"Litefoot Track System" for Polaris Ranger

[Bobcat_pa]

I recently found their web site and it looks like a great product.  
The Ranger has turned out to be an excellant work and get-arround machine.   But, like any rubber tire machine, it can not be of service in snow, swampy conditons, etc.   I would appreciate any info you have on this Litefoot tracking, or other, system .   THANKS--bob

[Kevin]

I went with the Argo(lunar module) for swamp and snow. Works great.

[ADfields]

I saw a video of a quad with Litefoot tracks on it and it looked just flat awesome!   It was buzzing around on snow like it was nothing and it looked like 6" of snow till the guy got off and went to his wast in it, he had a hard time getting back on the thing.   It floated deep snow better then a long track snow machine but is much MUCH slower, looks like a great work horse.   What impressed me the most was the mud bog they took it in.   They would go out in the middle and stop, back up and turn in gook well over the running boards.   They had a 6 tire and 8 tire Argo also testing and the 6 tire got stuck in the mud when it stopped.   The 8 tire did not get stuck but was not as good at mud as the tracks.   The thing that turned me off was price.   You could buy both the Argos for what that quad and track system would cost and the Argos double as a boat when you put a small outboard on them.
Andy

[Kevin]

Andy, are you comparing tracks and tracks or tracks and wheels with the two --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--.com/album/123480482DXEXjQ

[ADfields]

No tracks on the Argos in the video and I don't think they would have helped in the deep soppy muck they were in.   The body was floating on the mud and the tired kicked the mud away and could not reach more mud to grab, just stuck on top!   Do you have tracks on yours?   They are a heck of a moose getter up hear, guys all swear by them but I don't know any one with the track kit, most do have a little outboard for them.   The other good moose getter hear is the 6 wheel Polaris with tracks on the back.
Andy

[ADfields]

I just looked at the pix and see that you do have tracks so how do you like them?   Have you ran it without the tracks to compare?
Andy

[Bobcat_pa]

Kevin--thanks for those great pictures !      By the size of the log, you have enough power.  I like the thought of tracks, but how about steering ?    Or does it steer like an excavator ?    Have any problems keeping the tracks on ?    bob

[Kevin]

It's a skid steer.
Turns on a dime and the tracks stay on.
The wheels are useless in snow over 10 inches and with tracks it will go anywhere in snow.
The wheels and large tires are good for water travel and add a little suspension.
I haven't tried the tracks in deep mud, I did get the unit stuck with wheels in deep soft mud but the body is a smooth plastic tub and there was very little resistance pulling it out with a rope winch.
It is made for the bush and isn't a machine for running long distances on roads.
I was looking for a machine that I could use for skidding, access my camp and swampy property.
It has a good cargo capacity as well.

[ADfields]

Ya, they flat turn on a dime!!  Even at full speed Man what a blast in the open!
Andy

[sprucebunny]

I have a Honda 500cc Rubicon with 4 A.D.Boivin "Traxion" tracks.They are great !!!!! Cost $2700 for the set.They go over and thru anything. Hooked up to a 14" balsam and dragged it out of the woods with no arch and no problem. Hardly leave a mark in moss covered mud and flatten some of the rut edges left by wheeled machines. Ride is very hard on ground or hard snow. Steering is tough. For the summer , I put the wheels back on the front. Better ride and steering .Haven't tried twitching anything out with it this way. The only thing that stopped it in deep snow was hidden logs across the trail and sometimes crossing a stream where an ice ridge had formed that was higher than the front of the track.The other track systems for ATVs cost more and aren't recomended year round.They also change final drive ratio so you can't have half track. I guess aRanger is like an Argo? so this may not help.

[ADfields]

sprucebunny, you got some pix of your rig with all the tracks on or a wed address for the outfit that sells them?   The only front track setup I have ever heard of in the Litefoot.    

The Polaris Ranger is like a 4x4 golf cart with a small truck like bed.  http://www.polarispowersports.com/polrangintro.html

The Litefoot Track System will also fit on your Rubicon but they say it's best with a 600cc or better, it was made for quads.   I don't see why as they reduce your gearing 60% or so when you bolt them on so a smaller motor should be fine I would think.
Andy

[sprucebunny]

The best web page I saw about them was www.atvtrackkit.com   I'm sorry I don't know how to make it a link. The AD Boivin page seemed broken. I have a couple of pictures of our "Tanklets" and will try to post them this evening but I'm way better at thrashing around in the bushes than I am at making technology work for me.
We are really happy with these tracks. We have not been easy on them and nothing has gone wrong. Bent a couple of little things but they did not cause a problem or even need to be replaced .There is no maintainance other than washing. The traction is amazing. That balsam still had all the branches on !
Mattracks is another track co. about $4500 a set and cause gear reduction. There are a couple of others -same limitations and not recomended for dirt just snow.

[ADfields]

I'm sorry I don't know how to make it a link.

Ya you did!   You just was thinking it's harder then it is.

I like that set up.   I have sean them on the back but never considered them for the front.
Andy

[ADfields]

If some one is interested I found a 79 Ford F250 with a set of Mattracks on it for $5500 complete and running.   The Mattracks are well over $20,000 new so if some one is wanting a set this is a great deal!   Mattracks is the maker of the Litefoot and they are the same just 3 times bigger and bolt to an 8 lug truck.   Let me know if you want a phone number.   I could even help ship them if needed, they are in Alaska (Anchorage I think) now.
Andy