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hey just getting into sledding this year looking to buy my first sled want to spend between 3500-4000, will be sled skiing and using it in the Tahoe area found a couple wondering which would be the better option
05 RT1000 900 miles 162 ported track mostly weight loss upgrades $3500
07 M8 almost all stock 153 1350 miles couple of cracks in hood $4000
any ideas on other sleds is there anything i should look for as for sledding in the tahoe area? thanks
here is my theoryQuote:
Originally Posted by billcallen
I dont think anyone wakes up in the morning and says, " Hey, my sled runs perfectly and has no issues, I should sell it"
I think its more like, "this piece of shit does nothing but cost me money and days on the snow, I want a new sled"
If its good buddy and you know its a good deal, go for it. If not Id go minty showroom floor. $4000 is 2 years worth of payments FWIW
guess i never thought about it like that very good point. Though i do hate that buy new sled use for a year lose half value make 2 years worth of payments and still only own half of a sled, and hate that totaly payoff when all is said and done is a lot more than i would have wanted to spend though i guess if you figure you get a warranty with a new sled after repairs things could be closer to even interesting thought thanks
I disagree with the used sled theory stated above. I think the best deals going are 1-2 year old sleds, which are lightly used or still new at a dealer. Some have warrantees, some don't. I would never pay for a brand new sled when you can get one that is still brand new next summer at thousands of dollars off. That's why I will be selling my '09 Hillclimb Edition next summer, with low miles and nothing wrong with it, to buy an '11 800 E-tec.
You either buy new or by one or two or three years old machine that has a brand new engine with a one year warranty on the engine. The second of those options being the best deal. Otherwise you are gambling your money away.
Yeah that can be the case, same with cars and boats.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhelihiker
but the flip side is people like slednecks who don't use the same sled for two years in a row. like people who lease or buy a new car every 18 months.
Might have a lot of hard use, but still can get used gear, just like used anything else, in ok shape.
besides, if he's a beginner, why would he drop $8k on a sled?
I'm a rookie, I would go used my first time around.
The guy that I bought my sled from his wife was making him sell all his sleds because 2 of the last 3 years one of his buddies has died in avalanches.
Its just a theory and there are exceptions to everything. Go read the snowwest forum and see how many 1 and 2 year olds sleds are taking shits. Its seems like 1 out of 10 sleds are lemons (mostly polaris). I bought an '06 900 in '07 (brand new 0 hrs) and last year it started falling apart. The driveline just fell the fuck out one day. The rubber boots on the intake were starting to crack and needed replaced, the steering linkage gave out- you just pull the engine to fix it, hi fax was burnt out. Thats just two years of abuse and that all costs about $700-1500 diy and not to mention the time loss. Every time my sled breaks it snows and Im wrenching. time is $$ imo and with the few epic days a year, missing one breaks my heart.
A brand new '10 Dragon is +/- $9000 full coverage ins $500 for a year with a $250 deductible. Its a little more money but the piece of mind is good. You can run it into a tree and you are out $250 for a new sled.
thats just me and Im fortunate enough to have the cheddar to swing it. If I had no other choice I would gamble on a used sled for 3-4K.
either way good luck, youre going love it!!
I got a 2000 Rmk 700 with a new(er) engine for $2000 thats on its second season with me, starts first pull every time, fine for tandeming once a trail is in. Can't really break trail on deep deep days. I bought it from a bud and knew its history though.
I do need to replace the rear shock and spring though, buts its not too much $
There are some good deals out there.
Would you please talk to my wife. I need the 2011 Pro RMK. I promise to sell the 2004 RMK-which has been and is a great sled BTWQuote:
Originally Posted by Dhelihiker
I bought a 2005 m7 and two place trailer for about what you are looking to spend. It has been a fun time and a real learning experience. It was nice because it already had some helpful mods: snow eliminators, riser bars, vents etc. and it came with a bunch of belts that I would have eventually purchased myself. I did end up rebuilding the top end which isn't cheap. But I learned about power-valves.
The way I see it is, I don't care if you just drove your sled out of the dealership. You need an emergency cash reserve of around $500 and access to enclosed work area to ensure a full season. Go in the back of a repair shop you will see old and new of all brands side by side. Motors sports hobbies are expensive. Snowmobiles are fickle animals and there is plenty of trouble lurking just below the surface of that pretty snow.
A good friend of mine is a Skidoo mechanic. He'd tell you to get an 08+ RevXP (prob more than $4k), or the 07 M8. He HATES the 1000s.Quote:
Originally Posted by billcallen
I often find myself thinking that the RT1000 would be a good access sled.
He always talks me out of it. Seems like they're kinda piles.
Pre-08 800cc Skidoo engines seem to be prone to failure. His words - "if you insist on getting an 800, do a top end every 1500 miles."
My 03 700 has 4300 miles on it, did the first top end out of principle last season.
800s, for whatever reason (pre-08), seem to be time bombs.
That said, 1500 miles is at LEAST two seasons of skiing for me - two and a half - we put just over 500 miles on my two sleds last year. Typical day is a 5-6 mile ride from the truck to the skiing area, then as many laps as we can - 2-6 miles round trip. Takes a while to rack up 1500 miles; we don't normally do more than 30 or so miles/day; 10 miles transit, 10 2 mile laps.
Dunno what else there is out there. The Cat m8 seems to be pretty awesome. The number of skidoo 800cc cases I've seen cycle across his bench makes me REALLY leery.
All I know is that every time I utter the words "RT1000," he throws stuff at me.
Iain
You're sure a cynical bunch when it comes to sleds.
Do your research and buy the tried and proven brand/models.
Is that your sneaky way of recomending a Cat?:wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Blurred
(I'm searching for a nice kitty myself, anyone have an 09 m8 they wanna sell me for dirt ass cheap? Ya I know, me and everyone else.)
Grab a 2010 model. Lots more HP with less weight.Quote:
Originally Posted by hick
2010 m8 snopro is redic...def on my wish list.
And can be your's for under 9k.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blurred
[ame="http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227744"]http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227744[/ame]
Oh wait, or there's this pimpy 07 turbo for under 7k..............
[ame="http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228043"]http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228043[/ame]
Phazer? RAD!Quote:
Originally Posted by Blurred
What happened to your 670? Still running strong, or was the pin in fact pulled?
Iain
So what would the infinite maggot wisdom recommend for me? I want something to do sled access, and mess around with in the UP of Michigan.
My budget is 1200 if I reall stretch it. I know I wont get a super shiny bling sled, but hey, as long as it runs, and gets up the hills I'll be stoked, and I can always get a better one later.
Friend got an 01 Mountain cat 600, it seems sick..
Anyone have anything for sale possibly?
Maybe an "okay" AT setup? Kidding, but at 1200, I would honestly say you are better off betting on black in Vegas to see if you can't bring a bit more to the table.
I think you need around 2-2500 to really get into anything that will be even reasonable for ski access. If you want to play around on it then add another 500-1000+
I got into a fun sled for about 4k last year, probably overpaid about 500-700 but it basically came with the understanding that if anything went wrong, it would be taken care of (which happened...burned down a motor due to a bearing going out in my bottom end causing lateral stress on my piston/ring...)
Anyway, they are fun, cool, dangerous, expensive yaddie yaddie ya.
Blurred loves Arctic Cat...which I think are great for sled skiing but their geometry leave a lot to be desired. THE ticket in my mind these days in the new RMK pro but that is likely not reasonable for most people...if going used either an 04-07 Rev 600, 07/08 Polaris 600 or the best balance between performance and reliability, ease of learning etc is something like an 08 Polaris 700....and they can be had for a good deal if you look around.
You could get into a utility sled for that price. I won't get into the wide track versus mountain sled debate, they work awesome some places and not so much others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yukonrider
I have bought 3 utility sleds in the last 5 years or so, all for a grand or less with 1000-2000 miles. They also are detuned to run a long time with very little maintenance and don't blow up at the rate mountain sleds do. At that sort of price range I doubt you find anything in the mountain sled variety. Even an old Tundra LT will give you lots of enjoyment, teach you how to ride, and get you most places there are summer roads or trails.
I'd agree with nate s., for $1,000 you may very well get a nice utility sled that will do just fine getting you around the UP. If a sled for that price blows up, you can just walk away. I think a mtn sled for 3-4 grand is a bigger gamble, actually, as it's probably ready to blow and if something major happens, you pretty much have to fix it, even if it's $1,500 or more.
I WISH I could find a widetrack utility sled for $1k. Are you guys in Michigan or something?
(becoming a believer in utility sleds for 90% of access riding)
$1200? ehhh. My backup sled cost me $1600, I think, three years ago. 99 SkiDoo Summit 670x. 4k miles, good condition - not pristine, but it was all there.
It has been reliable (my #1 priority). It has fouled plugs a couple of times, but for the most part, it starts and goes and is happy (just don't flip it over, it does not like that).
I see the same sled - 98-99 670x - selling for $1600-2500, condition and delusion depending. It is not a BAD sled, at all, but the track is too short (136" stock), compared to the "ZX" chassis sleds, it handles like a bathtub on casters, but it works.
and has a lot of power. There's a small diehard contingent of 670x engines out there, for good reason - the thing rips. Too bad the suspension just digs a hole with all that power. No, it is not as fast as a '10 M8 Assault-Dragon-XP-etc, but for $1600, I'm pretty impressed.
Actually, here's one in Denver, "asking $1500," with "make offer." Someone replaced the track (stock was 136, I put a 144 on mine, it helped), shrug, maybe that's your $1200 sled:
http://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/2020729887.html
Mostly hardly-worthwhile junk at that price point, though, and you need at least a _decent_ sled, you'll be working it pretty hard. The 670x is a good sled - not great - but good, and typically reliable. Mine certainly has been.
Everything in snowmobile land costs ~$200. Does not matter what, it costs $200, at a minimum. Buying a $600 beater that "only needs a clutch" will turn into a $2k pile in no time.
When I first started looking for sleds, I kinda thought I needed a 199" track and 900cc engine.
You don't.
Bigger tracks and bigger motors are not BAD things, but The Internet made it sound like you just HAD to have that to make it happen. Nope.
If you get the budget up to the mid-2k mark (possibly low 2k), an 01-03 Summit 700 (my "primary" sled) is, IMHO, pretty tough to beat. The motors seemingly last forever, they have _enough_ power, and if you stick a longer track on it, they go pretty well in the deep. I've yet to get denied trying to get "up there" to ski and really had the sled to blame. It is all me; I've seen People With Talent ride it, and it does more than I need it to.
Dunno. I'd buy another 670x, if that's what cash dictated. I think that's the oldest sled I'd buy (save widetrack utility sleds, that is); the 99 670 seems like it was kinda the first of the capable mountain sleds. The new stuff is WAY more capable, but the 670 (or 2000ish RMKs) seem to get the job done Just Fine.
Just be forewarned, a $1200 sled is likely to cost you a LOT more than a $2500 sled. I agree that $2500 is kinda the low end of the target. Cheaper exists, but it really becomes a crapshoot, and a lot of the sub-$1500 stuff is aircooled, short/shallow track sleds which MIGHT work well (ehh, they should) at Vail Pass/Buff Pass/wherever there are groomed snow roads in place.
Decide to go over there, up through the woods, onto that ridge to see if you can get that shot?
G3 makes some nice skins:).
.02c.
Iain
Thanks for the thought out reply Mannix. I have heard the same thing about the 1200 dollars from more than one internet place. So now I'm starting to believe it.. I would still probably jump on a mountain max, mountain cat, or RMK in my range, I AM in Michigan, so there are tons of sleds here on craigslist.
Maybe I'll take a drive to the Casino.....
Saw those. Wish I had 9k to light fire to! Id go for the 10' M8 in a heartbeat. Only reason I'm looking for an 09 is price, but it seems there is not really that much difference and not many for sale. AC folks seem to be holding on to there machines (seems like a good sign).Quote:
Originally Posted by Pow4Brains
I have found some great deals on 08' M8s but they don't have the Powerclaw track or electronic reverse which may be leading to DD problems depending on who you talk to. Anyone have any time on the 08' M cat that can give a little comparison to the 09' and was your 08 reliable? (already researched on Snowest and BC rebels, just want more beta).
Oh rode the 10' M8 last year (a friend's), and that motor does indeed frick'n rip!
I drove 500 miles one way to buy an '05 Skidoo Summit 600 HO with trailer for $1100 this summer. First thing I did was take it to the shop and throw money at the mechanic.
Another $1100 later its got dynamo joe clutch kit, vforce reeds, rings, and a full once over.
Now we let the snow fly to see if this cheap ass can play sled ski too.