A powerful side-bys-side can transport equipment, carry supplies and navigate difficult trails. One stretch of deep snow or waterlogged ground can make everything stop.
The problem isn’t always horsepower. Tires might not be able to spread weight evenly or provide enough traction to enable the machine move forward.
That’s when UTV tracks are considered. UTV tracks alter how your vehicle interacts with the environment making it possible to access areas that would be otherwise inaccessible due to winter or mud.
Traction Isn’t The Same As Flotation
Agri-friendly tires can enhance grip, but they make the car’s weight a focus in four relatively small contact areas.
UTV track systems distribute that weight to a larger area. This lowers the pressure on the ground and allows the machine to move over thick snow and soft soil without sinking.
Practical work requires a different approach. Following a snowfall property owner might have to reach an adjacent fence. Farmers might need to cross a pasture that is wet without creating deep ruts. Anyone who runs rural trails might need reliable access during the spring thaw. Tracks are a great way to control these jobs and also protect vulnerable ground.
Your machine will decide the right system for you
Not all tracks for UTVs are designed for identical vehicles or workloads. ATVtracks.net includes four systems of Camso, and Kimpex. The Camso 4S1 is designed to be full-size side-by sides in the 400 to 1000cc size 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 only starting points and are not a guarantee of their suitability. Before purchasing side by side tracks, verify your vehicle’s model, make, and year. Even similar machines might need different hardware for mounting.
There are trade-offs that can be made for more accessibility
Tracks can be a fantastic way to improve accessibility, but aren’t able to make UTVs quicker or less expensive. Based on the plans of manufacturers, some systems can reduce travel times by 30 to 35% in comparison to tires. The extra weight and resistance increases fuel consumption, and places an additional burden on drivetrains.
The demand can be met by using the low range, limiting the sustained speed, and following vehicle manufacturer recommendations.
Rubber tracks wear down faster when they are continuously used on pavement or gravel that is abrasive. While the systems currently in use are designed to work in all seasons, they perform best when they are placed on suitable terrain.
Budget Beyond the Track Units
Side by side track systems are an important investment. The systems offered by ATVtracks.net include prices that start around $6,000 to $13,000 based on their design and use.
However, the track units aren’t necessarily the whole installation. You may need vehicle-specific mounting parts and anti-rotational hardware. Also spacers or hubs could be needed. Before ordering, buyers should check the complete components list and don’t assume that the initial price will include everything.
Purchase under the conditions that You Actually Have to Face
Track systems make the most sense when it solves a recurring problem.
Tracks can be beneficial if your side-byside is regularly facing deep snow, muddy fields, rough terrain, or other difficult conditions. The cost and maintenance of tracks may not be worth it to use them for leisure purposes on occasion.
ATVtracks.net is a company that has been helping owners for over 20 years to choose, install and maintain track systems. Their team can confirm compatibility, and identify parts required to fit a specific vehicle.
Consider the frequency with which your machine becomes stuck, the terrain that is producing it, and if an improved flotation system could be beneficial.
The right tracks won’t eliminate every terrain limitation but they can convert the side-by-side which is idle in difficult terrain into equipment that you can use in the times when accessibility is crucial.