A powerful side-byside can move equipment, transport supplies and tackle difficult trails. However, one spot of icy snow or waterlogged ground can bring everything to a stop.
The majority of problems are not caused by horsepower. Sometimes, the tires just don’t evenly distribute the weight of the machine or find enough traction to move forward.
UTV tracks are also worthwhile to consider. They alter the way that the vehicle is interacting on the ground. It allows owners to access places that would otherwise be inaccessible, especially during the winter or mud season.
Traction and Flotation Do Not Mean the Same
Although aggressive tires can improve grip, the vehicle is still concentrated in four small areas.
UTV track systems spread this weight over a larger footprint. This lowers the pressure on the ground and allows the vehicle to travel over deep snow and soft soil without sinking.
Practical work requires a shift. After a snowfall, a property owner may need to access a fence. Farmers may need to travel through a pasture that is muddy without causing deep ruts. Someone maintaining rural trails may need dependable access during spring the thaw. Tracks can make these chores more manageable and reduce the risk of damage to ground.
What Machine Do You Have? Determine the most appropriate system
Not all tracks for UTVs are designed for identical vehicles or workloads. ATVtracks.net provides four different systems from Camso and Kimpex. The Camso UTV ENDUR is intended for larger side-by sides of 1000cc and higher, while the Camso 4S1 is a full-size version of machines within the 400-1000cc 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 just an initial point of reference, and is not a guarantee of the quality. Find out the year, manufacturer, and model of your car before purchasing side by side tracks. The mounting kit needs to match the exact vehicle and even vehicles with similar models will require different hardware.
Accessibility is an exchange
Tracks can improve accessibility, but they do not make UTVs less expensive or quicker to run. The manufacturer’s planning data indicate that some systems can reduce the speed of travel by 30 to 35% when over tires. The additional weights and resistance that rotate can also raise the consumption of fuel of vehicles, and place additional strain on their drivetrain.
As per the advice of the manufacturer to use low range when driving through heavy or deep conditions, and limiting your speed can aid in coping with these pressures.
Rubber tracks also wear faster when used continuously on gravel or abrasive surfaces. They work best on proper terrain, even though they’re made to be used in multiple seasons.
Budget Units Above the Track
A good side-by-side track is an investment worth it. ATVtracks.net’s systems begin at $6,000 and can go up to $13,000 depending on their designs.
The track units themselves aren’t the whole installation. It is possible that you will require specific mounting components and anti-rotational hardware. In addition, additional hubs or spacers could be needed. The complete list of required parts must be verified prior to the order is placed.
Buy for the Conditions You Actually Face
A track system makes the most sense when access is improved to solve the issue that is frequently encountered.
If your side by side is often confronted with deep snow, muddy pastures, marshy ground, or difficult seasonal conditions, tracks may expand the work it can complete. For occasional recreational use on firm trails the extra cost and maintenance may be harder to justify.
ATVtracks.net is an organization that has been helping owners for over 20 years to design, install and maintain track systems. Its team is able to confirm compatibility, and to identify parts required to fit a specific vehicle.
Before you invest, think about how often your machine gets stuck, what terrain causes the issue, and if improvements in flotation could make a meaningful difference.
Tracks won’t be able to remove all limitations of terrain, but they will transform the side by side that’s idle in tough circumstances into a machine you are able to use when it is the most.