Snow Machines

[pete richardson]

buddy -- here is loads ive hauled -- on a packed trail in low elevations with a tundra-- skis dont touch going uphill

[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=462239&c=561&z=1"][/url]


[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=376835&c=561&z=1"][/url]

i got a 90 vk 540 now--fan - low range - it might haul double what a tundra does --- uses 5 times as much gas and is a load for a little toyota truck --

i dont know anything about the newer sleds
-ive used tundras mostly because i dont want to haul it on a trailer and need to load and unload it-- in a small toyota pickup=

[kk]

I ride a 04 RMK 800 with a 159'' track. It works great and pulls great. I really like the reverse. I think a Polaris 700, 1997 or newer is also a good choice. Good luck

[dmack]

i have friends that use skandics and some that use high performance mountian sleds. if you could pick the right one i would pick a skandic SWT because it has a 24 inch wide 156 long track and that is a huge foot print that should stay on deep snow and pull like a tractor. it also has 2 engine options, you can get the 550 fan two stroke or the V 800 4 stroke for easy gas and go operation. I am currently using a polaris 500 rmk and a skidoo 800 rev, both are liqud cooled and have had no problems with either of them. I did put ice scratchers on the skidoo just to be safe.

[Buddyw]

I ended up with a 2000 Polaris Wide trac...

Absolutely no Luck finding a Fan cooled machine, and this is "supposedly has some extra Cooling rails" so I think it will do good.

I'm not sure if I messed up yet or not!! It's a Big sled so I hope I don't get it stuck!! but it's more for Utility. High range, Low range and reverse. Two up. and electric start... Probably won't be making the steep grade climbs with it.. But honestly even if I had a climbing machine.. I'd probably Chicken out half way up the hill and tumble down!!

Originally came from montana??? department of Interior.. (don't know what they did with it?? ) I would guess he bought it from an auction.

We'll see how it goes, wouldn't mind getting some snow here to test it out. Far as I can tell it's a really sound machine. And will probably do what I need

[Travis Stirek]

Buddy,you will love that sled for the area you drew.There are two bad things about that sled,I know I have three of them.1,they are heavy so don't leave the pickup without a shovel,and 2 they are like trying to turn a 3/4 ton Ford around(need forty acres to get it done)LOL not quite that bad.But if you will keep in mind how heavy it is and not use reverse to turn around unless you have to,you'll be fine.The scratchers help for cooling but if you don't have them just remember to run it off the trail once in a while.I very rarely run mine in high range and usually don't have a cooling prob except late season when the snow is crusty.With the road systems over here I usually leave the dogs at the pickup and when I find a track thats when Hi range gets used LOL.Just figure its easier on the dogs not bouncing around all day if tracks are scarce and sucking exhaust for nothing.

[Buddyw]

Thanks travis... I've definatley got experience turning a 3/4 ton around or getting one stuck.. Nice to hunt out of, but also sucks to hunt out of..

I got a small shovel and some saftey stuff that I'm going to put under the seat for emergencies..

Why not use reverse?? is it hard on the belts or something? Just curious??

Buddy

[Travis Stirek]

Not hard on the belts or nothing but that sled is so heavy that reverse just seems to get ya stuck alot easier than reverse on a lighter sled.

[Buddyw]

10-4.. I've always gone till I get stuck anyways.. I've Was actually thinking of trying to find one of them small ATV winches for it.. I know me and I'm sure I'll be ..Hmm I think I can make it.. ???... NOPE.. Guess not!

I doubt I will find one before it's time.. And I would much rather be looking for tracks than shoveling and trying to get Unstuck.. ..

[bearcat]

I know this post is a few months old but I just happened to notice it, how did your sled work out for you? I moved from over on the coast to idaho several years ago and bought a snowmobile before I moved over here so I know how hard it is to find a fan cooled machine on the coast. I've hunted with several guys with liquid cooled machines and they all had problems with overheating unless we were in fresh powder, driving slow looking for bobcat tracks and pulling dogs is just hard on them big machines and your not going fast enough to kick much snow up. I had a older ski-doo tundra and liked it until my dad bought one of the new upgraded tundra's. I went out and bought me a new 08 tundra last fall, you won't believe how much better they handle than the old models, and they have a lot more power even though they have the same size motor(don't ask me how that works, but believe me its the truth). I also got the electric start on my new one because I had wore 3 pull starters out on the old one and their emergency start system is a joke. I have never had any problem with the motors though and I probably had over ten thousand miles on my old one(no odometer) and I know I put over two thousand on my new one this winter and haven't even changed a belt yet. The old yamaha phazers were a good machine to hunt off of if you longtracked them and lowered the gears, and they had more power, but they weigh more and I hunt by myself a lot and the little tundra is a lot easier to manhandle when you get it stuck. And if you are like me you know if you run that nasty trail that hasn't been broke all winter your going to find a track, so you will get stuck.

[tntoutfitting]

If your machine has a battery get a Warn 1500 lb snowmobile winch for it. Rope winch that can be used to pull off any corner (attaches with strap to ski or whatever) they work great. The new liquid cooled four strokes (have a Yamaha 500cc Venture multi-purpose) dont need the loose snow and dont overheat in warm temps.

[Cat track]

Just got a new tundra couple mounths ago, Great machine, handles great plenty of power. we also build dog boxes that mount on the back

[thomas]

The air cooled titanium bear paws size 10 1/2. $120

Driven by 150grn danner thinsulates high top trackers $265

A pint of 100 proof schnapps on a brisk day helps open up the air intake.
$10
I also take two red Bulls with a double shot of yeager for the extra boost after the leash gets unsnapped. $12

I might carry a rockstar to cool the after burners $3

Total price $410
The expierence priceless

If you spend the night before you leave at a Holiday In Express
Okay Okay
I did spend the extra money for a wench also but it cost me a hundred bucks and she left the next mourning.

Sorry but I couldn't resist

So the wench I mean winch isn't included.

[tntoutfitting]

Awesome thomas I like your style, not to serious, not to opinionated but having fun and helping out Many could learn a lesson from your posts and lighten up "just a bit".

PS: the "winch" has got me out of trouble/tight spots many times, the "wench" on the other hand.........

[thomas]

Thanks
I try to give my two cents worth if Buddyw is involved.
He seems to take a little ribing as long as I don't hijack his post.
I waited patiently until I saw he got his machine.
I think most people especially lion hunters take themselves too serious.
I've seen fist fights over a 4'' cat track on the road.
I never have road hunted munch but get lucky now and agian driving to an area.
I leave the truck when most of the boys are headed to town.
I was a runner for Chamberlain in a roadless area way back when and have since kept to that style of hunting to find game and cats.
I am still having bad dreams over those pigs on your site.
I was felt lucky this year gitten one tom over 170.
Send some more those pics so the rest of us can have sleepless nights.

[tntoutfitting]

thomas: I like using the boot leather too and average way over a hundred miles a season up here on lion.

Here's one that will go Boone & Crockett and weigh about 180.....in about 2010 or '11 , caught him and his brother (with momma) at a kill the big boy was sharing with his ex bride, they kept getting in the way but finally got him "sorted out" and dealt with. Treed them in Feb 07 and seen their tracks this December still with the tabby but growing nicely .

There now you can sleep better I hope