Sled or wheeler

[Sandmannd]

Hey guys, I'm looking at working a trade on either a wheeler or a sled. I'm not sure which I want. I have someone who has a decent sled to trade me. Just want to make sure I get what's best. I think a sled would be best for ice fishing, but a wheeler you can use all year. What would you all recommend.

[bassNspear]

i just traded in two sleds for a wheeler. Makes so much since cuase we dont get snow like we usta, and a wheeler can do anything. Alot more for what i used these for, so a wheeler was the best choice.

[FishingWebGuy]

Depends on what you want to use it for. If you need to go out 20 or 30 miles on LOW you might appreciate how fast a sled gets you there.

If you want something to pull you out on smaller lakes and want to use it 4 seasons, a wheeler is probably your best bet.

Sleds are less prone to break through the ice when moving and can definitely handle more snow. But wheelers are definitely more fun when there isn't any snow.

[MuleShack]

and of course for an extra 5K you can put tracks on the wheeler and go anywhere....

[reelemin]

WHEELER Hands down - year round use. we don't get the snow like we use to, and if we do its short lived. Also it is so much easier to haul an auger and other gear ON the wheeler than on a snowmobile. A wheeler is MUCH more practable.

[BigWadeS]

Shane, you hit the nail on the head with both. Sled would be nice for going across ice fishing but if you are looking for the best fit or best all around would have to be a 4-wheeler. I personally would much rather have a 4-wheeler and get additional accesoriess to fit the season specific use. (someday maybe/hopefully both)

[jltimm]

Wheelers don't fill your clothes with two stroke fumes, (unless of course you manage to buy a wheeler that is a 2 stroke). Sleds resale value are terrible, and they suck gas worse than any wheeler.Wheeler's are alot more maneuverable (SP?) Fit in a truck better, and are way easier to get loaded, and unloaded. And as noted earlier the wheeler is alot more capable of carrying alot of gear.Wheeler wins in a landslide!

[TimR]

Do you have a use for a wheeler year round?

I don't. I hunt in the fall and boat in the summer.

You can pick up a sled cheap, it'll take you wherever you need to go ice fishing, keep you warmer than a wheeler, go places a wheeler won't, starts well in the cold, and is more fun on the days fishing is slow.

Tim

[Duffman]

If we ever do get any real winters around here again, there's going to be a lot of ATV's sitting idle on shore during the ice season.

[fishinJohn]

If you don't own land or know someone who does then I would get a snowmobile. If the primary purpose is to help with fishing I would be pretty mad if I couldn't make it through the snow. I think with a lower center of gravity snowmobiles are safer.

[Sonicrunch]

I bought a wheeler but should have bought a sled. I couldn't get on a few lakes after that February snowfall this year. The wheeler sat in the garage all summer. I got a snowplow with the wheeler and gave away my snowblower. That was a mistake too. Snowblower was faster, and did a nicer looking job.

Sled would have been better for me. It would have cost less, and I would have been able to do more ice fishing.

[Heft]

You can typically get a used snowmobile alot cheaper than a four wheeler. A decent used sled could be bought for around $1000. Its hard to find a good four wheeler for less than $2500. Get the snowmobile and have money left over for more toys!!

[DTro]

I just went through this saga myself. I really wanted a wheeler, but the more I thought about it, it would be used mainly for fishing with some trail riding inbetween.

I decided on a sled. Saved a bit of money over a wheeler, and I know I'll be able to go where I need to on the lake. If you will be using it for hunting or work around the yard, I'd go with a wheeler for sure.

[toughguy]

It all depends on where you want to use it too. If you are a southern MN fisherman a wheeler should work all season. If you want to try and hit Mille Lacs or any lake north of there this weekend with a wheeler you might have a lot of problems. I'm a sled guy mostly because of the price but also because I make a few trips up north each winter in places a wheeler can't easily make it.

[computerboy]

For ice fishing, I would recommend a sled. For year round, obviously a wheeler. The real question is, do you have any practical use for a 4-wheeler other than for ice fishing? It may seem like a great idea, but if you aren't going to use it for hunting, trail riding, removing docks, hauling debris, etc then the year round versatility of a wheeler would be of little value to you.

The versatility and towing capacity of a wheeler are compelling, but they do come at a price. Used wheelers are more expensive than used sleds, more dangerous when crossing cracks/slush/thin ice, and are almost useless for travel if there is a significant snowfall. The fact that you can't use a wheeler to get on the ice after a big snowfall was pretty much a deal breaker for me. And given the fact that I really didn't have any use for a wheeler outside of ice fishing, a sled was the obvious choice in my case.

Good luck!

[minnbowhunter]

Hiya Sandman, A wheeler with chains is my advice. I can haul my wheelhouse with the wheeler on bare ice. Deep snow is a problem. I would get the wheeler 400-500cc's anything bigger is not needed and the insurace goes up after 500. Keep your eye out for a cheap used sled. Who says you can't have one of each.

[Crazy4 Ice]

One of each? I like it...now just have to sell the idea to the wife AKA "voice of reason".

Love the topic, it's like you guys have been reading my mind this season. I really like my fishing set up but it seems all I'm missing ia the ATV or sled. I was just on a trip to LOW and we use an ATV through about 8-12 inches of now and the little 400cc Articat really made me a believer. It hauled 4 guys, 2 potable houses and all on the trailer we pull the ATV with. I thing the biggest issue we had was that the trailer tires where too big for the amount of snow fall and would not turn very well. I was very surprised how much of a work horse the 400 was and makes me think about why you would ever need more than 500cc. Don't get me wrong, we didn't move fast and a sled would be ideal in the snow but I don't thing the sled could have pulled the trailer with a 2 man flip over portable, a 8x4 suit case portable and 4 guys with gear.

[Kylersk]

I my self just bought a sled this past year just for driving around and a little ice fishing. I used it a couple weekends ago to pull my portable and it worked great. How ever, my father-in-law used his wheeler to get to the same area.

How much more I'll use it? I dont know.. When I pull my wheeled house out, I'll use my 4-wheeler. I'll also use my wheeler to travel from the landing to my wheeled house. I guess the only time I'd use my sled for ice fishing was if I was on a very big body of water and wanted to go out with a portable. Or, maybe to do a bit of trail riding on the sled and leave my home and head directly to the wheeled house.

[Bandit]

I have both, use the wheeler most of the time. The blade works great for banking the house too. I fish LOW most of the time, seems like the roads usually take me where I want to go.

[Sandmannd]

Well I brought it up to the boss (the wife) and she was [PoorWordUsage]y with me. Too many toys and wanted to know where I was goig to store it. Didn't really have an answer since we are kinda running low on space. But dang I wants me one.

[311Hemi]

Just going through this myself. I have had a sled for the past 7 year and this is the first year without one come this time of year. Could not decide between the two....but I am now looking at a sled this weekend.

I have a short driveway, 1/2 acre yard, and don't ATV in the summer (fishing is priority). It would be good for my one weekend of deer hunting..and other than that I would need to rely on it all winter to get me where I want to go on the lake with a portable. The sled seemed the better fit....plus I love to ride....so I just could not see myself without a sled. The wheeler just would not have seen the use to justify it at this point.

[Glockwinger]

I would be happy with either one right now!

If given the chance, I would probably choose a wheeler for the use for both hunting and ice fishing. It would sit for most of the spring and summer though. That is why I have not made the plunge thus far.

[hanson]

The way this winter is shaping up, unlike the last few years, my choice would be a snowmobile and wouldn't think twice about it. Sure seams like we're going to end up with some decent snow amounts this year. Factor in the slush factor that has already happened and the ATVers will be struggling in mid-winter this year.

[MuleShack]

You could always get a used wheeler and get a set of tracks put on for the same price of a new one with wheels. they go year round because these dont have hyfax. They will go any place a snowmobile will go too i guess...and more in the summer thru mud and swamps.

(no i'm not a sales man, it's just one of many "steps" to be able to fish with mobility...and not ever have to drive my truck on the ice .)

This is on my wish list also...just not this year....

[rockman]

Now you're talkin'! I have to give some serious consideration to putting tracks on my Arctic Cat. Already saw them over at the ATV forum,but a good option to consider anyway.