Snowmobile

[Typical]

Hi there

I need to buy a used snowmobile for the up coming trapping season. What would be the best snowmobile to buy ? It will only be use for trapping.

Thanks

[6tmile]

I bought a skandic wt 900 ace. Love the machine but pricey. The skandic in the 600 wt is a great machine also. The tundra and skandics seem to be the most sought in our trade. Google www.gcsurplus.ca They have some nice sleds that come up.

[nube]

Well I have learned my lesson and cheap is not the way to go. Being stuck in the bush in -30 and nobody around for 30miles I think u need a good machine. I ended up buying a new Skandic 600 ace. I love it. I use hardly any fuel on it and can get by most of the season on a couple tanks of gas is all. I trust it.

[Redcoat27]

I am in the looking for a Skandic similar to yours Nube. If anyone has one for sale, pm me.

[D4l3k]

you gotta ask yourself a couple simple questions:

- how long am i keeping the machine for (2 year, 5 year, til it dies)
-tundras and skandics have the best resale value then most machines

- price range?
- skidoo is more expensive but better quality/more bells and whistles
- tundra skinny ski base (more tippy, but tighter turns)
- skandic big tank and heavy, but lots of floatation 20 or 24'' track
and stable
- yamaha has brought back the VK540 for 2017, but at high price point
- polaris cheaper, less quality, but still gets the job done

- 2 stroke or 4 stroke
- 2 stroke
- smokey/smelly, simplier to work on, lighter, fan cooled,cheaper
less power
- 4 stroke
- no smell, more complex engine to work on, liquid cooled, cost more
more power

I'm riding a polaris 550 fan voyager 155 long track

I picked a 2stroke fan cooled over a liquid cooled because of the stop and go of trapping and potentially not getting enough snow into the heat exchangers for a liquid cooled (which i know is a issue for older 4 strokes liquid cooled machines, not sure about newer ones)

bought it new last year on clearance for 7.1k out the door gst in compared to a tundra at about 9k out the door

pro float 9.5 inch wide skis keep you on top of the snow while 155 long track keeps you moving in powder

i have been happy with it so far,
was able to help pull out a 1 ton dodge out of the bush with it on a snowed in road and always was enough power for me to get where ever i need to be and felt stable

[dgl1948]

Take a good look at Arctic Car Bearcats. They are real work horses. Our snowmobile club has two of them. They have never given any problems and are used by different operators doing everything from lots of stop and starts when posting trails to pulling a small groomer. Deep snow, no problem.

[HighlandHeart]

She won't win any awards for speed, power or comfort, but you will get 20,000 km out of her and easily be able to get her unstuck. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_bravo

[357xp]

my expedition 600 ace has a rad with fan under the hood, zero problems with engine over heating at idle or in low snow conditions. buy 4 stroke, you wont be disappointed.

[Big Grey Wolf]

D413, excellent write up on snowmobiles. I also run Polaris 550 and gets me back to cabin for supper.

[D4l3k]

Originally Posted by 357xp

my expedition 600 ace has a rad with fan under the hood, zero problems with engine over heating at idle or in low snow conditions. buy 4 stroke, you wont be disappointed.

ya newer 4 strokes are much better then older ones

if the op is looking at used older machines a 2 stroke bravo, vk540, tundra ii or skandic ii are all good machines, but it seems people sometimes ask a arm and a leg for them, at least they where when i was looking last year

another plus of 2 stroke is easier to pull start if needed in -40

[moose maniac]

Originally Posted by dgl1948

Take a good look at Arctic Car Bearcats. They are real work horses. Our snowmobile club has two of them. They have never given any problems and are used by different operators doing everything from lots of stop and starts when posting trails to pulling a small groomer. Deep snow, no problem.

I trap with two guys who run bear cats they always seem to have issues, mostly electrical problems.

[209x50]

I ended up with a 2009 Bravo Trapper LT in a deal. It had only 125 km on it and sold quickly. I'm glad because it was so tiny! I can't imagine riding with my knees around my ears for very long. No suspension, tiny track and even smaller motor, I felt like a bull riding a flea. I quickly understood the 30" long sleigh that came with it as well. I have no idea how these machines became so popular. To me it was like using a Ford Ranger to haul logs.

[MugEye]

Originally Posted by 209x50

I ended up with a 2009 Bravo Trapper LT in a deal. It had only 125 km on it and sold quickly. I'm glad because it was so tiny! I can't imagine riding with my knees around my ears for very long. No suspension, tiny track and even smaller motor, I felt like a bull riding a flea. I quickly understood the 30" long sleigh that came with it as well. I have no idea how these machines became so popular. To me it was like using a Ford Ranger to haul logs.

I have a bravo and I agree with this . I got it to trap and bring home fire wood so I wouldn't mile out my 08 mtx nytro . But after doing a few trips with my knees in my face I parked it . The only time I use the bravo now is to bring the kids for rides around the yard

[dgl1948]

Originally Posted by moose maniac

I trap with two guys who run bear cats they always seem to have issues, mostly electrical problems.

The club sleds have never had any issues. One is about six years old and the other is two years old. Are theirs two stroke or four?

[moose maniac]

Originally Posted by dgl1948

The club sleds have never had any issues. One is about six years old and the other is two years old. Are theirs two stroke or four?

They are 2 strokes