A powerful side-by-side can haul equipment, pull items and handle difficult trails. However, one spot of icy snow or wet ground can make everything stop.
It’s not always about horsepower. Sometimes the tires simply cannot disperse the machine’s weight, or have enough traction to make the machine move forward.
That’s the time that UTV tracks are considered. The tracks alter the way that the vehicle is interacting with the ground. This lets owners access places that would otherwise be unaccessible, especially during the winter season.
Traction and Flotation Aren’t the Same
Aggressive tires can increase grip, but they still make the car’s weight a focus in four contact zones that are relatively small.
UTV track systems distribute that weight to a larger area. This reduces ground pressure and helps the machine travel over deep snow, soft soil and muddy terrain without sinking as easily.
Practical work requires a different approach. The owner of a property might have to get near a fence quite far after sleet. A farmer may need to travel through a pasture that is muddy without causing deep ruts. A person who maintains rural trails might need reliable access during the spring thaw. Tracks can make these tasks more manageable and reduce damage to sensitive ground.
What Machine Do You Have? Choose the best system for you.
Not all tracks for UTVs are designed for identical vehicles or workloads. ATVtracks.net has four systems that are made by Camso, and Kimpex. The Camso 4S1 is specifically designed for full-size side-by sides in the 400 to 1000cc size range.
The Kimpex HD4 supports machines within its published capacity of up to 4,000 pounds, while the Kimpex WSS4 follows its own manufacturer-specific compatibility list.
These categories are only starting places, and not a guarantee of the quality of the product. Make sure you know the model, make and year of your vehicle before you purchase side-by-side tracks. Even similar machines might need different hardware for mounting.
There are trade-offs for better access
Tracks can improve accessibility, but they do not make UTVs less expensive or quicker to use. The planning figures of some manufacturers reveal that certain systems cut down on the speed of travel up to 30-35% in comparison with tires. Additional weights that rotate and resistance will also boost the fuel consumption of vehicles. They also put more pressure on their drivetrain.
These demands can be managed by utilizing the low range, limiting to sustained speeds and adhering to instructions from the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Rubber tracks wear faster when they are utilized continuously on pavement or gravel that is rough. Although the current systems are designed for a variety of seasons, they are most effective when they are placed on suitable terrain.
Budget Units Above the Track
A top-quality side-by-side track is an investment worth it. ATVtracks.net’s systems begin at a price of $6,000, and rise to $13,000 depending upon their designs.
However the track units aren’t always the entire system. Additional components such as the mounting hardware to your vehicle as well as anti-rotation hardware, hubs or spacer parts could be needed. Before ordering, buyers must verify the complete parts list and do not believe that the price is inclusive of everything.
Buy to the Conditions You Have to
Track systems make the most sense when it solves the issue that is frequently encountered.
If you often find yourself in deep snow, muddy meadows, fields that are muddy, or even difficult conditions in the winter, tracks can aid your side by side accomplish more. The cost and maintenance of tracks might not be worth the cost for recreational use on a regular basis.
ATVtracks.net is an established company that has been helping car owners for over 20 years to install, select and maintain track systems. Its team is able to confirm compatibility, and identify elements required for a specific vehicle.
Think about the frequency your machine can get stuck and the type of terrain the cause, and if an improved flotation system could help.
The right tracks won’t eliminate all terrain limitations but they can help turn an idle side-byside in difficult terrain into equipment you can keep using for the time when accessibility is most important.