Atv with tracks capability

[JSK76]

I sold my snowmobile a few weeks back with the intent of getting a Liquid cooled vs my 550 fan. I'm now really liking extra space in the grage the snowmobile took up. I'm really thinking about selling my sportsman 500 h.o and getting something in the 800cc class and putting tracks on it. Around home I think I would be just fine with tracks but I do make it up to Morson and Whitefish bay a few times a winter and ride with buddy's with Bearcats. When we go to Morson we keep the speed to around 35 to 40 mph for the most part. I have zero experience with a tracked atv other then YouTube videos and have seen the rider gets very snow covered and have been told it's a cold ride. I could just have a atv and a snowmobile and have the best of both worlds but I'm getting tired of storing, licensing, insuring and maintaining all my toys. I'm looking at building a pole shed if I don't start to consolidate. Am I nuts to think I can go up to Canada and travel with snowmobiles with a tracked atv? I kind of think so but would like to hear from others!

[fivebucks]

In MN you need skis on front to run on a snowmobile trail. Other than that I would think you could do it although I have never run an ATV on tracks.

[bturck]

Go to Mattrax.com. They are a great system. They would also be able to answer your speed question regarding keeping up with 40 mph sleds. I have ridden ATV's with tracks but never at that speed. They are sweet though compared to regular tires.

[CaptSpike]

I looked into this a few yrs back. If you thought your sled took up space wait till you put tracks on an ATV. Footprint is huge. The speed is also slower and fuel consumption rises drastically. For those three reasons I own an ATV and a sled. I guess if you were not fishing far out and didn't worry about fuel consumption it wouldn't be a big deal. I didn't like the extra space it would take up in the trailer or the garage. The fuel issue was the added straw. They do go nice thru the snow though and that is the main reason you'd want them.

good luck with your decision.

Spike

[IcerRon2010]

I have a Can Am max Xt 1000 with the Apache 360 setup. It is 54inchs wide and 108inches in length. Pretty sweet in the snow, handles great. It will only do 40mph or so with them on and the gas consumption is noticeable. You can take them off in the summer and blast around the trails. I wanted a 365 day a year vehicle, not something that would go in the winter only.

[Random guy]

They are bad news in any slush at all. Once they go down and get stuck they do not come back out. I have had to rescue several of them with the plow truck through the years. By time a truck gets to them they are froze up and have to be winched on a trailer and taken to a heated shop to be thawed out. Many locals tried them here on Upper Red all with the same results, seldom do you see one on the ice anymore. What does work pretty slick is those wheel /hub extensin deals with the paddles. I actaully have thought about a set for mine.

[Eric Wettschreck]

If you have the financial ability.........build a pole barn for toy storage and have the best of both worlds.

[Great Outdoors]

If you are a person that will use an ATV for trapping, fishing, or general travel in the winter, you will not go wrong with a larger ATV (800cc+)& a set of ATV tracks.

I've had two Polaris Rangers with tracks. The first was a 700 cc, with the Polaris track system, the current, an 800cc with Camoplast 4S Tatou tracks.

In my opinion, the Camoplast tracks are the best as they are wider and longer than the Polaris system, hence better flotation and traction.

I have gone through large amounts of deep slush, and never been stuck. On both sets of tracks I've owned, I put "Gold Cap Screws(???)" to prevent slippage in with a cordless screw gun (2 per grouser)

I have never used Mattracks, but have heard they are far more expensive and have less traction.

If you do go through slush, I'd advise you to clean the tracks as well as you can before letting the machine sit on the ice and allowing the slush to freeze. That could cause you some problems.

[dogfleet]

I have both tracks, and j-wheels. I have never gotten stuck. The tracks are heavey, and take a good hour to put on. I go through alot of gas, and cant fit it in the fish house. The J-wheels take 10 min. to attach, or take off. They go through alot.

[BigDogRob]

What does something like J-wheels cost for a set?

[dogfleet]

right around 500, If you tell them what brand wheeler you have, they will pre drill the bolt holes

[BrandonN]

I just watched some video on these and they look pretty cool. I think i want to pick up a set of stock tires for my atv stud them and put on these j wheels