matt tracks
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Muskogee, Oklahoma
I have a coworker that has a set. Said there good in snow, sand, and mud, but not rocks. He said on rocks it felt like the tracks were wanting to slide off. And also in the sand and mud it would get all in there and was difficult to clean. I don't know how he wheels though, so I don't know what type of mud he was going through, or if it was just muddy, or a slush pit. And I do believe that with you turning that 25 inch or so wheel on the tracks, it effectively is gearing you down, so I don't think power to turn them would be a problem. I would think they would do pretty good in goo to a point. As long as the tracks stayed on, and what not, but I'm sure they have their limits as well. And yea, if they had some lugs it would be better, but I think they were designed not to dig, like for snow. Mainly to give great floatation. But I think lugs would help. Give them lugs and I think they'd do good in everything but rocks. Maybe ok though.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
theres no way they could do good on rocks! they seem way to ridgid and the whole point is for the contact point (tires or in this case the Matt Tracks) to form over the rocks and literally grab at it to gain traction. the tracks would just sit on top of the rocks with very little contact area.
in mud, i couldn't even begin to think how hard it would be to clean those things out. and at 10K a set i think i'd keep them mighty clean!
obviously in the snow they would be badass since that is the element they were designed for but geez, you could buy several sets of tires for that price tag and prolly have the same results
-cutts-
in mud, i couldn't even begin to think how hard it would be to clean those things out. and at 10K a set i think i'd keep them mighty clean!
obviously in the snow they would be badass since that is the element they were designed for but geez, you could buy several sets of tires for that price tag and prolly have the same results
-cutts-
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
Originally Posted by BFR250SD
Guy pulls up on a Polaris 700 Twin with the tracks and smokes the belt trying toturn them in the mud.
They would HAVE to have a ribbed inner belt to deal with the torque of any gas or diesel pickup engine.
I did a bit of research on these a while ago, and the tractive effort you get from them isn't much better that a good set of lugged tires at the right pressure.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 3
From: Phenix City, AL
Most belt drive ATV's are a smooth belt. They use the expanding and contracting pulleys to tension the belt and there is just too much weight to move when you throw those tracks on.
The biggest advantage about them is the ground pressure. They spread it out so well that they're awesome in sand and snow. I just think if you get them in deep mud, they are gonna suck the power out.
The other thing is. It's not like you get any momentum out of them like you do with a big set of tires. If the engine does hiccup, those things are coming to a stop quick.
The biggest advantage about them is the ground pressure. They spread it out so well that they're awesome in sand and snow. I just think if you get them in deep mud, they are gonna suck the power out.
The other thing is. It's not like you get any momentum out of them like you do with a big set of tires. If the engine does hiccup, those things are coming to a stop quick.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
Even in soft sand they aren't that great, as they kind of act like a bull dozer on the sand. A large tyre dropped down to about 10 pound with bead locks is much better.
(Never driven in snow so don't know about that, but would assume it is the same)
Unless you are going to go for full length tracks on a dedicated vehicle these are pretty worthless in my humble opinion.
(Never driven in snow so don't know about that, but would assume it is the same)
Unless you are going to go for full length tracks on a dedicated vehicle these are pretty worthless in my humble opinion.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 3
From: Phenix City, AL
Whole heartedly agree with ya Big. Nice show toy though and cool conversation piece, I guess. I could definitely find better uses for 10K though.
LIKE FUEL!!!!!!!!
LIKE FUEL!!!!!!!!
Last edited by BFR250SD; Nov 5, 2005 at 04:02 AM.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
It does look cool, thats for sure.
But as you said, you could find a better use for 10k.
I reckon I could build a pretty darn good trail rig for that...
But as you said, you could find a better use for 10k.
I reckon I could build a pretty darn good trail rig for that...
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 3
From: Phenix City, AL
10K, that's a helluva trail rig. One you could actually use and not be afraid you'd scratch those pretty, flamed arms.
Those things have to be nasty on the bearings and steering components.
Those things have to be nasty on the bearings and steering components.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
The Matt Tracks definitely don't work as well upside down....
Click here to read what happened:
http://www.vvdailypress.com/2004/107668192654408.html
Click here to read what happened:
http://www.vvdailypress.com/2004/107668192654408.html
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Muskogee, Oklahoma
He told me he had a buddy that worked at a shop that built a few of the parts that go into the matt-tracks. He told me he paid like 1500 per track. He said his friend gets them at cost, since they build for them, and are kind of part of the company. Still. 6,000. I'd rather have 2 and a half sets of 49" IROKS. $crew the tracks. Air down a 49 in tire and you probably have a bigger contact patch than the tracks, plus conformability. Heck my B2 on 39.5's pretty much float even aired up. Much less air down.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
I love how the media likes to make up little tidbits to make things more exciting.
And by 5 they mean 2 and a half feet tall. Btw, how the hell do you have a triangular WHEEL???
along with its load of a "highly customized monster truck" on tank treads and the truck's 5-foot-tall triangular wheel assemblies.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Muskogee, Oklahoma
Dang, my dad runs a newspaper, and he'd eat the reporter, or editor alive for writing that crap. Especially when I would happily point it out. That would kill me though if that were my 4x4 laying there. I just got my exo cage 2/3's done though, so I'm happy for now.