Had a set of the Arctic Cat tracks on my 700efi for two winters now. Very happy with them while trapping and ice fishing. They are slower and fuel consumption goes up for sure. I find this style with the solid track / internal drive and wide fenders on the Cat leave it clean to ride in snow or slush.
Snow tracks for ATV
- Thread starter 350tracker
- Start date
[youtube]2dVQ-m4EExY[/youtube]
No way tracks can go through slush like a sled, having owned both (and the sled was a 121" track) I have got both stuck plenty, the atv=slow but goes throw deep snow like nothing, but once you get in deep slush enough to hang up on the frame your not going anywhere......one thing I can say is that I cannot ever remember getting the tracked atv stuck in snow.
BTW I have since sold the sled and only have an ATV and the tracks are sitting in my barn so my opinion is rather unbiased, different tools for different jobs.
No way tracks can go through slush like a sled, having owned both (and the sled was a 121" track) I have got both stuck plenty, the atv=slow but goes throw deep snow like nothing, but once you get in deep slush enough to hang up on the frame your not going anywhere......one thing I can say is that I cannot ever remember getting the tracked atv stuck in snow.
BTW I have since sold the sled and only have an ATV and the tracks are sitting in my barn so my opinion is rather unbiased, different tools for different jobs.
I'm sure some folks will love them till the tracks rot off , I'm not one of them . Here's why.. Throwing a track at 40kph is not fun , fighting the steering through 2 ft of powder sucks ,,, quads need a silk screen over the air filter for winter, it still injests snow when running in light fluff, quads provide very little wind protection ,,Brrrrrr,, also can you say heavy ? Just try to follow a sled for a day in real world riding ,, not a groomed trail . You need powersteering and a good winch at the very least. Ask me how I know LOL.
IMO it's just not worth the money for the type of riding I enjoy .
IMO it's just not worth the money for the type of riding I enjoy .
for hunting or working i think they would be great but there is no way to convince me they will go further and through deeper snow than my sled! from what i recall ive never seen a quad on tracks out in Revelstoke when ive been there, and if they went through more than the sleds they would be all over!
Well obviously 150hp mountain sleds will do more mountain climbing, but try to manouver one around trees & such in tight bush & see what happens, compared to a tracked ATV.
Hasn't happened often but a local here has had to break trail into his hunt camp with his tracked ATV so his long tracked sleds could get in. He said not so much because they couldn't go in the snow but you couldn't manouver them on the tight uphill corners.
If your throwing track try a little maintainance
Yes airboxes with injest mist snow, but so does some snowmachines.
My quad with a typical Royal Dist front box & a windshield provides twice the wind protection as any snowmachine.
Heavy 600lb ATV + 100lbs of tracks doesn't equal a 550lb snow but do the math, there's a bigger footprint on a tracked atv.
Yep my ATV does have power steering & a winch what does your sled have
ATV--8"width X 24" L X 4corners = 768"
Long track snowmo--15"W X 36" on the ground = 540"
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
An old Tundra or Elan will do circles around a track bike in tight stuff. Trappers have been using them for ages, there's a reason. Also, you better have a heated shop to park your bike in after playing for the day. They ice up terribly and you'll be snapping drive shafts,etc if you're trying to get it mobile the next morning. Ask me how I know.
350tracker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Interlake Manitoba
They ice up terribly and you'll be snapping drive shafts,etc if you're trying to get it mobile the next morning. Ask me how I know.
Is this from just using in normal conditions or a hard day trail riding in deep snow ?
An old Tundra or Elan will do circles around a track bike in tight stuff. Trappers have been using them for ages, there's a reason. Also, you better have a heated shop to park your bike in after playing for the day. They ice up terribly and you'll be snapping drive shafts,etc if you're trying to get it mobile the next morning. Ask me how I know.
Why would that be??
The fact Elans & Tundra's been out for 40yrs & cost $500 to buy
The one fact you do have right is the build-up of snow & ice.
For the amount of bush wacking I do, I would be pretty hard pressed to go out and buy
another toy to try and hide from thieves.
Tracks would be my choice as well.
I am at an age where I don't need to do over 60 kph looking for a tree to bash my
head on.
Good info on here.
another toy to try and hide from thieves.
Tracks would be my choice as well.
I am at an age where I don't need to do over 60 kph looking for a tree to bash my
head on.
Good info on here.
At the end of a days riding or when I'm on a slushy lake hen I stop for any length of time I take 30 seconds and knock the snow or slush off of the "A" arm just below the CV boot on the drive shaft and I have never broke anything on my bike.
I have a 700cc Vtwin bike and I feel you need that kind of torque to do it.
To the point of the Vtwin it accelerates so fast in powder it sort of jumps up on the powder rather than trying to claw up onto it.
I have probably put on between 1200-1500 or so KM on my tracks in the last 3 years and have never broke anything.
I did stick it in deep slush one day while pulling out a sled still attached to a wood ice hut.
I bumped the bike into 2x4 by accident. I knocked into 4x4 low range and hit the differential lock and drove on out. Do that with a sled !
For my life style and activities the tracked bike is it.
But it may not be for everyone.
I have a 700cc Vtwin bike and I feel you need that kind of torque to do it.
To the point of the Vtwin it accelerates so fast in powder it sort of jumps up on the powder rather than trying to claw up onto it.
I have probably put on between 1200-1500 or so KM on my tracks in the last 3 years and have never broke anything.
I did stick it in deep slush one day while pulling out a sled still attached to a wood ice hut.
I bumped the bike into 2x4 by accident. I knocked into 4x4 low range and hit the differential lock and drove on out. Do that with a sled !
For my life style and activities the tracked bike is it.
But it may not be for everyone.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
actually, from the camoplast website:
front " 11.5" wide and 40" long = 460 sq/in
rear : 12.5" wide and 42.5" long = 531.25 sq/in
total of 1982.5 sq/in of contact with the ground.
900lb with driver included =
tracks = 0.55 PSI
tires = 2 PSI
Also, you better have a heated shop to park your bike in after playing for the day. They ice up terribly and you'll be snapping drive shafts,etc if you're trying to get it mobile the next morning. Ask me how I know.
yes, but the same can be said for an ATV with tires as well. any snow that doesnt get cleaned out of your machine before parking will melt from the heat generated by your diffs, engine, cv joints, and brakes resulting in solid ice. it often results in torn cv boots and broken axles as everything freezes rock solid. tracks or not, winter maintenance is a must to prevent damage.
as for that video posted of the honda 450 stuck in the snow. all that has proven is that guy doesn't know how to drive. instead of rocking back and fourth he could have hammered it and blew through. if you're still moving forwards, GAS 'ER! a knowledgeable rider would have went through without slowing down much at all. hell, i could have done the same thing just as fast with tires
btw...track design is very important. notice how those front tracks in the vid appear straight? that design doesnt allow the tracks to climb over the obstacles or "float" deep snow and mud. compare them to the tatou 4s tracks that are angled up for better flotation and climbing.
camoplast tatou's really are the best on the market right now...
-the front tracks are rounded on the edges to permit much easier steering
-the design promotes floating and climbing rather than "going through"
-i think they're the only ones with different sprockets to match the size of the machine
-less parts = less thing's that can break
i have a set of tracks on my wish list, but havent placed an order yet as we ride the roads and open fields between some trails and i'd like to be able to keep up...
350tracker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Interlake Manitoba
I have been very impressed with all the response on this subject. My intentions was to open new trails on my property with my ATV and coyote hunting as I have previously mentioned. I’m looking forward to using my tracks and have some input on tracks vs sled. At this time, I have used the sleds at one time or another and have got stuck. Looking forward to having experience in tracks on a quad. Tracks are coming and will update as previously mentioned. My only concern is I don’t have a heated shop...
I have a heated shop but only for when I plan on doing some wood working. To date I have not actually heated the shop up to thaw out my quad. . I find just taking a couple minutes to clear the snow from on top of the "A" arms And around the drive shafts and CV boots I have never broke anything todate. Not to say it won't happen some day.
Please do post your results.
QUOTE=350tracker;6518086]I have been very impressed with all the response on this subject. My intentions was to open new trails on my property with my ATV and coyote hunting as I have previously mentioned. I’m looking forward to using my tracks and have some input on tracks vs sled. At this time, I have used the sleds at one time or another and have got stuck. Looking forward to having experience in tracks on a quad. Tracks are coming and will update as previously mentioned. My only concern is I don’t have a heated shop...[/QUOTE]
Please do post your results.
QUOTE=350tracker;6518086]I have been very impressed with all the response on this subject. My intentions was to open new trails on my property with my ATV and coyote hunting as I have previously mentioned. I’m looking forward to using my tracks and have some input on tracks vs sled. At this time, I have used the sleds at one time or another and have got stuck. Looking forward to having experience in tracks on a quad. Tracks are coming and will update as previously mentioned. My only concern is I don’t have a heated shop...[/QUOTE]
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350tracker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Interlake Manitoba
Will do...
The tracks work decent enough but they don't even compare to a modern sled, i have used both.
Will a quad with tracks go through more than a old 340 yamaha sled, probably,
Will a quad with tracks come close to a modern sled, (like my m8 with a 162x 2.5 inch track) not a hope in hell!
[Maybe if you go back and read one of my previous post I said top speed on my bike with tracks is 60 kph (gps) so no it's not as fast as your blah blah blah hp sled.
Wanna see who breaks free and pulls a heavy load of anything you want in deep slush look me up.
Enjoy going fast on your super sonic double quadraholic dilithium cyrstled powered sled. Go fast fast fast wear a helmet be safe have fun ill just poke along slow with high torque and good ground cover and pull my ice hut. Its built for one dumb ass and 2 of my buddies. Lol !
QUOTE=crazydave;6518932]The tracks work decent enough but they don't even compare to a modern sled, i have used both.
Will a quad with tracks go through more than a old 340 yamaha sled, probably,
Will a quad with tracks come close to a modern sled, (like my m8 with a 162x 2.5 inch track) not a hope in hell![/QUOTE]
Wanna see who breaks free and pulls a heavy load of anything you want in deep slush look me up.
Enjoy going fast on your super sonic double quadraholic dilithium cyrstled powered sled. Go fast fast fast wear a helmet be safe have fun ill just poke along slow with high torque and good ground cover and pull my ice hut. Its built for one dumb ass and 2 of my buddies. Lol !
QUOTE=crazydave;6518932]The tracks work decent enough but they don't even compare to a modern sled, i have used both.
Will a quad with tracks go through more than a old 340 yamaha sled, probably,
Will a quad with tracks come close to a modern sled, (like my m8 with a 162x 2.5 inch track) not a hope in hell![/QUOTE]
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
[/QUOTE]
Hey butterfingers on the smartphone......... at least get the quotes right so we can decipher your response.
