A powerful side-byside can be used to pull equipment, haul items, and handle demanding trails. One stretch of wet or deep snow can stop everything.
It’s not always the horsepower that causes problems. The tires may not be able of distributing the weight evenly or provide enough traction to enable the machine progress forward.
This is the time that UTV tracks are considered. UTV tracks alter the way your vehicle interacts with its surroundings and allow you to travel into areas otherwise unaccessible because of winter or mud.
Traction is not the exact same as Flotation
While aggressive tires can enhance grip, the vehicle is still concentrated in four areas that are relatively small.
UTV track systems spread that weight across a much larger footprint. This decreases the pressure in the ground, which helps the machine to navigate through hard snow, soft terrain, and muddy terrains without sinking.
Practical work requires a different approach. A property owner may need to walk near a fence that is far away after sleet. Farmers may have to walk across wet pastures without creating deep ruts. It could be essential to someone who has a routes for rural use to have reliable access in the event of a spring freeze. Tracks can facilitate these tasks, while reducing the damage to sensitive terrain.
Your machine will help you determine the appropriate system for you.
The UTV tracks may not be designed for the exact car or for the same load. ATVtracks.net provides four different systems from Camso as well as Kimpex. The Camso UTV ENDUR is designed to be used with larger side-by-sides that are 1000cc or more, while the Camso 4S1 includes a variety of full-size machines that fall 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 merely an initial point of reference, and not a guarantee of fit. Confirm the make, model and year of your vehicle before you purchase side-by-side tracks. The kit for mounting must exactly match the machine. Even vehicles that look like they do may require a different set of hardware.
There are trade-offs that can be made for more accessibility
Tracks might improve access, but they do not make UTVs cheaper or faster to operate. The manufacturer’s planning data indicate that certain systems slow down travel speeds by around 30-35% as compared to tires. The increased weight and resistance increases the use of fuel and places more demands on drivetrains.
The demands of these vehicles can be regulated by using the low range, by limiting sustained speeds, and following instructions from the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Rubber tracks also wear more quickly when you are using them regularly on an abrasive surface, such as pavement or gravel. Although current systems are designed for all seasons, they work best when used on appropriate terrain.
Budget Units Beyond the Track
Good quality side by side track systems are a significant investment. ATVtracks.net offers systems with prices starting from $6,000 to $13,000, based on the design and intended use.
The track units are not the entire installation. Other parts like mounting hardware for your car as well as anti-rotation hardware, hubs or spacer components could be required. Buyers are advised to verify the full parts list prior to making an order instead of thinking that the advertised price includes all of the components.
Buy for the Conditions You Actually Have to
It makes sense to use an electronic tracker for solving a persistent problem.
If you are frequently stuck in deep snow, meadows that are muddy, grassy areas, or in difficult season conditions, tracks can aid your side-by-side complete more of the work. For occasional recreational use on trails with firm surfaces the extra cost and maintenance could be more difficult to justify.
ATVtracks.net has spent over two decades helping car owners choose, install, and maintain track systems. Its team can help confirm the compatibility of the track and determine the parts required for a particular vehicle.
Be aware of the times you get stuck with your machine, the conditions that cause it, and whether improved flotation could make a significant difference.
The proper tracks may not be able to eliminate every terrain limitation but they can convert an idle side-byside in difficult conditions into a piece of equipment you can keep using when access matters most.