Off Roading Mattracks

[Shrimpy]

Since this is my first time posting here in the land of the giants, please go easy on me. I have not been into four wheel-in since the Toyota craze of the early 80's (I was just out of high school).



My question deals with a tracks type set-up (aka dozers) for trucks. They have a individual track you put on in place of wheels, which allow trucks (or any vehicle for that matter) to go just about anywhere. They are made by a company in Minnesota. They are called Mattracks. Has anyone seen these in person or better yet used them yourself??? Any input appreciated.



Thanks Jim

 

[fj40charles]

Hey Shrimpy,



It is not too late go get back into a Toyota 4x4.



I'm in the process of "stuffing" some 42" super swampers on my FJ40. It will run on some reverse cut D60 axles, with custom 4 link. It will be a while until I get this done. Santa needs to hurry up and bring me my Atlas transfer case... . j



Charles

 

[fj40charles]

Might want to check out pirate4x4.com.



You can get all kinds of info there. This is a hardcore offroad site.



www.pirate4x4.com

 

[Seed Guy]

I saw them used on a Superduty in one of my snowmobile videos looked realllllllyyyy cool. I couldnt imagine how sweet it would be to have tailgater for lunch at midmountain while skiing. But anyway I think they can only go about 45-50 price if i remember right isnt to bad. For what your getting.

 

[bighammer]

They have a cool website with video of these things in action. Somebody posted something about them a while back with the link.

 

[HillCountrykid]

Hey Jim. Those things look pretty cool. I've seen them on Trucks on TNN once. As long as it does'nt put any leverage on the hubs it should be fine. But at $26,000 to $29,000 a set, I'll stick with my donuts.



Brian

 

[Shrimpy]

Hey I here ya Brian!!!!!! They are pricey... ... way PRICEY. But, they do the job. I am not looking for them for fun, but to use in work application. They will go on a truck and not come off for a while. I talked to one of the salesmen, and they offer buy backs at about 1/4 of the initial purchase price. They refurbish (change bearings) and sell. Problem is they are spoken for on the rebound before they come in (waiting list to purchase used).



Thanks for your help guys... . I appreciate it.



Jim

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I had a client that had a set on a 2500 CTD. They took it to work sites on an 18 wheeler and used it to access remote job sites to move men and equipment around. It was unstoppable. I went for a ride in it once to a site where the mud was so thick to get there that you couldn't walk through it and the truck went through it like it was pavement. They are definately expensive, they have very limited applications, but where they're needed they WORK.

 

[Shrimpy]

Thanks for the input Steve, that's what I was looking for. I am defenently impressed with them. The video they sent was awesome. The initial price is what is keeping me back, but if the work comes I may be forced to make a hard decision to part with some cash... ...



Jim

 

[Mactruck]

Just for those that are wondering:

http://www.mattracks.com/

 

[Scrappy]

yes, they are great, BUT they cost 18K for a demo set for a 1/2 ton. they also are not reccommended for speeds above 45 mph, any more, the engine will be screaming

 

[Diesel Freak]

hmmm just what I need ... a >350 HP snow mobile with interrior heat!

 

[Shrimpy]

Or in my case... ... . a mudd buggy with air condition

 

[stew]

If you have an application to justify the purchase they are great !

These are MattRacks!!!



#ad




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This is not my rig, but i've seen it in action...



No way would any tire work in this application...



When your on the side of a mountain it's got to work and work right...



I would think all the components would wear much faster in a mud application versus a snow application...



Good luck in your quest...



Stew

 

[Cooker]

There is a company here in West Michigan that builds these for vehicles (the name escapes me at the moment). I've seen a few sets outside for shipping, but never any on a vehicle. I would love to opportunity to go for a ride in one and see what they can do.

 

[JTMcCracken]

Man, for that amount of money I would look for a good used sno cat or other tracked utility type vehicle. You could buy one plus a trailer to haul it on and still have your truck for normal use. JTMcC.

 

[Chipstien]

Those are cool.

 

[nfox]

Matt Tracks

A friend of mine bought a set of these tracks a couple of years ago and they are a blast in the snow. He is running them on a jeep cj-5. They take some pretty good power to use them, and the price was very expensive. There is a guy that lives 45 miles east of me that has a set of these tracks on a 2002 chevy 1 ton dually crew cab four wheel drive with a duramax diesel, and boy does it make that truck look mean!!

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Two winters ago I was doing some surveying (my line of work) for a local electric co-op. Part of the deal is they would provide a snow cat or equivalent and operator to access some remote areas with 2-3 feet of snow. We used a couple of different snow cats, they worked well, but were slow, I think about 10 MPH tops, rough riding, etc. They also had a set of the tracks on a GM gasser 2500. Luxury compared to the sno cats. The lineman they sent with me indicated they were expensive and required a lot of maintenance, but part of that may have been extra truck maintenance, power steering pumps mainly, I think. Very hard on steering pumps! They lasted better if you made no turns of the wheel while stopped. Also the sno cats were much better in powder. They left theirs tracked up full time and we towed it to the job site on a trailer. I have to say it was pretty cool, but definitely not inexpensive.



Shelby

 

[mike r]

One Question From Me!

What is the point of the Hummer with those things on it? The military spent Lord knows how much on that vehicle to refine it and then someone would spend $27,000 to supplement its 4WD system? You gotta be out of your tree to do that.