6x6 all terrain?

[fishquick86]

Hey guys I have seen some of these all terrain vehicles out on the ice and out hunting and wondering if anyone has them?? If there is a benefit between a four wheeler other than the all terrain floating. I wanted to get one of these vehicles do to my wife wanting to go but always worried about going through...this way if we did it wouldnt matter we would be in the vehicle that floats!!! but I will be in the market for either or soon and wanted to try and get some info on which way.

[mark978]

Depends on the snow depth you need to drive in. I have an Argo 750, its an 8x8. With no tracks it can only handle 8" of snow. But if your willing to invest in tracks it will go anywhere. Handles the northern Ontario snow and ice with no problems.

[fishquick86]

I saw a youtube vid of argos going through the ice and just popping back onto the ice even when they got stuck in the water they were able to eventually get back on top of the ice. These were with tracks obviously but how much does an argo 6x6 go for? and the tracks? website?? or mn dealer??

[DEADONDYLAN]

there are a few on craigslist around my area(200 mile search area) cheap enough to make me wonder about them. would like to see one first hand though.

[TrikerJohn]

I have never owned one, and can only tell you what I have read. May turn out I am full of prunes, cause as I mentioned, I don't own one and don't really know anyone that does. So take what I have to say with a grain of salt.
 Now, that being said, I have HEARD they require a lot of maintenance to keep running. I don't know this for a fact, only what I have read. The idea of floating if you went through the ice sounds good on paper, But what if only one side goes in? Will it flip? If the whole machine goes through the ice, I have to wonder how they would get enough traction to pull there self out. Something to ponder before you lay down the cash.
One last thing. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, or how close you are to a dealer. I personally just bought a new Honda Rubicon this year. Had chains and a windshield installed, and so far I love it. Should I have problems, the dealer is 22 miles from my back door, another 25, and a third, less than 50 miles away.  On the downside passengers have to ride on a sled pulled behind, it is strictly made for one rider. I see where several members mentioned getting a UTV which has seating up front for 2. They even have models that have a back seat. Again, you go through the ice, you will be driving a submarine.

Probably confused you more than helped, in which case I apologize.  If you are like me, you will try to get all the facts, not just hearsay, before you invest a big chunk of money. Good luck whatever your choice may be! 

[Whopper Stopper]

I have never owned one, and can only tell you what I have read. May turn out I am full of prunes, cause as I mentioned, I don't own one and don't really know anyone that does. So take what I have to say with a grain of salt.
 Now, that being said, I have HEARD they require a lot of maintenance to keep running. I don't know this for a fact, only what I have read. The idea of floating if you went through the ice sounds good on paper, But what if only one side goes in? Will it flip? If the whole machine goes through the ice, I have to wonder how they would get enough traction to pull there self out. Something to ponder before you lay down the cash.
One last thing. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, or how close you are to a dealer. I personally just bought a new Honda Rubicon this year. Had chains and a windshield installed, and so far I love it. Should I have problems, the dealer is 22 miles from my back door, another 25, and a third, less than 50 miles away.  On the downside passengers have to ride on a sled pulled behind, it is strictly made for one rider. I see where several members mentioned getting a UTV which has seating up front for 2. They even have models that have a back seat. Again, you go through the ice, you will be driving a submarine.

Probably confused you more than helped, in which case I apologize.  If you are like me, you will try to get all the facts, not just hearsay, before you invest a big chunk of money. Good luck whatever your choice may be! 

Lots to ponder. I sure like the looks of the Argo but the price of an 8x8 is sobering.

                 WS

[marquette]

one of my hunting partners had one for about 4 yrs.  i would guess it was a late 90's model.  6 wheels no tracks.  he said it would eventually get itself back up on the ice after he went through or when the ice was melting near shore and he had to cross open water to get to the ice.  it was slow in the water.  two things i know he didn't like about it was how it rode and the weight/size.  on the ice or prairie it rode ok but crossing rocks or logs it tended to go front high and then fall as its center of balance went over the obstacle.  the first hunting season after he got rid of it i remember him commenting about how nice it was to just have his 4 wheeler in the bed of his truck and not be pulling the flat bed trailer he needed to haul the 6 wheeler.   

[downriverbob]

I was on a Lake Gogebic in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan last March.  There were a couple of guys who had 6 wheeled Argos.  The lake was extremely slushy 4 wheelers were a no go.  Both of these guys got their Argos stuck in large slush pockets, had a heck of a time getting them out.  Neither guy went back on the ice that week-end as far as I know.  Seem alright if limited amout of snow/slush.  They looked a little too slow for me.

BOB

[Big Burk]

I have an old 8x8 Argo that I put a diesel motor into and my brother has a older but newer than mine 8x8 Argo as well. He has the plastic tracks and I'm waiting till next year for the rubber ones. Argos are almost unstoppable but slush will get you unless you have the wide rubber tracks. Mine was a beat up POS when I bought it, no motor, hole in the tub and missing a lot of things. But a little hard work and it will go all week on a small tank of diesel and doesn't look too bad. If you have unsafe ice or do a lot of back woods fishing in the summer they are amazing machines. One area we fish is a 5 hour atv ride in and a pain to try to get a canoe into, you need to stay on the ridges and out of the muskeg, the Argos take about 1 1/2 hours to do the same trip because you can cross the muskeg and swamps, and there's no need to haul a boat in with you just drive into the lake and drop the outboard on the back your ready to fish. I enjoy mine so much the fiancé is getting one if she doesn't decide she wants a polaris rzr.

[fishquick86]

Good comments everyone! I would be doing a 6x6 with tracks for sure. I have seen the youtube vids and with tracks you can pull yourself back up on the ice once you get a good grip on the edge. Pretty slick idea and I didnt' know you could put a outboard on the back that is sweet. I don't really do a lot of back woods stuff but if I had this I would do some for sure though. Not too worried about breakdowns or anything like that I am pretty handy and most stuff if overnightable so just wondering if it is better than a 4 wheeler...

[TrikerJohn]

Good comments everyone! I would be doing a 6x6 with tracks for sure. I have seen the youtube vids and with tracks you can pull yourself back up on the ice once you get a good grip on the edge. Pretty slick idea and I didnt' know you could put a outboard on the back that is sweet. I don't really do a lot of back woods stuff but if I had this I would do some for sure though. Not too worried about breakdowns or anything like that I am pretty handy and most stuff if overnightable so just wondering if it is better than a 4 wheeler...

Please try to come back to this post and let us know how it worked out. I am sure there are lots of people on here just like you that are considering one. Like the Holiday Inn logo, "The best surprise is no surprise". Maybe you will be able to help the next guy make an educated decision instead of trial by fire. 

[Sledgod]

Personally if the ice was iffy I wouldn't drive out on it no matter what I was driving around in unless it was a hovercraft... 

I read this article literally 5 minutes before I read this post. 

http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/188997461.html

Not sure what the real story was but they apparently couldn't get back up on good ice...  I'll stick to a regular 4 wheeler with chains and just go out when the ice is safe. 

Good luck either way!