Argo 6x6 - how good are they on water?

D

diegocn

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
90   0   0
Location
Waterloo, Ontario
Last night I was causally browsing google map for new area to scout/camping this summer, and possibly to hunt on when black bear season starts. A nice patch of crown land near French River caught my eyes. There's road access to the other side of French River, then cross the river into an area scattered by small streams and lakes.

From measuring on the map, we need to travel about 600m on water to cross the French River from the launching point. Direct distance between shores is about 160m. Once crossed, it's about 1km hike to a patch of land that seems suitable for setting up camp. The land can also be accessed through another lake, also about 1km of traveling over water.

We usually camp/hunt in group of 3 to 4 people, and heavily relies on our vehicles to move us around (in other word, none of us will win any fitness competition). Also we generally like to bring a lot of stuff with us. A trip without vehicle is something completely new to us, and probably fun to try out.

With all that said, I've been thinking to get a used Argo 6x6. We can make multiple trips to ferry all our equipment across French River. Once we hit the shore, we can put everyone and all our equipment on the Argo. The Argo also let's us explore further during our hunt.

A couple of questions about Argo:
- Are Argos capable of covering 600m on water? How fast do they go? Can you put a trolling motor in the back to make them more water potent?
- Can Argo tow a canoe over water?
 
are there any spots closer than the 1km hike from shore?

a roof topper with a 6hp or 9.9 may be a better idea. (and way cheaper)
 
Watch some youtube videos. They are marginal when on water. Distance would not concern me at all. Weather changes would.

I used to be involved in sales a long time back.

Trolling motor...yes
Canoe pulling...yes

Just remember that they only do about 5km/h on the water.

Might be less hassel to just canoe across and hump it to camp
 
Overall, the Argo is not what it is cracked up to be. They are terrible to hunt from, difficult to ride in and will toss you around like popcorn in a popper. They are loud and noisy and soon develop body rattles that sound like they are coming apart. However, the Argo is the only game in town and what you have to learn is that the Argo drives you rather than you driving the Argo. They are best for short trips of about a mile or so and not much more only because you get out of the thing and stand on your own feet.
 
I used a 6x6 Argo on my trap line and hunting for many years. To sum it up they are pretty useless in the water. They are sensitive as to how the load is balanced and unless you install a bilge pump there is no way to get water out quickly if you take some on. The weight a motor adds takes away from the load and balance benefits. The French has a decent current and you better steam sharply upstream to land on the spot you laid out in your plans. Wind will also render them practically useless on the water. To sum it up they float, they are terribly slow on water and they best on land and swampy terrain. I third the canoe or boat idea.

Darryl
 
When Argos work they're good, bring a tool box with lots of spare parts. You'll spend more time working on it than having it work for you.
Water travel is slow and tippy, a 6 wheel will not be as buoyant as a 8 wheeler. Ascent and descent into water can be tricky a gradual slope is preferred.
Might be better floating an ATV via pontoon boat or larger tinner to your land point and shuttle from there.
 
Another issue is exiting the water. It has to be a beach or very gentle slope to exit the water. You may not be able to exit where you want, if its a river, you have to find a bank on the non-eroding side to get out.
 
Thank you all for providing opinion. I think argo is a no go. Watching some of the videos of argo in water I agree 600m on the French in argo would be terrifying.

We will probably end up with the canoe idea. Is there any type of ATV that can be carried on a canoe? I really want the extra range a vehicle can provide once we hit the other shore. I've seen some kind of snowdog type atv that weights less than 300lb and can pull a trailer. But it seems they are not popular in north america.
 
But Jim Shockey swears by them.

I used to fish a lake that had a half milish portage to get to the good fish. We laughed at a guy who towed his Argo behind his boat on the boat trailer. Until he motored by us driving the Argo towing his fishing boat while we muscled our boats on two wheeled dollies through calf deep mud. Good time.
 
Last edited:
After having many canoes and motors and ATVs , in comparison , Argos suck . Buddy won an 8 wheeler in a draw , fully loaded and to say that i'm totally unimpressed would be an under statement . Anything more than a breeze , light wind over the water causing a ripple and you need a motor , even with the tracks on . I wouldn't get out on any body of water with a current in one . Buddy uses a 2.5 horse to cross beaver ponds . When you go upside the back of a beaver dam have the route exactly set up and don't try a steering correction . We did , and tore the right track off . About 4 hours getting it out of the beaver pond and back on . Don't go down a tote road with skidder ruts in it . When you high center an Argo in ruts , you have a problem as your winch is always 100 feet short of the closest tree and you aren't picking it up . Same going over fallen trees , climb them at 90 degrees but not as bad as ruts cause with downed rotten trees you can use a chain saw . Powder snow , you've got maybe 14 inches and then you are truly hooped when you get that stuck and bogged down . 2 people , two packs , a tent and stuff and the 8 wheel Argo is full . Crossing cuts dragging moose an Argo is just fine but start running it in dirty swampy water and you're going to be changing brakes and lots of them . They were a fad around here a long time ago , mostly with trappers but you rarely see them anymore . The trappers went back to snow machines , boats and motors and canoes and motors . An Argo is like a Swiss Army knife in that it does a bit of everything but does nothing well . The dealer told buddy we through the track off because we didn't have proper tire inflation . Bullshyte . Don't go anywhere , the sides of haul roads , pipelines or tower lines that have been bush hogged or hydro axed without tracks as you'll flatten every tire on sharp sticks . Put Mud Lites on it and you'll be ok but they are $150.00 each and beware of the Argo cult as it's like religion to many owners . The guys who put 50 km on it every year crossing the same beaver ponds to the same moose pasture and back and declare it better than an MIA2 Abrams tank and a helicopter combined after never using it hard . I'm so happy buddy won his because i was thinking of buying one . Check the cable tensions , brakes , belt , chains , tires , oil and transom and if you can , the wheel bearings .
 
Argos are slow in the water, a small outboard greatly increases the speed. The distance wouldn't bother me, but a strong current or rough water would. On land, they ride rough, not a little rough, very rough. Tracks greatly increase their capabilities in muskeg or snow, or over very uneven terrain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom