Has any rtv 500 owner used tracks???

beretta96man

beretta96man

New member
I'm looking for anybody that has set up a 500 rtv with tracks. I know that tracks work great on the 900 but I really like the 500's size, quite engine and price. Camoplast makes a track kit for the 500 but at $4200 I want to hear from someone before I pull the trigger on them. I mostly want to know that there is enough power to push through the snow and most light mud that would stop tires. I'm ok with 30-40% speed loss. My dealer says that the track kits are geared for the machine so I can't see why they wouldn't work but you just don't see any info about 500's with tracks online. Even if your neighbor down the way has that set up let me know what you do about it. Thanks!
 
I had tracks on my 900 and it sucked. (I should say it sucked for grooming snowmobile trails, awsome for plowing you could not stop it and just kicking around they wernt too bad just slows you down). I was using tjd tracks. The biggest problem is the drive wheel on the track. You want the biggest drive wheel you can get. Check out the Polaris tracks the drive wheel is huge compared to others. Not familiar with the 500 but I know the 900 top speed with wheels is 25mph down hill; the tracks gear you down so you will be going slower. I tried to groom snow trails with my set up and pulling the drag in low range I was lucky to go two mph. Our snowmobile club has a ranger and it had similar tracks that I had on it and it was a dog also pulling a drag, they got the new tracks and it is like a whole new machine. One of these days I will try to get the club to let me put them on my 900 and see how they work. Just remember get the biggest drive wheel that you can
 
What brand are the new tracks that your club bought?

I'm looking at the camoplast tatou 4s tracks. My dealer (and his distributor) said that each set up is different because they change the size of the drive sprocket to get the best performance out of each machine's size (cc).

I ordered the 500 and it should be here this week. I was going to order the tracks when I go to the dealership but..........................2 mph would piss me off. I hope that is because your tracks weren't sized right. You did say that you liked them for bombing around right? did you ever get stuck in deep snow? Ever use them in the mud?
 
2mph was grooming trails with the drag on it. Look into the new polaris tracks, thats what my club bought. I got stuck in the snow one time but is was in a snow bank and was high centered. I went through some pretty deep snow (not a plowed snow bank) and never got stuck. They are fun for bombing around. Remember BIGGEST drive wheel you can get.
 
I would but my goal was to get rid of having multiple pieces of equipment to maintain and find places to store them. If I can get the most out of one vehicle I'll be happy for now. I have soooooo much crap in the barn, sick of working on all of them and not using each much more than a few times. I sold the sled and atv and ordered the rtv. Should do what I need fine.

I talked to gary @ atvtracks.net today. He has a great sale on camoplast tracks and I plan to order them next week. And YES, they will be sized for my CC with the larger sprocket like you (zenchal26) suggested. That is one of the reasons I liked them, other is that many people reviewed positively. I did look at polaris earlier but not sure they make the rtv fit kit. If I bought the ranger I was planning on getting their tracks.
 
They make adapters for your hubs. They are a round plate that bolts on the hub using the stock lug nuts and have studs sticking out polaris bolt pattern. This is what I had on my 900. You will prob also need them with the tracks you are looking at. Which camoplast are you looking at? can you post a pic? I clicked on camoplast on there web and it showed tatou tracks. Be careful with those they are the tracks the club had before they got the new polaris. I think the drive wheel on the polaris track is around 22" in diameter. My friend has some on his 4wheeler and used them all year round with out a problem.
 
They are the tatou utv 4s. I want to take this to north dakota duck hunting and use it to get around the sloughs/mud. Not sure if the polaris tracks were 4 season or just snow but I would think that with a larger drive wheel maybe just snow? What exactly did you/your club not like about the camoplast tatou? was it mainly the low end speed?

I'm told that the camoplast tatou utv 4s track kits come with different size drive sprockets matched to each machine. Did your club have problems with those foam wheels getting chewed up by the interior track lugs?
 
The Polaris tracks are 4 season the club had the older tatous. Foam wheels? Does not sound too rugged. Just make sure do a lot of research before you pull the trigger. Go check out some ATV forums and see what other people say. When the club had the older tatou tracks they had to run in low range all the time pulling a drag. When they got the new tracks they can run in med sometimes and when used in low the eng is not working half as hard as it did before. They also saw a huge gain in fuel economy
 
zenchal26 said:
The Polaris tracks are 4 season the club had the older tatous. Foam wheels? Does not sound too rugged. Just make sure do a lot of research before you pull the trigger. Go check out some ATV forums and see what other people say. When the club had the older tatou tracks they had to run in low range all the time pulling a drag. When they got the new tracks they can run in med sometimes and when used in low the eng is not working half as hard as it did before. They also saw a huge gain in fuel economy
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That's odd, you would think that a larger drive wheel would actually load your engine down more, it would act as a gear reduction reducing your speed but giving you more power by keeping your engine up in the power band.:myopinion:
 
I agree DixieDog, the big wheels will give you more speed but less power taking off. The small less speed but better power. You need a good ratio to make this all work and I'm sure the track people are working on that issue all the time. If I couldn't have speed I would want the power for sure. Nothing like getting stuck and not able to spin a track to get free.
Another thing Tatou is the Camoplast track and they are definitely track people because they make lots of tracks for snowmobiles. Look at their latest versions and ask owners with these as the changes from a few years ago are huge. We looked at tracks for a 900 but backed out because of expense and what we wanted to use them for. Tatou was looking like our first pick.
It's a big expense and if you can test run them on your own machine before purchase, that would be the best of both worlds and worth the expense of install and removal.
 
I've read some atv threads but haven't asked people in them because they seem to answer my concerns. Older tatou tracks had problems but I'm told and have read that they made changes. Also, My polaris dealer has a ranger set up every year with camoplast 4s tracks and I've never seen them set one up with their own polaris track kits even though the sell them too. Camoplast is also what my kubota dealer sells. I'm assuming that with their history in track manufacturing that they are one of the leaders which is why I'm leaning towards them but if I hear bad reviews it starts to confuse me what to buy.:pat:

speed is not my concern, power is. I don't like being stuck with no power to move a 1400lbs machine:drive2:

O.k., I'll ask some guys on the atv sites this weekend and wait to pull the trigger until next week. Unfortunately I can't demo tracks for my machine unless I take the $500 hit in the rtv500 fit kit. My dealer has never had any of the 30 rtv500 buyers he's had put them on so he doesn't stock them. Also, he is @$4,400 without tax and install. atvtracks.net has them on sale no tax and shipped to my door for $3,780 so unfortunately I'll be choosing the internet over me dealer if I go with the camoplast to save money in case I have to flip them I wont loose as much.
 
bczoom said:
I don't know anything about the tracks but would consider a Snow Cat instead of tracking my RTV.

One of NTT's sister forums has one of the largest Snow Cat forums in the world.
It's about 2/3 of the way down the page.
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/index.php
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Brian, the Snowcat Forums at the ForumsForums has a few threads on tracks for UTV machines since we have some professional trail groomers who have used those, we've also got people who've outfitted their machines with tracks for personal use.

It seems like the general consensus of the groomers is that there are much better machines for pulling a drag. Polaris has/had a model that was somewhat better than the Kubota when tracks were installed. Not sure it is still produced? Me, I'd be looking at buying a used Thiokol Imp or better yet a Spryte, those machines are far more suitable for hauling a drag than any model of UTV from any maker.

Still, if someone is dead set on using a UTV then I'd be bypassing the ATV forums and ask some of the professional trail groomers at the Snowcat area of the ForumsForums for advice on the Kubota w/Tracks.

Link to Snowcat area => http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
 
Just to be clear here, I'm not grooming trails. I just want my little rtv500 to go anywhere I want to. Hunting, wood gathering, ice fishing ect. That's why the tracks.

U guys must be talking to zenchal26 about using the snowcat for his club?

:boobies: Sorry about this, had to do it. Never seen such neat little smiley face!

On another happy note, my 500 came in today and my dealer is delivering it on Tuesday!! :blob_blue:
 
Congrats on the new RTV, it should suit you well. If you do end up trying the tracks out let us know how they go. I've been on the fence about them myself, I was prepared to order them about a dozen times so far but always end up chickening out last minute. Of course pictures of the install and action shots would be awesome as well.:clap:
 
Don't worry about needing to spin the tracks, you won't need to. Traction is awsome with the tracks but if you do get stuck better have a bigger machine to get you out. When I got stuck in the snow bank my blazer would not pull it out. I had to dig it most of the way out then pull. Which ever tracks you get you will love them. I had the old style tracks that were not that great but as I said before if your just bombing around they are a blast.
 
DIXIEDOG said:
Congrats on the new RTV, it should suit you well. If you do end up trying the tracks out let us know how they go. I've been on the fence about them myself, I was prepared to order them about a dozen times so far but always end up chickening out last minute. Of course pictures of the install and action shots would be awesome as well.:clap:
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Thanks. I'm going to bite the bullet and just get them. If I don't none of us will know how well or not it will perform. Worst case I keep the tracks and put them on a 900 some day when I get the bug to have a bigger machine:yum:

It should be 7-10 days shipping then when I get the time I'll take pictures of the install right through the test trials out in the woods. We have about 18" of snow and will be getting another 8 or so this weekend. Should be just right to go play. :letitsnow: Anyone put videos on youtube? I'd like to do that too but I've never known how to upload anything from my video camera.

I also ordered the 4500lbs terra 45 superwinch with synthetic cable off amazon. $285!! +$50 kfi mounting plate. That should help as there is no way to get any other equipment out in these woods for a recovery mission :oops:
 
Congrats on your new RTV. I didn't know it was new to you or I would not have suggested a used snowcat.
I will also be interested in how you do with the tracks. Please post pics as you can. That winch sure sounds like a good one, that should keep you going. :thumb:
 
beretta96man said:
Thanks. I'm going to bite the bullet and just get them. If I don't none of us will know how well or not it will perform. Worst case I keep the tracks and put them on a 900 some day when I get the bug to have a bigger machine:yum:

It should be 7-10 days shipping then when I get the time I'll take pictures of the install right through the test trials out in the woods. We have about 18" of snow and will be getting another 8 or so this weekend. Should be just right to go play. :letitsnow: Anyone put videos on youtube? I'd like to do that too but I've never known how to upload anything from my video camera.
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Awesome can't wait to see the pics and possible videos. :a1: I have no idea on how to load a YouTube video, I've loaded them in my Photobucket account before and that was pretty easy but I've got no clue how to with Youtube.:confused2:
 
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