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Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 38
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.37
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 09:52 am: | 
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I need to pick your brain! Here is my situation: I live in desert conditions out here on the west coast. Water is seldom seen therefore I am looking at tires that would take the wear and tear of rocky/dirt conditions verses running in the mud and water. Eventually I plan on adding tracks for winter use in the local mts. So here is the question, would a tire like a dirt devil be flexable enough to provide a decent ride? Would these same tires work under tracks? I have these dirt devils on both of my Polaris Sportsmans, they are tough, agressive grave-diggers. What are my options? Good, bad or indifferent? |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 254
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.128.97.144
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 03:47 pm: |
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I guess you're on runamucs now? For dry conditions did you want more than they can offer? I put 9" wheels and tall atv tires on my Response, got tread and ground clearance but lost swim ability and is harder to turn, also gained vehicle weight. Another big issue is will the tire you pick stay mounted without 5 psi. The runamuc is the only tire I've seen that will stay mounted on the argo wheel at low psi.
For argo tracks, the tire will have to fit inside them, although there's a possibility aftermarket rubber tracks that fit wider tires that might be.
I havn't seen frontier tires on an 8 wheeler yet. I'm sure that will be the best performing, easiest turning, lightest weight, tallest tire available for a conquest or response. They are tall enough that I doubt even a rubber track will clear the body, however.
A runamuc aired down to 2 psi should take you anywhere dry and ride best, even if nearly bald. |
Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 41
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.46
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 05:04 pm: |
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Yeah, I've got the 22" runamucs, huge plugs in some, some don't hold air at all. Most look pretty thrashed. On one of my properties, we have very sharp pieces of rock...I've split sidewalls on my trucks because of these rocks. You think runamucs are tough enough to handle that type of abuse? Most rocks in the area are alluvial (rounded river gravels), but there are sections in there that are made up of nothing but fractured bedrock. You could almost shave with a split piece of bedrock. What kind of life could I expect from using Runamucs in these conditions?
Any other options? |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 255
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.128.99.12
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 12:49 am: |
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That's asking a lot, sounds like you'd need a tire with knobs or tread all down the sidewall. I saw one tire with a kevlar belt under the tread, too big though. I've seen the 22" super swamper on an 8 wheeler, wouldn't stay mounted at low psi though. Now, if you bought Max 8" beadlock wheels they would hold a stiff tire like the dirt devil at low or no psi. Nothing will ride as good as a runamuc/frontier tire. You might try a search here on the subject, we've talked about this in the past. |
Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 42
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.46
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 10:44 am: |
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I saw a conquest sold on ebay that had dirt devils on it. Have no idea as to how they would ride on an 8x8 or what kind of rims he was using.
You're saying if I change out the rims to the Max 8" rims, I wouldn't have to worry about losing the bead. Would I have an issue with dirt devils or something w/ this kind of heavy duty tread have any negative impact on the use of rubber tracks? |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 256
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 64.149.62.208
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 11:58 am: |
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You'd need a tire and a track that fit each other, so the tire wouldn't climb out of the tracks in turns. The best solution would be a set of decent, maybe used runamucs for tracks, then another set of wheels and tires of your choice. That would allow a few proven track choices readily available. That's about all I can offer, someone else may have found a tire and track that will do what you want. |
Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 43
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.42
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 05:19 pm: |
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You speak of these Max 8" rims. What makes them so special and where in blue blazes would I find them out here? I can see you point about having two sets of wheels for my applications. Don't suppose you know someone w/ a descent set of used(8) Runamucs and another w/ (8) Max 8" rims with an affordable price tag?
I just laid out $1400 for new chains & bearings, none of that was labor, just parts. But at least I've got a decent undercarriage now. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 259
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 76.211.65.218
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 07:03 pm: |
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I know it's expensive, and my first imnpulse is to suggest staying with runamucs, see how they hold up. I spent over a $1000 a few years ago for bigfoot wheels and the tires I have. Now I want to spend more than that for Frontier tires and fresh wheels. You might find used runamucs around.. some people change them out for rawhide III's. I have 9 of them mounted that sit waiting for track use.
Max atv's have an 8" wheel made by kawasaki that has a bigger ridge in the wheel the tire bead must slide over, they call them k-rims. Max dealer only. Might find a few used.. John Schwab buys a new wheel when he replaces a tire..
There's discussion that argo improved the wheel beads recently, so argo wheels might work, don't know of anyone with first hand experience with them. Argo wheel is 8x7, max's is 8x8. Probably some used argo wheels around too, as my distributor sold aftermarket wheels to go with rawhide III's as runamuc replacements.
You might try the dirt devils on your wheels. If they won't stay mounted, then you can worry about getting other wheels. On my Response the front outer beads were the only ones that wouldn't stay mounted. If you were that lucky, you could buy 2 k rims for the front and be done. Then of course another set of tires and wheels for tracks. I'd give you my 9 mounted runamucs if you wanted my plastic supertracks. One thorn puncture in their lifetime, no sidewall damage.
Overall, not many people do and talk about what we're doing, so it's not a cut and dried, well known solution. There's a guy in Canada that made rubber tracks before argo had them, might be a source for custom tracks for the odd diameter and width of the dirt devils. I have no idea if it's at all possible. If possible he'd need at least two wheels and tires to work with. Search for R.S. Bolduc, he's a Canadian argo dealer I believe. |
Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 44
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.38
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 11:05 am: |
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Roger...you've given me a lot to think about. Where are you located?
I've done the research on Bolduc up in Canada which is the way I'd like to go if one has the resources and absoulte need but I will have to weigh the options now that a viable oppertunity has presented itself. I image S&H to 92508 would be somewhere near an arm & a half & two legs. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 261
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.128.104.168
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 01:19 pm: |
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I'm in Oklahoma. Did you get my first e mail a week ago to the navy.mil address? If so I'll just continue to e mail you. |
Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 47
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.46
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 12:49 pm: |
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Ok, I went ahead and purchased 8 Dirt Devil tires and argo rims. I'll try them out when they arrive and give a report. |
Richard L. Runyard
Intermediate Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 54
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.38
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 11:03 am: |
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WhoooHooo. I've found some great tires in these dirt devils. Took the Conquest out for spin in the hills behind my house and they are performers. We have no water, just rocky terrain.
Aired down to 3 psi and they are grave diggers. No problem with horsepower to the ground or traction. These puppies should last a good long time with that amount of tread on them. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 280
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.234.107.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 07:28 pm: |
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That's good Richard. A picture would be nice. |
Richard L. Runyard
Intermediate Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 55
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.42
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 10:09 am: |
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Roger, pictures sent to your email address |
Richard L. Runyard
Intermediate Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 56
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.42
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 10:14 am: |
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Let me see if I can post a picture |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 40
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 207.164.158.173
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 11:45 am: |
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What size dirt devils did you end up getting? Did you go with the AT or XT? |
Richard L. Runyard
Intermediate Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 57
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.46
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 01:59 pm: |
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22 x 11 x 8 AT's
The dirt Devils when aired down to 3 psi still form themselves around the rocks I'm traveling over. The tread pattern is perfect for the rocky conditions and sidewall protection is excellant. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 281
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.234.128.205
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 06:16 pm: |
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I was gone all day, but you figured it out. I had to play with the pictures anyway.
 |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 282
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.234.128.205
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 06:26 pm: |
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You should be set! Retirement, bearings and chains, tires. They have a yearly Rubicon 6x6 run, you know. |
philip w.cox
Advanced Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 326
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 199.246.2.9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 06:45 pm: |
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Great Richard, the tires make the whole machine look better! Happy riding. W. philip Cox |
Howard Hoover
Intermediate Member
Username: Howard_hoover
Post Number: 83
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 4.161.22.109
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 03:37 pm: |
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I'd like to know how those things perform in water if you ever go swimming. The tread pattern doesn't look too much different than the ITP Mudlites that I bought for my project. |
Richard L. Runyard
Intermediate Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 59
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 72.245.85.205
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 12:01 am: |
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That may be some time as the deepest water we ever see here in southern Calif is a when we turn the hose on. I've got a lake picked out on the Navy base I just retired from. I'll give it a shot when I get back from gold mining |
Howard Hoover
Intermediate Member
Username: Howard_hoover
Post Number: 85
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 4.161.111.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 07:04 am: |
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I've been wanting to give that a try at least panning for it anyway. I would probably go to Georgia it used to be the biggest Gold producing state until the California Gold Rush If I'm not mistaken. |
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