What has the lightest "footprint" in soft ground?

[horsepower]

I'm doing some trapping on a place with an owner that is very particular about his ground not be torn up.  Temps have warmed and we've got some rain so yesterday, I hiked the 3.5 mile line rather than drive my truck around to the various stopping points.  Not any good access for my horse trailer so it has got me to thinking about atv's.  I've never used one.  Can they cover soft sod without cutting ruts?  If so, which seem better at it?

[oldandslow]

Any of them will leave a track on soft ground. How much depends on the weight of the atv, how aggressive the tread is on your tires, and your riding style.

[horsepower]

My riding style would be very timid.  I just can't have ruts.  Should I be looking for something light with wide type flotation style tires or one of the 6 wheeled units.  Any suggestions appreciated.

[Graybeard]

Clearly the wider the tire the less weight per square inch. Still lighter weight vehicles put down less weight over all. You for sure don't want agressive tires. Even the standard factory tires on my Yamaha cuts ruts in the soft dirt on my place here no matter how slowly I ride. Combine agressive tread and wheel spinning and you've got serious ruts.

I'd say perhaps a 250 for lightest possible weight and rather than lugged tires get those with the little knobs instead. I hope the ground is fairly flat and not so soft it is gonna mire cuz if it is then anything other than your boot prints are gonna leave ruts.

[Totenkopf]

 I have an argo with 8 wheels with tracks on it. The force on ground is  something like .6 lb2", think it was 2lb2" without tracks. No ruts in the mountain trails. It stays on top of snow due to so much surface area of tracks. In mud it leave distinctive paddle marks about 1/2" deep. In the yard nothing when ground is soaked.
There are turf tires for atv. Usually the cheaper brands like durro, dunlop or chen shin have them, carlisle does as well. They are the knobby wide type like GB is talking about.
My other atv is a yamaha kodiak 400. It kills everything it touches when damp with worn factory tires and going slow. I think it is about 600 lbs.

[Lloyd Smale]

like bill said the lighter the better. If it were me id look for the smalles 4x4 i could find with independent rear suspension. That way your probably going to get some type of rear differential which will go a long way toward tearing up ground. Tires are a two way sword. Do you go agressive so they dont spin so much or do you go with a non agressive tire that in normal operation will do less damage. that will have to depend on what kind of terain your running on.

[dpe.ahoy]

I have a Polaris 6 wheeler and it chews up the ground more than I thought it would.  It's heavy, 1500#, and when you turn you are dragging 2 wheels in the back, has lots of traction though.  It's not a speed demon, but she sure climbs and hauls alot in that little bed.  It's nice having the cab with doors, wipers and heater.   Still need to put some kind of gun rack in the cab.  Any ideas?  DP

[horsepower]

For the timebeing at least, I am using this:



It is a 1999 Suzuki with only 430 miles on it.  Belongs to my Grandmother but she only uses it in the summer to get from her house down a hill to the lake in order to fish.  She lent it to me to see if I will like one.  I already know I do but I'd like a 4wd version, I think.  Haven't needed it or wanted it yet but I haven't been out in the snow or ice yet either.  I have driven it over some pretty soft ground and if you are careful, it leaves hardly any trace behind at all.

[oldandslow]

Looks like about as good a choice as you could find. Just look for something in that size and HP range when you buy. Four wheel drive might actually save you making deep ruts if you do get in a bind. Four wheels will sometimes just pull through when two will start spinning and dig some tracks. I used to ride with a guy (passed on now) who was 6' 4" and road a Honda 250. He kept up with everyone just fine. Of coure we were all geezers and didn't really ride hard.

[no guns here]

sounds like a great chance to enhance relations with the owner.  Make sure he knows that your last trip before spring will be with a rake, shovel and seed.  Smooth out any ruts you made running the line and then broadcast by hand.  Shouldn't take too long to make it all pretty again.  Plant something for the game in your area to eat.  He should be more than happy with that even if you made some ruts during trapping season.

ngh

[TEFLON]

GET A ROKON MADE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ALMOST NO TRACK. CAN GO JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE CHECK THEM OUT ON THE INTERNET

[Lloyd Smale]

just bought a pipe, contoler and ecu for the rzr. I hope to do just the opposite this summer!

[unclematt]

Personally I would look for an older Honda FourTrax 300 4 X 4. (1988, 89, 90). Rather light. 4 wheel drive. Nice utility racks. Honda reliability.



Personally I would go with a slightly aggressive tire, nothing narly though. The factory type or something like this.



Most important in not tearing up the ground is not turning tight radius' where the back axle will have one tire turning at a speed significantly different than the other and AIR PRESSURE. Simply airing down and ballooning the tire will give you a substantially larger footprint and weight distribultion. You may want to carry a small 12V air compressor to air up when you get out of the areas you have to worry about tearing up the turf.