What to use in the swamp???

Route 6x6 Discussion Board: My Favorite Machine: Talk about you favorite ATV and Why.: What to use in the swamp???
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Craig Assenmacher on Unrecorded Date: Edit

So, a lot of reading of these posts and it can really confuse a person. I am looking to purchase an AATV. Looks like they are all good for most things and iffy for a few. What is going to be the best setup for making my way through swampy marsh. It is in Northern L.P. of MI but is pretty swampy. It isn't cranberry marsh but lots of cattails and mush. Argo or Max... tracks or no tracks... ? I have been looking at the Bigfoots and the MaxIVs. I still have to take some test drives but just looking for some input at this time. Thx!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By argogeru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Craig,
test drive both and if you are in swamp tracks are a beautiful thing. Im down here in coldwater. That is sweet land op were you live

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By matt435 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Craig, I have both Argos's and Max's. I would choose the argo bigfoot with my track system installed. You can get nice tracks for max but you have to use the 21" tires so you loose alot of ground clearence. With the bigfoot and my tracks you can use the 25" bigfoot tires and have lots of ground clearence. Most of us will tell you that there is not a spot that a Max can go through that a Argo will not and visa versa. It all depends on the driver and ground clearence.
Because the most often cause of being stuck is botoming out on the belly pan. with tracks this does not happen very often. But if you don't get stuck your not trying hard enof. Happy trails. Matt

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By CraigA on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What about your tracks abilities in water? Do they propell the vehicle along just as well as without the tracks? How easily do your tracks come on and off? Thanks for all the info. BTW, argogeru, what do you mean I live in "sweet land"?
Also, I am looking to purchase a Bigfoot now, so let me know if anyone has a very nicely maintained used one for sale.
Craig

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Craig -

Just to muddy the issue, you might want to look at http://www.marshmaster.com. These machines are designed for marshy conditions, but they are slow, bulky, and probably pricy. My concern with an Argo or Max in marshes is that once you put tracks on it you must have another motor for use in the water. AATV tracks don't work well once you are afloat.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By argogeru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Matt,
I agree. I have my tracks on and am ready for sunday. the woods ought to be a flooded mess, can hardly wait. Dave will be their to. Jon.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By CraigA on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Doug,

Those look pretty cool but I am just looking for a nice little AATV. I don't need a tank. The swampy areas that I will be playing in aren't real big. Just need to cross some swamps that are maybe 1/4 mile wide or less. I have had some conflicting reports about the argo and max in the water with tracks. Some say it doesn't slow down at all and others say you can't even hardly move with the tracks on in the water. I was just wondering if Matt designed something special for his Bigfoot tracks that addresses this issue. Thanx for the input though!!!

CA

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By matt435 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Craig, Any six wheeler I have owned or drove with tracks will not really move well in water. Even my set. The problem is that the tracks throw so much water in front of you that it creates a wave of water actully sending you backwards when gasing it in forwards!!! The trick is if you have to cross deep water and it is very still and no wind you can idle acrost. That is the trick just a slow idle nothing more or you will be a sitting duck.

Jon, Ron and I were out taring it up tonight, I just got home and it is 3:38 am. Boy was it nice out tonight. I would say 50 deg? Can't wait till sunday. "warning" there are two bigfoots with Mudox track systems waiting to sling mud on you!!!!! Matt

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By argogeru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Matt,
I will do my best with my tracks to slig some mud to. Hope it warms up and the wind quits. oh well if it dont. is steve coming?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By matt435 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Jon, as far as I know yes. I hope for your sake the wind does stop... If not you will have to buy a top and windsheild. Matt


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