Tracks on a UTV

[RoyJackson]

I'm kicking around buying tracks for my Gator 855D. I have heard, but no personal experience, that using tracks is tough on the running gear.
For you guys who have had tracks on your UTV for a while (couple years, at least), are they tough on the driveline?

 

[Rustyiron]

Roy the only thing it could possibly be hard on would be to belt and that's up to the operator.
Your gear ratio is effectively lowered as the drive wheel powering the tracks is only about 14" and that's like driving on 14" tall tires.

 

[ArlyA]

Roy, Where do you plan operating with the tracks??

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy, Where do you plan operating with the tracks??

I've got about 10 acres here in Vermont...and still 6-7 inches of frozen snow.
My neighbor's Gator (an 825) is down on his part of the field...been there about 3 weeks now and I doubt he get's it back up (field is about 15-20 feet lower elevation than the property his and my houses are). He did the same thing about 2 years ago. It'll be a few more weeks or so before he can drive it up...
Basically, my Gator is parked once we get more than a couple inches of snow.
I figure with tracks, I could get more use out of it during the snow season...

 

[ArlyA]

Yes you could, but changing the pods out is a hassle. Will you be the person switching them out?? I assume you'll remove them for summer use and I can't recommend there use in the non snow season.

 

[FTG-05]

Saw this the other day:

 

[nybirdman]

Better spent the $4-5K on a used snowmobile.Not worth the expense or hassle IMHO.

 

[ArlyA]

I could have got a used sled for the 5500 our pods cost but we didn't. There is far, far more utility in our 6x6 than a sled can offer. Sleds are great for going fast, poor at many other jobs. Kind of depends on what the user wants to do.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm in the same boat. Just too much money and another thing to spend money on for repair, plus the hassle and storage.

Plus, you get older and the time between putting them on and taking them off is the blink of an eye.

 

[Rustyiron]

I sure enjoy motoring around our land in the utv, seeing and monitoring it in the beautiful winter setting all winter long at an enjoyable 4-5 mph versus ripping through the woods too fast to see anything on a sled, not to mention with my wife and dog. If one was patient, I'd bet you could get into a set of used tracks for $3000. The particular mounting parts can be purchased as the tracks themselves are 1 of 2 sizes.
ATV and utv, the utv being a little bigger/longer.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A lot of power is required to negotiate snow. Tha means NOISE in some way. Not very conducive to enjoying nature.

 

[ArlyA]

A lot of power is required to negotiate snow. Tha means NOISE in some way. Not very conducive to enjoying nature.

Do tell us of the experience you have operating a modern UTV with a cab?

 

[ArlyA]

I sure enjoy motoring around our land in the utv, seeing and monitoring it in the beautiful winter setting all winter long at an enjoyable 4-5 mph versus ripping through the woods too fast to see anything on a sled, not to mention with my wife and dog. If one was patient, I'd bet you could get into a set of used tracks for $3000. The particular mounting parts can be purchased as the tracks themselves are 1 of 2 sizes.
ATV and utv, the utv being a little bigger/longer.

Having idler bearings flailed on our machines, I'd be leery of used pods. If they are Soucy built, then they are very much more serviceable and used might be OK.

 

[LouNY]

For just getting around with some utility use find a used Thiokol IMP or similar unit,
tracks cab and heat the only way to go in deep snow.

 

[Rustyiron]

Having idler bearings flailed on our machines, I'd be leery of used pods. If they are Soucy built, then they are very much more serviceable and used might be OK.

The Camso (used to be Camoplast) are serviceable including updated bearings and wheels, well at least according to a big dealer with a bunch of videos on their YouTube "channel".
atvtracks.com or maybe .net?
Pretty informative about use, installation and adjustments.

 

[ArlyA]

Did you see the price of the idlers?? They are costly have poor bearings molded into them. I do have experience in this business. Soucy has snap rings holding there bearings in.

 

[Rustyiron]

A lot of power is required to negotiate snow. Tha means NOISE in some way. Not very conducive to enjoying

Did you at the price of the idlers?? They are costly have poor bearings molded into them. I do have experience in this business.

No I have not needed anything, but just being able to service it at all these days is a good thing.
My usage is pretty light (we go slow) and can be out for an hour or so and maybe travel 3-4 miles, hard to say as the speedometer is not geared for the tracks. My used machine came with the tracks and was "adult owned". Hopefully it will be a few years before I need it get into it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have been in a few. Like sharing a dumpster with a lawn mower basically.

As far as a modern cab. I can see some applications. However, I like Nature. I like some hot and cold, wind and snow. As far as I am concerned enjoying nature has nothing to do with riding around in some Pope Mobile thing. Protecting me fom every rain drop and mosquito.

Just took my Mule Diesel (Non Cab) for a drive to the back. Wore hearing protection. Terribly noisy! Always has been. Maybe you don't realize the noise as much until you experience/appreciate an electric UTV.

 

[ruffdog]

Another co:

ATV Tracks and UTV Tracks

 

[ArlyA]

As part of my work, we used atv's and utv's equipped with pods for use in snow for many years. Suppose I have 4000 hours operating and servicing them. Using both camso and soucy products. If anyone here has questions concerning there use, feel free to ask any questions.