# Cat tracks for 4WD **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606 "2002-12-30T04:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/1 "2002-12-30T04:09:54Z")
A couple of years ago I saw a really nifty invention in a magazine. A few days ago I saw footage of a truck equipped with this invention while I was channel-surfing. What it is is a set of caterpillar tracks that can be attached to your 4WD vehicle. They were yellow and somewhat triangular-shaped. Apparently they attach to each wheel hub, which turns gearing that operates the tracks. Now, I don’t live around snow. When I move to northern Washington I won’t be living in a snow zone. (At least not where it will stick for very long.) But I’m fascinated by these things. Does anyone know who makes these track kits? What’s their name? Has anyone seen them IRL? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/2 "2002-12-30T04:15:26Z")
Never mind. [I found them](http://www.mattracks.com/). ---
**Author:** ![EagleEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@EagleEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EagleEye)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/3 "2002-12-30T04:31:53Z")
I’ve seen them on TV also. I’m suprised someone around here doesn’t have some yet. The ones I saw did a great job traction wise, but speed isn’t all that great. 50-55 is about all the faster you can go with them, and they really slowed down for the curves (on clean roads, that is). I don’t know what the probability is for them popping off. Unfortuanately, I’ve not seen them in real life. I can’t find a link at the moment, but I’ll post one up if I do. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/4 "2002-12-30T04:36:30Z")
I’m not surprised people don’t have them around there. At 20-30 kilobucks, I wonder they sell any at all! Max. recommended speed is 40mph. {BTW: [My Jeep](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/myjeep/myjeep.html) was made in Toledo. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![EagleEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@EagleEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EagleEye)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/5 "2002-12-30T04:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*{BTW: [My Jeep](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/myjeep/myjeep.html) was made in Toledo. 🙂 ) \*\* Illinois or Ohio? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/6 "2002-12-30T04:49:43Z")
:smack: (my second smackie in two minutes!) Toledo, Ohio. I saw “Toledo” and skipped the rest. ---
**Author:** ![EagleEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@EagleEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EagleEye)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/7 "2002-12-30T04:53:57Z")
Sorry, I couldn’t find that link for you. Don’t worry about the Toledo thing. We’re barely on the map. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-tracks-for-4wd/145606/8 "2002-12-30T08:27:37Z")
Blimey, they ain’t cheap!