New to buying a sled, I need help on looking for a workhorse. - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

NorthernGuy · 08-19-2006, 05:53 PM

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum and new to -buying- a sled. I've driven lots of them (borrowed from friends and such, LOTS of beaters hehe) but I need some help getting up to speed on what make is good these days and what are not.

I need a worker sled, something that'll haul heavy weight and be used to break trail now and then, alot of ice fishing and trapping (I work a trap line that is sled access only in the winter months). I say hauling weight because I myself am 6'5" and 300lbs alone, throw my wife on (130lbs) and a friend of mine in a sleigh (another 180lbs) and it adds up quick when just going ice fishing! That and hauling gear around the trap line.

I was originally looking into the Skandic 600's WT however I can't afford the 13,000$ CND MSRP that I've been finding for new and finding one used is a shot in the dark as I've found out. I only chose to head the bombardier way because I'm familiar with rotax engines and have not had many issues with them. In the end all I want is a RELIABLE sled that'll work for me. I don't care about going 200km\h accross a lake

. I just took a tour to the city (I live a bit in the middle of nowhere hehe) and browsed some of the sled shops.

I talked with a great salesman about the VK-540 WT yamaha. Anyone have any good\bad\ugly stories about these machines? It looked like a great sled for what I need, hi, low, reverse, adjustable rear, everything basically, the 540 2str should have enough go to get me moving I would assume. I've heard lot's of good things about Yam's, if anyone has storied feel free to share.

Oh and I quickly looked at another shop that didn't seem like they wanted to share or knew very much. It was a Polaris machine, I'm not sure on the make, wide trax maybe (EDIT: WideTrak LX)? I need a work machine and he told me it was but the only thing "work" I saw about it was that it had a widetrack, it was also listed under touring and I don't want a touring sled. That and (no offense intended to anyone!) I've dealt in a few polaris ATVs lately (brand new ones) and myself and ALL my friends have had major issues with them, electrical mainly, which makes me worry about the quality of their sleds.

I'm leaning towards the Vk-540 which can be had for 9200$ CND a whopping 4000$ less than the skandic.

Thanks for any insights!

sledmaine · 08-19-2006, 07:18 PM

Go with the yami!

And welcome to the forum

snoeproe · 08-19-2006, 09:04 PM

the VK 540 is a solid sled.
an Arctic Cat bearcat is another solid work sled.
if i was buying a NEW sled to be used for ice fishing, trapping etc...it would be a Skidoo Scandic Tunndra 300F. 300 single cylinder, A frame front suspension, sc136 rear suspension, long track, light weight, wide skis. it will go anywhere and haul you along with it...at $6000, it is a reasonable price.

ITriumph · 08-19-2006, 11:05 PM

I think the AC Bearcat is a good work sled. I used 1 on the island that I was doing a fireplace on. We had a 6ft. sleigh, and could haul about 500lbs plus 2 riders @ 200lbs each. the only thing that I didn't like about it was the turning radius. It takes a 40 acre field to turn them.

**smallengineguy** · 08-20-2006, 07:32 AM

My friend has 2 Ski Doo Tundras, he cuts firewod and hauls wood with them. Has a 300cc in it, and considerably cheaper than the Skandik.

blizzard721 · 08-21-2006, 10:46 PM

Arctic Cat Bear Cat will spend too much time getting fixed. The VK 540 is an ugly beast. Hard to stear, it has a mind of its own. But reliable and has enough power. The new VK Professional is a nice machine but is $14,000. The Polaris is a good machine. Quite a few around here with no problems and it has a nice price.The Skandic would be your best machine. Too bad you don't want to spend the money.

NorthernGuy · 08-21-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blizzard721

Arctic Cat Bear Cat will spend too much time getting fixed. The VK 540 is an ugly beast. Hard to stear, it has a mind of its own. But reliable and has enough power. The new VK Professional is a nice machine but is $14,000. The Polaris is a good machine. Quite a few around here with no problems and it has a nice price.The Skandic would be your best machine. Too bad you don't want to spend the money.

It's not that I don't WANT to spend the money it's that I can't. I mean not everyone can afford 14000$ for a new sled, believe me if I could just whizz money away I would. I'm not worried about handling so much, when you mention handling do you mean in higher speeds? I just want reliable and able to take somewhat of a beating, or at least be able to work for me in a work like environment. If I could find a skandic used I would buy it, but I can't. Not to mention there seems to be problems with the 600 rotax? Or am I wrong? I've read alot of people blowing them up and 2 of my friends last winter blew their rotax 600's. Both of them dropped rings and took out the crank, one guys was 2900$ to fix

I'm leaning towards the yami right now because it's affordable and I get everything I need, a low range, almost a 600 engine, fan cooled, tons of carrying capacity (compared to a speed sled or touring) and from the sounds of it reliability.

PS: I love that it's ugly as sin! I used to own an old jeep done up for offroading and it was as ugly as they come and I loved it too

RMK?? · 08-22-2006, 07:27 PM

My dad bought an 05 Ski-doo Skandic, 600cc liquid widetrack, this is the ultimate workhorse, you could not get this thing stuck. Put it in low gear and go, he goes through terrain un heard of, and it moves along pretty good, top end about 140km/hr. It's the best I have ever seen.

blizzard721 · 08-23-2006, 08:19 AM

When Ski-doo first put out the 600 LC they had a few blown motors but it was a problem they fixed after that first year. Now its a reliable engine. I've got a yammi but a freind of mine has the Skandic SUV and I want one now. Awesom in the deep snow and can haul a house and its comfortable to ride long distances. If you want ugly get the VK 540. If it wasn't a good machine though it wouldn't have sold like it did. Not just high speed stearing sucks, at all speeds.

NorthernGuy · 08-23-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blizzard721

When Ski-doo first put out the 600 LC they had a few blown motors but it was a problem they fixed after that first year. Now its a reliable engine. I've got a yammi but a freind of mine has the Skandic SUV and I want one now. Awesom in the deep snow and can haul a house and its comfortable to ride long distances. If you want ugly get the VK 540. If it wasn't a good machine though it wouldn't have sold like it did. Not just high speed stearing sucks, at all speeds.

Like I said I really would get the skandic 600 if I could but I just can't justify spending 4000$ more just for better handling, that's alot of cash I don't have. It's too bad skidoo doesn't make a WT in a skandic model UNDER 10,000$. That and the chances of finding a used one are low to no from what I've been told.

RMK?? · 08-23-2006, 09:36 PM

My dad picked his up brand new for under 12,000 cdn, where abouts you livin, things must be way more expensive there, he first bought the 500 fan, put 18 kms on it, then returned it, not enough power. It's the way to go, but you don't have to take my opinion, I drive a Polaris.

72TNTSkidoo · 08-24-2006, 11:47 AM

I dont know if going new is the greatest idea, a used one mite be better off, nothing old, but a one for like 3-5 grand range. I wouldnt want to buy a sled that expensive to only put it threw hell and get little use out of it before it starts breaking down. Most people that buy new sleds want a fresh start so they can moderate what its been threw, a nice big ole used sled would be fine for that use, and for that matter, maybe even get a couple of used sleds instead of one big one, so you dont all have to ride all together and for half the price, and make a fun thing at the same time.

NorthernGuy · 08-24-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72TNTSkidoo

I dont know if going new is the greatest idea, a used one mite be better off, nothing old, but a one for like 3-5 grand range. I wouldnt want to buy a sled that expensive to only put it threw hell and get little use out of it before it starts breaking down. Most people that buy new sleds want a fresh start so they can moderate what its been threw, a nice big ole used sled would be fine for that use, and for that matter, maybe even get a couple of used sleds instead of one big one, so you dont all have to ride all together and for half the price, and make a fun thing at the same time.

I originally wanted to do this exact plan however I have yet to find ANY used worksleds, let alone a specific model I want (skandic, etc). I've asked around every dealership and used sled shop for 300 miles and none have any skandics, heck most of them said they haven't even received a used "work sled" in years since the only people buying them either 1)beat them until there's nothing left to sell used or 2)buy them specifically for a reason and won't get rid of them since it does what they want.

To the comment on prices around here, yep they are expensive indeed. I live in the north and there's nothing cheap about what goes on up here unfortunately. Heck even paying the gas to drive down south to find better prices (assuming I can even find one in the south) almost nulls the point. Just something to consider gas is $5.45 a gallon here, and that's regular lol. Everythins pricey

72TNTSkidoo · 08-24-2006, 08:50 PM

Ouch, that hurts. Goodluck man, I hope you find some sleds that work well for you, you have got a cupple more months until winter, so its deff possible to find a couple sleds and a trailer for less than 8-10 grand, and those sleds should be nice ones too.

NorthernGuy · 08-24-2006, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72TNTSkidoo

Ouch, that hurts. Goodluck man, I hope you find some sleds that work well for you, you have got a cupple more months until winter, so its deff possible to find a couple sleds and a trailer for less than 8-10 grand, and those sleds should be nice ones too.

Hopefully

I'll update the thread when I do end up getting one, I'm thinking the end of october should be buying time since we have such early and long winters here I can be on the trails by the start of Nov

I_R_Josh · 08-25-2006, 12:12 AM

northernguy- how far north are you?

NorthernGuy · 08-25-2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_R_Josh

northernguy- how far north are you?

Not as far as alaska as noted below your avatar

, I live in the Northern part of Ontario just to the left of James bay, I'm in one of the bigger towns here being a booming 1100 people lol

I_R_Josh · 08-25-2006, 12:35 PM

I like small towns. You can ride the sled right through the center of it, stop at the store for a snack, and ride on out without worrying you're gonna get your sled impounded.

And those widetrack lx's were good machines, most even had a high/low range lever for pulling loads and a reinforced tunnel and rack. I understand you're gripe about the polaris atv's but the older sleds were rock solid. I'd hate to see you throw down a ton of money on a new machine just because the dealer didn't have a clue about the widetrack.
Used work sleds are golden. The type of people that buy them don't go out and buy new sleds every couple years, they hang on to them till they die.

RMK?? · 08-25-2006, 07:17 PM

Northern Guy, not sure how far into buying a sled you want to go, if you go to Canada Used Autos, Cars, Trucks, Boats, Motorcycles Online Classified Ads - AutoTrader.ca, there is a 2004 VK540 for sale, I beleive its about 6000 to 7000, not sure where it is, but its in Ontario, also, I have a Polaris RMK 900 for sale........

sledmaine · 08-27-2006, 06:32 PM

maybe u should buy 2 regular used sleds, get like 2 2003 f7's for like 3grand each