ATV & UTV Track Systems
Recently I attended a demonstration of the Camoplast Track Systems for ATV and UTV applications. I was totally blown away. They are easy to install, easy to adjust and transform your ATV or UTV into a completely different vehicle with minimal effort requiring very basic tools. 
The Camoplast Track Kit includes a set of four track units that bolt directly in place of your ATV / UTV stock wheels. The installation involves no drilling for any of the extra hardware and everything was easy to reach and understand. It was surprisingly easy!
The next step was to install a piece of hardware that clamped onto the lower A-frame of each wheel utilizing a couple of 
bolts. This is the connection point for the stabilizer or pretension arm that attaches to each track. The adjust-ment of this stabilizer/pretension arm was easy and straight forward. This procedure was repeated for each ATV / UTV wheel.
While a few items remained to be checked before driving, the installation was essentially complete. For such a major change to a vehicle’s appearance and utility, the installation is a breeze! Camoplast has an installation video that is very simple to follow and available to view on their website. For me, after watching this 5 minute video, the instructions were mainly used as backup. Being old-school, instructions are only good after you get into trouble anyway!
So, what can you expect from a track system? The track units give you significantly more ride height. On the UTV, it added about 5 inches (about the same on an ATV ). Take off across the field and it drives great. The steering is understandably heavier and the vehicle a little slower. Why slower? Think of the track unit as a new gear box from Camoplast, because basically - that’s what it is. Apparently, Camoplast decided to lower the gear ratio just a bit to compensate for the extra weight of the units as well as the extra power needed in harsh terrain.
Comments fro
m track owners:
“I just took her out and WOW, it went everywhere I pointed it. I started at the base of my hill and it went right up. Went across an extremely swampy area and up a bank that previously buried us before. This set up is so cool – it goes anywhere!“
“It's slowed me down, but I was prepared for that. It seems unstoppable which is what I wanted. I felt like I was driving a mini tank. I threw things at it that would have previously buried my old 600lb Artic Cat 600. The flotation properties are simply amazing!”
“This thing has crazy pulling power. I pulled my equipment trailer out of the snow in low and didn't feel any bogging. Then I pulled my ice house. No issues whatsoever.“
“Basically, there is no amount of fresh powder that will stop it. The flotation is great. With two men and a little gear in my UTV, our tracks were only sinking about a foot in the snow.“
Track removal is a breeze. Remove one bolt for each stabilizer/ pretension arm, remove your lug nuts and install your stock wheel on your ATV or UTV. Also, reinstalling the Camoplast tracks will be much faster than the initial track installation because most of the adjustments have already been made and you are much more familiar with the process.
Maintenance was my next concern. Camoplast’s basic recommendation is to just check for proper track tension about every 20 hours. However, people told me if you drove it like a sane person (translation – no fun), hours between maintenance could be greatly extended. However, the largest contributing factor to premature track wear seems to be loose tracks, so you will definitely want to adhere to a schedule that suits your driving style.
Bottom line, the Camoplast Track System delivers everything they promise and everything you expect. It turns your UTV or ATV into a mean-looking, go-anywhere, do-anything machine. Now, if I can just scrape up the money.
Want to Learn about ATV – UTV Snow Plow kits?
Recently, I had the privilege of comparing several manufacturers of ATV/UTV snow plow equipment side by side: Warn, Cycle Country and Quadboss. Each company gives you the option of choosing your equipment, but Cross Country also had a nice kit for the “just send
what I need and let’s get-r-done” crowd.
“What components do I need? How do I know what to buy?”
Well, these were my same questions until I had the benefit of having reps from each company demonstrate the installation and use of their products. Most catalogs say choose your blade, your arm, your mount – making it more difficult than it needs to be. While they all “appear” different, they all mount the same way. Choosing the mount is my preferred starting point, so here goes. 
First, you need a mounting plate.
Your plow system attaches to this plate so you want the strongest location. Generally speaking, the strongest mounting locations are under the ATV or UTV on the frame. These are called forward mounts and mid-mounts and are simply attached to the underside of the ATV or UTV frame. The mounts are somewhat universal in nature between models and attach using U-bolts. The best part is you can install these yourself with basic tools in about 10-15 minutes! Front mounts are also available and mount on the front of the ATV. However, many of them must mount onto a pre-mounted winch mount or receiver as extra reinforcement is usually necessary for many front mounts.
Second, you want a push tube.
The push tube easily attaches to the mount by way of pins or latches, extending under the ATV/UTV and extending out the front for blade attachment. The push tube detaches just as easy for snow plow system removal. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of push tubes –straight and articulating. A straight push tube keeps lifting until the push tube is stopped by the bottom of the ATV/UTV’s frame.
If you need more lift height, consider an articulating push tube. When this type of tube is stopped by the frame, the blade will continue to rise because this push tube has a hinge just past the front of the frame that comes into play –
giving you more height for going over obstacles.
Third, choose your blade!
Blades come in a variety of widths. For an ATV mounted snow plow system, you need 500cc to push a 60” plow blade. 72” blades are for UTV’s. Your straight blades are more universal and out-sell the rest. Blades are available in poly, steel, straight, tapered and the rail road track clearing type “V” blade. In comparing the poly blade against the steel, the rigidity was not lacking in the poly blade and it was surprising stout! Don’t doubt the poly’s ruggedness! Most people will choose the straight blade for its versatility whereas tapered blades are directional. Also, the standard blade mount allows for manual left-right adjustments for angling the blade various degrees. 
Finally, how do I lift the plow blade?
If you already have a winch, just hook the cable to the push bar. If you don’t have a
winch and don’t want one, you can get a manual arm that works much like ones on lawn tractors. Though not as fancy, they work well and mount either on the front luggage rack or go under the frame.
Many of the ATVs I saw simply used tie-down straps running from the front luggage rack to the push bar. Riders would lift the bar, yank on the strap and go. Want it down? Push the button and let it fall. So, you have three lift options: winch, manual lift bar or tie-down straps. Each method works well. The only difference is convenience and how it affects your pocketbook.
Now, how are you going to get all that power to ground to push all that snow? Well, tire chains, tracks… but that’s another story.
Categories
- ATV/UTV
- Batteries Chargers & Testers
- Communications
- Electronics
- Fuel & Air
- General
- Helmets
- Industry News
- Lighting & Hardware
- Luggage
- Tires
- Trailers & Accessories
- Windshields
Fitment Guides & Manuals
Get Connected
