Maybe. But I have seen what happens when a Tucker crossed over a berm and the back of the front tracks tried to eat the cab floor and wall. Not good. Nor is a Tucker good in a none pine forest, meaning deciduous trees of the Midwest. Too tall to go under much.
Your milage may vary.
Kirk,
That’s certainly unfortunate about the damage to the Tucker cab. However, for that to happen the carrier (if one side was affected), or carriers (if both sides) had to be either damaged or modified. I’m pretty outspoken about taking Tucker to task for poor quality control, but if someone modifies or damages their machine, they need to be cognizant of any limitations until repairs are made.
As you probably know, the carriers on Tuckers rotate about the axle. Here’s a pic. You can see the carrier partially installed on the axle housing. This is a 1500 series carrier, so mid-length. Look on the differential side of the carrier in the foreground. You’ll see an arm that's perpendicular to the carrier. That arm is a rotational stop and there is another on the front of the carrier. When carriers are installed on a snowcat, those rotational stops contact the leaf springs and limit the carrier’s ability to rotate, so the tracks physically
can’t hit the cab.
Here’s a different view and you can see the proximity of the rotational stops to the leaf spring packs. If you look closely you’ll see the same stops on the rear carrier. If the rotational stops have been cut off or bent, then yes, the tracks could hit the cab.
Certainly a taller snowcat will be more limited when a tree's canopy has low hanging branches. I’m tall at 6’4”, and I too am challenged in some vehicles by a lack of headroom. (I would have had a miserable time as a Navy submariner, as their door/hatch openings are not designed to accommodate even moderately tall folks.)
In the western US where we get lot’s of snow it’s not a good idea to get within a foot or two of an evergreen tree’s trunk. That applies to skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, and snowcats. The area close to the tree is called a tree well, and the snow there is not as settled or consolidated as the snow further away. When weight is put on it, the snow can collapse. If you’re on a snowmobile or snowcat, the machine will likely tilt toward the tree and you can find yourself pretty stuck. However, for a skier or a snowboarder, getting caught in a tree well can be fatal. This is a good description:
Two skiers have died in Wyoming in the past month after getting themselves caught in tree wells. The odds of surviving a tree well accident are incredibly…
cowboystatedaily.com
Kirk, I hope you have a great snowcat season!
