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Posted: 10/5/2022 6:22:25 PM EDT
I haven't owned a sled since I was in high school, and then it was one from the early 90's, so I've been out of the loop for a long time.
I'm seeing tons of sleds coming up for sale on marketplace lately, and prices seem much lower than they were the last few years. I'm thinking of grabbing one to use just to mess around on the trails and maybe for ice fishing and trapping. Maybe like 10-15 years old. Any good models that seem to hold up well, or are easy to wrench on? Any models to avoid? The Revs all look pretty cool....and being on a gun forum, I'm assuming that the cooler it looks the better choice it is. |
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When I hear the word "sled" I think of the old school runner sleds, toboggans and the like.
What you're asking about, I think of as a "snow machine" or "snowmobile". Don't get enough of it consistently in my part of Pennsylvania to warrant buying a snowmobile, so I have no further advice to give. I did go on on Facebook and snap up some Mountain Boy sleds, a Colorado company that made high ends sleds for way too much cash and went broke. Lots of yuppie Libs near Philly bought them and they come up regularly on the classifieds. |
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I have 4 Polaris Indys that I bought a few years ago. Cheap and seam to run ok.
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Quoted: I have 4 Polaris Indys that I bought a few years ago. Cheap and seam to run ok. View Quote My dad still has one from the late 80s. A 400 that he got for free from a guy he took a tree down for. It was just sitting in the clean up area and the guy said "You can take that sled too if you want" I put new head gaskets in it and it fired right up. He had a 600 for years too that he ended up blowing up and getting rid of. Those things don't seem to die. |
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I haven't rode one in twenty years and even back then they were fast as fuck
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The best older sleds to get are Yamaha's - They are not the fastest, they don't have the softest suspension, but they start and run every year with minimal maint
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That is a damn fine sled. |
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The old fuji built polaris twins are bulletproof. Stay away from the Rev chassis if you go skidoo.
Used to lurk here when I was in the game. GL. Hardcore sledder |
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Out in the west we ride mountain sleds with long tracks. They are clutched and geared for the deep snow. I miss my ZRT800. Something about the Triple cylinder muscle sleds are just a blast on the trails!
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All the polarises catch fire. Both mine are under the stop-ride.
For trails and utility I'd look at yamaha or cat. Mountains are almost exclusively poo/doo with an occasional cat in the mix. Buy the newest in your budget. Performance and handling have made huge leaps in tye last 5-10yrs. |
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Quoted: I haven't owned a sled since I was in high school, and then it was one from the early 90's, so I've been out of the loop for a long time. I'm seeing tons of sleds coming up for sale on marketplace lately, and prices seem much lower than they were the last few years. I'm thinking of grabbing one to use just to mess around on the trails and maybe for ice fishing and trapping. Maybe like 10-15 years old. Any good models that seem to hold up well, or are easy to wrench on? Any models to avoid? The Revs all look pretty cool....and being on a gun forum, I'm assuming that the cooler it looks the better choice it is. View Quote Attached File |
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Yamaha 4 stroke 1000 efi. They will outlive you.
Don’t get it stuck. |
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How much do you want to spend?
Stay away from polaris 550's,certain years of the 800's. Doo's stay away from the 550's,ptek 800's and certain etec 800s. Their 4 strokes are gtg. Arctic cats are crazy and need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb. Yammies are heavy but good Sleds are pulled by snogos. Or Cessna 207's. |
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When I hear “sled” I think of an old Harley.
I don’t know shit about snow mobiles though. |
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They Like BRP around these part's....but most modern sled's it's how they are treated, If you treat it right it will take care of you.
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The old 340 Artic Cat Jags, simple 2 stroke air cooled.
Found a few for less than $200 in my area on Craigslist and garage sales. |
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Quoted: Out in the west we ride mountain sleds with long tracks. They are clutched and geared for the deep snow. I miss my ZRT800. Something about the Triple cylinder muscle sleds are just a blast on the trails! View Quote Yeah, I feel like his criteria might be different from mine. I'm riding a 2018 RMK 800 165. Stage three SLP, full Z-bros suspension. Its a ripper, but damn those turbo sleds (much want). OP, I had two Rev's. I hated working on them, but liked riding them. Some of them had engine bearing issues. Something to read up on. Mine were both fine. The old trailing arm sleds I just got an old Yamaha for free. I can't remember what it is and I'm not walking out there right now Phazer? It's cherry, but I have no use for it. |
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Quoted: When I hear “sled” I think of an old Harley. I don’t know shit about snow mobiles though. View Quote get both? Attached File |
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Ski Doo 600 ETEC is about as bullet proof as it gets. Guy above saying avoid the PTEK and ETEC 800s doesn’t know shit. Had a handful of them without issue as long as you do the maintenance on the crank bearings. Later model Polaris Liberty 800 is a fine motor. Any late 90s/early 00s Arctic Cat double/triple 600 is bullet proof (since it’s an Suzuki motor). Early 00s Arctic Cat F7 WITHOUT the diamond drive is bullet proof.
I don’t get the bashing by people who still braaap. I’ve owned literally every major 600 and 800 from late Arctic Cat 600s/Yamaha 600s to my current 2021 Summit SP 850. PTEK, ETEC, Suzuki Arctics Cats, Liberty 800s, never had an issue with any of them. |
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Quoted: I haven't owned a sled since I was in high school, and then it was one from the early 90's, so I've been out of the loop for a long time. I'm seeing tons of sleds coming up for sale on marketplace lately, and prices seem much lower than they were the last few years. I'm thinking of grabbing one to use just to mess around on the trails and maybe for ice fishing and trapping. Maybe like 10-15 years old. Any good models that seem to hold up well, or are easy to wrench on? Any models to avoid? The Revs all look pretty cool....and being on a gun forum, I'm assuming that the cooler it looks the better choice it is. View Quote Mine may be for sale... Has smidge over 2,200 miles |
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Try and buy as new as possible..sled tech is in warp speed and the new stuff destroys even just a few year old stuff...brand wise, meh, they all have issues, they all perform great, I would try and ride all them , compare dealers and buy the best machine with the best local dealer...My buddys currently ride Polaris or skidoo, I know a few who ride Yamahas, and one who rides arctic cat..but most go polaris or skidoo...
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Quoted: The best older sleds to get are Yamaha's - They are not the fastest, they don't have the softest suspension, but they start and run every year with minimal maint View Quote I am an Arctic Cat guy but I agree with the older Yamahas. You can get them fairly cheap and they seem to run forever. I’ve owned several over the years. My kids learned to ride on them and I used them as loaners. |
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Quoted: Ski Doo 600 ETEC is about as bullet proof as it gets. Guy above saying avoid the PTEK and ETEC 800s doesn't know shit. Had a handful of them without issue as long as you do the maintenance on the crank bearings. Later model Polaris Liberty 800 is a fine motor. Any late 90s/early 00s Arctic Cat double/triple 600 is bullet proof (since it's an Suzuki motor). Early 00s Arctic Cat F7 WITHOUT the diamond drive is bullet proof. I don't get the bashing by people who still braaap. I've owned literally every major 600 and 800 from late Arctic Cat 600s/Yamaha 600s to my current 2021 Summit SP 850. PTEK, ETEC, Suzuki Arctics Cats, Liberty 800s, never had an issue with any of them. View Quote 600 sdi is way more bullet proof than the etec. OP get on dootalk.com for lots of good on skidoo's. For narrow trails do not be afraid of the skidoo skandics. Also the expedition and expedition sports. Good all around machines that can be had in 16in,20in and 24in wide tracks. We have a 2016 doo expedition le 900 ace. |
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lol
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If you want to wrench, something like a Bombardier B12 from the 1950s might be interesting. You could do a restomod.
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I have my father's Flexible Flyer from when he was a kid.
If he got it around 8 years old, that would make it a 1932 model. If it was one of his older siblings(he was the youngest of 5), who knows what year it is. He woodburned his name on the underside. |
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If I ever buy another snow machine it will be a four stroke. I’ve rebuilt my skidoo REV twice.
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