Advantages and disadvantages of caterpillars
Transporting cargo with an ATV on a wheeled base becomes impossible or very difficult, so the “iron horses” are preserved for the winter. As was already written above, this happens due to the tread being clogged with snow and there is no traction at all, the equipment begins to slip. In addition, the contact area between the wheel and the roadbed is small - the ATV constantly falls through and weighs down in the snow. For year-round movement on ATVs, caterpillar tracks were invented, thanks to which the ATV can easily move through snowdrifts, swamps and loose soils. At the moment, there are two types of tracks: winter and all-season versions. Inexperienced drivers probably have a question: why use caterpillar tracks in the summer season? This is primarily due to a significant increase in traction power, which allows the drag to transport cargo. The average ATV weighs 400-500 kg.
Due to the small area of the wheels, the pressure of each wheel on the ground fluctuates within 140g/cm2. Due to the larger area of contact with the ground of the caterpillar tracks, the pressure decreases several times. As a result, the ATV does not load up in snowdrifts in winter and has better traction with the ground in summer - power increases. What are the disadvantages of crawler tracks? – first of all, this is increased fuel consumption, because an ATV with tracks weighs much more. Also, we must not forget about the speed; it is rapidly decreasing due to the greater weight of the tracks. When overcoming obstacles, it is necessary to go around various stumps, logs and stones, because it is problematic for the caterpillars to drive onto them. The counter-hanging method will help to overcome such obstacles.
Anti-skid chains.
Opinions among ATV riders regarding chains differ significantly; some argue that when using chains, the ATV has turned into a tractor, while others, on the contrary, argue that the chains quickly become clogged with snow and dirt, and their use becomes useless. I repeat once again, how many people, so many opinions.
So, chains. They are sold in any auto store, you just select the size for the flat tire, put it on, and then inflate it. Or, if you wish, you do it yourself; you buy chains and carabiners at construction or hardware stores. One and a half to two hours of fitting and fitting, and everything is ready. Manual for making chains for ATV wheels yourself.
Many do not recommend installing chains in a ladder pattern, but are inclined to use a diamond pattern, citing the fact that when using them, the ATV starts moving without jerking, and the tires get better traction and dig less into loose snow.
There are also chains designed specifically for ATVs with triangle-shaped hooks.
Technical specifications, track details
Specifications include length and height of tracks, weight of adapters. The main characteristics also include the area of contact with the ground and the percentage drop in maximum speed. The main parts include gears, rollers and bearings, a guide skid and a stabilizer. Modern production of caterpillars has been put on stream; there are many completely different models. To select individual caterpillar tracks, it is necessary to take into account the following nuances:
- There are winter and all-season versions of tracks on sale. To avoid confusion, before purchasing, pay attention to the special markings that are shown directly on the product. It would also be a good idea to ask the sales consultant what season this or that model is intended for.
- Track width.
- There are special tracks that have additional studs installed for even more traction power and traction.
What should you pay attention to?
When choosing a tracked ATV, it is important to consider not only its power, but also other parameters. First of all, you should pay attention to:
- Load capacity. Some manufacturers are developing walking devices that are not designed for transporting heavy objects.
- Track width. The size of the tracks determines the traction, speed, ground clearance and maneuverability of the vehicle.
- Rollers and wheels. You need to take into account the type and material of parts, as well as the quality of stabilizers, bearings, hubs and gears.
- Purpose of caterpillars. Since the tracks are used not only for driving on snow, they are marked. Winter tracks are marked with “Winter” or “Snow”, and all-season parts are marked with “4 Season”.
- Presence of thorns. An excellent addition to the tracks would be studs that improve traction on the surface.
In fact, almost any ATV can be turned into something like a snowmobile. There are special sets of tracks on sale that are installed instead of wheels. The only drawback of this kit is that you will have to assemble the tracks for the ATV yourself. The buyer will have to independently connect all the links, install long bolts and secure a heavy track (about 20-30 kg) to the axle. The entire procedure may take about 4-5 hours.
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.
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.
Snow plow for ATV
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.
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.
The question arises: “How to choose tracks for our ATV?”
Crawler tracks come in the following types:
- winter and all-season. On winter ones there is the designation winter or show, on all-season ones there are 4 seasons
- with regular width
- with spikes
- with wide rear tracks
Let's look at a few examples of market leaders:
Tatou tracks for ATVs
are one of the leaders. Manufactured in Canada by Camoplast. The Tatou ATV track system excels in versatility. The above is explained by the fact that they can be equipped with any machine using an installation kit. The ATV requires four-wheel drive and an engine capacity of at least 300cc. Tatou is also famous for its quality and durability, thanks to which it has gained its leadership and superiority among its competitors.
How to protect your hands when riding an ATV
Kimpex tracks for ATVs
- Kimpex tracks for Commander TREX 2.0 ATVs - excellent grip, manufacturing materials have a special composition, making the tracks not so heavy, simple assembly design. The company produces TreK - all-season kits and WTX - winter kits. The width of the front and rear tracks is 292 mm. , each length is 2438 mm. , profile height 31.75 mm. , support area is 1.22 square meters, internal drive, 39 kilograms is the weight of one track, speed loss is 35%, supplied with special installation kits. The support rollers are rubberized and equipped with double bearings with special protective caps. The drive sprocket is reinforced for all-season use. The Kimpex ATV track support is based on a non-slip roller system. The truck has a steel frame for special use in extreme conditions.
STELS tracks for ATVs
— Chinese STELS tracks for ATVs are in demand no worse than their counterparts from Canada. Their quality refutes the belief that Chinese products are reliable. The big plus of Chinese STELS tracks for ATVs is their cost; it is not high compared to other manufacturers. After all, the price of a set of Canadian analogues is equal to the cost of a whole Chinese ATV.
The rear track plays an important role when choosing, and to be more precise, its area directly depends on the passage qualities. It is important to have a turn limiter, which serves as a load reducer on the CV joints and steering wheel. Also take into account the model of the ATV; the hub mounts may not fit, despite the versatility of the tracks.
You can save money on your purchase by purchasing the goosenecks in disassembled form. But in practice, not everyone manages to assemble such a “puzzle,” so it is better to resort to the assembled version.
And so we finally got to the point characterized by:
