ATV tracks - additional equipment for all-terrain terrain

Additional equipment for the ATV

Today, an ATV is usually called an all-terrain vehicle that has four wheels on board. The first such transport appeared in 1970.

It was released by Honda under the name US90. The resulting vehicle inherited practicality and stability from the car, and amazing maneuverability from the motorcycle.

Since the model had large wheels installed with massive lugs, the US90 had very high cross-country ability. Since then, manufacturers began mass-producing ATVs.

Review of crawler tracks for ATVs

Since wheels are not suitable for every load, many ATV owners preserve their vehicles for the winter. This is due to the fact that even deep wheel tread on snow becomes useless, since snow very quickly gets clogged into the wheels, as a result of which the vehicle simply begins to slip.

In addition, the wheels have a small area of contact with the ground, as a result of which the vehicle sinks in the snow and it is impossible to drive through deep snowdrifts.

An ATV on a caterpillar track has increased cross-country ability, due to which it can easily overcome mud, swamps, large snowdrifts and loose sand.

In order to help owners use their favorite ATV all year round, the developers have come up with special caterpillar tracks that have increased cross-country ability.

Today, tracks are manufactured specifically for winter and an all-season version. At first, the question may arise: why use tracks in the summer?

But do not forget that the use of tracks significantly increases the traction power of an ATV . As a result of this, it is possible to transport heavier loads than stated in the documentation. Also, when using tracks, the ability to drag heavy objects significantly increases.

The average weight of an ATV is about 400 kg. Since the wheels have a smaller area of contact with the surface, in this case a pressure of 140 g/cm2 is exerted on the ground by each wheel separately.

When using tracks, the contact area with the surface is much larger than that of a wheel. Thus, the pressure will be at least 3 times less, which allows the ATV to stay on the snow without falling through.

Also, due to the increased area of the tracks, the area of adhesion to the ground increases significantly, which manifests itself in an increase in power . But, as you know, you have to pay for everything.

In our case, due to the fact that the tracks are much heavier than the wheels, there is a huge fuel consumption.

Another disadvantage is that when using tracks, the speed is significantly reduced .

Despite the fact that on flat terrain the tracks significantly increase maneuverability, however, when using tracks, some problems arise in overcoming such obstacles as a fallen tree, stumps and much more, since in this case the rear tracks simply rest against the obstacle. To solve this problem, it is necessary to resort to counter-hanging methods.

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Track kits from ATV manufacturers

Track kits from UTV manufacturers are designed specifically for specific makes and models of ATVs and come with a warranty to match.

Can-Am Apache 360 LT Track Kit

The Apache 360 LT's aluminum and steel track frame is lightweight and durable. The front tracks have lugs 2.5 centimeters high. The rear tracks have lugs 3.2 centimeters high. The kit is recommended for snow use only with the Maverick X3 and Maverick Turbo.

Can-Am Apache Backcountry Track Kit

Designed for the Maverick Trail and Maverick Sport models, the Backcountry Track System features a steel and aluminum frame and 2-inch lug tracks for maximum traction in deep snow.

Polaris Prospector Pro Track Kit

The Polaris Prospector Pro Track Kit is designed to provide maximum performance without compromising the ATV's payload or towing capacity. Prospector Pro tracks have a steel and aluminum frame with 32cm wide tracks at the front and rear. Each tracked mechanism weighs 44 kilograms.

Specifications

The technical characteristics of the tracks include all overall dimensions of the track, side and front overhangs, as well as the mass of adapters.
The most important characteristics that you should first pay attention to will be the contact area (contact with the ground), the increase in ground clearance and the reduction in maximum speed, which is usually indicated as a percentage.

The type of wheels and rollers, the material from which they are made, as well as additional units in the form of gears, hubs and bearings, a stabilizer, and a guide runner are also considered technical characteristics.

Manufacturers often indicate the duration of the initial installation of caterpillar tracks on an ATV, which is very convenient.

Today there is a huge variety of tracks for ATVs. When choosing caterpillar models, you should consider the following nuances:

Track kits are available for both winter use and year-round use . To avoid making a mistake when purchasing, they are marked accordingly. So, in winter, depending on or “snow”. While all-season vehicles are marked “4 seasons”;
They may be of normal width, or they may have enlarged rear tracks;
Some options can be additionally equipped with studs, which further increases traction on the surface.

In order to put your pet on caterpillar tracks, you need to purchase a special kit, which consists of several boxes, where 4 tracks are stored in a disassembled state, one to replace each wheel.

Before you start mounting them on the ATV, you need to completely assemble each track separately, and only then start installing the tracks on the ATV.

According to the manufacturers, at first, it will take about two hours to assemble the entire kit, if there are two people. Over time, assembly can be done much faster.

Since ATVs are often stored outside the city, delivering it to a service center can sometimes be very expensive and problematic, and sometimes it’s simply impossible. In this case, you can use the means at hand and replace the wheels with tracks yourself.

To do this, you need to raise the front or rear part using a jack or winch. Next, remove the wheel and replace the lower bolt with a longer one, which comes with the tracks.

It is very difficult to fit the track drive gear onto the wheel studs . This is due to the fact that the tracks are very heavy, about 20-30 kilograms each. Then it should be secured using special nuts that clamped the wheel itself. When one axis is finished, all actions must be repeated with the remaining axis.

If you are going to transport it on a trailer after installation, you should take into account that after installing the tracks in place, the size of the vehicle increases significantly, both in width and length.

Do-it-yourself installation of tracks on an ATV in a garage

I will try to explain to you how to install tracks on an ATV with your own hands in your garage. Very often, your quad is located somewhere outside the city, far from service centers, and delivery to them causes you inconvenience and extra costs. Therefore, it seems to me that there are enough people who want to install the tracks themselves. I hasten to warn you that the upcoming first installation of tracks on an ATV will be difficult for many. It is more convenient to do this procedure together. Installation will take about an hour and a half.

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Firstly, you need to hang the “front” of the quadric. An auxiliary tool can be a winch, mini crane or jack. We unscrew the hub nuts and place a bracket on the steering knuckle, which serves as a movement guide. To do this, it becomes necessary to replace the lower bolt with the one that should be included in the kit (longer). The most important task is to put the gooseneck drive gear on the hub studs. I warn you right away - it will not be easy, since the goose is quite heavy (weighs about 20 kg) and you have to keep it suspended for a long time. After this, tighten the nuts and pull them in a circle. The front axle is finished. The installation of the tracks on the ATV is complete. The rear is identical to the front.

The video shows the entire process of installing tracks on an ATV in a garage.

Popular track models

Since today there is a huge range of tracks for ATVs on the market, I would like to dwell in more detail on the most popular models:

According to statistics, one of the best sellers is the truck Tatau, which releases Canadian company Camoplast. They have gained popularity in the market due to their low price, as well as their versatility.
They can be used on almost any ATV. The only requirements for the car itself are that it has all-wheel drive and an engine capacity of at least 300 cubic centimeters;
Considered no less popular Kimpex caterpillars, which apply exclusively on Commander ATVs. Under this brand, the company produces two tracks: WTX - for winter and Trek - all-season.
A distinctive feature of these tracks is a lightweight alloy, which is not inferior in quality to analogues, but at the same time the weight of the track is significantly lower. The contact area of each track is 1.2 meters. This model has the same width on both the front and rear wheels, which is 29.2 cm;
Chinese manufacturers also keep up with their Canadian counterparts STELS tracks . This option proves that Chinese ATV tracks can be used on par with Canadian ones. At the same time, their cost is significantly lower. In this model, the tracks on the rear wheel have a wider track than the front ones.

There are also models on the market in which the front part is not flat, but raised at an angle of 45 degrees. This makes it much easier to overcome obstacles in the form of fallen trees.

Among such models is the X-Gen STS4, in which the frame is made of plastic and aluminum, the width of each track is 29 cm. Its advantages include minor losses in speed, as well as an increase in ground clearance by 12.5 cm.

Average prices

If we talk about the cost of tracks for an ATV, first of all, you should clearly understand which manufacturers we are talking about .
For example, a Chinese manufacturer costs significantly less than its Canadian counterpart. If you look at the prices for all products, it becomes clear that Canadian-made tracks cost as much as an entire ATV from a Chinese manufacturer. The track of the previously described X-Gen STS4 costs almost $5,000.

By comparison, the price of ATV tracks from the Chinese manufacturer Kumoto will be approximately $400-500. Thus, in order to “change shoes” for your pet, you should clearly understand what kind of bag you have and what model you have.

Typically, most companies make universal tracks, but you may need specific models from a specific supplier.

Which equipment is equipped with caterpillar tracks right from the factory? Well, of course, a snowmobile. We consider Russian snowmobiles from in our review article.
When using motorcycles, it is very important to be as protected as possible. Read more about motocross equipment: .

Stels tracks

Stealth tracks for ATVs are a Chinese brand that has established itself as a reliable and high-quality product all over the world. It’s no secret that this manufacturer will seriously compete with famous brands from Canada and other leading countries producing components for quads. This is far from the “China” that ordinary technology enthusiasts are used to encountering. Also, we must not forget about the affordable price compared to other manufacturers of caterpillar tracks. Speaking of the cost of Canadian tracks, this amount will be quite enough to purchase a completely new budget ATV. After purchasing this product, adjusting the track to stealth will not take much time. It is important to initially select the right kit that matches the ATV wheel.

It is worth noting that manufacturers of stealth tracks, which have only good reviews, always provide a guarantee for their products. After watching the video, you can become more familiar with the design features and installation details of this product.

Photo gallery

Crawler-mounted ATVs are not very common, although this type of additional equipment is popular among those who like to travel through difficult terrain. Trucks are a good help for hunters, fishermen and travelers, as well as for residents of the snowy regions of our vast homeland. Let's see what the assembled equipment looks like.

Mounting and installation of tracks

The installation of tracks must be divided into two stages: first, each track is assembled separately, only after which they are mounted on the ATV. This assembly may initially take 2-3 hours, but then it goes faster. For convenience, it is recommended that two people assemble the tracks. As a rule, in order to use the services of a service center for assembly, you need to load the ATV onto a special trailer and then deliver the equipment to specialists. You can independently install the assembled track tracks as follows: the tracks are placed on each side in turn, for which each side is raised with a jack. All track fasteners are connected to the wheel, then the drive gear is attached to the studs. At the final stage, all fasteners are tightened with nuts. We remind you that for comfortable installation of the caterpillar you need several people; simultaneously lifting and clamping 20 kg caterpillars is problematic.