At some point in the not too distant future, I will install a larger tailwheel on my C180. My understanding is that the reason to do this is
is to provide more flotation in soft stuff and to react blows from hard stuff encountered while taxiing.

The two options that I see are this: http://www.alaskatundratires.com/tailwheel.html

Or This: http://www.airframesalaska.com/TWFK3400-p/twfk3400.htm

I like AKBushwheels products a lot, but I had a baby bushwheel on my 170 and it seemed to wear really fast. The tires are much more expensive as well. Any thoughts, opinions, warnings or experiences with either or both of these options?

You probably already know this, but you can run a regular tire (need to look up the specs) with the ABW wide fork. That seems like a pretty sweet setup.

Oregon180 wrote:You probably already know this, but you can run a regular tire (need to look up the specs) with the ABW wide fork. That seems like a pretty sweet setup.

This is true, when my baby bushwheel wears out I plan on putting one of the ribbed tires and tubes on it. Much cheaper and should offer just as much flotation.

robw56 wrote:

Oregon180 wrote:You probably already know this, but you can run a regular tire (need to look up the specs) with the ABW wide fork. That seems like a pretty sweet setup.

This is true, when my baby bushwheel wears out I plan on putting one of the ribbed tires and tubes on it. Much cheaper and should offer just as much flotation.

I think like the bushwheels on the mains, the tubeless construction of the baby bushwheel tire lets you run much lower pressures for some added suspension. That's what that $440 tire gets you beyond the flotation. A normal tubed setup and you risk it coming off the bead.

Scolopax -

The 3400 tailwheel fork kit from Alaska Airframes (Alaska Bushwheels) costs $607.00 without a tire.
Alaska Airframes sells the 4.00x4" "Ribbed Glider Tire" for $66.67 and a 4" tube for $22.17.
No flying report....yet.

Bigrenna's seminal thread may help you with this question - on page 3 he delves into his tailwheel and offers the pics below. I have an XP Mods 14 tailwheel with 5.00-5 tire - rolls well over unimproved terrain but holds up well to hard surface ops. If I didn't I'd be all over the 3400 w/4.00-4 setup.

I will throw another one in the mix: http://www.alaskatundratires.com/tailwheel.html uses the less expensive tubed tire as well.