1998 bravo lt and tundra ii lt

Whether you are hauling gear or picking up supplies, you want a dependable machine that gives you the most for your money. We went looking for just such a sled and we found two that will handle whatever job you throw at them.

Although blue-collar, working-class sleds are not usually part of manufacturer displays, they do have some unique qualities that make them a solid, long-term investment. And frankly, these dependable machines will have more days inthe snow than any high performance, go-fast sled. Two prime examples of the rugged, work-horse class are Ski-Doo's Tundra II LT and Yamaha's Bravo LT.

Both sleds feature single-cylinder, two-stroke engines. The Tundra sports the larger of the two motors with a 269cc Rotax fed by a single 34mm Mikuni carb. The Bravo is powered via a 246cc engine with a Keihin BD32-28 carburetor.

Both sleds also feature a stretch chassis over an extended track. TheTundra's track measures slightly longer at 15 by 139 inches, compared with the Bravo's 15 by 136-inch track. Both sleds will stay afloat in deep snow conditions when groomed trails are not available, which is common when you're out working trapping lines or inspecting the power fields.

While the rear suspensions do not come close to the plush set-ups of their long travel cousins, they should be adequate for heading out on the lake and finding that remote ice fishing spot. The Tundra features a torque-sensing system with a single hydraulic shock, and posts 8.1 inches of travel. The Bravo uses slide rails and two hydraulic shocks to absorb the bumps in the rear with 4.0 inches of travel. In head to head comparison, we found theTundra handles impacts much better than the Bravo. While it wasn't an SC-10,we found the Tundra could handle quite a landing without much interruption,where the Bravo basically sent impact shock waves right up our spines.

In the front end, the Tundra uses telescopic strut suspension and hydraulic shocks to account for its 4.7 inches of travel. The Bravo features leaf springs for a comparable 3.9 inches of movement. Though the suspension technologies on these sleds are slightly outdated, they work well for utility purposes,and offer a huge weight savings over the mega-component IFS systems on the sportier models. The Tundra's skis stand 32 inches apart, while the Bravo claims a narrower, 29.5-inch stance. Again, we found the Tundra handled the rough stuff much better than its counterpart. The wider ski stance and longer suspension travel allowed us to cruise right over the chop of a busy staging area, while the Bravo's stiff front end necessitated we slow way down and be a bit more picky about our path.

As can be expected, these two work horses come standard with rear cargo racks to carry gear, groceries or a load of firewood up to the cabin. This is where the Bravo evens up the battle. It has more cargo space than the smaller Tundra. However, the Tundra also comes standard with a tongue hitch to tow an auxiliary trailer for expanded cargo capacity. Advantage Tundra.

While the Tundra and the Bravo may not be the first machines that come to most people's minds in the lower 48 states, when it's buying time, there's a big market for them in the great white north.

These sleds are lightweight, dependable, and inexpensive. Slotted at $3,399 for the Tundra II LT and $3,599 for the Bravo LT, they are the lowest on their respective pricing list. While the Bravo may be slightly larger on cargo capacity, we found the Tundra to be our work sled of choice. It handles the rough trail better, has the larger engine, and for an extra $300, you can get the new Rotax Electronic Reverse (RER) system.

So, when you're in the market for a hard-working companion, these are your two best options. Their long life span will find them on the snow longer than any of the sleds you've owned before.

Ski-Doo Tundra II LT

Overall Height: 44.1 inches
Overall Length: 112 inches
Weight: 377 lbs.
Ski Stance: 32 inches
Engine: 269cc fan-cooled single cylinder Rotax
Exhaust: Integral tuned muffler
Clutch:
Drive: Bombardier Lite
 Driven: Aluminum, cam, on chaincase
Suspension Travel:
 Front: Telescopic, hydraulic shocks, 4.7 in
 Rear: Torque reaction, single hydraulic shock, 8.1 in.
Fuel Capacity: 6.9 gallons
Key Features: Mechanical self-adjusting disc brake, steel skis, medium profile windshield,single stage throttle, cargo rack, tongue hitch
Retail Price: $3,399 (II LT) $3,699 (R)

Yamaha Bravo LT

Overall Height: 44.1 inches
Overall Length: 115.9 inches
Weight: 386 lbs.
Ski Stance: 29.5 inches
Engine: 246cc fan-cooled single-cylinder Yamaha.
Exhaust: Single pipe
Clutch: YPZ, Variable ratio
Suspension Travel:
 Front: Leaf spring, hydraulic shocks, 3.9 in.
 Rear: Slide rail, hydraulic shocks, 4 in.
Fuel Capacity: 6.4 gallons
Key Features: Mechanical disc brake, cargo rack, tow hitch, high windshield, adjustablehandlebars, speedo, odometer, fuel gauge, oil gauge
Retail Price:$3,599