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Do they help with Slush ?
had a very hard time this weekend on north side of simcoe, there was around 1-2 foot of water and slush on top of the ice ... got stuck a couple times and flipped the ATV once lol
would Tracks solve my Issues ? or should I look into buying a snowmobile instead ?!
I would say the snowmobile is the best option. Tracks are great but I worry about them freezing up. I think lots of guys like them.
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Argo with tracks will solve your problem
Argos don't sink when they break through. My buddy has one we use for swamp jumping ducks. They're like a little tank.Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
I’ve put mine through the ice twice. Not much fun, but we stayed dry !!Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
I didnt break through, the ICE was ok, around 7-8" of black ice, but 2 foot of slushy/watery snow on top.
Argo with Tracks !!! I have to look that up, so 6 tracks ? would the steering still work ?
I saw Ricks comment before getting the ATV about Argo, should have listened back then. I thought it would be hard to get through brush for hunting with argo, but found out after they actually go through it easier than ATV also.
I know a guy that stopped his tracked atv in slush, didn't think about it until.he went to leave at dark.
Tracks frozen to the ice, Luckily he was able to drill holes in the ice, Rammed a bunch of stuff down the hole and yanked himself out with winch, took alot of chipping too
Hes lucky, by himself, miles from shore and a snow storm was starting.
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I made a little T bar, with 1inch rebar.Quote:
Originally Posted by SongDog
made a hole in ice, and used it as anchor with the winch, luckily I got it moving ... then lost the T bar ... gotta attach it to the winch better next time. about 2KM out from friday harbour.
Im watching videos of tracks, and they dont ride over the slush like snowmobiles do, still go through it like a atv tire it seems. just more friction so less chance of loosing ground I guess.
Ya dad's group had an argo to access Minnesing swamp back in the day before it became a no motor zone.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Do remember unlike a canoe or boat can't jump shoot ducks from an argo.
Until you get hung up on a stump... Buddy of mine bought one used it once for exactly what you said Trimmer and got the belly of the machine hung up on a stump. Brought it back to the dealer on the Monday...Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Try investing in a set of chains for your quad...
Try screwing studs into the lugs on your tires, if your tires are reaching, riding on the ice and the machine is not bottoming out on the undercarriage on top of snow or slush, those studs will pull you through no problem
did he have tracks on? Other than roads tracks are the way to go on an ArgoQuote:
Originally Posted by Bo D
That's right because Argos are classified as a "conveyance". We built a bunch of pallet blinds and used the Argo as a taxi. It was awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Snowmobile is the best option.
An ATV with tracks doesn't have enough speed to stay on top of deep slush.
And if they get stuck in slush they are not easy to get out.
Hell it was so long ago I don't remember if he did or not, but I do know he had to jump out and into the water to lift and push it off of the underwater stump he was hung up on. Never heard anyone curse as much and as long as he did when he got back to the camp. I'm glad I wasn't with him when he returned the argo to the dealer on the MondayQuote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
ATV with tracks go about anywhere, turns the machine to tank.
Tire chains would help you as a cheap option.
I originally debated between tracks on atv and snowmobile, am so glad I went with the atv with tracks since i do a lot of riding in deep off trail snow where sleds get easily sunk.
Also really like not having concerns when half the ride in in snow and rough conditions, then half the ride on dry gravel roads.
I'm also thinking of getting tracks over a skidoo but the atv trails here don't allow tracks. How long does it take to swap from tracks to tires and vice versa?Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Tuna
In December I usually put on the tracks. Takes about 4 hours working casually.
I April to return to tires, is done in 1-2 hours.
Factors to think about if already have an ATV, is the storage space for two toys plus insurance and maintenance for both instead of one.
I do mostly off trail riding and had never had an issue of being stuck.
Buddies on sleds off trail in 3-4 feet of snow are sinking or rolling their machines every few hundred yards. I have to keep pulling them out again and again.
While their machines have their tails sitting 3 feet down in the snow, my unit will be sitting in top few inches.
If a tree is down, drive over top of it.
Driving down the gravel road or across parking lots/roads, no worries about what ground is doing to your skies.
As a bonus the atv has a winch. When tracks are on, have only used winch to pull out sunken and rolled snowmobiles.
All depends on where you will be riding, which is better for you. I could not go with a sled where the ATV with tracks goes with such ease.
Pretty much any atv is useless once the snow drift/slush layer exceeds your ground clearance and your frame gets hung up. Another problem is the weight of the new machines these days. Absolutely ridiculous. Once a 700-900lb machine is on its belly you will be wishing you still kept your 340lb Honda 350 from the 80's. I usually run a 2002 Skidoo TundraR (longtrack). It's only about 375lbs and stays up top when everyone else is sinking through. I put 10" wide ski skins on it as well. It will float through waist deep snow . I like it because you can go and fish small back lakes that nobody else can get to. Check Kijji - I saw two of these old Tundras for sale yesterday. I think the guy wanted 3K each. Insurance is super low on them. What does a set of atv tracks cost?
Hi Fenelon, tracks will run you around 3.5K to 5K depending on size of track and machine it's going on
Fenelon I agree with your points.
I have a 2018 Tundra LT 550F.
Had a friend who brought his ATV with tracks up to Temagami a few years ago. It was stuck very quickly in the slush beds.
+1 on the atv tracks. In my experience if it has tracks it works!
That sounds like very scary conditions to me?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ata83
Imagine slugging along with your ATV with or without tracks in those conditions and hitting a small section of open water? I hope your wearing a floater suit because your going for a swim.
With a snowmobile you have a better chance to drive right over it if your going fast enough.
If you travel any distance on ATV in really cold weather to get to your fishing spot you are going to be more cold then sitting on a snowmobile.
I’m sure some situations you would be ok with tracks.
I know in the North around here you will see a 1000 snowmobile for every ATV with tracks. Also when you go out with your tracks and destroy the snowmobile trail it usually don’t take long before nobody invites you fishing with them. Haha
Like I said someplace it might make sense for ATV’s, around here in 4’ of loose snow at -30 Celsius you will only see snowmobile out there.
I’m about 8”-10” from power auger engine right now when drilling ice, me thinks extension before end of Feb. crazy winter here so far.
Good Luck and be careful.
they suck on open water but never had an issue with slush even 20" of it
I’ve owned tacks on an atv. There is no equal in my opinion.
Mine were kimpex commanders. I took the time to stud them as well. They are wide and have better flotation over slush.
I’ve been in nasty slush and yes a quick sled will get you through easier if you can pin it.
Like most though, dragging a heavy sled with 200 pounds of crap in it, you can get stuck pretty easily with a snow machine. I’ve not found that with tracks.
Lol you don’t hurt snowmobile trails with tracks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
That is fiction my friend!
Fiction....ouch...?Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Jack
No you don't on hard pack or where you hardly get no snow.
In areas up North where there's 4' or 5' of loose snow, it can make a mess.
I also seen beautiful trails destroyed when we got a few days of warm +12 C then freeze again. Neighbour did a mess with his tracked ATV. I flipped my Wide Track 3 times with my 76 year old Dad in the back.
I though having a forum like this was to exchange outdoors experience from around Ontario???
Sorry for sharing mine...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Jack
While I appreciate both points of view and always find your both of your posts informative and interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
As for an ATV with tracks floating better than a sled that may be true depending on the specific set up. I would however doubt it if compared to my sled. I would have to see the actual math. My sled has a 24x165 studded track and 11 inch ski skins on the front and fully plated under body. Add in I can hit the slush fields at over 100 km/hour (even with toboggan in tow although i normally cruise at about 60 on the open lake) should I choose I will take the sled. Plus it'll cross the odd unexpected pressure crack better. Plus I have winch for the sled.
My question is after slush or if parked in slush what is your strategy to prevent freezing in. Myself i try to knock off as much as possible and than take it for a 5 minute rip every hour or so. The odd time though it takes some rocking and alternating between forward/reverse to get going. If really worried and close to shore i'll cut a few spruce down and make a mat to park on. Any other things you do?
I was joking with you!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
Different experiences due to depth of snow!!!
No offence meant!
I will say they aren’t all made the same.
The commanders are really wide and PSI to snow is low so they will surprise you. There are many narrow versions but I personally will stay away from them.
I got of the machine one day and went up over my waist!
I did the same flip on the snow machine with my dad, twice in the same darn trip. He was a good sport about it though.
I usually moved it every hour just to make sure all was ok. Frankly though with those wide tracks I often did not break through.Quote:
Originally Posted by Species8472
I did mention it a few times that some places it might make sense for a tracked ATV especially if that's the only machine you have..Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Jack
For where I am and what I do it doesn't. My ATV is parked in the shed till spring.
Having been stuck in the slush with my sled or a friends many times when I was younger, I try hard not to do that anymore. At -30 bad things can happen. Its also not healthy for this old guy lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Species8472
Most lakes I fish are very small and shore is close by. If my fishing spot is covered in thick slush I will try to find a better place to fish with less slush.
If there's slush everywhere I packed myself a good trail to shore and park there. I then clean track best I can and snowshoe to where I want to fish. If I have to stay on lake and its bad, I've also cut small spruce and parked machine on it and again cleaning track.
Snow machines have come a long ways.
Having had a wide track for 20 years, I don't remember having problems in the slush with it.
I bought a Polaris Voyageur 600 with 2" paddle tracks a few years ago.
I find the paddle track design more forgiving when playing in slush. They clean themselves easier and don't fill tunnel full of slush then freeze. Their elevated design makes cleaning much easier.
Just to add: Since I bought sled with paddle tracks I can honestly say I don't worry about slush as much anymore, its now more a decision do I want to walk in that shint all day. lol. At my age and when fishing alone I'm still careful and try to plan things out.
i had chains on my bike and switched to studded tires for ice fishing was awesome aslong as drifts werent too bad
How about 1 of these?
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLMQdnmD/
I have tracks on my ATV and it will go through a slush hole better than a snowmobile within reason. If the snow and slush are that deep you’re better to either walk out (snowshoes) or stay home. Last winter I almost got my ATV with tracks stuck for the first time in deep slush, I got out but barely and then had to take a heat gun to my tracks to get rid of the ice.
I’ve used an Argo extensively and they wouldn’t fair any better if as well. The Argo’s Achilles heel is it’s low ground clearance. They get hung up easily - been there, done that and watched the tracks spin, then the fun begins.
For the fellas who have had Argos going high center on a stump or being bogged down,buddy put a winch on his and uses a fluke anchor for getting out of tough spots in case that helps.
My old Argo didn't have a winch, so I always carried a jack all. Still do just in case. Helped a guy out on a quad pulling a big load of steel roof metal this fall. He was stuck and the trailer tire got stuck behind a tree. Slid the trailer over with the jack. The fella had already winched a small tree down on himself, and luckily didn't get hurt. Found out he was from Rick Teal's camp. He used to be on this site. Said he passed away a couple years ago.