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Post by coloradocat on Jun 29, 2013 13:31:06 GMT -6
Looking at getting a Ski Doo Tundra, lighter and narrower for what I need. Racks and stuff for carrying gear. Anyone used one? Been around one for comments, or send me in another direction for a utility type sled.
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Post by musher on Jun 30, 2013 15:13:17 GMT -6
Popular sled that will do what you want. Be certain that it has a reverse. BUT they do blow engines once in a while.
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Post by coloradocat on Jun 30, 2013 18:35:21 GMT -6
Musher,
Whats the reasoning behind blowing motors? Over heating?
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Post by musher on Jul 1, 2013 5:02:11 GMT -6
I don't really know. We have a saying about Bombardier: "One day you're going to walk."
That being said, they are good sleds and there are lots of them around. But the guys are always with other sleds! Not too many people alone in the bush on snow mobiles. When you do see one they are on a Bravo.
On older models there was also problems restarting a warm machine. It seems that they flooded easily depending on the angle at which they were parked.
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Post by coloradocat on Jul 1, 2013 21:40:08 GMT -6
Thanks for the advice. Honestly, I think anytime I have been on a sled in my life, something has gone wrong. Cant say that for a Toyota pickup though,lol.
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Post by TrapperRon on Jul 2, 2013 10:06:23 GMT -6
Have owned tundras since the 80's and never walked yet. The new Tundra with the Ace 600 is an awesome trapping machine. I along with at least 4 other trappers I know of will have new ones come this winter.
Great reports on the Ace 600 Tundra and Scandic from trappers in Alaska, Yukon and BC.
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Post by musher on Jul 2, 2013 10:12:01 GMT -6
Ron: How are the new 4 strokes starting in the cold? Guys here are toting booster packs or removing the batteries at night to bring them in. Others have even had block heaters installed. A local outfitter told me that his garage gets filled with clients 4 strokes and that he is missing sockets to plug them in.
They sure are easy on gas and quiet, though.
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Post by TrapperRon on Jul 3, 2013 10:55:06 GMT -6
Ron: How are the new 4 strokes starting in the cold? Guys here are toting booster packs or removing the batteries at night to bring them in. Others have even had block heaters installed. A local outfitter told me that his garage gets filled with clients 4 strokes and that he is missing sockets to plug them in. They sure are easy on gas and quiet, though. From what I am reading there are precautions you need to take at extreme temps, source of heat or remove battery. (-30 to -40 F) Seems to not be a problem with starting at minus 25 or minus 30 C ( -13 to -22 F) At minus 25 I work in the fur shed till it warms up a bit.  |
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Post by northof50 on Jul 6, 2013 15:03:05 GMT -6
Some Manitoba trappers had to walk out so they were traded in. 25 miles with fresh snow was a little hard for the 70 yr olds
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Jul 6, 2013 21:18:30 GMT -6
I've had a four stroke for several years.
Never really had a problem with cold starting as long as the battery is good or if I've been running it every day. But it doesn't get all that cold here 25 30 below is about all the colder I have started it at.
Personally I'd bypass the tundra and go with the scandic if you are going with a Doo. Don't skimp on the horsepower.
If I trapped in the "bush" I don't think I'd run a 4 stroke unless the ski doo's have a recoil. The A Cats don't.
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Post by musher on Jul 7, 2013 4:24:44 GMT -6
Do any of 4 strokes have a pull start? If so, it must be a rough pull! That semi frozen oil must help yank your arm from its socket.
As I wrote: lots of them are around. But the people are always in pairs or groups.
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Jul 7, 2013 8:51:40 GMT -6
No pull start that I am aware of. I haven't looked at every model though.
That's why I wouldn't have one in the bush.
I run 0-30 synthetic in mine. It stays pretty liquid at low temps.
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Post by TrapperRon on Jul 7, 2013 9:58:55 GMT -6
Four stroke are battery start. Motors are same principal as a vehicle motor. I don't have a pull start on my pick up. Four stroke are easier starting than the two stoke also.
Having said that there could be a possibility of running your battery dead. Some carry those small battery boosters for emergency. The one thing to make sure of is to start your machine a few times during the off season or put one of those solar trickle chargers on it.
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Post by musher on Jul 7, 2013 11:01:51 GMT -6
Four stroke are battery start. Motors are same principal as a vehicle motor. I don't have a pull start on my pick up. Four stroke are easier starting than the two stoke also. Having said that there could be a possibility of running your battery dead. Some carry those small battery boosters for emergency. The one thing to make sure of is to start your machine a few times during the off season or put one of those solar trickle chargers on it. If I can get my truck rolling, like on a hill, I can pop the clutch and start it even with a dead battery. Second gear is better than first to do this as it gives less of a jolt to the driver. Guys tote those booster backs. Again, they must be kept warm to function and they aren't good for too many boosts. When trapping, by ATV or snow mobile, the trapper is always stopping/starting. If the engine is turned off each time the trapper checks a set, the battery often gets depleted because the energy required to start the engine is more than the charge due to the short running times. Leaving the engine continually running prevents that problem but it's more expensive in fuel. Then again, many times when a snow mobile breaks down it is a case of the machine not starting after being stopped. Leaving it running means you will break down at camp and not on the trail. |
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Jul 7, 2013 11:40:39 GMT -6
Musher, I leave mine running a lot.
When I am checking rat sets in the winter I'm only there for a minute or two at best so I just let it run. Not all day, I'll shut it off every once in a while.
Its not only the battery I worry about. A starter can fail, switches can fail, I've had it all happen. The battery is probably the least of my concerns as long as I keep it maintained and not push the life on it.
On my first snowmobile I bought pretty much everything can be bypassed in the field but the coil and stator.
I like redundant systems if I'm in the middle of nowhere and alone.
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Post by coloradocat on Jul 14, 2013 18:27:10 GMT -6
Well, Im now leaning on a set of tracks for my wheeler. A lot of the lion guys are saying they are perfect for these conditions here. Less money, can store them. They say you will get covered in fresh powder, but it is what it is. Little snow never killed anyone.
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Post by musher on Jul 14, 2013 18:50:35 GMT -6
Tracks were popular here but the fad died. The guys were looking like snowmen and, unless you can dry the ate off Ina heated garage, things do not always work as well the next day. They are really tough on the bike, too. You need about 700cc and power steering.
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Post by coloradocat on Jul 15, 2013 21:31:24 GMT -6
Musher,
I guess from what I have been told and have not researched a lot yet is Camoplast adjusts the drive gear to the power of your machine, whereas others do not. And I guess all the way down to 300cc. Depending on the machine power is depending on how big the drive gear is. There is no doubt that either a sled or tracks will have its pro and cons. I happen to live where the mountain can get 12 feet of snow and it is 20 minutes away from me, to the desert 20 minutes away that will have snow and mud. I would really like to ride both once, and form a opinion.
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Post by musher on Jul 16, 2013 4:49:53 GMT -6
You really should try both.
The guys all went to tracks because of a few reasons. The first was $$$. One license plate, one insurance, one vehicle to buy/maintain. The second was for the inbetween time. Early winter/late spring that can be hard on a snow mobile. There was also garage space issues.
A tracked ATV became known as a very powerful puller of firewood filled trailers.
They also became known as giant balls of frozen snow being driven by snowmen.
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Post by TrapperRon on Jul 18, 2013 9:32:45 GMT -6
Once the snow arrives I am a big fan of riding my sled. Much warmer, less problems with weather related issues, more comfortable to ride.
I would not ride my sled when there is no snow so why would I ride my ATV when the snow get too deep. Just my thoughts.
I suppose where there is not much snow the ATV with tracks is a good option.
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