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Specialist Off Road Vehicle Feature :

ARGO 8x8

"Challenge it ... go anywhere!" That's the heading off one of the many brochures the Ontario Drive and Gear (O.D.G.) Corporation of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada have produced for their all terrain vehicle ARGO. It perhaps sums up the design brief and their belief in a product which could be described as unique. The amphibious ARGO is designed to travel across sand, deep snow, mud, ice, streams and small lakes, even when these conditions prohibit other vehicles. The design features low ground pressure and all wheel drive manoeuvrability ideal for access of swamp and marsh areas, coastal estuaries and nature reserves where minimal ground damage is required.

The ARGO has been built by O.D.G. since 1967 and is designed for all-season, heavy duty and recreational and commercial use. More than 20,000 of these vehicles have been sold worldwide and the ARGO has been distributed in the UK since the early 1970's. The manufacturers claim that it is the best selling all purpose amphibian in the world, being ideal for extremes of climates. In winter it can be equipped with tracks for over-snow work, and can access flooded coastal and inland areas. In summer it is ideal for the application of pesticides in agricultural operations, ground work and various land management duties.

The Argo has a ladder frame 11 gauge roll-formed steel channel chassis with 18 gauge steel full-length centre panel for added strength and support, all polyester powder coated. This chassis is designed to flex, helping it to handle rough terrain. The body shell is moulded in molecular memory high-density vacumn formed polyethylene so that it will not rust or tarnish. Whilst a 6x6 version is produced the 8x8 is the most common and a variety of engines have been utilised during production, from the two-stroke single cylinder motors of the earlier models to the latest vee-twin, water cooled Kawasaki version. Engine power is transmitted through an infinitely variable torque converter into High/Low range of transmission and a planetary differential assembly which is unique to the Argo. From there it is distributed via double RC50 roller drive chains from the idler shafts and then from axle to axle via further chains with self adjusting tensioners. It is a permanent eight wheel drive vehicle which is not ideally suited for road journeys, however, some variants have been registered for agricultural operations where a small degree of road access work is necessary.

The Argo is a skid steer vehicle. Steering and braking is achieved by utilising two hand operated levers to activate the hydraulic air-cooled brakes, with a hand operated twist grip throttle. Suspension is provided by the shock absorbing qualities of the low ground pressure tyres which also provide propulsion in the water by means of their web tread design.

Seating arrangements are for driver and passenger forward facing and a row of side inward facing bench seats for a further four passengers. A variety of accessories are available including all weather cabin protection, windscreen and wiper, provision for a 9.9hp outboard motor, snow-tracks and a four wheel amphibious trailer.

Applications in the UK include Forestry and grounds management, water treatment and river side works and a number are employed in regional Fire Brigades for remote terrain access. Due to the wide period of production and variety in models it is possible to purchase an Argo from as little as around £500.00. This is most likely to be an early model with single roller drive chains, mechanical brakes and a single cylinder engine. Current new price of the Argo 8x8 Conquest (specification as below) is £10,500 plus vat.

Specification Argo 8x8 "Conquest"

Links :
www.route6x6.com

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