Bolt On Track Conversions for Deep Snow

[YotaAtieToo]

I think the problem is getting white out/blizzard conditions and 24" or more of snow in one storm at that sort of elevation. In that case, "keeping up with it" isn't really going to be an option.

Have you actually found houses at 7-8k feet?

Around here, even at 6k+ they just don't get those crazy storms often, so once every few years, you might have to plow continuously during that storm.

Even if you had a tracked rig, a storm lile that could drift areas enough to be impassable or very sketchy, so it just puts you back to the only reliable way being clearing the snow.

 

[AKnate]

The tracks will be fine, if it's something you park at the road and use between road and house.

It's a 15-20mph deal, maybe a but faster on smooth trail. Either way you're not going to buzz down the highway for miles with them.


If you find used ones, probably won't be too bad. New they are $$$, like cost more than most trucks I've bought $$$.

Way cheaper to put a plow on the truck and a set of tires chains.

 

[Sean]

Have you actually found houses at 7-8k feet?

Around here, even at 6k+ they just don't get those crazy storms often, so once every few years, you might have to plow continuously during that storm.

Even if you had a tracked rig, a storm lile that could drift areas enough to be impassable or very sketchy, so it just puts you back to the only reliable way being clearing the snow.

A few....as I said, not a lot of neighbors in such areas. We'll likely be building our own....though we have a found a few that we'd buy as is.

 

[Sean]

The tracks will be fine, if it's something you park at the road and use between road and house.

It's a 15-20mph deal, maybe a but faster on smooth trail. Either way you're not going to buzz down the highway for miles with them.


If you find used ones, probably won't be too bad. New they are $$$, like cost more than most trucks I've bought $$$.

Way cheaper to put a plow on the truck and a set of tires chains.

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[AKnate]

Oh, and I have these if you're interested. $1000. Only have 2 of these ones though. These are steer axle ones. The drives were some funky air ride shit that self destructed. Can see some of those parts in the pics, but already got rid of that stuff.

Mat Tracks 200m1

 

[Sterlingfire]

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Thank me later fucker

 

[PAE]

Uncle had a Thiokol tracked flatbed with 2 tracks one on each side.


Some info on Katrak

History of KATRAK

OK, we have pretty complete histories of Tucker Sno Cat, Snow Trac, the whole Thiokol/LMC/DMC company, Bombardier, Kristi, and Haglund not so much on Raid Trac, Nodwell, Foremost, and Rolligon,(probably doesn't count as a "snow-cat") what's the story on KATRAK?. It looks a bit like LamTrac in...

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Thank me later fucker

 

[Sean]

Oh, and I have these if you're interested. $1000. Only have 2 of these ones though. These are steer axle ones. The drives were some funky air ride shit that self destructed. Can see some of those parts in the pics, but already got rid of that stuff.

Mat Tracks 200m1

I appreciate the offer, but I don't know enough about them to commit to buying them currently.

 

[AKnate]

Same, just know new they were over 70k for the 4

 

[Steve300xcw]

I don't like the idea of studs because I'd want to use the thing year round and I don't see the studs liking summer time.

grip studs are removeable. They just screw in

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

There is a set of Matttracs listed on FB marketplace here in Texas for $6k. Add says they fit Jeep 5x4.5 bolt pattern in case anybody is intrested......

I don't see anybody around here wanting/needing these.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

grip studs are removeable. They just screw in

Will they actually come out after a season of plowing? Or will they actually stay in on something lile a skid steer that's trying to peel them out everytime you turn?

 

[Steve300xcw]

Will they actually come out after a season of plowing?

I'm sure they would. I have only ran them on the dirt bikes, same studs, just a lil smaller. I'll run them for over a year and then swap the studs over to new tires. The stud tool, grabs the shoulders of the studs, they do eventually wear out but they last alot longer than you would think.

Or will they actually stay in on something lile a skid steer that's trying to peel them out everytime you turn?

You get the right guy on there and he can tear anything up

I know the guy that used to own that company. Said they sold way more studs for equipment than for anything else. Get on their site and read the reviews. Have guys complaining about the install tool wearing out after a few seasons

 

[Sean]

Same, just know new they were over 70k for the 4

Holy shit. That's insane. At that price point, a high hp engine swap and big fat tires/chains would still be cheaper.

 

[Sean]

There is a set of Matttracs listed on FB marketplace here in Texas for $6k. Add says they fit Jeep 5x4.5 bolt pattern in case anybody is intrested......

I don't see anybody around here wanting/needing these.

From what little I understand, the latest models have an adapter that bolts from your vehicle lug pattern to some sort of Mattrack's universal pattern on the tracks themselves so you just need a new lug pattern adapter to run their latest tracks. I wonder if that's true for these 90's model ones? Regardless, I doubt I'm going this route at this point anyway.

 

[AKnate]

From what little I understand, the latest models have an adapter that bolts from your vehicle lug pattern to some sort of Mattrack's universal pattern on the tracks themselves so you just need a new lug pattern adapter to run their latest tracks. I wonder if that's true for these 90's model ones? Regardless, I doubt I'm going this route at this point anyway.

Yes. The 2nd set i have are that style.
I paid about that and the rubber is pretty well junk on at least 2.

 

[Weasel]

So something else, if you do get a pile of snow like your thinking the county and state are probably gonna shut down as well. So you might get to the highway and then have 70 miles of unplowed roads to deal with.

If it get that bad you stay put until you can dig or drive out. And then a fwd rabbit with chains will drive by as your digging out.

 

[Sean]

So something else, if you do get a pile of snow like your thinking the county and state are probably gonna shut down as well. So you might get to the highway and then have 70 miles of unplowed roads to deal with.

If it get that bad you stay put until you can dig or drive out. And then a fwd rabbit with chains will drive by as your digging out.

I'm more concerned about the continual dumping of snow all winter on the unmaintained, unpaved roads. I fully realize that, especially in remote areas, that road crews are not going to be that far out during snowstorms or immediately after them plowing those thoroughfares. That's just not feasible. Luckily, Chinook winds and the pavement itself will help clear those roadways once the temp comes up from the storm front passing, especially if a little sun comes out.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I'm sure they would. I have only ran them on the dirt bikes, same studs, just a lil smaller. I'll run them for over a year and then swap the studs over to new tires. The stud tool, grabs the shoulders of the studs, they do eventually wear out but they last alot longer than you would think.



You get the right guy on there and he can tear anything up

I know the guy that used to own that company. Said they sold way more studs for equipment than for anything else. Get on their site and read the reviews. Have guys complaining about the install tool wearing out after a few seasons

I read about some giant ones for loaders that looked sweet. My buddy said they tried some on track skid steers and they ripped out pretty quick. Although I get not all studs are created equal, it just seems the nature of a skid steer would tear them up.

The company my buddy worked for now just bolts short sections of chain every so often on the tracks and says it works great

 

[YotaAtieToo]

So something else, if you do get a pile of snow like your thinking the county and state are probably gonna shut down as well. So you might get to the highway and then have 70 miles of unplowed roads to deal with.

If it get that bad you stay put until you can dig or drive out. And then a fwd rabbit with chains will drive by as your digging out.

If he's truly going to be at 7k+ he might be seeing snowmageddon while the pleasure down at 3k feet are clearing driveways with leaf blowers

 

[Steve300xcw]

I read about some giant ones for loaders that looked sweet. My buddy said they tried some on track skid steers and they ripped out pretty quick. Although I get not all studs are created equal, it just seems the nature of a skid steer would tear them up.

The company my buddy worked for now just bolts short sections of chain every so often on the tracks and says it works great

I bet the chains work well.

If a guy was doing parking lots an such, I dunno how the studs would hold. Probly not all that great

Wouldnt worry about it on a gravel road.

 

[Weasel]

I'm more concerned about the continual dumping of snow all winter on the unmaintained, unpaved roads. I fully realize that, especially in remote areas, that road crews are not going to be that far out during snowstorms or immediately after them plowing those thoroughfares. That's just not feasible. Luckily, Chinook winds and the pavement itself will help clear those roadways once the temp comes up from the storm front passing, especially if a little sun comes out.

If he's truly going to be at 7k+ he might be seeing snowmageddon while the pleasure down at 3k feet are clearing driveways with leaf blowers

I get that but don't see it working that way. We don't get a ton of snow here but have a crap load of wind, so if your in a wind area the drift can tend to never stop. Nearly all the farmers, ranchers, etc keep up just fine with normal equipment, plows. tractors, skidsteers, chain. If you get in that one spor where you can't it's a big one and more then just you are shut down. Then wait it out until you can dig out. It does seem to eat up part of your day tough.

Las big storm we got was a few years ago around Thanksgiving, around 16-18" with lots of wind. I pulled the 35s off the crawler and bolted them on the daily XJ, aired down to 12 psi. Then drove around down while everything was shutdown till plows got out, deep drifts were no issue as it floated right over. Hit pavement, air up some and head to town. That's gonna be your ticket if you can't keep up with the plow.

Which is where I think we are all argeeing at anyways.

Dad's family was from Plains and still have people around Thompson Falls,. Yakk a bit further north?

 

[arse_sidewards]

Spend however much you were gonna spend on tracks on an old airport snow blower and a set of chains.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I get that but don't see it working that way. We don't get a ton of snow here but have a crap load of wind, so if your in a wind area the drift can tend to never stop. Nearly all the farmers, ranchers, etc keep up just fine with normal equipment, plows. tractors, skidsteers, chain. If you get in that one spor where you can't it's a big one and more then just you are shut down. Then wait it out until you can dig out. It does seem to eat up part of your day tough.

Las big storm we got was a few years ago around Thanksgiving, around 16-18" with lots of wind. I pulled the 35s off the crawler and bolted them on the daily XJ, aired down to 12 psi. Then drove around down while everything was shutdown till plows got out, deep drifts were no issue as it floated right over. Hit pavement, air up some and head to town. That's gonna be your ticket if you can't keep up with the plow.

Storms just hit different at the high elevations. We don't get a ton of annual snow fall either at 2-3k ft, but the ski resort at 7k ft gets 200" per year.

Which is where I think we are all argeeing at anyways.

Dad's family was from Plains and still have people around Thompson Falls,. Yakk a bit further north?

Yaak is just east of Idaho and just south of Canada.

 

[Sean]

I get that but don't see it working that way. We don't get a ton of snow here but have a crap load of wind, so if your in a wind area the drift can tend to never stop. Nearly all the farmers, ranchers, etc keep up just fine with normal equipment, plows. tractors, skidsteers, chain. If you get in that one spor where you can't it's a big one and more then just you are shut down. Then wait it out until you can dig out. It does seem to eat up part of your day tough.

Las big storm we got was a few years ago around Thanksgiving, around 16-18" with lots of wind. I pulled the 35s off the crawler and bolted them on the daily XJ, aired down to 12 psi. Then drove around down while everything was shutdown till plows got out, deep drifts were no issue as it floated right over. Hit pavement, air up some and head to town. That's gonna be your ticket if you can't keep up with the plow.

Which is where I think we are all argeeing at anyways.

Dad's family was from Plains and still have people around Thompson Falls,. Yakk a bit further north?

Quite a bit further north...up near the Canada/Idaho border.

Different parts of MT get different winds....and since I'm sort of spreading out where I might live, I'm not positive how much wind I'll be dealing with, but I get what you're saying and agree.

 

[posford]

I knew a guy the lived in the mountains near the Canadian border here. Yeah I know rockies are a whole different animal blah blah blah. He had an old Allis Chalmers loader with tire chains and would plow several miles down the the main road. Wasn't fast, but was hard to get stuck.

 

[Penetrode Offroad]

This thread needs more pictures.

 

[PAE]

Ok maybe..

This thread needs more pictures.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I knew a guy the lived in the mountains near the Canadian border here. Yeah I know rockies are a whole different animal blah blah blah. He had an old Allis Chalmers loader with tire chains and would plow several miles down the the main road. Wasn't fast, but was hard to get stuck.

 

[Sean]

Not a pic, but a video: