RMCIII 838 #1 Posted February 28, 2014 What a winter thus far.... Still showing some additional snow fall next week... After the winter we just went through, which is irregular, but still makes you think about how to reduce additional wear, tear, and stress on your tractor. At times, I was pushing snow with my front end, to get to some of my customers to get their driveways cleared. Would have to back up, go forward, back up, go forward, until I would break through to the snow that was not quite as deep. As one would expect, the "xi" came through with flying colors. Still, it did make the little tractor, work harder than what I would like to see. SOOOOO< I have been researching tracks and skis... I think it will work. The ski's would come from a Snow Hawk and I have been contemplating between the TJD or Litefoot tracks... Granted, this is some serious $$$$ to lay down just for a few months out of the year.... I would never get the return on the actual cost to purchase these items. Not to mention, some fabrication, would still need to be done to make them work. But I think the tractor would handle the snow much better, would not be pushing, nothing rolling up front, and traction should increase 100%. I'm about 70% sure I am going to do this, but just wanted to hear some feedback from the rest of the stable..... Rob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hodge71 665 #2 Posted February 28, 2014 Its a great idea Rob. I actually thought about racks last year on a D series and I got scared with the $4000 price tag and the amount of work I needed to perform to "adapt" them to fit. Good luck to you if you do it and I can't wait for pics. I never considered skis for the front though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #3 Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) You will not be happy at all with skis on the front of an Xi for a snow removal application. On plowed pavement, cleared of snow you will not be able to steer. You may turn the steering wheel and your skis may point in the corresponding direction, but you will continue to slide and push darn near straight ahead. Especially with 2 track-drive units at the rear forcing the mahcine in that path. This is not unlike trying to use a snowmobile on pavement. The ski carbides (runners) have nothing to bite into on pavement and cannot provide for safe predictable turning. This is why aftermarket snomobile companies market retractable wheel kits for neogtiating paved areas like gas station parking lots or long road crossings. This is why the aftermarket track industry for 4-wheelers uses tracks at all four corners, that and floation. Edited February 28, 2014 by Snowmobileaddict Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,053 #4 Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) I like the tracks, but i would not do the skis. Once you plow the snow, you will be down to (or close to) concrete or gravel. Once you get the skis on a hard surface you would have no turning ability whatsoever and they will wear out very quickly. And our tractors are not exactly light and nimble so I doubt they would float on top of snow very well without HUGE skis. I would get some large front ribbed tires and they would be like skis. If you need extra on ice you could wrap roller chain around the fronts just so long as you have something that rolls on the hard stuff. If you were staying on top of the snow and overlanding it, then I would say tracks and skiis, but at that point it would be cheaper to buy a snow mobile. EDIT: Ah! Snowmobile addict beat me to it! Edited February 28, 2014 by bmsgaffer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dandan111 31 #5 Posted February 28, 2014 Will the tracks make it a slow mover? I don't think the skis are what you want on the front. Ever try to turn a snowmobile on the driveway? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 136 #6 Posted February 28, 2014 This isn't designed to fit anything but trucks but I think is a neat idea. The price not so neat. http://trucktracks.com/en/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMCIII 838 #7 Posted February 28, 2014 Snowmobile/BM - I did forget to mention the wheel kit for the front skis..... But it is a good point overall though. Yep grew up on snowmobiles. turning was hard, unless you had carbide skags. I'm not saying the skis would be perfect for the overall application. 90% of the driveways have a straight shot, no turns to negoiate. However, the idea just came to me, and I saw this up in Alaska. Someone retrofits skis to go around the tires of the airplanes that fly in and out of Alaska. Becasue they can never tell if there will be snow or grass to land, they have skis on their tires. The ski is about 2" higher than the lowest point of the tires. So if it hits a patch of snow upon landing, the pilot still maintanes control of the plane. I have to find that compnay now....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMCIII 838 #8 Posted March 1, 2014 Summit Aircraft.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
