Jorel77

I've never been on a snowmobile. However, I'm not a total dork and have ridden motorcycles all of my life. I'm moving to Nome, Alaska this summer and will need a sled for winter. I will be going out to photograph Mush Ox, Moose, the landscape, etc. I want dependable more than anything, then economy (range on a tank of gas), ability to carry another person, gear etc. I'm not concerned with racing, speed or high marking. I could be your grandfather. I know everyone has a favorite brand, but please disregard that if you can. Really appreciate the answers.

Thanks

Ditch hopper

wuts your bugget I think if your looking newer a t660 turbo will work aswome for you! they have plenty of power for getting out of the tricky stuff longer track can carry tons on stuff and two people and get aswome gas milage plus its a four stroke so you know its gonna be reliable

__________________
Real men Hijack threads

-1995 zr580- aaen pipe, epi clutch kit, camoplast ripsaw/120studs, 3inch riser, flybars, upgraded foxshocks, weisco pistons, lightly ported, 19tooth top 32thooth bottom soon to come bored carbs, plastic skis, new helix and ramps BRAAAP

-1994 indy trail 500- all stock, great on gas

Ditch hopper

forgot its and arctic cat and the longer track will make for a better ride(smoother) and will alow you to get into a little bit of deep stuff!

__________________
Real men Hijack threads

-1995 zr580- aaen pipe, epi clutch kit, camoplast ripsaw/120studs, 3inch riser, flybars, upgraded foxshocks, weisco pistons, lightly ported, 19tooth top 32thooth bottom soon to come bored carbs, plastic skis, new helix and ramps BRAAAP

-1994 indy trail 500- all stock, great on gas

Jorel77

I assume my budget is about 10,000. More or less is OK. My main concern is being 50 miles out in 30 below with a problem of some sort. I can see people will be saying, " Get a Cobra XLT Turbo," without telling me if its a Ski Doo or Yamaha! Thanks!

Ditch hopper

That will be more than enough to get a aswome sled i would seriously look at the t660 turbo there aswome sleds for trail go to arcticcat.com and you"ll be able to find it under utlity or touring the four stroke machines are really reliable the only reason theres a turbo on there is to boost the hp without the turbo the sled would only make like 50hp but with the turbo i think they make abour 120-150hp really nice sleds!

__________________
Real men Hijack threads

-1995 zr580- aaen pipe, epi clutch kit, camoplast ripsaw/120studs, 3inch riser, flybars, upgraded foxshocks, weisco pistons, lightly ported, 19tooth top 32thooth bottom soon to come bored carbs, plastic skis, new helix and ramps BRAAAP

-1994 indy trail 500- all stock, great on gas

coloradoman25

Apex Mtn

Yamaha

__________________
Co Springs Co
1999 Powder Special 700 1500 miles
1999 Powder Special RIP
2003.5 Mountain Cat 900 Mod Sled
1998ish zr600 In the mad scientists garage getting some new guts and mods...Should be interestin.

Ditch hopper

dont think hes gonna be riding moutians or boon docking he just wants to get around and be able to carry stuff!

__________________
Real men Hijack threads

-1995 zr580- aaen pipe, epi clutch kit, camoplast ripsaw/120studs, 3inch riser, flybars, upgraded foxshocks, weisco pistons, lightly ported, 19tooth top 32thooth bottom soon to come bored carbs, plastic skis, new helix and ramps BRAAAP

-1994 indy trail 500- all stock, great on gas

Cdndairyman

maybe you could look at Skidoo Renegade in either a 500 SS or 600 SDI. The SDI will get about 20mpg which is amazing for any sled. The SDI and the 500 SS motors have been around for a while now so they should be as reliable as anything. The Renegade will give you a longer track and will also be 1" wider as well. You can also get a buddy seat for them as well. If you are looking for more storage room then anything else then you should really be looking into the utility sleds. The Polaris Widetrack LX comes with a 500cc motor that has been around since the 80's. The most mass produced motor in a snowmobile. Extremely reliable and good on gas too. The have a 13 gallon tank for lots of range and come with room for 2 people and gear as well
here's a link to it...
Snowmobiles : Touring : WIDETRAK LX : Overview

Skidoo also makes a good utility sled here is a link to that one...

http://www.ski-doo.com/en-US/Snowmob...on/The.Basics/

Hope any of this helps!

__________________
2001 MXZ 700 (mine)
1999 Indy 500 (wife's)
1974 TX 340
1996 GMC Seirra Z71 (my baby )
2007 Outlander 500
2003 Foreman 450 ES (farm bikes)

JDS

I'd get a Polaris Trail Touring Deluxe, MSRP $6300. It's got a 550 Fan cooled engine that is bullet proof. I'd also suggest the AC T500, MSRP $8400, with EFI which might be better because of the extreme temp. The AC T660 Turbo is also a good choice.

__________________
JD
____________
2001 Arctic Cat ZR500
2003 Polaris Trail RMK 550F(wife's)
1991 Arctic Cat EXT SP 550
1991 Honda Fourtrax

RoadkillSTX

Here are some of my recommendations:
From arctic cat: T Z1 LXR
Arctic Cat
Saddle-bags and double up riding position, remote start (HAHA ON A SLED) and a heated seat

From Ski-Doo: GTX
http://www.ski-doo.com/en-US/Snowmob...TX/The.Basics/

From Yamaha: 2008 Venture Multi-purpose
YAMAHA MOTOR CANADA
(Scroll down to the multi-purpose section)

From Polaris: Use the "Meet Your Model"
Snowmobiles : Meet Your Model : MeetYourModel
Probably a Trail RMK

__________________

1996 Formula STX 583

2000 Polaris Indy XC 600 Deluxe 45th Anniversary

I feel no shame I'm proud of where I came from, I was born and raised in the boondocks
one thing I know no matter where I go I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks

Jorel77

Cdndairyman,

Thanks for that info. I just found that there is a Polaris/yamaha dealer in Nome, also a Ski Doo dealer. There is no Arctic Cat dealer in nome. I would like to have a dealer nearby to service the sled and to buy the sled from. I am not a mechanic. Nome is rolling hills to flat. No trees, just tundra. Temps at -20 to -30 common. -40 to -50 rare.

SkiDooFormulaMX

thats too bad the t660 touring is right up your alley.

__________________
2003 ARCTIC CAT ZL 600 EFI SS-2700 MILES-GETTING SOME MILD TWEAKING THIS SUMMER

2002 ARCTIC CAT Z 440 ES-622 MILES-MINT, JUST LOOKING FOR SOME STUDS AND FATBOY TORSIONS.

1997 ARCTIC CAT EXT 580 EFI DLX 4000 MILES-SOLD 8/08

1998 ARCTIC CAT ZR 600 EFI-3700 MILES-BUILT-SOLD-9/07

1996 INDY CLASSIC 500 ESR-5100 MILES-SOLD 4/08

1987 SKI DOO FORMULA MX 470-12000 MILES-SOLD 12/07

Ditch hopper

x2 there aswome sleds proall the only 4 stroke i would buy

__________________
Real men Hijack threads

-1995 zr580- aaen pipe, epi clutch kit, camoplast ripsaw/120studs, 3inch riser, flybars, upgraded foxshocks, weisco pistons, lightly ported, 19tooth top 32thooth bottom soon to come bored carbs, plastic skis, new helix and ramps BRAAAP

-1994 indy trail 500- all stock, great on gas

Octane

I personally wouldnt buy a 4-stroke if you ride in those temps because the darned thing will never start.
Get a fan-cooled 2-stroke. Polaris, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat; it doesnt matter, just buy from whatever the best dealer is.

__________________
'01 Polaris Indy 600 XC SP EDGE X
Powermadd articulating bar riser with 2" riser block (total rise of 4 1/2")
Pro-X seat
red Cobra low sno-x windshield
Pure Polaris handguards with Pure Polaris mounts
almond/blue drive clutch spring with 10-60 weights
121" x 15" x .91" track with 96 studs.
7,100 miles

lrnnorth

I would suggest a fan cooled engine. Maybe a polaris 550 touring or a ski-doo freestyle 550. Very simple to use and maintain. I would for sure get one that has a dealer in Nome. Somthing i have noticed is Artic Cats dont do well in the cold. Most people here stay away from them they have a very bad tendency to seize in the winter time. I'm not trying to bash them but just saying what I notice here.

__________________
01 Polaris RMK 136"
- 01 600 VES Engine - Uni Air Filters
- Sno Stuff Rumble Pack - Powermadd Boost Bottle
- Custom Painted Hood - Powermadd Bar Riser
- EPI Pro Series Clutch Kit - Xtra-10 rear suspension
01 Yamaha VK III 540 (The TANK)
Out Of Commission Till Next Year

coloradoman25

I rode my powder specials where it was negative 20 without wind 2 weeks ago. I trailer them in through Alamosa Colorado temp wihtout windchills was -31 and I was trailering them at 70+ mph on an open trailer. I had no problems getting them started 10 pulls between the 2 sleds..

So I dont think in at least my experience that they have a problem in cold weather.

__________________
Co Springs Co
1999 Powder Special 700 1500 miles
1999 Powder Special RIP
2003.5 Mountain Cat 900 Mod Sled
1998ish zr600 In the mad scientists garage getting some new guts and mods...Should be interestin.

lrnnorth

I'm talking about hard-core cold. Up here is for real. Today was -53 with the wind -35 without. Day in and day out -30 and driving for long distances and having to have dependability. Here is alot like what it is there and nome might even be colder than here. I wasnt talking about starting, im talking about burning them down and oil pump failure and serious stuff like that. I'm not trying to come down on you im just saying that snowmobiling is entirely different up here in the winter. I just want him to realize this.

__________________
01 Polaris RMK 136"
- 01 600 VES Engine - Uni Air Filters
- Sno Stuff Rumble Pack - Powermadd Boost Bottle
- Custom Painted Hood - Powermadd Bar Riser
- EPI Pro Series Clutch Kit - Xtra-10 rear suspension
01 Yamaha VK III 540 (The TANK)
Out Of Commission Till Next Year

goody_8

I would advise to call up to where you will be at and find out what they are using, ya know, as far as what has been proven to be reliable and such. Call local establishments around the area, see what they recommend. I would guess that the majority of them use the same machine if they have been proven to be reliable...

Just a thought,
Hope this helps...

__________________
1997 XCR 440
1997 Vmax 700 sx

Jorel77

goody8,

On the internet i see that the local polaris dealer is the oldest polaris dealer in the world. Little town, about 3000 people. My wife is already up there. I called her a bit ago and she said she sees polaris a lot. She will ask around. Thanks everyone

Old Man

For what your looking to do with the sled, my choice would be a Yamaha VK540.