Anyone own an Argo?

[flying sailor]

Learn to fix it and properly tighten everything down, before going anywhere of consequence. They break down routinely. Bring a small tool kit and parts. Ensure you have a rope-a-long or something to extend the winch, or go with another argo for when it gets stuck. They do get stuck, and brutally as the bottom creates a "suck" that makes it extremely difficult to unstick. Say goodbye to your back. Don't cross fast water, find a slow pool or go up slow water. If you get sideways in fast water, even with an outboard, your gonna swamp and flip.

My Max 4 came with a bilge pump. Very familiar with pumps as I built/rebuilt industrial pumps that would move 25K gallons per hour. I will go to West Marine and install a larger pump with float switch. Also don't forget to install the drain plug, if any. More than one person has forgotten after draining the sump!

 

[samson7x]

Have hunted with a 6x6 and honestly wasn't impressed. Slow, no suspension, and stuck several times in terrain that I didn't feel was that difficult. I believe owner ended up selling it. Friends BIL also had one for a while but sold his as well.

No experience with the 8x8 but seems that would be the way to go.

 

[Dogone]

As mentioned:rough and slow. Eight wheeler is the only way to go. They do float but also sink, be careful.

 

[Woodcarver]

I've got an older, 1999, 8 wheeler. Can't speak to how well they float as I've never had mine in water deep enough, but they will go where 4 wheelers and UTVs fear to tread. They will handle inclines with ease that would roll a 4 wheeler or UTV (not on it's wheels). With deep snow and the tracks, they are as good as a snowmobile, just a lot slower.
They do not have any suspension other than the air in the tires. The engine heat will keep you warm in the winter and sweating the rest of the year. I do not find mine any noisier than my Ranger, (they actually have the same engine). The driver doesn't take near the beating as the unsuspecting passenger(s) as I can brace into the firewall and know when a turn is about to happen (just about flung someone out who was sitting in the back one time). They can get high centered readily as there is not a lot of ground clearance, but can also often spin themselves off once you get the feel for driving them.
I did find mine not as useful around the house as I hoped, thus the Ranger arriving a few years later. For a swampy, wet or snowed in hunt, they are the cat's meow.

 

[Altitude sickness]

The Argo is a more affordable ATV and easier to wrench on in remote areas than the bigger more expensive rigs.

We have used Marsh Masters, Pittman Panthers, $300,000-$400,000 each

A “Sherp” $100,000 to $150,000 ish

And Bombardier tracked rigs

And they all break down.

The best all around is probably the “Sherp” or the Marsh Master neither are inexpensive. And not practical for the occasional hunting trip.

 

[HankBuck]

Although its no comparison, I found a side by side UTV with Camso or Mattco tracks to be remarkably good, although they run $6000-$7000 for the tracks. I was able to use my UTV with tracks to pull my truck 100 yards over 30" of snow when I got stuck.

No, my UTV doesn't float. No, I can't take it into a bog like an Argo, but it does have the tractor benefits for food plots and agriculture/forestry uses that an Argo doesn't have.

One of each would be ideal, but for those needing more capability than a typical UTV, I recommend looking into tracks for your UTV.

ROOKHAWK - what type of stress/wear & tear do “tracks” put on the SxS transmission, gearing, engine? Do they void any warranty (Not that that would stop me from adding them). I have zero mechanical skills and “almost zero” mechanical understanding. I’ve riden on ATVs that had “tracks” added - they worked better in snow then tires But were certainly NOT anywhere near a Snowmobile and the ATV still got stuck.

 

[HankBuck]

The Argo is a more affordable ATV and easier to wrench on in remote areas than the bigger more expensive rigs.

We have used Marsh Masters, Pittman Panthers, $300,000-$400,000 each

A “Sherp” $100,000 to $150,000 ish

And Bombardier tracked rigs

And they all break down.

The best all around is probably the “Sherp” or the Marsh Master neither are inexpensive. And not practical for the occasional hunting trip.

Altitude, great video - very cool machine, when they go “On Sale” can you buy one for under $75,000? That aluminum Bulldozer looked very high quality but een in the video it appear “barely” able to cross calm still water….I would not want to be in that with even a 1 knot current or 5mph cross wind - No worries since I can’t afford one ! thanks for posting

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

My Max 4 came with a bilge pump. Very familiar with pumps as I built/rebuilt industrial pumps that would move 25K gallons per hour. I will go to West Marine and install a larger pump with float switch. Also don't forget to install the drain plug, if any. More than one person has forgotten after draining the sump!

I fish commercially and ran slipway fixing boats before that I’m familiar with bildge pumps.

 

[HankBuck]

Nope. I don't own enough tools to keep one of those running.

Ontario You don’t need Any Tools - you can pull an entire Pit Crew of Mechanics in a trailer behind you——

 

[Altitude sickness]

Hank, our company use was marshy terrain, not open water. But Marsh Master does sell an attachment for more drive in the water. Like an outboard

 

[Major Bonkers]

I have used these from the late '70s. The first generation did not even have a rigid chassis, so it was quite easy to pick it up at a corner and pull and push it if it got stuck. The second generation, which is what we are on now, is heavier and more rigid. These are the go-to vehicles for Scottish deer stalking.

My observations: They are low slung, and if they get stuck in peat a suction is created between the bottom of the chassis and the peat which makes getting them unstuck very difficult. The GRP which it is made of will also be scratched and torn if you drive it over rocks, which means that it will flood in water. Put a winch on the front, and possibly a towing eye front and rear. When they do get stuck, you need somewhere to pull from. Possibly useful additions are a stob (fence post) or land anchor (an enormous cork-screw), and/ or a block and tackle. Usually, the only machine that will get them unstuck is another Argo.

Use a trailer to tow very heavy loads, such as logs, rather than putting them in the rear cargo bay (8x8 only), otherwise you will bugger-up the chassis.

They do bounce about, which you can make more comfortable by slowing down over tussocks: importantly, stuff tends to bounce out of the back (I lost my cromach - walking stick - like this, but found it later). They will swim, but if you are crossing a river the current will push the Argo quicker than the machine can go forward (my cousin almost got swept over a waterfall).

They will roll. I have rolled one forward (going downhill) and sideways (going across a slope). My father broke his neck when one did a backward roll on him. We were both lucky to survive our respective accidents. The first generation, without the rigid chassis, was actually more surefooted.

Proper maintenance is specialised. They have a special brake fluid and won't work with the ordinary stuff. Be aware that Sod's Law is that the machine will break down, misbehave, or get stuck at the most inconvenient and dangerous points: don't put yourself in a position of relying on it. They benefit from gentle handling.

Useful additions are a spotlight and/ or light bar, and possibly a rifle rack.

They are also notorious - in Scotland at least - for tearing off the top layer of grass or moss as they move, which then allows the development of peat hags. They should not - ideally - be driven in pre-existing tracks or with knobbly tyres.

They tend to come in for a lot of abuse, and personally I would never buy one second-hand. On the other hand, the only vehicle which is more capable is a hire car.

 

[rookhawk]

ROOKHAWK - what type of stress/wear & tear do “tracks” put on the SxS transmission, gearing, engine? Do they void any warranty (Not that that would stop me from adding them). I have zero mechanical skills and “almost zero” mechanical understanding. I’ve riden on ATVs that had “tracks” added - they worked better in snow then tires But were certainly NOT anywhere near a Snowmobile and the ATV still got stuck.

I can't speak to all types of UTVs because they are probably different. Mine is a Diesel Gator so it was a high torque, low speed vehicle made even slower with tracks. It may be a different story if I had a UTV designed for 70mph on the highway, rather than a 35mph top speed at the most. (before tracks)

I'd research Camso tracks and see what the reviews say for your model of UTV.