Argo

[AK Fireman]

Does anyone have any experience with one of these things that they can share and how do they compare to a 4wheeler?

[Gun Runner]

AK, the dealer for the westren area has his shop about 35 miles from me. Went down and spent the day with him and the argos couple yrs. ago. Their not as fast as an ATV, but they almost dont leave any tracks where ever you take them. Another nice you can drive them into the lake and keep right on going. They have a mount for mounting an outboard on them. Nice for getting into a hidden lake and fishing all day. They also have a track set-up for snow use. The tracks run around $1700.00 a set. You can get an enclosure for them with a winshield and a heater. You can also get a winch for them. They make a trailer for them that also floats. The set-up I wanted (everything) would have run close to $17,000.00. MOMMA put the kabash to that dream.

Gun Runner

[AK Fireman]

I recently purchased a Conquest 8X8 that has low hours. I bought it site unseen from a trusted coworker. The machine is in Wasilla and I live in Juneau so it will be awhile until I can get up there to pick it up. The coworker tells me it will out do a 4wheeler, and there is alot of articles out there that say how well they do. I guess what Iam worried about most is the durability of these machines. I had a Honda foreman that could take a beating and keep going, with very little matinance. The only complaints I've heard are that the chains need alot of attention on the Argos.  
I bought it for the ability of putting a soft top and a heater in so I could take my kids in the field with me.

[MODEL71]

I have had an argo since 1989 , i use it 12 months of the year , over 1200 hours on land and 500 hours in water , what would you like to know?

[AK Fireman]

I have had an argo since 1989 , i use it 12 months of the year , over 1200 hours on land and 500 hours in water , what would you like to know?

What kind of model do you have, and what kind of maintnance problems have you had.
What state are you located?
What should I expect of this thing with normal use.

[MODEL71]

Hi Fireman , mine is a 1989 8 i/c , industrial/ commercial version , simply the name of the top end model prior to the conquest , it has an air cooled 18 horse power kholer engine  , g transmission , splined axles , double #50 chains.17 yrears of use and i just replaced the chains last year dur to some stretch and chain slap, good and tight again , maintenance is spring and fall , oil change ,filters greasing etc.
the machine will deliver much more than you can imagine , very powerful and tough,
if it fits your need it's the best since sliced bread , not for bush road crusiers , serious out back stuff , machine has never made me walk out.
i'm in northern ontario . you need to know how to use a wrench but an engineering degree is not required , hell mine still has the original paint job!
does yours have the kawasaki engine ? if so i have some comments on those,,,,

[MODEL71]

fireman , i reread your post , regarding the chains , always store machine on a little bit of an angle to the rear , drain plugs out , now tarp it , stays dry and clean , twice a year , again spring and fall , spray the chains while partner drives slooow,use a good lube / grease of your choice, make sure the spring chain tensioners are kept in place , don't screw around and they will do fine , clean dry and lubed , thats it forget the chains now , a big part of keeping the machine running like new is to become a competent operator , slow , easy and smooth , no banging , lurching , easy on with the gas and brake , brakes are put on , and put off , no snapping them on and off , good operation will make a huge difference in the lack of maintenance needed , and overall longevity.

[AK Fireman]

Thanks for the advice. Yes it has a kawasaki, please tell me your thoughts on it.
Should I bother putting a bilge pump in it, are they prone to leaking water around the axles?
I dont know if you have ever been to alaska, but where I go moose hunting its not uncommon to go 25miles on a extremely rutted swamp trail.
One year it had rained alot in the weeks before our hunt and at one point in the trail I drove my Honda Foreman 3miles in water that was over my tires. I drove really slow because I wasn't able see how deep it was and expected to drive in a hole at any time.
How deep of water can you drive in before your machine floats. I see this being important when attempting to cross rivers.
Thanks for your thoughts.

[MODEL71]

hi fireman , your neck of the woods sounds much like our area here ,
lots of water , swamp , bog , rock  , beaverdams , washed out roads and
grown over skidder trails , driving over 15 ft alders,
the engine is a very good one , but  , always at least one but, the gas must be clean and fresh , i cannot emphasize this enough , use the machine regularily , or make sure the gas is stabilized , or drained from carb and tank , take this seriously.the axles do need attention , more they are greased the better , leaking depends on many things , used in water with a lot of sediment , sand etc the time to replace is shortened ,my exp. is when the axle or bearing , or seal , any combination thereof , i replace the entire assembly , axle will be grooved
seems to not last long enough to make the savings worthwhile , that being said i would still think 10 years or more is not impossible .
floats in about 2 ft of water, i have bilge pump, insurance? i cross rivers each week at least 75 yds 4 plus mile per current , stable and secure

[bud340]

I have had 2 of them a 6 wheel ic and and 8 wheel ic. Here are a couple of pictures.  


Brother-in-law's first moose.


This 6 wheel was not mine, but the same as the one I had.