Maggot snowmobile thread

[dfinn]

If y'all want reliable, this right here is your best bet:

[ame="http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210896"]2008 Nytro w/many upgrades - SnoWest Forum[/ame]

[Mannix]

I drove 500 miles one way to buy an '05 Skidoo Summit 600 HO ..... see if this cheap ass can play sled ski too.

yup. Spent a day riding last winter with a guy on one of those. It'll be fine. It might not get up the steepest, blown-in deep stuff, but compared to my ZX, it handled better, got out of the snow better, felt like it had just about as much power (possibly because it dealt with deep snow better - firm snow, the 700 "should" be stronger).

For $1100, I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat. The 600s don't blow up (okokok, I'm sure someone has blown up a 600....but as a rule), get stupid-good gas mileage, and the 16" wide track helps a lot.

Dunno. I'm a big guy. Some of my skiing partners are pretty solid. We put stupid weight on the sleds, they do OK.

IMHO, the ONLY real deficit that sled (or any "low power" sled) will have is breaking trail up steep stuff in deep snow - no replacement for displacement in that case.

Find someone with a bigmotor sled, get them to break the trail and run it in, voila....

Kinda wish I'd held out and found an 04-5-6 600 Rev, in all honesty. Perfect sled for the game? No. Is there better out there for $2200 with a trailer? Nope. I doubt it. I think you'd likely spend a LOT more to get a meaningful increase in performance/capabilities.



Iain

[RonMexico]

Anybody in CO riding yet? Any idea if the roads on the passes (RE, Vail, Buffalo) are rideable?

I've got the itch bad, but it doesn't look like we'll be able to get the sleds out for some time.

[Blurred]

Anybody in CO riding yet? Any idea if the roads on the passes (RE, Vail, Buffalo) are rideable?

I've got the itch bad, but it doesn't look like we'll be able to get the sleds out for some time.

^^^ and jonpierre have been out ripping around on Rollins and Buff Pass I think.

I drive over Vail Pass daily. There's enough to trail ride, but tis the season to break A-arms and what not. I prefer to wait until a safer depth is here.

[pano-dude]

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?

The old 670x was a great sled lots of them out there for $1500ish, 1999-2000 yamaha 600-700 mountain max are great sleds as well. Same price range and really reliable.

Stay away from anything with "mods" they are always time bombs. Be choosey when looking, good used sleds are out there if you spend the time to find them.

[tahoermk]

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

thanks

here is my theory

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"

Hey billcallen,
Think about it this way. If you buy new, you will either crash your new sled tryin to pull what others are doing as you LEARN, or you will be too scared to munch your new sled, so you won't go for it. Either way one thing is sure, when you are a total beginner, learning to ride in the mountains, you will smack shit, roll it, and watch shit fly off it every now and then, if you go for it. So, now we look at dheli's advice a little differently. Actually, most die hard sled heads actually sell there sleds every couple of years because they have to have the newest,raddest iron on the hill. So you can actually find some very good deals on well maintained sleds from private parties, or dealers that are trade ins ect. Do your research, buy a new sled, insure the shit out of it, or buy a reliable used sled that has been well maintained and learn to ride it well. Google:Thin Air Motorsports in Truckee, they usually have a used inventory available. The polaris RMK 700's and Arctic Cat M 700s are good starts. DO YOUR RESEARCH or have a knowledgable friend help you. BRAAAAAAAAAAP!!

[tahoermk]

Picked up my new sled from Thin Air in Truckee yesterday. She looks real fast.

Give me a couple more weeks of this great weather and then it start puking the second week in November. Since the world revolves around me you all know that since I bought a new sled it's going to be a drought year.

You are gonna love that sled for sure, get the clutching dialed and it will blow yer mind even more.

[Pow4Brains]

There's enough to trail ride, but tis the season to break A-arms and what not. I prefer to wait until a safer depth is here.

Words of wisdom. Went through 2 pairs last year by December; A-arms get hard to find as the season wears on too.

I'm pretty sure it didn't matter on Buff Pass last week though.

[goldenboy]

Anybody in CO riding yet? Any idea if the roads on the passes (RE, Vail, Buffalo) are rideable?

I've got the itch bad, but it doesn't look like we'll be able to get the sleds out for some time.

Definitely here in CB, but like Blurred I try to stay on roads and go pretty slow until there's a whole lot more snow.

[Dhelihiker]

I just finished my ski rack system and I think it is the best to date. I cant bring myself to give CRF $300+ for their rack.







C'mon snow!!!

[Ermine]

I just finished my ski rack system and I think it is the best to date. I cant bring myself to give CRF $300+ for their rack.

Me neither (or the X-Rack for $340). I'm still using the ATV gun rack rig for ~$12 (no holes needed to be drilled). It works so-so. I like yours better, good photos, I should work on that while we're waiting for a decent base. My rig looks similar to yours, 155 700 and I added the Polaris gas can rack behind the little stowaway bag.

[Dhelihiker]

I had the ATV rack on last year, it broke, but worked really well until then. I had this High density plastic lying around, cuts like hardwood, strong as steel and thought it should do the trick. Seems bomber and simple.

Im little scared its too strong. When the ATV gun rack broke, i was glad it did. It saved my skis and arguably kept me from breaking my back. Im banking on that never happening again

[Mannix]

Where would one get the high-density plastic? That looks perfect.

I have one CFR rack. It is awesome, and worth every penny - but right now, Other Stuff is more worthy of my pennies, need to come up with something for the second sled.

I like what you did. I broke gun racks, I made a ghetto contraption with a Thule 6-pair car rack, I've tried all kinds of stupidstuff. I've had ideas kinda like yours, but I don't have high-density plastic lying around.

Seeing the pictures, though, I think I need to find some high-density plastic. Donde?



Iain

[shralpingthegnar]

Where would one get the high-density plastic? That looks perfect.

I have one CFR rack. It is awesome, and worth every penny - but right now, Other Stuff is more worthy of my pennies, need to come up with something for the second sled.

I like what you did. I broke gun racks, I made a ghetto contraption with a Thule 6-pair car rack, I've tried all kinds of stupidstuff. I've had ideas kinda like yours, but I don't have high-density plastic lying around.

Seeing the pictures, though, I think I need to find some high-density plastic. Donde?



Iain

I'm in the market for a ski rack as well and I'm holding out on the CFR rack until it's actually winter to see if anyone comes up with a sick homemade design. I've just finished helping a friend make a solid rack out of some standard "L" brackets from the hardware store and some ratcheting snowboard straps mounted in the right spots. The "L" brackets are nice since they already have holes drilled in them to attach the straps. The rack is strong enough to take a beating, all it needs now is something soft to wrap around the brackets so the equipment is protected/padded. Headed to check out tennis racket and baseball bat grips soon, might just duct tape the shit out of em too. I'll let you know what we end up doing and take some photos the next time I head over there. The last rack in this thread looks good, but it would be better if if it had more than one secure tie down point for the gear. One thing is for sure, I'm done using backpacks or bungee cords this season!!

[shralpingthegnar]

Worth mentioning: I just found a nearly new plastic bedliner in the free section of craigslist and cut it to fit the deck of my single sled trailer; bolted it down and it works awesome. The sled slides right down the grooves, loading the sled so much smoother than when the carbides were cutting into plywood. Next I'm going to be mounting an old snowmobile track to the trailer as well so my track will hookup with it and reduce spinning when loading. Stoked

[Mountainman]

http://www.newwest.net/snow_blog/art...d_re/C458/L41/

Fuck the Winter Wildlands Alliance

[Mannix]

I called a plastic place after posting; going to go Friday and see what they've got. Guy seemed mildly interested in what I was doing, he suggested UHMW plastic. Quoted me ~$11.00 for a square foot of 1" thick UHMW.

Not sure if it is the correct plastic, and I think I want more like 1.5" thick, but as I suspected, the plastic bits on the CFR racks are not the expensive pieces.

The rack itself is _really_ nice, and would be fairly costly to replicate.

I KNOW it "can be done." I skied a full season with homemade crap. It worked - we skied. The CFR rack _WORKS_. WAY faster to load, skis never came loose, fell off or did anything else annoying, ehhh, dunno.

I certainly get not wanting to spend the $$$ - they're not cheap, but they work pretty freaking well.

In the overall scheme of things, they're not THAT expensive. Ehh, who knows - screw around with homemade stuff, maybe you'll get it right, but come tax-return time or Kwanzaa or whatever, get a CFR. They're just better.

That said, I like the PVC-plastic contraption - that looks like it'd work well, and I think it could be made quick loading/unloading (snowboard binding straps). Don't underestimate quickness, either - the CFR sped our operation up considerably, no more fidgeting, just jam them in, ratchet, go.

I'll post pictures of whatever I come up with. My previous attempts have been not picture-worthy (ok, one was funny, but it created a lot of _other_ problems).

CFR = $$$.

but

CFR = $$$ well spent. There's a reason you see them on a LOT of sleds; they're bomber, they work, and they're super fast.



Iain

[Dhelihiker]

I think this is the stuff here. I got it at an industrial plastic supply place in Oakland. I forget where. It came in 18" x 2" x 6" sheets for $20ish. I also used rubber grommets (big washers) to handle vibrations with the bolt. lots of loctite.

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=336

I did mine with a skill saw, but it was a bitch. I would suggest a table saw if you have access to one.

I had a very similar set up last year and it is fast as. I use these guys to ratchet them down, it takes seconds. Unlike most cams these never come loose. Im considering buying a snowboard strap deal.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.a...0&pdeptid=1188

I like that it keeps the skis close to the sled yet not in the way of your feet. If you roll your sled your skis might not break too.

[goldenboy]

Nice rack

[hick]

http://www.newwest.net/snow_blog/art...d_re/C458/L41/

Fuck the Winter Wildlands Alliance

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately there are a shitload of ski related companies on board with this. Indeed, fuck the WWA and the MWA while we're at it. Enjoy it while you can fellas and fellets, we'll be banned completely within 15 years probably.

[bcrider]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on two older sleds for this season, mainly for trail and family riding with some access/shuttle stuff sneaked in where I can.

For stuff like this mostly




These are older sleds so dont laugh.

1997 700 RMK 3,500 miles
2002 550 RMK trail 350 miles

Both in excellent condition and come with a drive on/drive off trailer. I'm getting the lot for $3,500. I know they're not pimp new machines but I'm just curiuos if its a decent deal for what I'm looking for. Also wondering how the 1.25'' track on the 550 will do?

Thoughts?

[JeffreyJim]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately there are a shitload of ski related companies on board with this. Indeed, fuck the WWA and the MWA while we're at it. Enjoy it while you can fellas and fellets, we'll be banned completely within 15 years probably.

The thing you are forgetting is as powerful as these groups may be, there is big business behind sleds nowadays. Will further regulation happen? For sure. Will it shut the whole thing down? Not likely.

In 15 years an electric sled will be on the horizon (for real) and I believe that'll be the saving grace. Until then, like I said, too much "big business" involved here...bombradier, polaris, etc are giant (publicly traded) companies that have enough pull to keep places open until cleaner technology comes to the forefront.

And speaking of electric sleds...why not? Sure, for now anbything like that would be way too heavy and not practical at all but I believe it would be sick. Quite, tons of low end torque (all of it actually!), easy to tune the motor, and no exhaust fumes to breath the whole time.

[^^^]

Anybody in CO riding yet? Any idea if the roads on the passes (RE, Vail, Buffalo) are rideable?

I've got the itch bad, but it doesn't look like we'll be able to get the sleds out for some time.

Like others have mentioned, the next month or so is the time to break shit. Unless of course you get a 60"+ dump like buff did last week. You can ride on roads now, but the itch to take it off road is too much and that's when you end up breaking A-arms, shocks, and shit. Be patient. It'll come soon enough. And if we end up getting a dump, still think 'road ride' as it's surely not enough. Trust me and it'll save you $$$$$.

[TacocaT]

[QUOTE=Dhelihiker;3040873]I just finished my ski rack system and I think it is the best to date. I cant bring myself to give CRF $300+ for their rack. [QUOTE=Dhelihiker;3040873]


I like the idea of less hanging off the back. Do you notice the skies along the seat much when you ride? How close are the tips to the bulkhead? And if you feeling generous maybe a pic from the side in that area.

[wwwllw]

That 700 looks to be a 1999 not a 1997. 3,500 miles is right about where mine, just like it except a 151" track, had a crank go out. I know of 2 others right off the top of my head from the same vintage 1999/2000 that had crank issues as well. I also know of others with zero issues. Might be something that you'd want to do a little research on. Good luck. Snowmobiling is a lot of fun!