Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Best machine for use in snow

my buddy has a polaris ranger 900 with tracks, last weekend we went through 30" of fluffy snow down a power line cut with ZERO problem, might as well have been driving on a plowed road. He bought them for ice fishing, he keeps a plow on the front, but doesnt bother using it except to move snow off the spot he wants to fish, that thing will go anywhere an climb any thing.

When I was looking at getting a cabin that would require a several mile winter approach a track was in the running. A decent used one will set you back a bit more than one new snowmobile, but less than two and you've got a heated cabin to boot.

The problem with putting tracks on atv's is they cost a fortune, the drivetrain isn't designed for the additional load, and you'll get terribly mileage. You can't beat a utility snowmobile for getting around in the snow.

I've gone through two feet of snow with my Rokon because the front wheel is as wide as the engine, it doesn't high side. That was before I put chains on my second one and with those taller 15" and chains I'm sure that it would have done even better. Now I like the 12" wheels. It doesn't go through deep snow fast, but it keeps going. Weight on the bike is better than pulling weight in deep snow. A buddy does have that track kit on his Polaris and likes them for ice fishing.

I drove one of these grooming ski slopes a few years back. They are practically unstoppable. I worked for a small resort with a tight budget and the groomers had a gazzilion hours on them and were a maintenance nightmare.
You may be able to purchase them cheap used but they will likely be worn out.