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I've ridden a lot of sleds in my life- some were scorchingly fast, some were decked out with gadgets and gizmos for everything and some were plain Jane. None have been as interesting or as unique as the Trail Roamer.
For those who need to know the technical profile of a sled, the Roamer is an evolution of the Manta and Raider twin trackers of old. The sled is built from a tube chassis with a fiberglass body around it. A Kohler 725cc four-stroke engine makes the sled go forward. An independent, battery-operated electric motor makes the sled go backward.
Dual nine-inch wide tracks propel the 520-pound Trail Roamer over the snow. A steering wheel turns the twin-runner skis under the double A-arm front suspension.
On paper, the Trail Roamer is very different from other snowmobiles. But you have to get into one to truly appreciate how different the two experiences really are. I had an opportunity to try the Roamer after our annual Snow Shoot in West Yellowstone last spring.
Getting into the Trail Roamer is an experience. The steering wheel tilts forward and you just slide into the pilot seat. I would advise kicking the snow out of your boots before getting in, or you'll have a wet spot on your butt.
The cockpit is a lot like a car's. Lighted automotive gauges are conveniently displayed in front of you, the climate controls and stereo system are off to the side. It's pretty sweet. You hardly know you're in a snowmobile.
The power of the Trail Roamer is nothing to write home about, but it did get up to about 45 mph on the trail. The thing that stands out is how quiet the Roamer is when it's cruising down the trail. The Kohler V-twin is almost silent in its operation. This is probably partly due to its location at the stern of the machine and partly due to the functional muffler it has at the end of its stainless steel exhaust pipe.
Going forward was no problem. Backing up proved to be a little more interesting. There is no reverse gear on the Trail Roamer. To back out of a sticky situation, you have to shut the engine off, then engage an electric motor to turn the drive train backwards. It's not as convenient as conventional sleds, but then this is no conventional sled.
The suspensions worked OK. I thought they were a little stiff, but the trails were pretty trashed by the time we got out to test the unit. Both front and rear systems are rated for eight inches of travel.
Steering and handling on the Roamer are also quite a bit different than other sleds. I thought the steering effort was a little harder with the steering wheel than with handlebars. The sled doesn't have a tight turning radius, but I didn't have any trouble cornering on the trails. I'm used to having to hang over the inside of a sled to carve a turn. On the Trail Roamer, you just steer it like a car. It'll take some getting used to, but it is definitely a fun machine to take on the trails.
Other tidbits worthy of note include its 20 mpg fuel economy. That's better than anything on the market right now. The gas and brake pedals are far enough apart that even with my huge bunny boots, I could stop and go without trouble.
Finally, this is an attention -getting sled. If you want to be noticed at pit stops and on the trail, this is something you should consider. Almost everybody who went past us on the trail slowed way down and rubber necked past to see what I was driving.
The Trail Roamer is not for speed freaks or those who are afraid to try something new. It is what it is- a fun little trail cruiser for sightseeing and just getting outdoors in the winter. Its $8,499 price tag may be initially prohibitive, but it will make that back in reduced gas and eliminated injection oil bills. It may not be the highest performing unit on the market, but it is definitely one of the most interesting!