He Puts Tracks On Mini Trucks

2010 - Volume #34, Issue #6, Page #40

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

After putting rubber tracks on his lightweight Daihatsu mini truck, Brad Paul can drive nimbly over 10-ft. deep drifts and easily plow through 3 ft. of fresh snow.
    "There aren't many places I can't go with this rig," he says. Besides hauling his fish house he uses it to pull a snowmobile trail groomer and maintain trail signs. The tracks can be left on year-round.
    The Daihatsu is just one of the rigs he's converted as part of his business, Brad's Offroad Service. It started about 20 years ago when he discovered Mattracks, made in Karlstad, Minn.
    Paul worked with the company, first testing Mattracks on a full-size pickup. "Their design was one of the first usable designs out. It's good research and technology, and they have very loyal customers."
    Mattracks are solid rubber tracks with an internal drive sprocket. The track reduces the gear ratio 30 percent to give the vehicle power with a small sacrifice of top end speed.
    Paul explained the tracks can be installed on all types of rigs from ATV's to heavy-duty pickups. Mattracks bolt on to existing lug nuts with adapter plates and anti-torsion brackets customized for each vehicle. A few models also require lift kits so the tracks don't rub on the fenders.
    When Paul does a conversion, he explains to his customer how to convert back to tires within about an hour with typical shop tools.
    "It's something FARM SHOW readers could easily do," Paul says.
    Besides snow, Mattracks are useful in wet and muddy conditions. They are used by hunters, trappers, loggers, off road maintenance workers, people who service wind towers and even at Yellowstone Park, where the tracks are on a vehicle to take people in and out of remote areas of the park.
    There are many Mattracks to fit everything from ATV's to 4WD tractors up to 25,000 lbs.
    The benefit of converting a small rig like the Daihatsu is cost, Paul says. He can convert one with Mattracks for $6,000 to $7,000 that provides cheap transportation to do all sorts of jobs ù including driving through slush to take the fish house off the lake.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brad Paul, Brad's Offroad Service, 6907 236th Street, St. Augusta, Minn. 56301 (ph 320 252-4004 or cell 612 290-0897).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

He Puts Tracks On Mini Trucks TIRES/WHEELS Miscellaneous After putting rubber tracks on his lightweight Daihatsu mini truck Brad Paul can drive nimbly over 10-ft deep drifts and easily plow through 3 ft of fresh snow There aren t many places I can t go with this rig he says Besides hauling his fish house he uses it to pull a snowmobile trail groomer and maintain trail signs The tracks can be left on year-round The Daihatsu is just one of the rigs he s converted as part of his business Brad s Offroad Service It started about 20 years ago when he discovered Mattracks made in Karlstad Minn Paul worked with the company first testing Mattracks on a full-size pickup Their design was one of the first usable designs out It s good research and technology and they have very loyal customers Mattracks are solid rubber tracks with an internal drive sprocket The track reduces the gear ratio 30 percent to give the vehicle power with a small sacrifice of top end speed Paul explained the tracks can be installed on all types of rigs from ATV s to heavy-duty pickups Mattracks bolt on to existing lug nuts with adapter plates and anti-torsion brackets customized for each vehicle A few models also require lift kits so the tracks don t rub on the fenders When Paul does a conversion he explains to his customer how to convert back to tires within about an hour with typical shop tools It s something FARM SHOW readers could easily do Paul says Besides snow Mattracks are useful in wet and muddy conditions They are used by hunters trappers loggers off road maintenance workers people who service wind towers and even at Yellowstone Park where the tracks are on a vehicle to take people in and out of remote areas of the park There are many Mattracks to fit everything from ATV s to 4WD tractors up to 25 000 lbs The benefit of converting a small rig like the Daihatsu is cost Paul says He can convert one with Mattracks for $6 000 to $7 000 that provides cheap transportation to do all sorts of jobs ù including driving through slush to take the fish house off the lake Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Brad Paul Brad s Offroad Service 6907 236th Street St Augusta Minn 56301 ph 320 252-4004 or cell 612 290-0897

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW