Choosing a snowmobile

[Guest]

I live in northern Wisconsin and am shopping for an ice fishing/trail riding snowmobile. Needs to be long track, 2-up, not sure if liquid or fan. Plan to use on trips to Minnesota & Ontario breaking trails, towing 1-3 sleds, etc. Anybody have any opinions or suggestions as to what machine might work out best? What about Ski-Doo Skandic or Polaris Wide Track? Anyone have experience with these types of machines? Concerned about trail riding capabilities. Rode a 2000 Polaris(model?) fan, long track, 2-up last year...very nice, but not sure of off-trail, etc. Thank you for any responses!

[Guest]

Banjeau,since I'm a Polaris man I can only speak for them. It sounds like what you were riding was either the Sport Touring, or the Sport Touring ES. Both of these would work well for trailing riding and ice fishing.

From reading your post I would look seriously at the wide track. Great for blazing trails and it's liquod cooled, so when towing loads on those warmer days you won't have any worries about engine temps. It would make a great all around sled for you.

Paul

[bigpike]

I agree with pwaldow. I have ridden polaris for several years now and have no complaints. the wide track liquid cooled sled would be perfect for what you described.

[Xplorer]

banjeau,
My father in law has had a wide-track for 4 years now. It is quite the beast, he lives outside of hurley and uses it to break trail into his cabin all winter (2 miles) His has high/low gear and a large storage compartment under the seat, which is great for an axe, come along, ice rods etc. Only one thing is if you do manage to get it stuck it is HEAVY (thus the come-along), he even considered putting a warn winch on the front.
He has had only one issue and the new ones have probably changed since then. His rear taillight burns out about every 100 miles. He has tried everything from Polaris, to the dealer to various wiring config's (he's a retired electrician/lineman) to no avail. Now he justcarries spares all the time.
For heavy duty work tho, this is the sled.
Xplorer

[Guest]

Xplorer,

In the last few years they have lightened up the wide trak considerably, while still maintaining the large storage compartments. I also heard from others that have had the wiring problem with the taillight and they were not able to solve it either.

Paul

[Guest]

I use a 800 RMK for icefishing and the thing goes through anthing. It handles good on trails as well but there isnt much room for doing any "trick" riding. But for general trail rides its great. It pulls allot of weight in deep snow.. Look to spend a extra grand for elec start/reverse to be added and another 400 for a 2up seat.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/

[This message has been edited by D-man (edited 11-29-2001).]

[Xplorer]

Yea I believe it. Dont think I have seen anything else frustrate the guy so much. Just when he thinks he's got it figured out, it goes again.
Still having quite the time in getting my steering post to loosen up, only option per polaris is to either replace (pain in the you know what) or keep trying to force grease in it)

[Kingfisher]

You people sure are knowledgeable. I just want to add that last winter when my fishing buddy and I were thinking about going together to buy a fishing sled we looked closely at what the resort owners were using on LOW, we saw mostly Polaris wide tracks, one resort owner who I know had a Polaris W/track and also a Artic Cat Bearcat 550 wide track, so I called him up and asked him which sled he liked the best, and he said his own personal preference was the Bearcat, but both sleds are excellent sleds. My buddy and I decided to buy each a sled so we both bought 1993 and 1995 long track Panthers with E/start and rev.