pull like a wrecker too. I built a neat tow-bar deal to pull snow-sledders back up the hill (need pics of that for you). And I pull a homemade groomer around in the snow almost constantly. Once the tracked CanAm goes through, pulling a snow drag groomer, the snow freezes and then I can ride sport atv machines on it almost all winter. This activity is on private trails. Unfortunately the way "snowmobile" is defined, the tracked ATV is not legal on public snowmobile trails. I bought a snowmobile trail pass for it last year, and rode it just twice on public trails, but was informed by local club members that it was frowned upon. Too bad, it does less damage than a sled, which can easily pile up the snow when launching. It is leagl on frozen lakes, so I plan to take it over to Lake Zumbro on a nice day this winter, if the ice is safe.
My take is, the snow is so unpredictable, I hate to have a snowmobile or two setting there year after year waiting for use or hauling a couple hundred miles for use, this make much more sense. It is a blast to ride, and very big and comfortable for two people. On a nice day, after a fresh snow, with low winds, and you dress for the occasion, it is the greatest feeling to be able to go anywhere and enjoy the scenery with my honey.
To somewhat answer the UTV vs ATV question: If the UTV had a little cab enclosure, maybe even a heater, and you put that on tracks, I would say the experience would be even better. Side-by-side seating has advantages of better communication, easier to point out the terrain and wildlife sights, etc. I have looked at the UTVs but they are so very expensive and the track kits are then twice the money too, so if I add it up correctly it would cost me about 17000 to have a tracked UTV. My Can Am is an '06 and I got a great price on that, plus the half-price tracks, so I have less than 10000 in the whole package. The hauling capacity of the little dump box on a UTV is certainly attractive also, so eventually I would think that would sway me after this ATV wears out.
My take is, the snow is so unpredictable, I hate to have a snowmobile or two setting there year after year waiting for use or hauling a couple hundred miles for use, this make much more sense. It is a blast to ride, and very big and comfortable for two people. On a nice day, after a fresh snow, with low winds, and you dress for the occasion, it is the greatest feeling to be able to go anywhere and enjoy the scenery with my honey.
To somewhat answer the UTV vs ATV question: If the UTV had a little cab enclosure, maybe even a heater, and you put that on tracks, I would say the experience would be even better. Side-by-side seating has advantages of better communication, easier to point out the terrain and wildlife sights, etc. I have looked at the UTVs but they are so very expensive and the track kits are then twice the money too, so if I add it up correctly it would cost me about 17000 to have a tracked UTV. My Can Am is an '06 and I got a great price on that, plus the half-price tracks, so I have less than 10000 in the whole package. The hauling capacity of the little dump box on a UTV is certainly attractive also, so eventually I would think that would sway me after this ATV wears out.
Scooby074
Super Member
Thanks for the hands on report. Our lack of consistent snow is the same reason i was considering tracks. I too was put off too because the local snowmobile clubs frown on ATV with tracks. even though trail construction comes from atv licensing fees
and its mostly the atv'ers that do the trail maintenance in summer. If you pay for a snowmobile trail pass (which covers the cost of grooming) then atv and snowmobile should have access to the trails. Im a Snowmobilier and a Atv'er.
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JimMorrissey
Veteran Member
I'm told it's legal around Maine if you register as a snowmobile. I totally agree about the ATV trail maintenance comment....most of the maintenance is done via ATV. I'm thinking I'll let them frown. As long as I'm legal, insured, and keep the speed up so I don't drag the sleds down, then too bad.
atgreene
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I've played with a Polaris 500 with snow tracks, did ok, hard to steer like everyone says.
My father runs a RTV with tracks. Honestly, the thing sucks. Granted he's up on top of a mtn dealing with more snow and steeper terrain than average, but the thing is pretty useless. Once the trail is hardpacked the tracks spin like crazy. On unpacked trails the rig sinks like a rock. Even with some cleets on the tracks it isn't much. Tires with diamond studded chains go better as long as he keeps a trail open after each storm.
Here's some pics of the clubs S-10 with tracks and the RTV. Dealer said there was two types of tracks, all season and snow. The all season didn't work well so they bought the snow tracks. No better. And after getting stuck the rtv rolled the track frame up under the machine. Was a chore getting this unstuck. I'll try to find the pics, took the excavator to get the thing out and back to the shop.
If I were to do it for riding I'd definitely get the power steering and the snow tracks. My big boss Polaris is getting over the wheel tracks soon, not sure what to do about the front wheels.
I am suprised that the tracks cause more stress, as they seem to gear down the machine allowing more torque to the tracks than if it had wheels, but less speed. Seems like that would lessen the strain on the drivetrain but certainly increases the rpm that the equipment is turning.
As for trails, I groom for the local club, have for 21 years, anything that is tracked is welcome on our trails. ATV tracks seem to tear up less trail than an 800 cc snowmobile with a 15 yo kid on it.
My father runs a RTV with tracks. Honestly, the thing sucks. Granted he's up on top of a mtn dealing with more snow and steeper terrain than average, but the thing is pretty useless. Once the trail is hardpacked the tracks spin like crazy. On unpacked trails the rig sinks like a rock. Even with some cleets on the tracks it isn't much. Tires with diamond studded chains go better as long as he keeps a trail open after each storm.
Here's some pics of the clubs S-10 with tracks and the RTV. Dealer said there was two types of tracks, all season and snow. The all season didn't work well so they bought the snow tracks. No better. And after getting stuck the rtv rolled the track frame up under the machine. Was a chore getting this unstuck. I'll try to find the pics, took the excavator to get the thing out and back to the shop.
If I were to do it for riding I'd definitely get the power steering and the snow tracks. My big boss Polaris is getting over the wheel tracks soon, not sure what to do about the front wheels.
I am suprised that the tracks cause more stress, as they seem to gear down the machine allowing more torque to the tracks than if it had wheels, but less speed. Seems like that would lessen the strain on the drivetrain but certainly increases the rpm that the equipment is turning.
As for trails, I groom for the local club, have for 21 years, anything that is tracked is welcome on our trails. ATV tracks seem to tear up less trail than an 800 cc snowmobile with a 15 yo kid on it.
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JimMorrissey
Veteran Member
Interesting. Would think the RTV with tracks would be a tank. I've watched some awesome footage of tracked big-bore ATVs plowing snow and running mud with a latest version of tracks.
slowzuki
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I think the problem is an RTV weighs maybe twice that of an atv, and has almost the same track footprint. Also, I have read some of the ATV's don't do all that well with tracks in deep snow. Not as good as a snowmobile at least.
Scooby074
Super Member
An ARGO running tracks is darn near unstoppable in snow. My neighbour has a Conquest. I was stuck in a snowdrift(on a snowmobile)one time when he came by,stopped, and asked if i needed help. I said nope, so he carried on right thru the same drift i was mired in. Needless to say i was impressed.
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