looking at prices at units this week and argo 6x6 went down to 10990. for a 2022 6x6 and 13999.for 8x8 650 frontier, makes me seriously want to take a look at them vs a sxs.i know they are slower but i want for hunting and ice fishing vs speed.anybody had one of these and how do they run... looks like i can put a ton of gear in it.
sxs utv or argo
- Thread starter dogger1
- Start date
Everyone I know that has had one says they are slow, rough, and maintenance hogs. If a SXS or quad can cross the terrain, they are better. If you are needing to cross swamp, ponds, wet willow thickets, they are the only way to go.
what is meant by rough , the slow i get 26 mph ,like i said its not for trail riding only for hunting and ice fishing,i was in a friends razer last year that they used to post older standers like me and i ended up getting wet and muddy .not my thing, one of the guys flipped his brand new can am because of the power and i guess inexperiance.we trailer the machines into camp and go from there. theres spots where we have to cross rivers with steep little banks .the reason im liking for ice fishing is they float and wifey lately has been chiming in everytime i want to go. the only concern now is the rough ride now
New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
If you want a small and slower SxS look at a Kawasaki Mule. For you and the wife would be fine and you won't be covered in crap at arrival. Argo... suspension consists of 8psi tires and when you run over a rock in a 6x6 you run over it three times. I'm bringing you a review from owning a 1998 Vanguard 2. I know new models have larger tires which will smooth the ride a bit more. Other performance? That huge belly is low to the ground and must be remember to avoid hang ups: they really don't go everywhere but are stopped by fewer things than any other ATV. Skidsteer means you lose 50% of your traction just to turn and in some cases that stops you. Reliability? The mechanics are reliable if you maintain them: mine has close to thirty grease zerks and the chains also require lube. The biggest problem I found with mine is the POS Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engine... the Argo has been reliable, but that engine is the worst mongrel and needed replacing after first couple hundred hours. New machines are back to Kohler and Kawasaki engines I think which is an improvement. As to fishing in one with your wife: 6x6 would get cramped... 8x8 would be preferable.
Last edited:
you will need a bigger engine. what i can tell you is that is always good to have a good sat phone payment plan if you need support to fix things ...
Buddy had an 8x8 for one year . He didn't have a winch on it and got high centered on a beaver dam which resulted in throwing a track off and stuck really bad . The next high center was in a skidder rut and that resulted in a long walk also . Next the tub acted like a plow in the winter and when the snow gets deep it's all over . He did try it across a pond and it floated but the breeze blew him to the opposite shore so he needed a small outboard motor and that's when he sold it and bought a SxS .
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
If traveling alone , a 8 by 8 might be okay ; but if you want to run with other ATVs or side by sides on group rides , you might get left far behind . Other than that , no personal experience in owning one .
never owned a Argo but rode in one years ago, rough and after a 45 min trip sore and stiff, not a pleasant day
as for side by sides have a Kioti Macron, Diesel, tough as nails but heavy, also have a couple Kawasaki Mules, a 200 model 550 2 wheel drive and a 2018 Mule 610 4x4, they are not fast but reliable and the 610 can go anywhere, we ride the trails and ride is comfortable, add the bench seat which allows one to enter or exit from either side
as for side by sides have a Kioti Macron, Diesel, tough as nails but heavy, also have a couple Kawasaki Mules, a 200 model 550 2 wheel drive and a 2018 Mule 610 4x4, they are not fast but reliable and the 610 can go anywhere, we ride the trails and ride is comfortable, add the bench seat which allows one to enter or exit from either side
Yes, regular maintenance goes a long way on any machine. Cant speak to the newer ones because mine is an 81", bought used in about 85-86. Still has the original Tecumseh meter(rebuilt once). Slow and steady, carries a sizeable pay load, rough as heck but gets the job done. At least with this one I can fix it if it breaks. No fancy electronics on this model
You do need to have some mechanical apptitude with any machine but for sure with an Argo. Tracks would be nice but this engine doesn't have the power so I don't bother trying to make em work. It will get high entered in deep snow but that why I have a snow machine. Winch is a must, because we all have to try to go places we shouldn't Had a 6x6 before this one, very very tippy for fishing. Stick to the reed line on calm days, kicker works but not a lake machine. Angle of approach is critical because they are easily hung up on steep banks, that's where the winch comes in. And...I don't like to get my feet wet 
Attachments
Brother has both a kubota sxs diesel and argo 8x8 with tracks. Both vehicles are extremely slow. The sxs gets used alot more for everything, farm use, cutting wood and hunting. The argo is used strictly for ice fishing and can't be loaded down as heavy. One time he was overloaded on a lake making turning difficult and he had to back out. The sun was melting snow and ice and it wouldn't push through the slop.
