Snowmobiles.

ShredMasterPlus

ShredMasterPlus

Active member
Thinking of purchasing myself a sled for sled skiing. Not looking to high mark or anything like that, just want something that I can rip with 2 people on good for doing some climbing so I can access the goods. Going to be buying used so just wondering what some good models I should look at are and what to watch out for thanks guys.
 
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That one looks sick haha, to new and expensive for me unfortunately. Prolly should mention that i'm looking to pay around 5grand for a sled wouldn't be able to pay much more, hopefully not trash it for the season and then sell it and maybe upgrade the year after.
 
I dont know why but snowmobilers here in michigan are 99% more likely to look like this than any other drivers on the road in the winter. if you get one be careful....

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First off, call it a sled or a snowmachine so people from Alaska will take you seriously.

Second, Ski-Doo makes great sleds, but they are expensive. Look for something that is light enough to throw around, because you're probably going to get stuck a lot. One of the older 600s would be really nice. A bit heavy for me, but with a paddle track and reverse, they don't get stuck as much as the beasts I used to ride as a kid.

I used to rip this, it's probably the most durable sled in existence. Yamaha reissued it after popular demand by Alaskan Trappers. It was so light that I could ride thorough deep stuff, just pin the throttle and never stop.

It finally blew up because the oil injection pump failed and the piston seized, while I was going off a jump at about 35 mph. The clutch and track seized up and I flipped over the handlebars when I landed. It was fucking hilarious.

I think one makes a cameo appearance in the art of flight.

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Unfortunately, not Utah haha I'm located in Lake Louise AB right now but would be buying the sled for next winter cause I'm just going to be ski bumming bc.
 
if its ur first sled, i would def recommend nothing over a 700, if it is ur first year on a sled ur proly guna get stuck a bunch ( its inevitable ) , something on the lighter side would do you well. A good used sled imo would be a older yamaha mountain max 6 or 700 , theres just alot out there so talking to people first hand who own them is always goin to help. good luck man, 5 grand can get u a nice sled bro , least it can it montana where i reside
 
If you want to be skiing off your sled you're gonna want a bigger machine. Get a 153 or 162 track 800 or 1000 so you can double up the hills you'll want to be skiing. Arctic Cat, Ski Doo, or Polaris have great machines, it's just a matter of what you can find for your price range. New used sleds are usually around $6-7000 with 5-800 miles on em. It's nice to get a sled that's been broken in already. The sleds computer will usually keep the HP limited till it's past the break in period of around 400 miles. A bigger sled will be a bit more of a pain in the ass to get unstuck but you're gonna need all the sled you can get to rip two people up the hill. Go demo a few sleds and figure out which one you like to ride more. The different companies sleds have very different handling characteristics.
 
bought my first sled last summer and used it all winter. At the advice of a friend I got a cheapie trail sled for my first machine. it was GOOD ADVICE. everytime I go out I damn near total the thing, I would highly recomend buying a cheapie trail sled (READ: trail sled=track less than 132") for your first winter with a sled. Then sell it and buy a mtn sled (152" track) for your 2nd winter. the trail sleds kill it in the spring anyways when the snow sets up more. just my 2 cents
 
if your on a budget go for a low km 2000-2003 summit 800 141 track minimum. try to find somthing with less then 4000km. if your riding deep snow a 141 track is pretty small, esspecially when doubling.

i just bought a 2002 rmk 800 with a 151 track and its has been great. its been awesome in deep snow, doubles great and can keep me up to my friends with revs and xps pretty easily (can't break trail like them tho)

if you can afford it and have ridden alot of dirtbikes and atvs a newer rev or xp is way better sled if you have the skill to use it.
 
Here is my advice and some tips, and it might be worth listening to seeing how I live in alberta and have hit some of the places you are likely to hit (revy, golden BLUE RIVER), have also been doing it for 5 years about 20 to 30 days a winter.

First, the sled -

DONT BUY A FOUR STROKE!!!!!! they sound great, no injector oil, a little easier on the environment motors last longer etc. truth is they break easy (suspension, plastics everything else but the motor) they are heavy as fuck!! and gutless without turbos, you'll be stuck every 5 minutes and really stuck!!!. now if your buying a used two stroke in AB or BC size up the seller! lots of KM in short period=bad, if he has a nice garage and other nice toys that are well taken care of then he can afford to take care of it because it can be costly, also helps if he comes off as kind of a pussy. You should be able to pick up an older M series cat (2005 and newer) for about 5g with decent km's, (less than 2000), my first sled was an M7, easy to build a rack for, very reliable, I got in 6000 km's without putting a dollar in for four years. (about a grand a season in depreciation). It handles alright, not as good as other brands of the same years but nothing that will hold you back. I have a 2010 dragon now, no complaints, $8500 if your interested. Heard the first Generation REV's are great as well, Condition and price is the probably the decider between the three. Just make sure its a mountain sled if your in BC at least a 154 track and a 700 or 800 and no changing jets in the carbs, gotta have a good altitude compensator.

Second, ski rack setup -

Gotta get a good rack, something reliable, holds your skis on well so you can sled all day without noticing, I got mine welded out of aluminium and use bungys to hold the skis in, works like a charm. Next, get a waterproof bag from MEC or a tupperware container and put you ski boot shells in there and strap it to your tunnel, put you liners in you winter boots and swap them out when you get to where your skiing. Sledding in ski boots sucks and is dangerous and hard on ski boots. Last, get a tow rope tie a loop three feet from one end, get an mountain bike inner tube and double it up around your waist and hook it up to a caribeaner. loop the tail of the rope through the caribeaner and back through the knot then hold onto whats left.

Heres my advice HaHa hope you read it
 
I have been pretty stoked on my 07 Ski Doo Summit. It is prime for riding tandem, and the 151 keeps it floaty in pow. Got mine for $4000.

 
Sickk thanks alot dude thats pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Couple questions, would you recomend more then a 154track cause fuck I really don't wanna get stuck very often. The altitude compensator, does that come with the sleds you mentioned or is it an option so I should check to see if they have it. Also the tow rope intertube thing you mentioned is that to tow skiers up the hill?? didn't really understand you.

Thanks for the responses everybody tons of help plus K to all :D
 
My first was 162", I also had tons on motocross experience though. I would recommend a 154 or even a 146" if its a good deal, a 162 will just get you more stuck and fucked. I haven't really noticed a difference personally and Ive seen 146" make it to some tricky places.

Any legit sled about 05 and newer comes with a factory altitude compensator that works excellent, you won't need to fuck with it. older sleds might also have a factory setup or an aftermarket compensator just ask the previous owner.

The tire tube setup is for towing, I was just sick of typing and figured most would have tuned out by then.

More tips: turn the bars opposite of where you want to go and tip the sled over, don't just lean for dear life, its about the pitch of the sled not how much you lean, AND I CANT FUCKING STRESS THE WINTER BOOT/SHELL SETUP ENOUGH, RUINED MANY A SKI BOOT AND ITS JUST WAY FUCKING BETTER!!!

My wife wants the computer now to watch porn, I'm out

 
I can agree with everything you said except a two stroke. For reliability purposes in the BC I would take a 4 stroke. If you don't know what your doing when mixing the gas and oil you could ruin your head pretty easy.
 
Well then technology has changed a lot since the last time I had a two stroke. ^ dis regard my post then.
 
I don't know about that man, it all depends what you're skiing and doing in the BC. A 4 stroke definitely doesn't suck, a 4 stroke is like a work sled that can double if not triple people around like nothing. They start up with a key which can be very helpful sometimes, and to top it off 4strokes are very reliable...

I'm a 2 stroke fan myself (gotta love the zip), but to say four strokes in the BC suck, is almost a joke and you must not get out all that much..
 
Alright cheers bud, yea no motocross experience here, closest thing I've been on to a sled is a Seadoo lol. Probably will try and go with the 154 unless I find an unbeatable deal, but I have like 4 months to figure out what to do so I'm just going to be scoping adds for now. The next 5months of work is going to be so worth it for next season woop woop.
 
TWA. I have to disagree with you on that everything should be two stroke. I enjoy two strokes but I enjoy the sound and tourque of a 4 stroke atv much more. Much more plausible especially on tight tracks. However if Yamaha ever made another banshee in a 450cc I would probably buy it in a heart beat.
 
A 2 stroke sled sounds better then a 2 stroke quad for sure. But a 4 stroke sounds like it has balls. For example a raptor with big bore barker duals is rediculous.
 
Another question, how many km's you guys usually get on a tank of gas. Do you bring extra fuel on trips or is a tank usually good for an outing. Last thing I want is to have to hike miles into town for more fuel.
 
4 stroke sleds are not more reliable (for skiing), sure the engine never breaks but the suspension/track/chassis/tunnel/a-arms/spindles, will be fucked in no time with the added weight of the sled plus two to three passengers, and they cost much more to fix. And you will be fixing it alot because they are not nimble at all. if you plan on getting somewhere off the trail guaranteed you will roll it/wreck it. They do shine on the trail for lapping switch backs, but so do 2 strokes. That being said I do believe they will catch up just like motocross bikes did it's just taking a long time for some reason.
 
Well given as this is going to be my first ever snowmobile, sucking is probably going to be quite the factor for a while at least haha.
 
It always is at first, you'll get the hang of it eventually. YOu could have the nicest sled or the shittiest sled in the world, it doesn't matter when you don't know how to ride it..

Start off with something cheap and go from there man, no reason to start with some 10 thousand dollar sled that chances are you'll just total or fuck up real quick..

How much are you looking to spend again?
 
Well no more then 5 grand really. Would even spend less I just want something that will work and wont break for no reason and leave me walking for hours. Def don't want to get something brand new and epic, I wanna get the hang of it and then if I feel the need possibly upgrade it next season.
 
Sick. So basically like 40bucks for a day on the sled not that bad. Now if only those damn hippies could get one that runs on water lol
 
Ya i mean you really can get a nice sled for 5G! Let me know when you're actually trying to make a purchase and i'll do some looking around!

Good luck though snowmobiling is way to fuN!
 
Yea well I'm starting work again in like a week so probably start looking for one in like a month or 2 once I get some bank. If everything works out I'll have all next season off work like I did this year I'll rip down to Colorado shred some backcountry gnar there haha.
 
IRWIN COLORADO, is the place for that! Hit me up, got plenty of room at my house and live in the dead middle of the backcountry!
 
+ $60 in gas for your truck+ $20ish for trail fees

+ $15 for 2-stoke oil

+ $20 for insurance

+ $30 for a motel

Don't let me get you down tho, i'm going through the exact same thought process at the moment. trying to figure out if i can afford to do it next season.

If you're going to be based in lake louise and hauling it to golden/revy/sycamous when you want to sled then shit is expensive.

 
Well, I'm getting a place somewhere In Interior Bc next winter so I should always be fairly close to sled land. I'll be hoping to be out on the sled as much as possible to make insurance worth it. Plus if I'm going with someone else we can split the Gas n Oil costs which should help a lot. I'm not much of a partyer anymore and I cook all my meals so I can live for pretty cheap.
 
O and what do you mean for trail fees, never heard of those before anyone with experience in Bc know about them/can you get a season pass kinda dealio?
 
The best thing you can do after buying a sled is insure it. It's not that much a year and you can get "ran my sled into a tree and totaled it" insurance. Make monthly payments and let it run out in the summer so you never pay the full yearly amount.
 
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