cheap thrills

Dear AmSnow,

I have a 1993 Arctic Cat Prowler. It had a standard 121-inch track, which I ran the first couple years I had it.

This summer I have been modifying it into a 136-inch track. First, I bought a new 1.25-inch Camoplast track for about $350, a rear suspension from a 2-up Prowler on eBay for $40 and I made the tunnel extension myself.

I used the best parts from the two suspensions, mostly from the original configuration. I sandblasted the rails and slid them into the arms. There was a bit of trial and error to make the mount holes all work, and I had to drill some new ones.

I am an A&P licensed aircraft mechanic and have done two other rear suspension modifications on my son's sled and on one of his friends' machines. My son and I are considering going into business modifying sleds.

We ride mostly in northern Idaho as a family with our three Arctic Cats, the Prowler, a 1990 2-up Panther, a 2004 Sno Pro and one 1999 Polaris Indy Sport. I also made a sleigh from an old 1973 Puma. We pull that behind the Panther for our littlest kids.

I love your magazine. Olav Aaen's "Cheap Thrills" article was great; it's nice to know a lot of people are riding older sleds, even if they aren't as old as some of mine!

-Steve Haxton W MSgt
Hydraulic Shop Chief
Tekoa, Wash.