Fordson Snow...Thing

Why did we not use this ever again...I can see multiple uses for this nowadays!

That poor horse hahahah... I wonder how loud that machine was.

well they attached it to a tractor...so as loud as a tractor which isn\'t loud at all...

Are you serious! That's like the coolest thing i've seen in a long time!

Well there's some obvious drawbacks to the design.
First of all, it's made only for winter use, and although they mention that it can be switched back to a tractor, the way they have that set up would mean you would pretty much have to tear it all down, replace the gearbox, and put it all together again. Plus, you would need to buy the tractor parts.
Secondly, it probably wasn\'t too cheap. Especially back then, the materials to build the pontoon things would be very difficult to come by. They are probably custom-manufactured aluminum drums.
Third, it's one of a kind. The gearbox used in it is obviously one-of-a-kind due to its configuration. This means that they would be hard to replace, would be unknown to mechanics, and would most likely have faults.
Fourth, you have to remember that this is 1929. Right now, the catapiller tracks are taking over. This is about the time when that business really started to boom. So it would actually be cheaper for a farmer or logger to buy a tracked vehicle that he could use all year round. The pontoons are acting just as the catapiller tracks do, spreading the weight across the surface.
Fifth, it can really only tow things, and the things that it's towing must be on sleds with large surface areas. It doesnt have any carrying capability and is most likely very, very slow (It appears to be going fast in the videos, but they're sped up. Also, its geared very low so that it can carry large loads and have lots of torque).
So from a buyers standpoint, its an untested and unproven piece of machinery thats most likely overpriced when he could get a tracked vehicle for less. Either way, a very cool design indeed. Very smart. Im sure there have been versions released, but we're in the tracked age right now...

Add an M120, too

But I get what you're saying, and agree.

alexkmmll wrote:

Well there's some obvious drawbacks to the design.
First of all, it's made only for winter use, and although they mention that it can be switched back to a tractor, the way they have that set up would mean you would pretty much have to tear it all down, replace the gearbox, and put it all together again. Plus, you would need to buy the tractor parts.
Secondly, it probably wasn\'t too cheap. Especially back then, the materials to build the pontoon things would be very difficult to come by. They are probably custom-manufactured aluminum drums.
Third, it's one of a kind. The gearbox used in it is obviously one-of-a-kind due to its configuration. This means that they would be hard to replace, would be unknown to mechanics, and would most likely have faults.
Fourth, you have to remember that this is 1929. Right now, the catapiller tracks are taking over. This is about the time when that business really started to boom. So it would actually be cheaper for a farmer or logger to buy a tracked vehicle that he could use all year round. The pontoons are acting just as the catapiller tracks do, spreading the weight across the surface.
Fifth, it can really only tow things, and the things that it's towing must be on sleds with large surface areas. It doesnt have any carrying capability and is most likely very, very slow (It appears to be going fast in the videos, but they're sped up. Also, its geared very low so that it can carry large loads and have lots of torque).
So from a buyers standpoint, its an untested and unproven piece of machinery thats most likely overpriced when he could get a tracked vehicle for less. Either way, a very cool design indeed. Very smart. Im sure there have been versions released, but we're in the tracked age right now...

QUIET! You're ruining an awesome moment

SnoSnipe wrote:

alexkmmll wrote:

replace the gearbox

/Facepalm
Wrong kind of gearbox