Tracks and blades, any experience?

[jcmseven]

I use my 825 I gator for snow removal, but we have had none this year. The past year was light but two years ago we had a regionally heavy winter. I work a lot on very steep sections of my driveway and service road and generally have felt safe doing it. I generally plow without chains on the Gator but generally do run some ballast in back which does help. I would like to be prepared in the event of another heavy winter. I have thought about adding some chains for regular plowing but I would like to not scuff my driveway and this is one reason I try not to use them. I tend to avoid areas in deeper snow where it is very steep, but would like to access those areas if I could. I have been casually looking at some tracks for my Gator. Yes, they are expensive and I am by no means commmitted to getting some, but a coworker of mine just got a set for his Polaris ranger due to some steep bank work he does and likes them. Does anyone on the forum have experience with these on a Gator or similar utv and if so which brands seem best. Also any thought on whether they would unduly stress the suspension and axles in my application? Would they generally clear the blade in the front when angled? I use a 72" straight blade and if it would not clear there would really be no reason for me to look further. Obviously in NC we do not see a lot of these, so I have little to no experience with them aside to say they would seem to be the trick for my specific areas of concern. Thanks

John M

 

[ctlguy]

Best tracks for these IMAO is tatou4s, will the blade clear them, no it will not, the tracks stick out too far.

 

[beretta96man]

I have a rtv500 on tatou4s. I'm in the process of putting a 72" v blade on mine. I have all the parts sitting on the shop floor just need to get past the holidays and I will be plowing and can let you know what I think. The push tube I ordered was specifically longer for UTV's with tracks and it looks like I won't have any issues there.
So far tracks are AMAZING as to how steep you can climb and i've had it in waste deep snow just sitting on the top like it didn't weigh the 1500+lbs that it does