I will have some grousers made by someone who knows metal!
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Thiokol Imp vs the Super Imp
- Thread starter mungo45
- Start date
Well I have heard the stories about how a super imp gets stuck easier than a Imp. BUT were those tests done with a WT (wide Track) Super imp?
My take on it (after talking with former thiokol mechanics) is that the 1404 was made for light duty and people moving. Build it a little tougher to be able to handle trail/slope grooming and you have a 1450 (super Imp). The same thing but with deep powder ability is the 1200.
Please correct me if I am too far off base.
Please correct me if I am too far off base.
They are pretty tough and are absolutely tougher than an Imp.
Currently I have an Imp, and I use to have a Sprite which is pretty much like the Super Imp. The Sprite had the six cylinder ford with Automatc Transmission and other than a few inches longer, was pretty much like the Super Imp except for the raised Wheel up front that gives the Imp track a bit of a jump up for breaking trail a bit better. Both had the 32" tracks and did a pretty good job of getting around. The Automatic was easier to play with since you didn't have to do much when you came to a step hill, but I really doubt that the automatic was very well suited for pulling heavy loads even with the extra hp on the engine, where the standard Transmission on the Imp could be put in a lower gear and settle down for a long haul with little effect.
The only real big advantage I found with the Automatic that "I" would use as the reason to get one. By accident, I drove into a pond about six feet deep and almost 40 feet across. It was a straight drop off and the nose of the Sprite went up to the bottom of the windshield. If I had stopped, the engine would have stalled and there was no way to back up. So I just stomped on the gas and held on. The tall paddles on the track did a pretty good job of bringing the front up out of the water and the quicker aceleration of the automatic got the tracks spinning at full throtal. The whole unit "Swam" across the pond with the tail of the flatbed trailing just below the water, well off the bottom of the pond.
Had I had the Imp, there would have been no way to get the engine rev'd up to do the same thing in that short of time with the going though the gears. It would have sunk and stalled...
I wouldn't suggest that for the reason to buy one or the other, it is just nice to know if you really screw up there is some bright points to work with....
The only real big advantage I found with the Automatic that "I" would use as the reason to get one. By accident, I drove into a pond about six feet deep and almost 40 feet across. It was a straight drop off and the nose of the Sprite went up to the bottom of the windshield. If I had stopped, the engine would have stalled and there was no way to back up. So I just stomped on the gas and held on. The tall paddles on the track did a pretty good job of bringing the front up out of the water and the quicker aceleration of the automatic got the tracks spinning at full throtal. The whole unit "Swam" across the pond with the tail of the flatbed trailing just below the water, well off the bottom of the pond.
Had I had the Imp, there would have been no way to get the engine rev'd up to do the same thing in that short of time with the going though the gears. It would have sunk and stalled...
I wouldn't suggest that for the reason to buy one or the other, it is just nice to know if you really screw up there is some bright points to work with....
That sounds like a VERY COLD test!
GSSD06
Member
I might be chiming in a bit late here, but here is my experience with an Imp and a Super Imp for what it is or is not worth.
My comparison is a little "unfair" in that my Imp is a two person cab and my Super Imp is a full cab.
I use the Thiokol single axle tilt bed trailer designed for the Imps to haul both behind my 3/4 ton Suburban.
The Super Imp is a handful on the trailer being as short as it is from the ball to the tires.
When the Imp is on the trailer it feels empty by comparison.
When I feel the Super Imp bogging down in the snow, you can look back and see the OC12 dragging in the snow.
When you look under the Imp, it has a full belly pan, and it feels a lot more stable in deep powder, the Super Imp feels like you are wallowing in an overloaded boat.
You can really feel the Super Imp bog down even in a straight line in deep snow, I think it is likely all the heavy framework dragging along compared to the relatively smooth undercarriage of the Imp.
My comparison is a little "unfair" in that my Imp is a two person cab and my Super Imp is a full cab.
I use the Thiokol single axle tilt bed trailer designed for the Imps to haul both behind my 3/4 ton Suburban.
The Super Imp is a handful on the trailer being as short as it is from the ball to the tires.
When the Imp is on the trailer it feels empty by comparison.
When I feel the Super Imp bogging down in the snow, you can look back and see the OC12 dragging in the snow.
When you look under the Imp, it has a full belly pan, and it feels a lot more stable in deep powder, the Super Imp feels like you are wallowing in an overloaded boat.
You can really feel the Super Imp bog down even in a straight line in deep snow, I think it is likely all the heavy framework dragging along compared to the relatively smooth undercarriage of the Imp.
Great insight into the two totally different snow cats. I had a similar experience when comparing the old style Imp with a newer model 1500 LMC. The 1500 LMC just felt tail heavy compared to the smaller Imp that I also owned. I kept looking for the anchor behind the 1500 LMC that seemed to be dragging in the snow at times. I still believe the Imp is a great floater in the snow and is comparable or maybe better than many of the other machines we have discuss here as being the best in the snow.
The problem I see with the Super Imp in deep powder is it is simply heavy for the footprint but also has LOW clearance. I feel if the clearance was higher then ther wouldnt be a problem since most snowcats settle to a certain hieght and then just float and go. My Snow Master Sinks in about 18" and then thats it. That was when it was way over loaded too. BUT NOTHING drags period! On the super imp I think its about 9" of clearance. NOW what I want to do is put 8" to 9" track extensions on each side. Now that would give it some really nice floatation. Ive been in one Super Imp in deep powder and it was fine untill I tried to turn it on a hill. She would bogg in. The Owner had no problems where I did. Experience also makes a huge diffrence. I will see how mine does this winter. I will also be picking up a LMC 1202 10 passsenger with a blade here soon. I wonder what the extra weight of a blade up front will do. Anyway I was hoping to do the track extensions before winter so I may still have time.