J-Wheelz for ATV – Anyone tried them?

OK, here’s the problem I’m trying to solve. I want to be able to use my ATV in deeper snow. I have a hunting property and it really sucks when the snow gets too deep to reliably use the ATV in the winter. I have good tires on the machine and it’s a 4×4, but that only does so much in deep, ice crusted snow. I’m good to about 10 inches, but once she starts riding up on the drifted snow, it’s game over.

My driveway to the property is 1/2 mile long, so in the winter it cannot reliably be kept open. I use my ATV to shuttle gear in and out and to do winter property work.

No, I do not want tracks. Way too expensive and way too mechanically complicated. I’m looking for a 3 figure solution here. I don’t have storage space for a snow machine and I really don’t want to maintain another engine, so that’s out.

Has anyone tried the J-Wheelz devices for deep snow? I like the idea of being able to take them off when not needed. Mud performance is not relevant, I only care about deep snow performance.

Anyone own them and can give a review regarding snow performance?

Many thanks.

Grouse

How about a $500 snowmobile. I purchased a 2005, electric start 1500 miles, 2 up seat, in perfect condition for $500.

I have never used them. Reason being, I’m leery of the torque put on the hubs and axles. Most pickups use a beefier axle when set up for dual tires. This is essentially what the J-wheelz are doing WITHOUT the upgrade in axle strength.
Something to consider and I suspect the J-Wheelz dealer will phoo-phoo any concern.

Huntindave wrote:

I have never used them. Reason being, I’m leery of the torque put on the hubs and axles. Most pickups use a beefier axle when set up for dual tires. This is essentially what the J-wheelz are doing WITHOUT the upgrade in axle strength.
Something to consider and I suspect the J-Wheelz dealer will phoo-phoo any concern.

Valid concern, but I believe the combination of very little added weight and the extension not touching level ground will mitigate any concern. I agree there would be added strain in certain conditions, being they essentially extend the width 8″ on each side, but not enough to do damage.

I had 30″ radial tires on my previous SXS that weighed over 15lbs more each than the factory tire on wider offset wheels, extending my width by 2″ on each side. Over 1,000 hard trail miles and there was no axle, ball joint or control arm bushing wear or failures.

In regards to recommendations, I’ve never used them. However, given the price and intended use, I can see them being very beneficial. Injection molded plastic and Styrofoam would not hold up very long to aggressive trail riding, but for how you plan to use them, I’m sure they would work great.

404 ERROR wrote:

Valid concern, but I believe the combination of very little added weight and the extension not touching level ground will mitigate any concern. I agree there would be added strain in certain conditions, being they essentially extend the width 8″ on each side, but not enough to do damage.

Watch the durability video on the JWheelz site. The opening sequence shows an ATV with 2 riders supported on 2 railroad ties using just the JWheelz, not the tires.

I’ve read a lot of owner reports and the durability isn’t in question. What’s lacking for me is that most real-life owners are using them for soft ground and mud in the Canadian north and in the US south. I can’t find many detailed reports about actual snow performance where the user reliably states snow depths that exceed what the machine would be able to handle on its own.

Joe Scegura wrote:

How about a $500 snowmobile. I purchased a 2005, electric start 1500 miles, 2 up seat, in perfect condition for $500.

Wow. What a deal. Problem as I sated with a snow machine is not so much cost as the storage. JWeelz can be stored on a shelf in my garage. A snow machine not so much.

Grouse

I have a set I use on my 2007 Polaris X2 800. They work as advertised at least in my experience. Have not used them in a couple of years mainly because there has been no need.

paul56068 wrote:

I have a set I use on my 2007 Polaris X2 800. They work as advertised at least in my experience. Have not used them in a couple of years mainly because there has been no need.

Paul, have you ever gotten stuck in snow at all? Really interested in any experience you have with them in snow.

Many thanks.

Grouse

I have used them in heavy snow and in snow with slush underneath. Never got stuck but may have had to back out and get another run in the slush. Happened once on Farm Island but I got to where I wanted to go and back off again with a buddy on the back and pulling a sled. I had a guy chase me down after I got off Lake Francis down here in SM and ask me what I had on the atv. He had watched me going across the lake and it had heavy snow on it that year.

The videos i’ve seen show diminishing returns once the snow depth get’s to be around 24″+, at that point they start to be more of a hindrance then a help as they push against the snow vs providing lift up over it…There’s several youtube videos from Russia showing them getting stuck in deep snow, but they also showed ATV’s with Tracks getting stuck as well. Once the snow depth gets to that 24+ depth, ATV’s have a tough time no matter what you got due to the machine weight and the lack of float-ability on top of the snow…

I had 28″ Mudzilla tires with a Lift Kit on my first ATV that could go through anything, but when I got into the deep snowdrifts, it got sketchy fast whether or not I could get out…

I now have 27″ Zilla tires on my ATV and just stay away from the real deep stuff…

Not sure it fits your bill exactly, but Pro Armor came out with a snow tire this past year for atvs. 14in wide with super soft side wall to run really low pressure. I guess they “float” better on snow. Youtube “pro armor whiteout” to see a video. Not sure if they fit on stock width wheels so could end up more than $1k all said and done.