wheeler question in all this snow and slush

[unotrouble2]

Has anyone used J-Wheelz on their wheelers in the type of snow and slush we have here in in the metro area?

They look like something that might work well in deep snow or slush conditions

[St_Croix_Banks]

The youtube video's are sure impressive.

[McGurk]

I'd like to see them in winter 1st hand, too. They look like the cat's meow for an affordable option for most people, but I heard from a retailer that he didn't know much about their snow performance. Seems like a decent option for crusted snow, but I don't know about powder.

[merkman]

For the money I would go with TruTrax

Made in MN.

No loss of speed if you use your stock rear wheels.

Great performance.

Additional back rack to haul more stuff.

Maintains the original width of the wheeler.

Works in summer or winter.

Was out in the deep slush with this system last year and absolutely no problems with them.

[Ed Carlson]

They do extremely well in shallow and deep snow, snow & slop...and in mud, gumbo, sand and even on water.

They keep all 4 wheels afloat on the snow with great traction. They do not sacrifice top end speed on hard ground as they J-Wheelz do not touch the ground on a solid surface when not required.

They are lightweight on the machine, a little over 30 lbs for the set of 4 installed.

With just the rear track systems, the front still bogs down without added skies, that adds more cost and less dry land flexibility.

While in contrast the J-Wheelz system will not bog down in the front, and will go up and over the snow or slop.

These are a great system for a little over $600 a set.

[aa8shot]

I test road a machine with the J-wheelz. My opinion, don't waste your money. The first thing I did was run for some 2' snow got stuck right away. For the rest of my short trial and might say very unofficial test, was I got through everything else as good without them on.Its when i bottom out that gets me stuck. I was really hoping they would do the job. As I buried my machine yesterday, Its track for me. Pro. gonna order camoplast tracks. They performed as well as a snomobile. So what do I do by a sled or Track???????????????

[merkman]

Its track for me. Pro. gonna order camoplast tracks. They performed as well as a snomobile. So what do I do by a sled or Track???????????????

Tracks... but not Camoplast. They have horrible customer service. A fairly good product, but you are on your own if you have problems. They will stick it to you or your dealer if you do have problems. I was lucky enough to have a good dealer.

There are many other mfg out there to look at, stay clear of Camoplast.

[Ed Carlson]

[aa8shot]

Mr. Merkman, If not camoplast, what tracks would you recomend?

[merkman]

Mr. Merkman, If not camoplast, what tracks would you recomend?

That depends on your pocket book and what your intended use is.

I really like what I have heard and seen from MATTRACKS but they are probably one of the most expensive. Looking at some of the applications they have put tracks on, you know that a 4 wheeler should not be an issue for them. I have heard good things about their customer service too.

I am very interested in learning more about ktracks

Most people who sell tracks don't recommend jumping or half the abuse I have seen on the you tube videos of ktracks. They must be built pretty good to withstand that abuse. You can put real performance skis on the fronts for the winter and register and ride them as a snowmobile in MN. I haven't contacted them to find out prices though and I don’t know how good their customer service is.

If you have a Polaris they have some good tracks too and I would trust them to stand behind their product.

I like my Camoplast 4S tracks (the actual product) but I don’t’ trust the company. I am stuck with them now though. The older version (the Camoplast winter only tracks) are not good for use in MN. They may be great for ski slopes or deep mountain snow but not for most uses in MN.

If money is an issue you can get a set of TruTrax for about half the price of the independent tracks. Great product and they also have very good customer service.

If you want to go even cheaper J-wheelz are about half the price of the TruTrax. I haven't seen these in use but several here seem to like them.

I would love to see them go head to head with actual track systems. But I am not sure that would be a fair comparison, the J-wheelz are ¼th the price of track systems.

[aa8shot]

My use for tracks would be mostly access to the lake under all Safe cond. But I would also enjoy traveling around the country esp. after a good fresh snow.After talking to my dealer, Polaris tracks are made by Camoplast. But by getting camoplast name, I save app 400$. And of course these would be geared for my Machine. I experimented on some serios snow at very slow speeds just to see what I could do. The dealer encouraged me to try and get them stuck. I couldn't. I'm sold, just not sure I can justify the cost yet.

As for J-wheelz as stated earlier, The first little drift I hit I got stuck. I was really hoping J-wheelz would do it for me esp the cost over tracks. But one bad experiance was enough for me.I couldn't get stuck with the tracks. Guess that shows you get what you pay for. You really need to demo. I think I'll save some more $$$ and wait till next season, because they are now backordered, I guess demand is really high.

[bullhead master]

would j wheels work on a 2wd?

[merkman]

After looking at this video

I know that any wheeler with the 4WD tracks could have went up and over that wood pile.

I think a 4WD wheeler with or without J-wheelz would have had an easier time getting over that wood pile too.

The back tracks are better than 2WD wheels only, but I don’t think they can compare to the 4WD tracks. But they are 1/2 the price.

You can’t drive 4WD tracks on MN snowmobile trails.

You can drive 2WD tracks with skis on the front on MN snowmobile trails as long as you are under the weight limit and have the proper registrations and trail stickers.

It really comes down to price and your application. Figure out what you really need and put the money out there for your needs. Maybe J-wheelz for ¼ the price of 4WD tracks may be the best for some? If you only have 2WD to start with, maybe the 2WD track systems are the best option for you. I am not sure about J-wheelz on 2WD machines. I would think they would work, just not as good as a 4WD machine?

You could always go demo a set and take the demo machine out of 4WD to try it out.

[olbaidhh]

Love mine... there is not tooo many places I cant go in 4 wheel drive. I know I would have easily made it up that log pile... forwards or backwards.

[Great Outdoors]

[merkman]

I ordered my TATOU tracks by Camoplast from ATV Tracks in Washington state

I have heard good things about that on-line dealer.

I even called them to see what they could do for me at the time.

They were very helpful and did as much as they could, but I didn't purchase the tracks though them so there wasn't allot they could do.

From what I have seen and heard about them, I think they are an OK bunch for sure.

Ordering them on-line may have saved me the hassle I went though?

It is just a tough pill to swallow knowing you just shelled out $3,500 plus and you have less than 10 miles on the tracks and the mfg is telling you too bad, sorry you had problems, take it somewhere else it isn't our fault.

It's kinda hard to use the legal system in a different country (Canada where Camoplast are mfg)

I finnaly got a deal made where I ponied up more cha ching to get a set of the 4S tracks. So far no issues with the 4s system yet but I pretty much know I am on my own if I do have issues with them.

[Great Outdoors]

merkman,

What type of trouble did you have with your tracks??????

[merkman]

merkman,

What type of trouble did you have with your tracks??????

They locked up.

They were the old style winter only tracks with the drive sprockets that went though the tracks.

Promotional items all said winter only and some mud.

I drove them on hardpack snow and ice and they locked up.

After I told them what happened they told me they were snow only.

They even denied that their promotional items and users manual said anything but snow only.

Even after I showed it to them in black and white.

I have the 4s now but dont drive them in the summer.

Only the winter.

I freaked this summer when I saw the youtube videos of the bogey wheel icing problem and all I thought was here we go again.

[BLT100]

In my opinion, if you are going to spend almost $4000 on a set of tracks, why not spend that money on a snowmobile. That money could get you an excellent used snowmobile whether it is a performance sled or a workhorse. A snowmobile handles the cold much better than some atv's and not only that it is another avenue for winter fun. If it were me, I would find a used 600, no frills and put an 1.5" track for a little better grip.

[Ed Carlson]

would j wheels work on a 2wd?

Yes, but with the same limitations as one would expect from a 2 WD vrs a 4 WD.

Far better traction and lift in deep snow for sure with the J-Wheelz on the 2 WD.

Some add skies to the front to get the lift on a 2 wd so the front does not drag the rear. Seen the same configuration used on a 3-wheeler, skies on front, J-Wheelz on the rear.

[merkman]

In my opinion, if you are going to spend almost $4000 on a set of tracks, why not spend that money on a snowmobile.

That one is an easy question.

My Back

I tried the snowmobile and couldn't walk for day and a half afterward.

[Great Outdoors]