What should I be looking for? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

nzsnow · 04-18-2009, 07:00 AM

Hi everyone, here is a complete newbie, please go easy on me!

I live in New Zealand, and having spent time in Canada and the US skiing and watching enviously as every one heads out the back a few days after a fresh snow fall, I figure that it would be pretty sweet if we could pull that off here in NZ.

So I am looking for a suitable sled to access the terrain that is primarily heli country here, for backcountry skiing.
Things are quite different here in terms of access, terrain and elevation than what you folks are used to over there and hence the sled that we need here will be quite specific.

We don't have the luxury of being able to ride from a trail head off the highway or service road, instead have to drive to the winter snowline (4000ft) in 4x4 with sled on the back. So it pretty much needs to be a good climber right off the line.

We won't be spending huge days in the saddle but need 2 up and towing capability.

The snow is not as deep and light as some of the western states, and is more like a shallower version of the snow around Tahoe etc. It also firms up pretty good here and is real variable through elevation so needs some good cross hill ability in hard snow.

We don't have trees, and the hills are steep around the area I'm from.

Also the temp here is a lot warmer than your side, the temp probably hanging around 32F mark during the day in winter, and with the snow not being super deep the cooling of the engine becomes an issue.
I spent a day last winter out with 2 sleds in the B/C and the smaller of the two had real issues over heating (ski doo 550/600?) but the 800 REV seemed to be fine.

I was looking at obviously the summit series from ski doo but also the MTX yamaha's??

also it gonna have to come in to NZ from the states as there are no retailers here because no one but a hand full of people really uses them here.

Any ways there is quite a lot of reading hope its not to confusing and I appreciate any answers/ideas that come up.

Thanks.

Ultrafrozen · 04-18-2009, 07:23 AM

Welcome to the forum from Canada!

I'm more of a flatlander so I can't help much with the mountain sled selection. I do know that mountain riders tend to stand on the running boards and switch from side to side of the sled when sidehilling. This may make it hard to ride two-up.

I'm sure the West Coast riders wil chime in with sled selection. The Polaris RMK line will likely be suggested. You may be better off logistically with a Yamaha being closer to Japan.

Enjoy the sleddin'.

**BC_Dan** · 04-18-2009, 08:42 AM

Welcome to the forum!

I would look at the availability of service and parts as a main criteria for what brand of sled. They break, and it's nice if you can fix 'em quick to keep riding.

I would suggest trying different ones out, but that doesn't seem to be an option for you. I have not seen a 2-up sled riding in the mountains where I ride, but if you took any of them and put on a deeper lug track (maybe longer, too) any of the manufacturers would offer something that should work in the snow you describe.

For the mountains, light sleds are king; there's no such thing as a "light" 2-up, especially with two riders and their boards/gear.

You may want to post this question at Snowest.com, there are a lot more mountain riders frequenting that forum.

Good luck in your search!

xxxthebxxx · 04-18-2009, 03:22 PM

Welcome! That's a lot of criteria to fit, but I'll do my best. You'll definitely want a mountain sled, whether it be a summit, RMK, etc. I've never heard of a 2-up mountain sled, but I do know you can add on a second seat, but that'll hamper your mountain climbing and side-hilling abilities with the extra weight. But, if you do get a 2-up model, definitely look into a paddle track with deep lugs (2 inches). Hope this helps!

nzsnow · 04-18-2009, 05:42 PM

Thanks everyone for the quick info, yeah I know 2 up isn't really what happens where you guys are, but we would be using it as a tool to get to the hard to access terrain and either doing laps skiing/boarding with skins when there or if its easy doing laps with the machine.

Over here they are considered a "poor mans heli" simply because they can put you in the middle of nowhere like a heli very quickly(and cheaply), places that with other wise be off limits due to the length of the walk in.
Yeah parts being the other issue for sure, thats why I was thinking of the yamaha.

I was well impressed with the climbing capability of the rev that we used last year and figure that a true mtn sled would be even better, although we did break a drive belt that day and I heard that he cooked it later in the spring.
But thanks again for the info, hope the spring is treating you folks well.

**BC_Dan** · 04-18-2009, 09:15 PM

I am wondering if an Arctic Cat Bearcat with the 20" wide track may meet your needs... lots of flotation, you won't be making any highmarks, but with that wide of a track, in the right snow they may go anywhere. The Bearcat is used a lot in Alaska for movement of people and supplies, it may work pretty well for you too!

Spring has definitely come to the West coast, it's supposed to be 75 tomorrow. I'm still looking to get out at least ONE more time on the sled

I love sledding in a T-shirt!

keefer · 08-04-2009, 10:25 AM

I would also look at the skidoo superwide 800 4 stroke. It is amaizing where those machines will go while pulling a heavy load.

**RJ Gleason** · 08-04-2009, 11:11 AM

Since you are not planning to be trying for records of hi-mark, or speed runs up a chute, a utility style sled will probably work better for you since it is designed to haul heavier loads.

catfan · 08-06-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC_Dan

I am wondering if an Arctic Cat Bearcat with the 20" wide track may meet your needs... lots of flotation, you won't be making any highmarks, but with that wide of a track, in the right snow they may go anywhere. The Bearcat is used a lot in Alaska for movement of people and supplies, it may work pretty well for you too!

Spring has definitely come to the West coast, it's supposed to be 75 tomorrow. I'm still looking to get out at least ONE more time on the sled

I love sledding in a T-shirt!

O im jealious i want to ride in the mountians so bad and in a tshirt! the guys here say it ruins it for flatland riding. Yeah a utlity sleds sounds about wat u are going to want to look at. maybe sticker a little bigger lug track on it.