The Snowmobile Thread

[Chevy_man]

I didn't take any pictures, but my buddy made sure to get one before I could unfuck myself...

 

[Tin Roof]

We have cancelled both of our trips for the season. We were supposed to leave yesterday for Northern Wisconsin and their trails are closed due to no snow, next weekend we were going to the UP and it's the same situation there. This is the first year in about 5 years that I did more riding in Iowa than Wisconsin.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Don't forget to release your park brake.

If you don't, you'll get about 1/2 mile down the lake before you've melted a 2 inch hole through your boot, burned through your boot liner AND sock and actually burned your big toe.

Yes that's charcoal in the brake rotor well. If there hadn't been some loose snow on the ice the sled would have been gone entirely.

It will also cost you north of $1G in parts.

On the older sleds, the rotor was at the top of the gearbox, so the engine didn't have all the gear reduction of the transmission to help drive through the brakes. Now the rotor is after the gearbox.

This was his first time out with a snowmobile, and it's a 900 4 stroke utility machine, (and he's not much mechanically inclined...)

 

[Chevy_man]

Don't forget to release your park brake.

If you don't, you'll get about 1/2 mile down the lake before you've melted a 2 inch hole through your boot, burned through your boot liner AND sock and actually burned your big toe.

Skidoo problems

Main reason I won't buy or ride one. They make them so wide that if you're trying to keep the front end down it feels like you're also doing the splits.

Polaris put the brake in the correct spot, on the jackshaft where it belongs.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Skidoo problems

Main reason I won't buy or ride one. They make them so wide that if you're trying to keep the front end down it feels like you're also doing the splits.

Polaris put the brake in the correct spot, on the jackshaft where it belongs.

Yeah, too bad Polaris doesn't make widetracks or even utility sleds.

 

[Chevy_man]

Yeah, too bad Polaris doesn't make widetracks or even utility sleds.

They do actually. Their utility sleds are wide tracks. They even have a 20".

 

[Chevy_man]

Doing a little side hilling today. Damn sugar has no traction or lift.

Then I had to do a track check. Gotta be able to blame getting stuck on those 3 lugs that were missing

And a sunset picture looking towards Yellowstone Park

 

[WTF?]

Popped my snowmobiling cherry in west Yellowstone on a boys long-weekend trip last weekend; conditions weren’t the best but not the worst either. we got some fresh snowfall, and found a few valleys sown south in ID that were deep and untracked, learned a bit about sticking and recovering sleds- plenty of laughs and the beer was cold nobody injured themselves nor the rental sleds.

Won’t be the last trip for most of us; already talks of future UP trip; other suggestions for a long weekend guys trip next year are welcomed.

 

[Chevy_man]

Popped my snowmobiling cherry in west Yellowstone on a guys weekend trip last weekend; conditions weren’t the best but not the worst either. we got some fresh snowfall, and found a few valleys sown south in ID that were deep and untracked, learned a bit about sticking and recovering sleds- plenty of laughs and the beer was cold nobody injured themselves nor the rental sleds.

Won’t be the last trip for most of us; already talks of future UP trip; other suggestions for a long weekend guys trip next year are welcomed.

The snow this year is horrible. We got snow during the cold so it's light sugar, then warm sunny days put a crust on it, then more fluffy snow.

The UP I think is only worth it if you're close by. There's so little elevation and it'll be a disappointment after having the vast playground that is West Yellowstone and Island Park. I know the locals will get all butthurt, but it's just not an exciting place unless you're coming from flatland trail riding.

Cooke City is amazing. However, this weekend we've seen 27 small avalanches. So you need beacons, airbags, and an understanding on recovery. That picture above of my sled upside down I was moving snow 10 feet in front of me and to each side as I rolled and pushed on the sled. It was a 40* slope, so steep enough it naturally slides constantly.

This year northern Cali got dumped on. If you're flying in and renting, it makes sense to just wait and see where the snow is.

Next year should be a la niña year again, so we'll get deep heavy snow in the west like normal. 2 el niño years in a row really screwed with the snow.

 

[WTF?]

The snow this year is horrible. We got snow during the cold so it's light sugar, then warm sunny days put a crust on it, then more fluffy snow.

The UP I think is only worth it if you're close by. There's so little elevation and it'll be a disappointment after having the vast playground that is West Yellowstone and Island Park. I know the locals will get all butthurt, but it's just not an exciting place unless you're coming from flatland trail riding.

Cooke City is amazing. However, this weekend we've seen 27 small avalanches. So you need beacons, airbags, and an understanding on recovery. That picture above of my sled upside down I was moving snow 10 feet in front of me and to each side as I rolled and pushed on the sled. It was a 40* slope, so steep enough it naturally slides constantly.

This year northern Cali got dumped on. If you're flying in and renting, it makes sense to just wait and see where the snow is.

Next year should be a la niña year again, so we'll get deep heavy snow in the west like normal. 2 el niño years in a row really screwed with the snow.

Yeah, i know it wasn't the best conditions the state has to offer, but as east-coast skiers, we have extremely low standards and those conditions last week represent the top 30% of mountain days to what we were raised on I thought February in W yellowstone was a pretty safe bet when booking it, but here comes 40 yr record low snowfall. We're just grateful the muddy slush trail conditions were isolated to the 7-10 miles to the west of town.

getting 5-6 guys to book flights and time off requires some degree of advanced planning with a bit of picking a sort of safe bet or at least something with options of which direction to drive from the airport, but also need locations with rental option availability. it looks like i may have gotten spoiled by picking one of the cheapest locations in the country to rent and ride- $950 all in for flights, lodging, 2 days of sleda and suburban rental split.

one of the draws to the UP is casino stops/ some meager form of nightlife for our late 20's gambling degenerates in the group, and we're all on the east coast so its about as local as it gets for us ( maine doesnt seem to give a lot of backup plan options).

I think we've checked Montana off the list- the group member who was stationed in Great falls is pcs'ing out back east at the end of this month, so this was sort of the last hurrah.

On general principle i'd rather not give the communist republic of California a dime of my tourism dollars..


By all means please offer any other suggestions/ideas you may have.

 

[Tin Roof]

If you like on trail riding and nightlife the UP or northern Wisconsin is great. Nights on the weekends the trails are full of drunk people, keep that in mind. There’s far more accidents than what gets reported. I like riding days during the week. Less traffic and you get to see the sights.

 

[WTF?]

If you like on trail riding and nightlife the UP or northern Wisconsin is great. Nights on the weekends the trails are full of drunk people, keep that in mind. There’s far more accidents than what gets reported. I like riding days during the week. Less traffic and you get to see the sights.

As far as I'm concerned, the riding day ends at sundown unless broke down or stuck; there's enough potential hazard/recklessness out there when you can see well in proper light...

 

[the conservative atheist]

If you like on trail riding and nightlife the UP or northern Wisconsin is great. Nights on the weekends the trails are full of drunk people, keep that in mind. There’s far more accidents than what gets reported. I like riding days during the week. Less traffic and you get to see the sights.

Yup fuck traffic. I always took Fridays off so I could ride any snow that fell during the week before everyone and their brother beats the trails on the weekend.

Not this year, though. Trails I pick up near my house have not even opened once so far this year. They got snow further North but I assume even they are thin or gone by now.

 

[Chevy_man]

Yeah, i know it wasn't the best conditions the state has to offer, but as east-coast skiers, we have extremely low standards and those conditions last week represent the top 30% of mountain days to what we were raised on I thought February in W yellowstone was a pretty safe bet when booking it, but here comes 40 yr record low snowfall. We're just grateful the muddy slush trail conditions were isolated to the 7-10 miles to the west of town.

getting 5-6 guys to book flights and time off requires some degree of advanced planning with a bit of picking a sort of safe bet or at least something with options of which direction to drive from the airport, but also need locations with rental option availability. it looks like i may have gotten spoiled by picking one of the cheapest locations in the country to rent and ride- $950 all in for flights, lodging, 2 days of sleda and suburban rental split.

one of the draws to the UP is casino stops/ some meager form of nightlife for our late 20's gambling degenerates in the group, and we're all on the east coast so its about as local as it gets for us ( maine doesnt seem to give a lot of backup plan options).

I think we've checked Montana off the list- the group member who was stationed in Great falls is pcs'ing out back east at the end of this month, so this was sort of the last hurrah.

On general principle i'd rather not give the communist republic of California a dime of my tourism dollars..


By all means please offer any other suggestions/ideas you may have.

Idaho, Washington, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado.... Hell, there's a bunch of riding in New Mexico that's better than the UP

You might have seen West, but you didn't ride Cooke or Seely. Both arguably better than West but not as easy to access.

 

[90supra]

there's a bunch of riding in New Mexico that's better than the UP

That is extremely true right now.

Snow was absolutely amazing this weekend. Deep and somehow forgiving. Had an absolute riot this weekend.

 

[KrustyTJ]

By all means please offer any other suggestions/ideas you may have.

If you can swing it I’d go to Alaska usually no shortage of snow it can differ from south to north but that’s about it . I can fly out of Detroit and be in Anchorage in about time to drive from Detroit too the UP. You can drive a hour south of anchorage and be in some steep and deep or go 2-3 hours north for epic trails that get into some good off trail riding pay attention to fuel up there.

 

[Weasel]

cooke city is an amazing place in the summer and would be insane in the snow on a mobile. Folks have no idea.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Guy took his expedition out this past weekend (from my posts above with the burned up brakes).

I guess it didn't take long and the brake lever got super hard and applied the brakes for him. Guessing fluid expansion, or maybe a sticking piston in the brake lever?

I've had the same happen to me, but it was because water in the brake fluid boiling/expanding. Flushing it out and new fluid solved that issue.

This one got new fluid and flush obviously when we replaced the caliper/rotor. Maybe something in the brake lever got dirty/cooked?

Gonna flush it again and if it don't fix it it'll get new master cylinder and hose.

Do you call it a master cylinder on bikes/sleds?

 

[Chevy_man]

Guy took his expedition out this past weekend (from my posts above with the burned up brakes).

I guess it didn't take long and the brake lever got super hard and applied the brakes for him. Guessing fluid expansion, or maybe a sticking piston in the brake lever?

I've had the same happen to me, but it was because water in the brake fluid boiling/expanding. Flushing it out and new fluid solved that issue.

This one got new fluid and flush obviously when we replaced the caliper/rotor. Maybe something in the brake lever got dirty/cooked?

Gonna flush it again and if it don't fix it it'll get new master cylinder and hose.

Do you call it a master cylinder on bikes/sleds?

Most likely it's in the hose. If it's a Hayes brake their parts are way cheaper going direct.

 

[Chevy_man]

cooke city is an amazing place in the summer and would be insane in the snow on a mobile. Folks have no idea.

It's boring in the summer, only a few roads. You can literally go anywhere you can get to inside of the wilderness area boundary in the winter.

I think that's why I'm so excited to go sledding. You can go to all the places you'd be thrown in jail for going in the summer. Just make it up and drive wherever there's snow. Any line you can see is fair game.

 

[TiTRD]

Been searching for the right trailer for weeks. Find a decent deal and it's sold. So just ordered a 2/3 place hybrid. 16' with 7' interior height.

Went this way because my kid is begging to camp this summer and we can add a few things to make a decent rough camping trailer out of it.

Also if I decide on a side x side eventually, the extra height clears it no issue.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Been searching for the right trailer for weeks. Find a decent deal and it's sold. So just ordered a 2/3 place hybrid. 16' with 7' interior height.

Went this way because my kid is begging to camp this summer and we can add a few things to make a decent rough camping trailer out of it.

Also if I decide on a side x side eventually, the extra height clears it no issue.

What's a "hybrid" ?

 

[TiTRD]

^ that

That one is just taller, longer, and 11" narrower than typical to get it legal width and not a tall deckover. It's the industry's answer to a trailer that is in between an enclosed and clamshell.

They normally look like this:

 

[Chevy_man]

Yeah, you east coasters are odd

We only see full width enclosed 4+ place trailers, open 2 place, or sled decks. 90% of the trucks at the parking lot are sled decks.

I've never seen a clamshell or enclosed 2 place in person. I didn't know they were anything more than an idea.

 

[TiTRD]

Yeah, you east coasters are odd

We only see full width enclosed 4+ place trailers, open 2 place, or sled decks. 90% of the trucks at the parking lot are sled decks.

I've never seen a clamshell or enclosed 2 place in person. I didn't know they were anything more than an idea.

Salt. The shit sucks on anything open.

This will fit 3, which is all I need.

 

[BUCKLAND]

Sled decks are for posers on the east coast.
Flat biller fags.
Clamshell sled trailers serve one purpose, and they do that just fine.
Fuck open trailers, I’ve had one since ‘98 and haven’t put a sled on it since 06.
Buy what works for you.

 

[Chevy_man]

Salt. The shit sucks on anything open.

This will fit 3, which is all I need.

Ah, the decks get them up above the spray and are way easier to park.

Open trailers do suck.

I'm also used to everyone having a few spare sleds around because when we break stuff in the mountains it's generally not getting fixed very quick. So having 2 guys fill a 4 place enclosed for a weekend is normal.

 

[KrustyTJ]

Yeah, you east coasters are odd

We only see full width enclosed 4+ place trailers, open 2 place, or sled decks. 90% of the trucks at the parking lot are sled decks.

I've never seen a clamshell or enclosed 2 place in person. I didn't know they were anything more than an idea.

It's funny how trailers vary by location in Michigan most sled trailers are covered because of all the road salt. Lots of 2 place that are clam shell most 4 place are built like a car hauler with a ramp in the front v and rear ramp door. I rarely see sled decks here I did see a lot when I lived in Alaska also most people up there that did have a inclosed trailer had them setup for camping in not many hotels to stay at up there and cheaper than a cabin rental just camp in the parking lot.

TiTRD first trailer he posted reminds me of a dirt bike or atv racing trailer put the tools up front haul 2 bikes or 2 quads. It looks tight for two sleds or a utv doable but tight.

 

[TiTRD]

TiTRD first trailer he posted reminds me of a dirt bike or atv racing trailer put the tools up front haul 2 bikes or 2 quads. It looks tight for two sleds or a utv doable but tight.

It's 16' and will fit my 3 sleds or a 4 seater UTV. Will work with our 2 quads and will camp for a long weekend. It'll work out just fine

 

[KrustyTJ]

It's 16' and will fit my 3 sleds or a 4 seater UTV. Will work with our 2 quads and will camp for a long weekend. It'll work out just fine

They must be short track sleds my f7 with a 144 and sks with 136 barley fit in my 7x14 dirt bike trailer it held my cr500 and quadracer just fine but sleds it was not meant for I upgraded to a carson funner runner toy hauler. I've went full circle back to a open two place tilt and a open 18 ft car trailer covers and salt shields are a must I do miss a enclosed at times. Good looking trailer what did it set you back