    
Big Wolf (Unregistered Guest)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 06:26 pm: | 
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Let me take a shot at this one, since I do own a Max IV 950T, and am very familiar with its capabilities. I have not actually saw an Avenger in person, but I have read quite a bit about it and read all the posting about it.
Comment to Question #1, I would have to say that the Avenger should be able to out pull the Max IV 950T, purely from the simple fact that it has a low gear where as the Max does not. The Max 950T has about two horse power more but the low gear on the Avenger transmission should have much more tourque in the low gear.
I have hooked up and towed my 4500 pound Walleye boat with my Max IV 950T, and towed through the two track mud trail out back of the house, and it did not even come close to struggling or spinning the wheels. It has some tremendous tourque and power. There is no question that I over loaded my machine way past the specified max hitch weight of 100 pounds and the maximum tow weight of 1000 pounds by far. However the fact remains I did it and it was like a walk in the park. The other fact also remains that the Avenger is geared much lower in low range, and it can probably crush those numbers in comparison.
Comment to Question #2, Although my Max IV 950T does a fantastic job of towing and hauling trailers and gear and general work, I still beleive it is built for primarily light to medium duty applications, which an occassional heavy job thrown at it once in a while.
I would also have to say that the Avenger is probably built a little heavier and would probably make a better work horse as compared to a Max IV 950T. I would rate the Avenger in the light to medium to heavy duty class, although not the ideal choice for day after day after day heavy duty applications. It is just my opinion that a chain and sprocket drive train machine is truely no match for a hydrostatic motor driven machine, when it comes to lasting longer and less maintaining.
Comment to Question #3, To better address this one first I would use an example test case of light to medium to occasional heavy duty hauling towing application. It is my opinion that if either machine is used as classified and noted, then they you should see a some what comparable life cycle cost to maintain and over haul them. Both are built well enough to take a good beating for general all around usage, and both the Max IV 950T and the Avenger will probably share similar types of component failures over time, bearings, axle shafts, sprockets, chain, etc.
Again this addresses only the two subject machines, if you expanded this discussion with more criteria and talked about even more severe abuse day after day, then I would probably suggest the use of a different machine better build for that purpose like the Hydrotraxx machine or the Argo Sentuar machine.
Now to comment on the balance of your Questions, it is true that double roller chain and sprockets drive will defintely handle the heavy pulling, towing, hauling usage much better with reduced strain and stress on the drive chain, however, the fact remains it is going to wear out the cahin and sprockets and bearings with usage. You may see that it requires less frequent over hauls as compared to the Max IV, but it will still need to be done. I think that when you remove the emotions from the discussion and really look hard at how mechanical components and parts wear and fail over time, you will eventually arrive at understanding the reality of what I am saying here.
The Avenger is definately built a little heavier and stronger than the Max IV, that should account for the weight differences.
When you want to talk about six wheels versus eight wheels in a pulling and traction situation, you should really seperate the two.
For pulling I do not think that you would see or feel much difference, six versus eight wheel on a firm surface, unless it came down to actually breaking the tire traction loose, than eight wheels would definately have the advantage over six for traction and surface contact.
I personally like both machines and both brands. I would love to own one of each. |
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