4 wheeler vs snowmobile

[Hoffer]

Hi all-

I have a question regarding getting around on the ice with a 4 wheeler vs a snowmobile. At first I was thinking of buying a snowmobile - but then started to rethink things towards a 4 wheeler - as I could use that during the spring, summer and Fall too.

However, how does a 4 wheeler perform on deeper snow or slush etc...vs. a snowmobile?? Would one be alot better than the other?

I may post this on the ice-fishing thread as well.

Thanks!

Hoffer

[Surface Tension]

I live up North where we get a lot of snow and I own both.

The way this year is shaping up for snow and slush the wheeler will stay home.

Slush and wheelers don't mix. Throw in extreme cold temps and all that slush builds and builds on the wheeler and freezes. Travel in those conditions is slow on a wheeler and chances of getting stuck are good. Deep snow will be slow going.

Deep snow doesn't bother a sled. Can go through and on top slush but you do have to pay attention.

Travel across the ice is much faster on a sled and the ride is warmer as the wind is blocked by the body and windshield.

Early and late ice when there is no snow, parking lots are dry and bare the wheeler is what I take.

As said I live where there is a lot of snow. If I had to choose one or the other to get out ice fishing it be the sled.

If you in the Southern part of the state you might be able to get by with just the wheeler.

[MuskieJunkie]

Here's my 2 cents, I see you live in the metro area like I do.

4 Wheeler. I use to be big into snowmobiling and I always tell people 99% of snowmobile ownership is Storing, trailering, maintaining and repairing it. 1% is you're at the trail, it's running perfectly, the trails are in good condition and your friends sled is ready to go too. Plus for use in ice fishing, if you don't have snow on the lake you can't use the snowmobile, the snow is needed for lubricating the track.

However if you don't care about trail riding and you fish a lot of big water you might want the snowmobile. I could haul my portable up to 70 mph and didn't have to worry about the deep snow and slush Surface talked about. BUT in all the years I had it I think there was only one time I ever really fished like that.

It's a good question, I'm interested to hear what other's think. You should link it to the ice fishing thread.

[Northlander]

Up north where we catch the big fish and have big snow a snowmobile is a must. wheelers are good the 1st and last couple weeks at best.

[Eric Wettschreck]

It really depends on where you are and where you're going.

Down here in Dixie, last year was an exception, a wheeler gets me around just fine. Plus I can use it all year long.

Last winter, if you didn't have a snowmobile you wern't getting on the lake after Christmas.

Pros and cons of both.

Wheelers do not do well in deep snow or slush unless you have tracks on them. Even then, they're more limited than a snowmobile. By the time you buy a track kit for the wheeler you could get a cheaper sled and still have your wheeler.

[opsirc]

I have used both, but as surface tension said, the slush is hard on a wheeler and really makes for hard going. with that said I have see snowmobile also get bogged down in slush.

[HNTNBUX]

Yep I have to agree with most above. I have both and they each have their place. Deep snow and a long ride I will take the sled everytime. A little snow, no slush I prefer the wheeler. I also use both as stand alone entertainment trail riding so the best of both worlds. If I had to choose one it would be a wheeler, you just wont get as much off trail or road riding in deep snow.

[SkunkedAgain]

My neighbor lives on the lake year round with no round access. He's got a hovercraft for the ice-on and ice-off times and used to just have a 4-wheeler. He broke down two years ago and added a snowmobile for all of the reasons noted above. The wheeler works great for many situations but not in the deep snow or slush, which is a part of being on a lake during the winter.

[gregg52]

ONE THING I DIDNT SEE ANY ONE MENTION IS THAT A SLED IS GOING TO DISPERSE WEIGHT MORE AND LESS CHANCE OF GOING THREW IN CASE YOU WOULD GO ACROSS SOMETHINNER ICE UNINTENTIONALLY

sorry bout screaming....lol didnt know i as to lazy to retype it

[chris63]

I've wondered about that for years.Which would be more pounds per square inch?A 250 pound man carrying 60 pounds of gear.-or-A 150 pound man on a 625 pound wheeler (including gear)?Also say a 488(fan cooled engine) trail Indy vs. a 450 Polaris ATV,which has a lighter foot print as far as weight or pounds per square inch on the ice?c63

[MuskieJunkie]

I've wondered about that for years.Which would be more pounds per square inch?A 250 pound man carrying 60 pounds of gear.-or-A 150 pound man on a 625 pound wheeler (including gear)?Also say a 488(fan cooled engine) trail Indy vs. a 450 Polaris ATV,which has a lighter foot print as far as weight or pounds per square inch on the ice?c63

I think it's Willcraft that advertises their vehicle has a lower PSI than a person walking.

[Gas Man]

I run one of each. Both machines are useful and have advantages and disadvantages. Each machine has been rigged with racks and boxes so I can spend the day fishing with or without a portable. If the choice is between one and the other, it really depends on where you honestly plan to do the majority of your fishing.

I have found that most metro and central Minnesota lakes, with decent drive on access can be fished pretty easily with the quad. That’s not saying that you will need to flock fish with the guys with trucks. It just seems to me that truck traffic creates a system of pretty decent trails that will access the major hotspots. You will need to judge for yourself whether or not you can get in and out of the quieter areas in between. On lakes like this, I can move with the bite efficiently with the quad.

If I am fishing north of Highway 2 in Minnesota, I will usually take the sled. I find that on most of the lakes that I fish up there, I am either making the first tracks, or there were few others before me on the ice. Nine times out of ten I encounter slush. It is tough to load the quad at the end of the day when the entire bottom of the machine is a block of ice and you cannot move the handle bars. It can get to the point that the suspension is so iced that you cannot compress the springs when strapping down. Not fun. If it’s a light snow year or time of year, and I plan on targeting a small area with short distances, then I might consider the quad.

In all of the years I have fished Lakers in Canada, I have only taken a quad on one trip, and it rained most of the time.

[bottom-bouncer]

I have owned both. Really deep snow snowmobile no question But sleds do not like slush either and they will freeze up just as bad or worse than a wheeler been there done that. The wheeler will be much more versatile put a set of chains on it and you will be amazed at were it can take you.

[chris63]

Wheeler..........................game over.Sleds onward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!c63

[Esox_Magnum]

Glad I have a sled not a quad after this snow.

[PurpleFloyd]

Rode my UTV most of the morning today and will be riding it in the morning again out back.

[BLACKJACK]

How about a four wheeler with tracks on it?? Are the tracks hard to put on? Or could you leave the tracks on year around?

How about the addition of chains to a 4-wheeler? How much will that help??

[LightningBG]

tracks are quite expensive. For the price you could have a ATV and sled.

Chains will help a little bit.

Way back when, I saw a diagram on a poster that showed that the PSI of a person on foot on the ice was 10X that of a snowmobile with rider.

(Now thats not to say that you are 10x more likely to fall through)

[marine_man]

I think a lot of it depends on where you fish and what the access is like.

If you live in a metropolitan area and there's a good chance there's the start of a trail, 4 Wheeler for sure.

Where I fish, there's usually no trail unless I made it... snowmobile every time in those conditions.

marine_man