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Message |
    
Richard L. Runyard
Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 45
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 138.163.0.43
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 03:23 pm: | 
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96 conquest 8x8, the good, bad and ugly of either the rubber tracks by bolduc up in Canada or Argo Super tracks? ...other than cost. I know that already.
Primary use: snow
Secondary use: alluvial gravels & mud |
Ron Hutt
Member
Username: Ron
Post Number: 32
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 70.41.222.249
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 05:58 pm: |
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Richard
I can only say that lighter is better when it comes to the Conquest. You will lose substantial power and speed with any track. The rubber will definately be heavier. I have a Conquest and will say the loss in performance really suprised me when the tracks went on. I have the plastic tracks and don't know how much heavier the rubber is, I would guess at a minimum half as much more. Hope this helps. |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 31
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 207.164.158.173
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 04:23 pm: |
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Richard, I have had both plastic and bolduc rubber on a conquest and surprisingly the bolduc tracks did not impact speed much at all. This was compared to the regular size plastic tracks. BUT, there was a night and day difference in what I could do with the bolduc tracks. The conquest was unstoppable with the rubber tracks versus the plastic which I could not climb any of the hills with. Go bolduc, you will not be dissappointed. |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 32
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 207.164.158.173
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 04:26 pm: |
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P.S. I have the rubber tracks on our Avenger now (the Argo tracks) and wished I went with Bolducs version. They seemed to have better gripping power. Having said that, I plan to run the tracks all year this year to see if I can stop killing the sidwalls on the avenger tires. |
Jack Ouellette
Member
Username: Beungood
Post Number: 47
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 64.12.116.204
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 05:10 pm: |
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Len,
Can the Bolducs be installed over the 25" tires like the Argo tracks can? How much better did they seem? |
Chris Campbell
New member
Username: Coffinman
Post Number: 7
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.243.245.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 08:33 pm: |
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Does anyone have a link to Bolduc's web-site?
Thanks |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 264
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.234.103.150
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 09:02 pm: |
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http://www.argorsbolduc.com/items.html
Looking at his website you might assume he can mount the track guides for different width tires. He says they can be adapted to the bigfoot, and he also lists the avenger with 25" tires... 20" tracks for all the vehicles. |
Steve Auger
New member
Username: Bcsteve
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 64.59.144.24
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 09:46 pm: |
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Whose tracks are those? I've never seen them before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Y_xY_jNDg |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 33
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.138.89.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:25 pm: |
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A few response to the above.
First off, yes on an Avenger the RSB tracks install over the tires, BUT, the last time I spoke with Rejean he was still using a one piece track on each side. Takes a bit to get them on. He may have moved to a spliced track like Argo did.
The video link is of a track called the Escargo which are 'made' in Ontario. They are RSB tracks but they mount metal L shaped plates for getting through bogs and swampy areas. Not recommended for snow as they can pack up and then slip. They are pretty pricey as they buy the track from buldoc for about the same as you would. I would recommend going to their website to see how they do it, and then just buy the RSB and do it yourself.
http://www.joerentall.com/english/Escargo/escargo.html
I will go as far to say that our Conquest with the 20" RSB tracks performed better than our Avenger with the Argo 18" rubber tracks. |
Chris Campbell
New member
Username: Coffinman
Post Number: 8
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.243.245.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:33 pm: |
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Can someone tell me what the price is for Bolduc's rubber tracks for a Conquest? |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 34
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.138.89.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:21 pm: |
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I think they were $2800-$3000 Cdn + shipping. That is in C$ so X.85 to get a close enough US$.
Email Rejean as he is very quick at getting a price back to you.
rsbolduc@minfo.net |
Chris Campbell
New member
Username: Coffinman
Post Number: 9
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.243.245.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 11:56 am: |
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Len- And others,
Thank you very much for the info. I'll get in touch with him soon. I've learned quite a bit from you more experienced folks. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the collective knowlege.
Chris & Sher Campbell
Independence MO |
Chris Campbell
Junior Member
Username: Coffinman
Post Number: 12
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.243.245.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 04:07 pm: |
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Len,
In the post above, you noted that Mr. Bolduc used a one-piece tread, and, that they were kind of hard to put on. Would you care to give me a synopsized idea of how they go on and off?
Thanks in advance.
Chris |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 35
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.138.89.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 08:26 pm: |
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Sure thing. Requires 2 people. Remove valve stems from each tire on one side of the vehicle. Jack up that side at least 12 inches (we used ATV floor jack and blocks. Lay the track out beside the tires and push the front bottom of track as far under the wheel as it will go.
One person will operate the vehicle while the other person will assist the track. This person will need a long bar or 4' 2x4. Start up the vehicle in neutral and when running at idle speed engage in low. Hold the brake for the opposite side and start to "walk' the track on very slowly. The 2x4 person uses this as leverage to force the tracks over the front of the tires so that the splines (the guides that run along the outside of the tires) move across until they are properly placed. It will take about 1/2 full track rotation before that happens. Sounds more difficult then it really is, however the first time took about an hour to get both on. My brother and I had it down to 15 minutes before we moved up to the Avenger. Once the one side is on, reinstall tire valves, inflate to 3-5lbs, and then repeat for other side. Removal is easier in that you just take off the tires.
A couple of more observations after a weekend of trail riding. My cousin has a Bigfoot with older plastic tracks. He had a lot of difficulty on the trails this weekend due to the layer of snow and log crossings. He could not get over a log for the life of him, which the rubber tracks just crawled over. While we like the Argo avenger track there is one comment I have and that is their splines are plastic. We have broken 5 of the splines off from either hitting rocks etc. The RSB tracks use a steel spline which we never broke or damaged. We will go back to a Bolduc track when it is time for a new track. And finally, get the mud flaps as even the smallest track will fling snow and mud forward into the passenger area. They are only about $50 from Argo but you could do it cheaper from Home Depot with a sheet of hard plastic or those large truckers rigid mud flaps. A must have for running any tracks.
FYI
Len |
Chris Campbell
Junior Member
Username: Coffinman
Post Number: 13
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.243.245.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 05:48 pm: |
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Len,
Thanks a lot for the info. When I finally get a Conquest, I will go with the RSB tracks. The link to him above doesn't appear to work, but I'll just call him when the time comes. And thanks for the heads-up about mud-flaps.
Take care
Chris & Sher
Independence MO |
preston blake
Junior Member
Username: Prestony889
Post Number: 19
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 70.105.48.135
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 11:26 pm: |
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Does anyone know of any body selling these (www.joerentall.com/english/Escargo/escargo.html) tracks used, or just someware in America where I could buy them fairly cheaper??
I have read tons of these threads and posts on route6x6 and surfed tons of web pages to find tracks like these and now I have finally found them |
Fred Sowerwine
Advanced Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 258
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 11:58 pm: |
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Preston, can't help you on where to find those tracks, but they look very similar to the old style max tracks. You won't be happy with them if you try them in loose powder. They should have excellent traction on hard stuff and ice, but won't provide much more flotation than regular tires.
Of course, you could always pop rivet a pad over the gap between cross lugs to give you support if needed. If it were my choice, I'd spend the extra bucks and get the 20" track from Mr. Bolduc. If you are going to have tracks on a skid steer, you might just as well have ones that will do the job in any snow conditions. Sure wish we could have a twenty inch wide track on the Max IV with the 26" tires. |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 36
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 216.137.162.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 09:20 am: |
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Preston, Joe Rental is a real small shop up in Northern Ontario. I think you can gleen enough information off their website to take the RSB tracks and add the L brackets. In speaking with the folks at Joe Rental I chose not to go with their tracks as they were limited to mainly bog and swamp running. Any hardpack surface or snow surface will not be ideal for them. As Fred states, just go with the 20" rubber and you should not have any issues. I think most tracks are manufactured in Quebec (from the snowmobile days) or offshore hence your challenge in finding someone local. I had RSB ship my tracks to me but I am only about 400 miles from them. |
preston blake
Member
Username: Prestony889
Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 70.105.40.23
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 06:48 pm: |
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Thanks for the help guys, I do run through a lot of swamps and stuff but I also take a lot of four wheeler trails to get there, so the 20in tracks would be to large and a pain to fit though the trails. |
STEVE Y.
Intermediate Member
Username: Gearhead
Post Number: 70
Registered: 01-2006
Posted From: 209.87.253.62
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 08:03 am: |
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PRESTON-I had 2 sets of escargo tracks and put a total of about 375 hours on them in all seasons and if you would like info just ask.I have sold both sets now but I do know where you could buy possibly a cheaper set only used once if you do decide to go with them. |
preston blake
Member
Username: Prestony889
Post Number: 21
Registered: 11-2006
Posted From: 70.105.57.108
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 11:42 am: |
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Steve I would definitely like more information on those tracks. My email address is Prestony889@aol.com.
Any information would be great
Ex.. Price,Location,Contact INFO
Thanks |
Richard L. Runyard
Intermediate Member
Username: Fuzzman
Post Number: 52
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 68.164.149.76
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 06:49 pm: |
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If the overall width of a Conquest is approx. 58" without tracks. What is the width of a conquest using the 20" Bolduc tracks? |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 37
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.138.89.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 08:49 pm: |
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about 70" I believe.
I can fit it on a 6' wide trailer. |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 273
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 71.153.182.72
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 09:39 pm: |
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Does Bolduc use the argo wheel spacers? |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 38
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.138.89.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 - 12:11 am: |
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I don't think they are Argo. They have no brand name on them. We found them solid. |
Shop Talk: Tech Tips and Q&A section