Purchasing a New UTV

[Rustyiron]

With the weather (lately) in Texas, you might consider something like this
Gator XUV 835r

 

[Industrial Toys]

I guess in order of importance for me, the question would be:

How much time does it take to install and remove them?
How durable are they?
Are they prone to freezing up? If parked in an unheated building.
How much power do they use (rob) to operate? Do you need to operate in low (on a Mule) or will you smoke your belt.
How much do they cost?

 

[ArlyA]

I guess in order of importance for me, the question would be:

How much time does it take to install and remove them?
How durable are they?
Are they prone to freezing up? If parked in an unheated building.
How much power do they use (rob) to operate? Do you need to operate in low (on a Mule) or will you smoke your belt.
How much do they cost?

How much time does it take to install and remove them? An hour or 2 after there first installation.

How durable are they? If you used them in snow, the tracks are quite durable. I rarely run them on any dry ground and don't recommend runnig them in dry land. The bearings Camso uses in theirs bite.

Are they prone to freezing up? If parked in an unheated building. I leave mine in freezing temps all the time. No problem

How much power do they use (rob) to operate? Lots in snow. Our 800cc engine has marginally enough power on 1600lbs machine.

Do you need to operate in low (on a Mule) or will you smoke your belt. Yes in general but while ferrying on hard, easy going surfaces, would go to high.

How much do they cost? Depends on which ones you are speaking of???? 4 to 7K.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Interesting. Thanks.

I suppose it's often a case of do you NEED to get somewhere through snow, with some carrying capacity?

Or, as in my case, I wouldn't mind getting to parts of the property in the winter, but don't have too. So the bother of Re&Re and COST comes into play.

I had an eight wheel Diesel (factory prototype) amphibious ARGO with tracks. I thought my life would be perfect after that, but it was a bit of a let down, for a few different reasons.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'll defer to Arly, I've only had the machine since January but so far I'd have to agree.

 

[Rustyiron]

Interesting. Thanks.



Or, as in my case, I wouldn't mind getting to parts of the property in the winter, but don't have too. So the bother of Re&Re and COST comes into play.

I've learned that the individual mounting kit's (proper lug pattern hub, anti rotation hardware) is available to fit a used pair to your machine. I've seen them quite often on c/l for $2500-3500. I believe that they (Camso) have 2 basic models, quad/atv and utv. There's an outfit called atvtracks.com on youtube that has some helpful mounting, adjusting, and operating videos.

 

[ArlyA]

I've been operating ATV's and UTV's with pods on and in snow for many years and for thousands of hours. Here is my personal machine. What can I say, but I love these machines....

 

[Industrial Toys]

One trouble with the ARGO was the temendous amount of power needed to turn an 8wd long vehicle in snow. Push all that snow sideways. The Dif/disk brake transmission was not up to the task.

 

[ArlyA]

Argos are famously under powered.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I saw the owner of ODG playing with this Diesel prototype (Rugarini 2cyl air cooled) at an Enduro, and hounded the poor man relentlessly for years until he sold it to me.

The charging system was inappropriate on the OEM engine to run the cooling fan for the brakes so I put on a GM alternator, but that required more revs at idle, engaging the snow mobile clutch, or making it impossible to engage the gears. Not ODGs fault. I bought it AS IS.

I wish I still had it, but sold it at considerible profit and helped pay for the 2001 Mule 2510.

The most fun was taking an unsuspecting person for a ride and making a quick unexpected turn into the pond!

 

[tradosaurus]

That had to have been one of the older style work Mules like a 4010 which do. ride pretty rough.
Curious what are the disadvantages of having a CVT belt?

Belts come off when you it most inconvenient.

 

[ArlyA]

Belts come off when you it most inconvenient.

CVT belts come off??

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Dad made a financial contribution towards the Mule. After I got it, I took him on a jaunt around the farm with maybe four inches of snow on the ground. After a while, I could smell the belt smoking. Switched to low.

Changing the belt on my Diesel 2510 is not a job I would wish on anyone.

I gotta say. I simpy HATE campact or some other equipment where you simply can't get at anything.

 

[Rustyiron]

Yeah, the whole dang thing is like working under a dashboard.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Kind of like trying to change the drivers side low beam bulb on my 08 Sierra. GM basically says to take the front of the truck off! They "could" have made the process easy, but elected not to.

 

[ArlyA]

Gee guys, we change the belt when we take it in for its oil change.

 

[the old grind]

Gee guys, we change the belt when we take it in for its oil change.

Since '06 the belt on my EZ-GO has outlasted the original engine. (replaced that in '16)

I've had too many cars (Camaro, others) whose front light bulbs are replaced by pulling back the poly fender liner and working from the wheel well. My '11 Mazda 6 is the same way.

btw, with my Mechron I keep bumping the light switch to 'on' when getting out.

 

[ArlyA]

Since '06 the belt on my EZ-GO has outlasted the original engine. (replaced that in '16)

Ya, but operating in snow is tough on them belts! Nonetheless, just replace them while in da shop.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Some more pictures of that second enclosed rig in snow would be appreciated.

I would love to know some experience of the early Mule 2510 Diesels and peoples long term experience/costs. My 2001 doesn't have a thousand hours yet. No one ever mentions a word about the costs associated with ATVs. Just how great such and such is and what they use them for.

 

[deserteagle71]

Some more pictures of that second enclosed rig in snow would be appreciated.

Good chance that's a Can-am (Bombardier) Defender. If you check out the Facebook site "Can-am Defender Nation" you'll see a lot of photos of those things wearing tracks. Seems to be the thing up in Canada. This is my Defender with the factory cab and heat: