Need some ADVICE!!!!!! - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

jeffcool326 · 11-10-2012, 07:24 AM

A friend of my dads has 3 Ski doo snowmobiles with a newer 4 place ride on ride off trailer. The 1st sled is a 1996 Ski doo 500 2-up touring with reverse, The 2nd sled is a 1996 Ski doo sls 500, the 3rd sled is a 1996 Ski doo sl 500. They are all liquid cooled, And in great cosmetic condition. The trailer is in good condition too. They have not been ran since 2008. They have been on the trailer and covered. They all pull over and have good compression. Engine compartments are very clean also the suspensions and tracks are in great shape. He wants me to make him an offer he will not give me a price. He owns his own business he is not hard up for money. He is a good friend of the family. I was just wondering what you all would offer this guy for the sleds and trailer in a package deal. Thanks in advance! Jeff

davidnnoah · 11-10-2012, 08:08 AM

It depends greatly on your location. Around here, that's a $2k trailer and if each sled runs well they would average out around $1100. Those are fair prices. A good deal for you, I would think would be 15, 5, 5, and 5 or 3k for the package.
Make the offer then start cleaning carbs. Good luck.

nunrleft · 11-10-2012, 11:21 AM

Trailer and sleds have been sitting for 4 years. Conditions are now unknown. The trailer bearings, brakes, and wiring will need to be gone through as will all the components of each sled.

If these were used and maintained consistently or even properly stored, I would say david is correct. But, they haven't been.

$1,000 for the trailer (assuming it's aluminum) and $500 each for the sleds. Be prepared to spend another $500 to $1500 to get them in usable condition.

Ultrafrozen · 11-10-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunrleft

Trailer and sleds have been sitting for 4 years. Conditions are now unknown. The trailer bearings, brakes, and wiring will need to be gone through as will all the components of each sled.

If these were used and maintained consistently or even properly stored, I would say david is correct. But, they haven't been.

$1,000 for the trailer (assuming it's aluminum) and $500 each for the sleds. Be prepared to spend another $500 to $1500 to get them in usable condition.

WOW, I wish prices were that low up here!

**smallengineguy** · 11-10-2012, 07:40 PM

Those are $800-$1000 sleds all day.

davidnnoah · 11-11-2012, 08:25 AM

Yes they are but one must consider all the factors. 1 - The owner has let them sit for 4 years so he has no use nor interest in them. 2 - The owner is a friend of the family and as I read it, wants to give the buyer a deal if he'll just come up with a reasonable offer. 3 - As St Paul mentioned, the sleds are not currently running.
All this tells me there is a great deal to be had and great deals don't usually knock on the front door. Better answer the door, Cool Jeff.

jeffcool326 · 11-11-2012, 03:31 PM

Well I offered him $1800 and he came back with $2000, So i bought them. Been tinkering with them all day. The 500sl and 500sls started up aftering draining the tank, adding new gas and new plugs. Haven't messed with the 2-up yet. Tomorrow night maybe, Thanks all for all the advise!!!!!!!! Jeff

**smallengineguy** · 11-11-2012, 03:48 PM

Gotta love the quick starts! Now check the chaincase oil, grease them, etc.

Ultrafrozen · 11-11-2012, 07:08 PM

You might get no starts the next time you run the sleds as the new gas can work old varnish and gummy deposits loose to find their way into carb's tiny jet orifice. I hope all is well but if not, a carb cleaning would be in order.

Glad you get an awesome deal.

davidnnoah · 11-11-2012, 09:20 PM

You scored. Well done, sir.

oldEnticer · 11-13-2012, 01:33 PM

Excellent deal.

Get the 2 up running and sell it for around a $1000, then sell the 4 place trailer and you could buy a good 2 place trailer and have the two 500 sleds for "free."

nunrleft · 11-13-2012, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallengineguy

Those are $800-$1000 sleds all day.

Correct, in running condition. These aren't. Getting them to start and having a reliable snowmobile are two drastically different things. Heck, just the wear items and fluids for three sleds and a trailer is going to be several hundreds of dollars.

Gas $35 x 3 $105
Oil $10 x 3 $30
Belt $70 x 3 $210
Hyfax $25 x 3 $75
Wear Bars $70 x 3 $210

Don't forget the grease and wheel bearings, registration etc. If he were in MN the registration and transfer fees would run over $200 for all of them. Keep in mind these are normal expenses and doesn't include any repairs that may be needed.

I know if I ran across a deal like this at least two of the sleds would have rust on the crank bearings and would seize up within the first 20 miles. Been there, done that. But I do hope for the best for the OP.

rgoers · 11-14-2012, 01:11 PM

Who expects a seller to drop the price for fluids and registration? Yes, those things go with the cost of OWNING a sled, but you can't expect a seller to knock off $$$ for them. I think the OP knew he'd have to buy gas for them, and register them...

As for the deal he got - I think he did pretty well!!! The trailer would go for $1600 or more where I live, and the sleds would bring $1000 each, all day long. So, he scored around $5k in "stuff" for a couple grand. Not too bad...

squiggs650 · 11-14-2012, 01:44 PM

well i wouldnt take advantadge of it but i have had that happen to me before with diff things and I made an offer lower then what the item was worth and he said he would have taken less, becuase he was a good family friend and wanted to see someone use them he wouldnt make a price becuase he was going to take what ever i offered so just keep that in mind, but dont take that as that is what is he going to do, i would just be reasonable and take into acountt that they havent run and you are prob gonna have to invest some money into them..

nunrleft · 11-14-2012, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgoers

Who expects a seller to drop the price for fluids and registration? Yes, those things go with the cost of OWNING a sled, but you can't expect a seller to knock off $$$ for them.

The point I was trying to make is that these sleds are only worth $1000 each if they are reliable sleds with no work needed.

Would you pay top dollar for a used sled with worn belt, slides and carbides? The registration, oil and gas are expenses he'll need to incur in order to verify the reliability of the sleds once any work is done if he plans on selling. It's the cost of doing business, whether you're rebuilding sleds to sell running a home inspection company. Everything is an expense.

Skid · 11-15-2012, 12:47 AM

Great deal I would say. I payed $1800 for a mint 2 place covered 05 Triton and a running 96 Formula III 600 and felt like I stole it. 2Gs for 3 decent sleds and a trailer to haul them sounds better than the deal I got. I can't see you investing more than another grand in getting everything serviceable as long as you can do the work yourself. Maintenance stuff like plugs, bearings, fluids and belts are a given when dealing with 17 year old sleds. Best of luck with your new toys.

rgoers · 11-15-2012, 05:04 PM

I paid $1000 2 years ago for an 8x11 tilt trailer and a '97 Summit. I thought I got a pretty good deal since the sled booked for more than that by itself. My plan was to dump the Doo, and keep the trailer (that's the whole reason I bought the package... I needed a trailer). Turns out the Doo was in better shape than anticipated, and I've used it the past 2 winters without having to put a penny into it. :-)