Author Topic: 6 or 8 Wheel ATV's (Read 2563 times)

David Parenteau · « **on:** May 04, 2003, 02:01:38 PM »

Anybody else out there use 6 or 8 wheel ATV's.We got tired of getting buried in the muskeg in Northern BC and so back in '93 my partner and I invested in a 6 wheel Argo and an 8 wheel Argo.We equipped them with roofs,tracks and winches and all the other goodies.While they are not as versatile as a quad,they serve our purpose perfectly.When we come across quads buried in the muskeg,we can usually just motor on by with no trouble.They're really comfortable for 2 or more people as well.
Dave

markc · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2003, 04:12:44 AM »

glad you posted. I haven't bought one, but began to reserach them a bit before I bought my Kawasaki Mule. I came close to buying a 6 wheeler back then and if I owned the land that I am leasing I might have done it. There are some places I know I could really use a 6 wheeler, but other times the Mule is perfect. Can you post some pic's of yours? What motor is in your Argo? Any trouble with the chain drive system? I had come across a web site recently that had alot of pic's of folks 6 and 8 wheelers. Can't recall the web address but the pic's were great and I was amazed at where those vehicles would go. Sure would be good for water fowling on my lease.
markc

David Parenteau · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2003, 04:39:25 PM »

I've tried posting pictures before but haven't had any luck.When I have some more time I'll try again.If you send me your Email address I can send them directly with no problem.
I've got the 16HP Briggs and Stratten Vanguard motor in mine(I've got the 6 wheeler)It's been a really great motor and I'd reccomend it to anyone.AS far as the chain drive goes,I've had no problems until now.The machine is now 11 years old and I'm having to replace 3 of the 16 bearings in the drive train.Not bad really for over 400 hours.I'll probably replace the other 3 outer bearings after next hunting season.The rest of the bearings look really good still.I also just replaced all 6 tires because the originals had finally had it.Other than that,I've replaced 3 of the 8 chains.All the chain is double roller so it's pretty durable.All the sprockets still look good so I'm really happy with the longevity of the parts.
If you were impressed with the performance of the 6 wheelers you should see how the 8's go.They are as close to being unstoppable as anything.With our tracks on we can pass over the worst muskeg that you can imagine.
As far as the waterfowling goes,it's pretty hard not to like driving to your ponds and then out into the water to recover your ducks and geese.
Send me your address and I'll get the pictures to you.I just looked and I've got two of them on my hard drive.
Dave

Rick Teal · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2003, 10:36:58 AM »

I used to drive a 6 wheeled Amphicat - and loved the thing.

It would go virtually anywhere that I wanted to go while hunting and fishing. It wasn't a fast vehicle that you'd use to race around the fields, but in the bush, it could do anything short of climbing sheer cliffs.

Generally, I didn't have to cut trail to get to a downed deer, since it could run over or push down almost anything I came across. It had a zero turning radius, so even in the mature bush I could get by without cut trails.

Muskeg and beaver lakes were only a problem if I got hung up on an unseen stump, and even then, a little manipulation could get me unstuck.

Since I rode "inside" the vehicle, the centre of gravity was much lower, and I could climb or traverse inclines much steeper than a 4 wheeled motorcycle could hope to handle.

The only reason I haven't gone back to one of these "true ATV's" is the cost. They're a little outside my budget.

Where I hunt, all the camps are on wilderness leases, and accesss is via bush trails that feed into one another, and finally go to a road the trucks can access. Two years ago, on my way out, I met another gang who were using 2 8-wheeled argos to go out. As I travelled behind them, and saw how easily they went through some of the tougher stuff on the trail, I became a little overconfident. When they went through one big waterhole without even slowing down, I plunged in myself, and promptly got stuck. I'd forgotten the limits of my 4 wheeler.

David Parenteau · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2003, 01:01:50 PM »

The 8 wheeler is a pretty awesome machine as I can readily attest to.I wish I could have afforded one at the time,but I'm pretty happy with my 6 wheeler.I've had it for 10 years now.
I gotta agree with the beaver thing.They are the scourge of the north country.They've made a lot of country where we hunt innaccesable.
I'm familiar with the Amphicat.There are a few around that I've seen but none in running condition.It seems as though the Argo is the only Amphibious machine that made it in BC.Could be due to the fact that it's Canadian made.
I'm still going to see if I can post some pictures,or at least link to them.
Dave

patw · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2003, 11:21:22 AM »

I just finished rebuilding a Hustler six wheeler. Turned out to be more of a prject than I had anticipated-I had to replace every single bearing, sprocket, axle and chain. The tranny had a broken gear, had to be rebuilt, and while at it, it only seemed fitting to put in a new Honda 18hp. I finally got to try in our duck hunting field. A couple of things became apparent. First they are nowhere near as comfortable as a 4 wheeler, having no suspension. I also proved that they can and do get stuck. The combines had put some deep ruts and I high centered it. The bright side is that the front end is light enough to just pick up and move over to where the tires can grip. It still looks like it will be handy during the duck season, as someone else mentionned above, it will be nice to go into the water with it to retrieve the ducks. In any case, my five year old daughter enjoys riding in it at home, she just loves going into the pond to chase the ducks. That in itself makes it worthwhile.

David Parenteau · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2003, 01:29:44 PM »

My sprockets have held up well as have the chains.I'd just replaced 3 of my outer bearings when I noticed a lot of play in my right side idler shaft and found the outer bearing totally gone.I can't believe that I made it out of moose camp last year without hearing anything out of the ordinary.I've pulled the motor and transmission to make repairs easier and decided to do my front bearings and the other idler shaft now that they are accessable.Only my outer bearings require replacement.None of the inner bearings show any wear at all.Thats not bad considering the ten years of extremely tough use that my machine has had.
High centering is the bane of these machines.Nothing is worse than being high centered on a rock in a fast flowing river thats too deep to get traction on the bottom,but not deep enough to float you off.I've been stuck in my fair share of deep ruts as well.I look out for them now and haven't had much trouble for a few years now.My machine isn't light enough to pick up and move over so a lot of winching is required to get unstuck.Thats the thing about these machines.When you're stuck,you're really stuck!
Dave

LKVL · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2003, 02:15:11 PM »

When I was in Alaska I saw quite a few guys with 6 or 8 wheelers. Some with tracks some with out and for good reason. I have a Hustler, Aphicat And terra tiger. Can't afford the new machines.

Question....Has anyone replaced there 2 cycle motor with a 4 stroker? Are the clutches different?

patw · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2003, 04:24:27 AM »

A little late reading the last question regarding the switching of engines. This site http://www.route6x6.com/ is devoted entirely to 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles. Richard, the owner is very nice and will and may answer that question. You can also look on the discussion board and someone may have already done it, and if not you can post the question. That site also has a lot of pictures of amphibious vehicles in action.

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2004, 07:31:46 AM »

I don't know if you count the Gators but a guy that hunts with me has a Gator and brought it to the camp this year. We went alot of places with it but got stuck in some pretty minor stuff too. I had to yank that thing out one day with my grizzly and it was stuck so bad it couldn't even turn the tires.

I rode with a guy across a shallow duck pond one time that had an Argo and it was going pretty good in the deeper water but soon as he hit some mud the thing just got stuck and then I had to pull him out. I think the 6 and 8 wheelers are okay though for people that just like to put around and maybe like to drive across a pond every once in a while, but for me I much prefer something I can play in the mud with.

Also I noticed on all the 6 and 8 wheel vehicles I have rode there are not any with suspension and that makes for a good back ache after a hard day of riding. I know when riding that Gator it would kill your back and not to mention it takes you forever to get anywhere because the thing only did like 18MPH.

snappy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2004, 12:49:23 PM »

My name is Joe and I am new to the site. I have had a Max 6X6
for three years. Has a plow, canopy and used all year round. The
vehicle has been so fantastic that my father and son-in-law also bought
one. They have plows and my son-in-law has the snow tracks on his.
We all have the Max and which I believe are a bit less money than the
Argos. The other thing to consider in the price is that ours will carry four
in the vehicle without getting muddy and wet with the canopies. Great
for riding the trails day or night. I couldn't think of a better vehicle to
meet our needs in plowing, trail riding, off the road "messing" around in
the mud. I take it into the woods during hunting season hauling all my
gear. I have put a trailer on the back that floats behind it and have
carried wood, stone, manure, hunting gear etc. with no problem. It has
been a good all around ATV on the farm.

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2004, 01:24:51 AM »

You ride in the mud with that Max alot? That guy that brought his Max down and rode in our duck pond with it did really good in deep water, but was less than impressive in the mud. I just don't think the 6 and 8 wheel atvs have the clearance to pass through mud like a 4 wheeler does, but that's my opinion.

snappy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2004, 09:09:18 AM »

Yes we do. I have 12" tires so my ground clearance is prettry good. Do I get struck yes, I can't think of a machine that doesn't. However I am still convinced that these make the Best all around atv. When I was stationede in Alaska I had Attex, and we could drive were a human could not walk. I we did get hung up it was just a matter of picking up the front end and putting in a new set of tracks. It would seem to me that they would do prettry good down south, as you have clay base with plenty of water. Tires also make-up a good part of the equation.

Happy trails...

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2004, 07:13:24 AM »

I have seen a few down here in the south and they did not do as well as I would have first hoped. I saw some up in Mississippi riding the lake bottoms and they did pretty well in water though they were not quite as impressive in mud. Seems like they did alright on the areas where it was just surface type mud that was only a couple inches deep and hard underneath, but when it came to getting into mud that had no bottom and a serious suction they got stuck just about everytime. I did see one 6 wheel vehicle that did pretty good in the mud and that is the Polaris Ranger. A buddy of mine has one and it was going through some pretty tough mudholes that the Argo's and Max's could not. The only problem I saw with the Ranger is that it's heavier and it doesn't float.

I think there might be more people that would be willing to buy things like Argo's and Max's if they would make them more "plush" and add things like a suspension system and maybe a few extras. Also I think they should make them a little more fun to ride which is the big thing with the Ranger. The Ranger was 6 wheel drive and could pass through some stuff but it was also very powerful and fun to play with at the same time where as the other 6 and 8 wheelers out there just aren't as manueverable and "fun" to drive.

snappy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2004, 10:24:33 AM »

Your right about the ride being a little rough. The only give is in the tire pressure. It really motivates you to keep it very low. (3psi). I have been thinking about this, and saw in the Pro-Bass catalog a boat seat that seem to have some rubber stops to take-up some the pounding.
Another idea I had but haven't figured out the details. Remember when they had solid rubber wheel on horse drawn wagons. They had what look like a inverted leaf spring which would absorb the rough terrin. How to make it fit and work is still in the day dreaming process.

snappy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2004, 10:41:36 AM »

Your right about the ride being a little rough. The only give is in the tire pressure. It really motivates you to keep it very low. (3psi). I have been thinking about this, and saw in the Pro-Bass catalog a boat seat that seem to have some rubber stops to take-up some the pounding. I haven't figured out the details, but remember when they had solid rubber wheel on horse drawn wagons. They had which look like a inverted leaf spring which would absorb the rough terrin. How to make it fit and work is still in the day dreaming process.

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2004, 01:35:59 AM »

Well, it definately wouldn't hurt to figure something out. I know all the ones I have rode on the ride was ridiculous. Even on the Gator which has front wheel suspension the ride was extremely rough..........kind of makes you understand why they never made the things to haul serious butt.

Even with the tires down at an extremely low pressure (we are probably running about 2 or 3 psi) the ride is still really rough compared to riding my Grizzly. Maybe I'm just being greedy but I don't like having my butt and back hurting all night from riding half the day.

snappy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:22:30 AM »

Maybe we just don't want to admit that we are getting older. Our bodies are not of a teenager any more. I keep telling my self that. (hasn't worked yet).

dla · « **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2004, 03:00:34 PM »

Quote from: 264 WIN MAG

I rode with a guy across a shallow duck pond one time that had an Argo and it was going pretty good in the deeper water but soon as he hit some mud the thing just got stuck and then I had to pull him out.

I'm assuming that when you say "rode with a guy across a shallow duck pond", you didn't drive you Grizzly underwater. Instead I'm assuming that you either (a) watched the Argo from the shore or (b) you went and got your Grizzly and a fair length of rope/etc. and pulled the Argo out.

The reason I'm mentioning this is that it is very, very difficult to believe that a Grizzly will do better in mud than an Argo. Quads are fast but neither they or their owners float in mud/water very well.

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #19 on:** August 04, 2004, 06:55:03 AM »

LOL. My grizz ate the Argo in that duck pond. The water at the deepest was only about 3 to 3.5ft. deep and I can ride that just fine. The problem he ran into was when he got to the shallower part it dug down into the mud and he was history. We go to plenty of mud bogs and big mud rides and people don't bring argos because they can't pass where an atv can pass in the mud. Deep water the argo is better, but can't touch a properly set-up quad in the mud.

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #20 on:** August 04, 2004, 07:21:38 AM »

O, and about floating.....if I get off the grizz it floats hahaha.

You put 28" mud tires with plenty of PSI and they do just fine.

dla · « **Reply #21 on:** August 07, 2004, 09:52:14 AM »

Quote from: 264 WIN MAG

LOL. My grizz ate the Argo in that duck pond. The water at the deepest was only about 3 to 3.5ft. deep and I can ride that just fine. The problem he ran into was when he got to the shallower part it dug down into the mud and he was history. We go to plenty of mud bogs and big mud rides and people don't bring argos because they can't pass where an atv can pass in the mud. Deep water the argo is better, but can't touch a properly set-up quad in the mud.

Uh-huh. Let's see, after you cleaned the fishscales out of your mouth from driving under water, your friend in the Argo, who was dry the whole time, asked your sacred advice about mud?

Perhaps this isn't obvious to you:

(1) the Argo can just wobble back and forth and back up.

(2) You go swimming every time you cross water, your Argo friend is dry.

So I'm assuming you don't go hunting very much - nobody would be in a very good mood after being soaked to the bone on a Quad.

Have a nice day in your dream-world.

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #22 on:** August 09, 2004, 03:33:44 AM »

First off let me ask you if you have an argo?

Secondly I assure you that I have seen argo's in action and I have seen some try to go against wheelers. In the mud the Argo DOES NOT stand a chance. The Argo might fair well against a stock wheeler but I assure you that MY grizzly will destroy any Argo in the mud. If you doubt me got to Highlifter.com and ask on the forum if you think Mud_Monster_Grizz's bike can be beat by an Argo in the mud. Won't happen!!

If you honestly believe that an Argo can outmud my grizz then you obviously don't know much about me or my bike. If you have an Argo you are more than welcome to come down and get handled in the mud.

markc · « **Reply #23 on:** August 09, 2004, 04:52:52 AM »

Lets keep it civil please. No need for a tinkling contest of mine is better than yours. All types of atv's have their place, and to each his own. The 6 and 8 wheelers are designed for a slightly different purpose than typical 4X4 ATV's, they will go places regulars 4 wheelers can't go, and a 4X4 atv will go places a 6 or 8 wheeler won't go. Remember that none of us designed and built our rides. We researched all makes and models, and then bought what best fit our personal needs and likes. It's that simple. Even a raggedy ride beats a sporty walk, so lets keep things friendly here please.
markc