"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3n7fpvgocumuasg53qg7tb5ltug8emub1g@4ax.com...
> My car is rated to tow 1,000 pounds according
> to the dealer.

the ratings are typically conservative ratings with the idiot factor being
factored in. with a little sense, you can safely tow a good bit above the
rating. i think the 6x6 comes in around 1500 pounds and that plus the
trailer weight would probably be pushing it. a 1049lb machine being towed
on a 200lb trailer (mine is grossly over-built which you can see in the
pictures) should be no problem.

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

 

"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3n7fpvgocumuasg53qg7tb5ltug8emub1g@4ax.com...
> My car is rated to tow 1,000 pounds according
> to the dealer.

the ratings are typically conservative ratings with the idiot factor being
factored in. with a little sense, you can safely tow a good bit above the
rating. i think the 6x6 comes in around 1500 pounds and that plus the
trailer weight would probably be pushing it. a 1049lb machine being towed
on a 200lb trailer (mine is grossly over-built which you can see in the
pictures) should be no problem.

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

 

"FrankW" <fworm@mxznorpak.ca> wrote in message
news:IKScnVh8id6SVQqiU-KYlg@magma.ca...
> I had
> to pull him out. heh heh I drove by,around that stuck quad a couple
> times just to **** him off. ;-) You had to be there.

lol....my brother in law did the same thing in his 6x6 ranger when my
brother and i both buried our 4x4 atv's in the swamp. that was the first
time that i ever considered a SxS to be "trail rated". :-)


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

 

"FrankW" <fworm@mxznorpak.ca> wrote in message
news:IKScnVh8id6SVQqiU-KYlg@magma.ca...
> I had
> to pull him out. heh heh I drove by,around that stuck quad a couple
> times just to **** him off. ;-) You had to be there.

lol....my brother in law did the same thing in his 6x6 ranger when my
brother and i both buried our 4x4 atv's in the swamp. that was the first
time that i ever considered a SxS to be "trail rated". :-)


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

 

"FrankW" <fworm@mxznorpak.ca> wrote in message
news:IKScnVh8id6SVQqiU-KYlg@magma.ca...
> I had
> to pull him out. heh heh I drove by,around that stuck quad a couple
> times just to **** him off. ;-) You had to be there.

lol....my brother in law did the same thing in his 6x6 ranger when my
brother and i both buried our 4x4 atv's in the swamp. that was the first
time that i ever considered a SxS to be "trail rated". :-)


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

 

Drive an ARGO 6x6 Bigfoot every day for work, customed to run RTK-GPS
equipment for beach and dune surveys (read Heavy Duty roll cage bolted to
the steel ladder frame and fog and search lights, etc). We haven't rolled
it yet, but it's been amazingly close a couple times.

It definately has a top speed in the low to mid-twenties, but to be
completely honest, that speed is pretty much the most I'd ever give it.
With no suspension other than the bounch in 4psi tires, even a 2-inch
drainage channel on the beach will smack your head against the windshield
if you don't feather the throttle right. (Never mind the foot deep scour
hole I found a couple weeks ago which launched the whole thing into the
air)

As for wether or not it will chew through real mud, i have my doubts. It
has no problem with sand, even dry fluffy stuff, and i've only seen it
stuck once (co-worker got it centered on the ridge of a dune with the
wheels hanging on either side). But if you lost forward motion and sat the
body down on some thick mud, i think you'd have the same problem as with
every other vehicle.

Now the fun one - it has very little freeboard. I think it will float
longer than the engine will run, but I've never tested this theory. I've
crossed small tidal lagoons with it, even before the roll cage, and you
only have about 5 inches of freeboard. Anything with chop or real waves
and you're in trouble.

So...

What's wrong:

Low clearance
No Suspension
Could use a bit more power in low range, but the speed's ok.
Weak Alternator
Low Freeboard
Press-In Grease Nipples (pulled one out with the gun this morning)

What's right:

Amphibious
Easy to drive
Hauls a ton of stuff
Pretty Low Maintenance (We flush the body out after each survey and
re-grease because of sand, but I think we go a bit overkill. Grease is
cheaper than metal though...)

 

Drive an ARGO 6x6 Bigfoot every day for work, customed to run RTK-GPS
equipment for beach and dune surveys (read Heavy Duty roll cage bolted to
the steel ladder frame and fog and search lights, etc). We haven't rolled
it yet, but it's been amazingly close a couple times.

It definately has a top speed in the low to mid-twenties, but to be
completely honest, that speed is pretty much the most I'd ever give it.
With no suspension other than the bounch in 4psi tires, even a 2-inch
drainage channel on the beach will smack your head against the windshield
if you don't feather the throttle right. (Never mind the foot deep scour
hole I found a couple weeks ago which launched the whole thing into the
air)

As for wether or not it will chew through real mud, i have my doubts. It
has no problem with sand, even dry fluffy stuff, and i've only seen it
stuck once (co-worker got it centered on the ridge of a dune with the
wheels hanging on either side). But if you lost forward motion and sat the
body down on some thick mud, i think you'd have the same problem as with
every other vehicle.

Now the fun one - it has very little freeboard. I think it will float
longer than the engine will run, but I've never tested this theory. I've
crossed small tidal lagoons with it, even before the roll cage, and you
only have about 5 inches of freeboard. Anything with chop or real waves
and you're in trouble.

So...

What's wrong:

Low clearance
No Suspension
Could use a bit more power in low range, but the speed's ok.
Weak Alternator
Low Freeboard
Press-In Grease Nipples (pulled one out with the gun this morning)

What's right:

Amphibious
Easy to drive
Hauls a ton of stuff
Pretty Low Maintenance (We flush the body out after each survey and
re-grease because of sand, but I think we go a bit overkill. Grease is
cheaper than metal though...)

 

Drive an ARGO 6x6 Bigfoot every day for work, customed to run RTK-GPS
equipment for beach and dune surveys (read Heavy Duty roll cage bolted to
the steel ladder frame and fog and search lights, etc). We haven't rolled
it yet, but it's been amazingly close a couple times.

It definately has a top speed in the low to mid-twenties, but to be
completely honest, that speed is pretty much the most I'd ever give it.
With no suspension other than the bounch in 4psi tires, even a 2-inch
drainage channel on the beach will smack your head against the windshield
if you don't feather the throttle right. (Never mind the foot deep scour
hole I found a couple weeks ago which launched the whole thing into the
air)

As for wether or not it will chew through real mud, i have my doubts. It
has no problem with sand, even dry fluffy stuff, and i've only seen it
stuck once (co-worker got it centered on the ridge of a dune with the
wheels hanging on either side). But if you lost forward motion and sat the
body down on some thick mud, i think you'd have the same problem as with
every other vehicle.

Now the fun one - it has very little freeboard. I think it will float
longer than the engine will run, but I've never tested this theory. I've
crossed small tidal lagoons with it, even before the roll cage, and you
only have about 5 inches of freeboard. Anything with chop or real waves
and you're in trouble.

So...

What's wrong:

Low clearance
No Suspension
Could use a bit more power in low range, but the speed's ok.
Weak Alternator
Low Freeboard
Press-In Grease Nipples (pulled one out with the gun this morning)

What's right:

Amphibious
Easy to drive
Hauls a ton of stuff
Pretty Low Maintenance (We flush the body out after each survey and
re-grease because of sand, but I think we go a bit overkill. Grease is
cheaper than metal though...)

 

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 07:38:09 -0400, FrankW <fworm@mxznorpak.ca> wrote:

>It can float pretty good It's rated for two people in water but
>I did have three LARGE people in it with no worries.
>True it wouldn't handle rough choppy water too well.
>But it is rated for a 9.9 outboard

I suppose the outboard would be a big help on large ponds but where
would you stow it afterwards? a 9.9 HP is not all that small and would
require a 5 gallon gas tank as well.
Probably if you were riding solo or got the 4 seater 8 wheel model you
could toss it in the back.

>> Well what I really meant was it does not look like it has a lot of
>> articulation in the wheels to go up and over some of the rougher
>> stuff.
>
>Look closely it's got a extra wheel "in the middle" :-)
>unlike a Quad or Jeep

I meant the kind of Rocks that Nathan regulary rides which he has some
pics of where he takes his Quad. I don't think I could handle terrain
that's that severe but his Quad will do it.

>> To me it basically looks like a variant of the M29 weasel which was
>> also amphibious but the Weasel had a problem in that while it could
>> chew through stuff that would kill a jeep it has metal tracks and was
>> a pain to drive with a 3 spd manual studebaker tranny.
>> I'd love to seea video of you putting it through it's paces. I won't
>> ever be able to ride a Quad agaid so the Rhino is looking mighty good
>> and I'll be interested to see what Nathan says about it's
>> capabilities.
>> The Argo's can only go 24 mph or so. I guess there is another company
>> out there that makes a similar ATV to the Argo but it has up to 8
>> driving wheels and is amphibious.
>
>Argos also make an 8 wheeler. There is another company that makes
>a machine similar "Max" I believe is the name of it.

I've seen the pics of the 8x8's and the T-Max or whatever it's called.
They look kinda fun to play with but I would want more speed.
The M29 would cost you about $10K for a decent one and it's not in the
same league as anything else. You'd need a decent Full sized pickup to
tow it. unlike the Argo or any Quad. The M29 weighs like 3,000 lbs.!!
Still I'd like like to bomb around in an argo for a day.

>Tracks are only needed for floatation on the snow. The 6x6 drive
>has a LOT of traction.

Have you see what the Rhino can climb tho? I guess when it comes time
for me to buy one I'll try them all out and see which one I like the
best. I'd just grab an M29 if I had a local mechanic who could work on
Studebaker engines.

>> Quads are fast and it would be nice if they could double the speed on
>
>I wouldn't recommend making it faster. I think it's too fast in the bush
>already

Why is it unstable at higher speeds?

>> Is teh only reason the Quad can't make it up to you camp is because of
>> deep standing water?
>
>No No cars can make it to the camp. But getting to the field were the
>deer dropped That's where it truly shines. My hunting buddy's love
>the machine as they never have to drag deer out of the bush again.

Well you said Quads couldn't make it to the camp. The only reason
would be if you needed to float over small ponds to get there.
I've seen Quads around here dragging out deer. They seed teh area with
apples from the orchard then when hunting season comes they get into a
good position and wait with the Quad waiting nearby.

>Understood, this machine is unique and a lot of people can't visualize
>what this machine can actually do (with the right operator of coarse)

Well it has 6 wheels but it's Tub design also has some drawbacks.
No ATV is perfect tho. The Argo looks like it would be tough to roll
but I don't know how steep a hill it can tackle.

>Truthfully the argo (to me anyways) is a piece of hunting equipment
>not a toy It sits in storage most of the year to be pulled out
>at the start of small game season. Then after deer back in storage.
>My Nephew use to bug me all the time to rip around in it (which I
>kinda disliked) Whew thankfully his fricken Dad bought him a dirt bike.
>Took a lot off pressure off the Argo.

The Argo is quite expensive but I would want to use it more than a
couple of months out of the year.
I guess i prefer Toys. :)

>My Ski Doo is my real toy

I still don't know if I can handle the seating position for hours upon
hours of riding. No way would I get an Elite even if I could afford
it.
I'll have to rent later on in the year. I've only seen Artic Cats for
rent tho.

 

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 07:38:09 -0400, FrankW <fworm@mxznorpak.ca> wrote:

>It can float pretty good It's rated for two people in water but
>I did have three LARGE people in it with no worries.
>True it wouldn't handle rough choppy water too well.
>But it is rated for a 9.9 outboard

I suppose the outboard would be a big help on large ponds but where
would you stow it afterwards? a 9.9 HP is not all that small and would
require a 5 gallon gas tank as well.
Probably if you were riding solo or got the 4 seater 8 wheel model you
could toss it in the back.

>> Well what I really meant was it does not look like it has a lot of
>> articulation in the wheels to go up and over some of the rougher
>> stuff.
>
>Look closely it's got a extra wheel "in the middle" :-)
>unlike a Quad or Jeep

I meant the kind of Rocks that Nathan regulary rides which he has some
pics of where he takes his Quad. I don't think I could handle terrain
that's that severe but his Quad will do it.

>> To me it basically looks like a variant of the M29 weasel which was
>> also amphibious but the Weasel had a problem in that while it could
>> chew through stuff that would kill a jeep it has metal tracks and was
>> a pain to drive with a 3 spd manual studebaker tranny.
>> I'd love to seea video of you putting it through it's paces. I won't
>> ever be able to ride a Quad agaid so the Rhino is looking mighty good
>> and I'll be interested to see what Nathan says about it's
>> capabilities.
>> The Argo's can only go 24 mph or so. I guess there is another company
>> out there that makes a similar ATV to the Argo but it has up to 8
>> driving wheels and is amphibious.
>
>Argos also make an 8 wheeler. There is another company that makes
>a machine similar "Max" I believe is the name of it.

I've seen the pics of the 8x8's and the T-Max or whatever it's called.
They look kinda fun to play with but I would want more speed.
The M29 would cost you about $10K for a decent one and it's not in the
same league as anything else. You'd need a decent Full sized pickup to
tow it. unlike the Argo or any Quad. The M29 weighs like 3,000 lbs.!!
Still I'd like like to bomb around in an argo for a day.

>Tracks are only needed for floatation on the snow. The 6x6 drive
>has a LOT of traction.

Have you see what the Rhino can climb tho? I guess when it comes time
for me to buy one I'll try them all out and see which one I like the
best. I'd just grab an M29 if I had a local mechanic who could work on
Studebaker engines.

>> Quads are fast and it would be nice if they could double the speed on
>
>I wouldn't recommend making it faster. I think it's too fast in the bush
>already

Why is it unstable at higher speeds?

>> Is teh only reason the Quad can't make it up to you camp is because of
>> deep standing water?
>
>No No cars can make it to the camp. But getting to the field were the
>deer dropped That's where it truly shines. My hunting buddy's love
>the machine as they never have to drag deer out of the bush again.

Well you said Quads couldn't make it to the camp. The only reason
would be if you needed to float over small ponds to get there.
I've seen Quads around here dragging out deer. They seed teh area with
apples from the orchard then when hunting season comes they get into a
good position and wait with the Quad waiting nearby.

>Understood, this machine is unique and a lot of people can't visualize
>what this machine can actually do (with the right operator of coarse)

Well it has 6 wheels but it's Tub design also has some drawbacks.
No ATV is perfect tho. The Argo looks like it would be tough to roll
but I don't know how steep a hill it can tackle.

>Truthfully the argo (to me anyways) is a piece of hunting equipment
>not a toy It sits in storage most of the year to be pulled out
>at the start of small game season. Then after deer back in storage.
>My Nephew use to bug me all the time to rip around in it (which I
>kinda disliked) Whew thankfully his fricken Dad bought him a dirt bike.
>Took a lot off pressure off the Argo.

The Argo is quite expensive but I would want to use it more than a
couple of months out of the year.
I guess i prefer Toys. :)

>My Ski Doo is my real toy

I still don't know if I can handle the seating position for hours upon
hours of riding. No way would I get an Elite even if I could afford
it.
I'll have to rent later on in the year. I've only seen Artic Cats for
rent tho.