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Newbie Needs; Information for equipment novices
Topic Started: Jun 4 2007, 03:30 PM (1,084 Views)
leigh
Newbie
[ * ]
I am a Northeastern newbie with a limited requirement. I own a cabin up a half-mile private road with only three-season vehicular access, even with 4X4 and L.S.Diff. The grade is too steep to plow/traverse in winter. We currently snowshoe into camp in snow season. I am interested in a low-cost method to get us up the hill. Many have advised a wide track, work snowmobile. Others, a bombardier-style vehicle. Some an ATV with tracks. I notice on this and other sites that farm vehicles can be converted with tracks.

The snowmobile would be fun to use for recreational purposes. Ditto the ATV. The farm vehicle could be put to work year-round. Cost is a key factor. So is distance: the cabin's about four hours from home and trailerability might come into play, though a friend close by would let me store at his location.

Any thoughts or recommendations?
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jasonmxz
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ATV with tracks are good from what I hear, though I am not sure if they would take on the snow and grade you are talking about. Might be better off with a wide track sled. How much $$$$$ are you looking to spend.
snochiefs.com
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stevep
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stevep
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is there a snowmobile club that grooms near your road, some clubs for a small donation will run thier groomer down your road . It would make it eiasier to get in.
Evergreen Valley Snowmobile Club
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leigh
Newbie
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Since my planned use is minimal (in and out maybe a dozen times over a several-day weekend for maybe ten or so weekends per year, max), I'd prefer to spend as little as possible: maybe $2,500 - $3,500 for a used something. After several break-ins, I installed a locked farm gate with I-beams sunk in the ground and a cable lower down the road. Thus, a local club probably isn't feasible. Plus, my road is a distance from the local trails.
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jasonmxz
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What about just a good old snowmobile, $2500-$3500 would get you a great used machine, Run up and down the road a few times to pack it down and you should be able to pull a sled behind it with no problem to take any gear up there with you.
:my2c: :needsnow: :summer:
snochiefs.com
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RJ85MSP
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Get a older Tucker with the front or mid engine. Very inexpensive, will go through as much snow as you like, more then an ATV would ever wish to go through. Sure it wouldn't have the "fun, recreational" factor but it would be warm inside, haul all your gear in one shot and be pretty cool on top of it. The Chrysler 318 that is in many of these vehicles is a good engine and easy to work on.

We sell a lot of our older cats to resort/personal use type of people for the exact reason your are mentioning.

I would shy away from a twin track hydrostatic vehicle for the sole fact if you have to work on it or do quick fixes. Good luck! The Tucker is easy to work on, easy to get parts almost anywhere.

I would buy a sled myself just so I could rip it up a bit once I got to the cabin!

Sleds are for winter, and ATV's are for summer. There cheap enough to have both.
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DrZaugg
Dr Zaugg
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I think by now you have seen that we all have our opinions. Since you are in New England, there should be a good chance to pick up a decent small cat like an Imp or Bombi. You have mentioned trailerability. I am thinking that you do not have a lot of experience at pulling a load. An Imp or other cat that size is up to your task, and very easy to load and unload. There is nothing wrong with a Tucker, except the size. Take your time, find the snowmobile clubs close to you, and tell them what you are looking for. DO NOT go and buy something by yourself!! there are many odd makes out there. Get to know someone close in a club who you could pay to go with you to look at whatever you find. We have had so many people call and say that they found this or that and want parts, but ther were only three of the machines ever made and there are no parts. BE CAREFULL. I think you will have to spend at least four to five thousand to get something you can actually use and get decent service from.
Paul
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stevep
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stevep
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I do know of a 1975 tucker forsale here in NH with roller drag included for $10,000 price I believe nacotiable. I do know it can be delivered. Sorry I don't have any pitchures.
Evergreen Valley Snowmobile Club
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Snowcat Operations
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DrZaugg
Jun 8 2007, 08:50 AM
I think by now you have seen that we all have our opinions. Since you are in New England, there should be a good chance to pick up a decent small cat like an Imp or Bombi. You have mentioned trailerability. I am thinking that you do not have a lot of experience at pulling a load. An Imp or other cat that size is up to your task, and very easy to load and unload. There is nothing wrong with a Tucker, except the size. Take your time, find the snowmobile clubs close to you, and tell them what you are looking for. DO NOT go and buy something by yourself!! there are many odd makes out there. Get to know someone close in a club who you could pay to go with you to look at whatever you find. We have had so many people call and say that they found this or that and want parts, but ther were only three of the machines ever made and there are no parts. BE CAREFULL. I think you will have to spend at least four to five thousand to get something you can actually use and get decent service from.
Paul

DrZaug hit the nail squarley on the head! A small snowcat is by far your best bet. Snowmobiles are only good for signal fires in my opinion. The thing to watch out for on any Snowcat is can "YOU" work on it. Hydrostatic drives stay away from period. A Bombi is about the size you need. They run about 10K and up. Plus you will need a trailer so add another 2K to be safe. You should also have a minimum of a 3/4 ton Truck or Suburban / Excursion to tow it with safely. If you can do all that and be able to work on the unit then you will be in good shape. If your the kinda guy who doesnt know how to change the oil in his car then buy a snowmobile. On a snowcat you need to beable to adjust the tracks tension (easy), change all the fluids in the Engine, trans, rear or front diff depending on model (easy), work on and beable to tune up an engine (not difficult but space may be limited to work in) and know how to use a grease gun (this you will do everytime you come back home). It sounds like alot of work but for me its a labor of love and I actually look forward to maintaining my fleet. I also know that it was done correctly because I do all of my own work period. I currently have 4 Snowcats and will be adding a 5th one to my little fleet. They are addicting and the cool factor is way up. You can go places no one would even think they could go during the winter and the pictures you can take are one in a million. There are advantages to snowcating that no other form of travel can offer. But you can also just use it to get to your cabin. Just dont think its like a car and get in it and go. That can get you killed. You must maintain it period. Hope this helped. Also there is another forum that specializes in personally owned snowcat users not just groomers and such. This other forum was designed just for guys like you who use a snowcat to access cabins and such. http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65 Several members here are over there as well.
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e2spear
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leigh
Jun 4 2007, 02:30 PM
I am a Northeastern newbie with a limited requirement. I own a cabin up a half-mile private road with only three-season vehicular access, even with 4X4 and L.S.Diff. The grade is too steep to plow/traverse in winter. We currently snowshoe into camp in snow season. I am interested in a low-cost method to get us up the hill. Many have advised a wide track, work snowmobile. Others, a bombardier-style vehicle. Some an ATV with tracks. I notice on this and other sites that farm vehicles can be converted with tracks.

The snowmobile would be fun to use for recreational purposes. Ditto the ATV. The farm vehicle could be put to work year-round. Cost is a key factor. So is distance: the cabin's about four hours from home and trailerability might come into play, though a friend close by would let me store at his location.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Try a SUV with tracks. Not much maint. needed. Plenty of room and very comfortable.

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Snowcat Operations
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I had MATTRAX on my jeep and they sucked! There ok in light snow but anything approaching powder and you might as well have tires on. Plus they cost me $13,000 and are now even more expensive! NOW all snow is diffrent so It would depend on where you are located and what type of snow you get. For me they just didnt work worth a damn.


IF anyone is interested I have found a nice BR100 all set up and ready to go. This is a very nice unit and needs absolutely nothing. Its ready to go to your cabin. They are asking 15K and its worth every penny. You can PM me for the info if you are interested.
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e2spear
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I would not give a grand for Matracks. We build our own with snowmobile tracks and they go every where on snow. :winter:

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