By Marc St-Cyr on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I've been thinking about about using wheel adapters (available from the parts section of Route6X6) and an extra set of eight wheels on my argo. Using the wheel adapters I should be able to mount a second wheel to each axle.
My thought is that I can cut the ground pressure by half and "float" on snow with double tires rather than using tracks. Has anyone ever tried this ?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

By Tom Pike on Unrecorded Date: Edit

A cool idea. My one concern would be the increased stress that the outer wheels would add
to the frame. Their distance would give them increased mechanical advantage which wouldn't pose too much of a problem in fluffy snow but I don't find it ever 100% fluffy snow. There is always something around to bump into. I'd like to here how it goes. I'd probably just put it on the axles that have axle extensions and keep the loads down. I went the route of putting just a half set of tracks on the front 4 wheels. The only time I seem to get stuck is when there is a crusty frozen top with powdery snow underneath.

By Marc St-Cyr on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Good suggestion! I have been wondering about the increased leverage caused by extending the wheel distance from the frame. It never occured to me to simply add wheels to the bearing extended axles though. I've only had my argo for a couple of months so I have no idea what the performance is like on snow without tracks (or double wheels for that matter). Depending on the feedback I get on this post, I'll probably use your suggestion and start with 4 extra wheels, then proceed from there if required.

By tpike on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Without tracks is a riot in snow up to about 8 inches. Beyond that even with tracks it isn't a whole lot of fun because you are simply ploding along farely slowly. I've only had mine one winter season. I enjoy it the most staying on my trails and the tracks help me out of ruts.

Have you done the math regarding cost? Is 4 wheels+ 4 tires + 4 axel extensions cheaper than
a half track set? Factor in that you have a spare set of 4 wheels that you can use.

By Marc St-Cyr on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have done some math and cost of wheels+tires+extensions works out a little cheaper than set of standard (narrow) tracks. I do have an ulterior motive however. During deer hunting this year I dinged several rims on rocks and punctured 1 tire. My hunting area is full of sharp rocks. I was thinking of buying 8 Rawhide III (22x11x8) on rims and using those for hunting. I'd put the Runamuks back on when I want a smoother ride. You guys using the half tracks, the clearance between tire 2 and 3 must be pretty tight?
Are you using the Argo standard tracks ?
Maybe I'll end up with a hybrid that has tracks on the two middle tires and double tires on either end.
Any experience with Rawhide III's on an 8x8 ?

By pete6x6 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Guys,

Not only leverage from the wheels but the machine will be considerably wider! Make sure you can still go through your favorite trails being 2' wider.

By Tom Pike (Tpike) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The clearance doesn't seam to be all that tight.
I'm told by my dealer that tracks do put extra strain on the wheels as well. He personally avoids super tracks for this reason. For some reason I feel better having the tracks go round an axel extended wheel. Pete makes a good point regarding width. You could get in some stick situations in a treed area (especially on a hill).

By Ed Simon on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I put a set of wheel extensions on the front axle of my Argo Conquest. This makes it a 10 x 10! I put Rawhide III tires in close and the regular (Runamuks) on the outside. I use this setup in the water. It adds a lot of floatation and keeps the front end up. It also makes it eaiser to get out of the water, (up the banks). As for snow I use SuperTracks, but you have to keep them tight or else the wheels will start to slip in the Tracks.
Ed Simon

By Marc St-Cyr on Unrecorded Date: Edit

A lot of great ideas to think about. Thanks guys.

Ed, do you know off hand what the length of your wheel extensions are ? That should save me a bit of grief trying to measure it.