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Trail Bully Opinion; Your thoughts?
Topic Started: Feb 6 2008, 06:38 PM (2,433 Views)
trailboss77
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Went to the groomer show here in Wisconsin today and tried both the Husky and the Trail Bully. Since Prinoth is dropping the BR180 these are basicly the only 2 track machines available to us for replacement. Our 2001 BR180MP is due for trade in and we will be ordering a new machine for next fall. I know the Husky is pretty new to the area but I am wondering if anyone has an opinion on the Trail Bully. It has only been on the market for a few years but there must be some out there. :flag:
Have been grooming since 1978 have covered more than 100,000 miles of snowmobile trail.
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groomerbob
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I have demoed them a few times but we don't have one. I don't like two track machines, BUT I would say the Trail Bully is strides ahead of the Husky and even the BR180s. They seem to be well thought out and implemented. Certainly a comfortable machine compared to everything else out there and the longer wheel base (extra axle) gives it a better ride and more traction. Also handles the drag better.

Just an opinion.........
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30yrgrmr
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We demoed a Trail Bully at the Michigan Snowmobile Association's Groomer Workshop at Munising last winter. It appears to be a very well designed machine. The fit, finish, and component accessability was very impressive. It had plenty of power, but had minor problems turning under heavy loads in soft deep snow, as most twin trackers do. The steering wheel control was different, but after some experience, was operator friendly. The cab was also very comfortable.

We too have a 180 Bomb (2000) that is due for replacement. We will probably purchase a Trail Bully. We have found that there is a need to have varied design tractors as there is no perfect tractor on the market. We use a 4X4 New Holland 8560 w/duals/Arrowhead for flat RR grade trails, a New Holand Sur-Trac 125 for heavy snow in hills, and the Bomb 180/ La Cross for tight trails. Fuel consumption is about the same for all three. Each has it's quirks and it's advantages. As I said, there is no perfect grooming setup.

I, personally like Tuckers, but they are very high maintenance machines, somewhat offset by easy repairs and easily obtained parts.

As in owning autos and sleds, the best machine is one you are happy with, and your dealer treats you well. Dealer availability is a BIG concern. They all break, sooner or later. If your dealer is 200-500 miles away, it is a big concern. Our Bombardier Dealer was 500 miles away. We have a New Holland dealer 10 miles away, so we like the New Hollands for that reason. We have scheduled a John Deere/Soucy/Norco Processor demo for next week. We look at all of them!

By the way, MSA is hosting a Grooming Workshop at Munising again this year, February 29 - March 1, at the Best Western. All are welcome. It's a chance to operate several different machines, the same day, the same conditions, for comparison. Drag dealers show up too. Plan on attending if you can. You won't be dissappointed.
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Rocky
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Trailboss77 I liked our Trail Bully but i have to tell you they dont float. If you go to the Vilas county alliance meetings we can talk about them
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trailboss77
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Rocky
Mar 2 2008, 10:04 PM
Trailboss77 I liked our Trail Bully but i have to tell you they dont float. If you go to the Vilas county alliance meetings we can talk about them

Rocky,

You must be from the Arbor Vitae club. After the groomer show in Munising, they dropped the Trail Bully off by us to try out. I just got home from running it all night and I have to say that I am very impressed with it. I have always been a big Bombardier fan but I have to say, the Trail Bully makes my BR180 look like a piece of junk.
Have been grooming since 1978 have covered more than 100,000 miles of snowmobile trail.
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mike p
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30 yr grmer our club has a 97 tucker. I am wondering what you are talking about as to high maintenace with tuckers? We have not had much snow this season and have only put 60 to 80 hrs on it. It was new to us at the beginning of the season. We have blown a hydraulic line and 1 leaf spring this year thats about it so far. I'm just wonering what else we should watch for or to expect in the future. How much experience do you have with the Tuckers? Thank for any info. Mike
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Pekabu
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When I drove the Husky recently it really reminded me of our old PB. It's kind of funny. Looking at their websites they are in some respects the same machine. Both use MB 904la engines, I think the Prinoth mechanic said the Huskys are running Rexroth motors (Going by memory so feel free to correct). They look similar. Haven't driven the new PB's though. The PB's seem just a bit bigger than the Husky, and the BR's a bit smaller.

Ahhhh, new groomer smell. :D
Southern NH Snow Slickers
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xcspxlt
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I also tried out a Husky this weekend in Grand Rapids, it reminds me also of the PB100. :angry: Only 8 years later. I think they are behind times with this groomer.
Very rough ride if you ask me, bounced a lot in the trail in the low areas. I Think for the same reason as the PB100 did. Idlers spaced to far apart up front. :mad:
The Scout had a smotter ride. :wacko:
XCSPXLT
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trailhound
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All groomers have some maintenace to them.It all boils down to how well you maintain the machine.I wouldn't say that Tuckers are a high maintenance machine.For my club's application the Tucker can't be beat for tight trails in the woods, pulling steep hills or deep snow areas this machine is awesome.And our units have 5000 plus hours on them.Tuckers are easy to work on and most parts can be bought locally.Don't have the long wait to get parts. :grm: :my2c:
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30yrgrmr
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I can only go by my past experience with Tuckers. In operating and maintaining 5 or more Tuckers, I have had problems with rear springs, rear fifth wheels (rear steering plates), rear axle housings (shearing off the spring mount pads), front and rear driveshafts and U-joints, bent steering arms, sheared tie-rod ends, cleats, bogie wheels, and broken track belts.

I admit some of the problems were caused by driver error. In Paradise, Michigan, I had 11 operators, if you could call some of them "Operators". This was a test of all tests for grooming tractors. 200 miles of nightly 2-3 foot moguls, 7 nights a week, with two new Tuckers with new Trailmaster drags. Some of the trails are 50 miles one way. We had to carry U-joints, cleats, track patches, and driveshafts onboard. The traffic was and is terrific there. 1,000-2,000 sleds a day would be a close guess. Snow depths run upwards of 250 to 300 inches.

The problem with the rear driveshafts and U-joints went away after I figured out that the factory had the wrong driveshaft angles and corrected it by tilting the pig up to aim at the transfer case output shaft. The following year, Tucker changed the angle and admitted a design mistake, too late.

We ripped the spring mount pads off from the rear axle housings by not having enough "Swing", from having the swing stops too close and not allowing enough swing in big moguls. Scratch two axle housings.

The spring problem was from the rear springs not being heavy enough, causing spring "rap up and rebound". We built heavier springs to cure that and bent the rear fifth wheel steering plates. At the Groomer Workshop at Munising last week, I noticed that the rear springs have been replaced by a cast steel mounting plate with no springs at all and the fifth wheel plates are heavier!

The cleat and track belt problem is from running too close to the edge of the trails, placing a lot of weight on the center of the cleat, instead of spreading it full length. When you break a cleat and don't detect it soon, you break track belts. Changing to "Heavy Duty" cleats and heavier belts cured that.

We had bogie wheels separate the rubber from the wheel. The tire then goes through the sprocket and makes the track so tight it breaks the belts. They have changed the new bogies.

The new rubber tracks are giving everyone fits with ply separation. I hear there are lawsuits over them.

True.... almost all parts are GM Truck parts, available at your local auto parts store. Thats the BEST thing about the repair end.

Even with all these problems, I still think the Tucker is the most comfortable, user friendly tractor out there. Their front blades are bar none the best made and easiest to use. The ride can't be matched by any twin tracker. The turning radius is great. The only drawback for some operators is the lack of rearward sight. You have to be a real operator to run the drag efficiently.

I'm not slamming Tuckers, just telling you my experience with them. Remember...there is NO perfect grooming tractor. The best one is the one YOU are happy with.
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mike p
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Thank you for the post 30 yr groomer. Lots of good info there. I love this forum you can always get good answers from guys out on the trail doing the grooming. Great sit :letsnow: e Koz :jump:
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fourstroke
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Now we need someone to be as honest about the twin track units. Good post 30 year. :jump: :jump: :jump:
:grm:
past groomers
alpine
polaris lx
ASV track truck
bombi's
br-200
tucker 2000
present groomer
2000 Blazer 4 dr w/7' drag
2001 GMC Jimmy 4 dr w/8' drag

web site tbsci.com

central new york
28 years grooming
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trailboss77
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fourstroke
Mar 8 2008, 08:38 AM
Now we need someone to be as honest about the twin track units. Good post 30 year. :jump: :jump: :jump:
:grm:

I agree.

I know with our BR180's our most common problem has been the wheels and axles. Have tried many different variations with wheels and so far haven't had much luck although the ITL's (???) do show some promise. As for the axles, not sure what is going on there. I know the stiff hitch is adding extra stress but..... Our 1999 broke an axle two weeks after we bought it (new) and once replaced, we never had problems again. With our 2001 and 2005 models, we've gone thru numerous axles. And for some reason, have had to wait up to a month for a replacement. :mad: You could have one made in less time than that.
Have been grooming since 1978 have covered more than 100,000 miles of snowmobile trail.
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drmiller100
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great post on the tucker.

on the pb edge, it would probably be miserable for what you are doing. in the spring here, the pb is kind of the wrong tool, but it does get teh job done.

someone posted they got 2 feet of snow in a week. we've seen 2 inches an hour for 24 hours before, with winds at 20 plus mph making drifts up on our passes. how much does that add up to???? 8 foot drifts????? who knows?????

for those conditions, a drag just flat won't work, and i question somewhat based on pictures whether a tucker or any 4 track machine would make it over the pass.

Heck, we've seen plenty of days where we couldn't get the PB up the hills through some of our snow.

the bombi's are certainly very comparable machines. some say the bombi tiller is better, some say they are balanced better, some say the blade on the pb is better. i've never run a bombi, but those that have sure love them.

is our sur track in the same class as the PB? Nope, it is a different machine. The operator on the sur track is bored as it is SOOOOO easy to groom with one, and the trail lasts forever. both are 2 track machines, but in entirely different classes with entirely different uses.

I'd be curious to try a tucker. might get to see one in action next week.
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jim228
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Our club has the PB Trail Bully since Dec. 2005. GREAT MACHINE. Plenty of power, burns only 2.5 - 3 gph, is very comfortable, and is so easy to train new drivers in that I really feel a monkey with half a brain could manage to learn to drive this unit! :lol: j/k
I know that I can travel down a trail with a blade full of snow cutting the moguls and an MTN drag full of snow leveling the bumps at 11.7 mph on a GPS unit. Now I'm not saying that one should groom at 2,300 rpms and at that speed for long distances, all I am pointing out is that it can do it and I have a friend that video-taped it doing just that for quite a while.
Whoever gets a Trail Bully will love it. And for those 4 track drivers that think a 2 track machine can't rurn well in the woods, you better try a Trail Bully before making that statement. In a Tucker, you have to steer into the corners well in advance and then steer OUT of each corner. A PB you turn the airplane style steering wheel about 2 inches while right at the turn, hold it, and then let go when fully turned with the wheel going back to center/neutral all by itself. It takes about 2 trips with a PB to understand that one doesn't have to steer through corners, so once you get that through your head it's unbelievably easy and smooth. We have Tucker drivers from other clubs that groom for us, so I know first hand. I also have driven a newer Tucker 2000 twice on trails.
I would have to say that the quietness in the cab of the Trail Bully at working speed is one of the best features also. You can hear the radio at low volume, carry-on a simple conversation with a passenger (or take a cell phone call), and train that person in the other seat while driving quite easily. The seperate rear controls for the passenger with their own mirror also make this machine especially ergonomic for snowmobile trails. Training is simple, as I show my new drivers how to run the drag when I drive and allow then to work the rocker switches too get their feeling. Then when they drive, I run the drag controls for a while allowing them to just drive the machine and get used to the blade functions and sensitive steering, not worrying about the drag until they're ready to learn. Then I trun them loose after about 4 good lessons (well, some it takes more, but not all operators are created equal).
:myopinon:
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