ATV Tracks in slush

[Woodsman]

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.

[hunterforever]

+1 on the atv tracks. In my experience if it has tracks it works!

[Deer Hunter]

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.

That sounds like very scary conditions to me?
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.

[DanE]

they suck on open water but never had an issue with slush even 20" of it

[Big Jack]

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.

[Big Jack]

That sounds like very scary conditions to me?
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.

Lol you don’t hurt snowmobile trails with tracks.

That is fiction my friend!

[Deer Hunter]

Lol you don’t hurt snowmobile trails with tracks.

That is fiction my friend!

Fiction....ouch...?
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...

[Species8472]

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.

Fiction....ouch...?
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...

While I appreciate both points of view and always find your both of your posts informative and interesting.

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?

[Big Jack]

Fiction....ouch...?
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...

I was joking with you!!

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.

[Big Jack]

While I appreciate both points of view and always find your both of your posts informative and interesting.

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 usually moved it every hour just to make sure all was ok. Frankly though with those wide tracks I often did not break through.