Assault 155 with powder track or Pro 155 for Boondocking?

[Frostbite]

I am still on the hunt for a new sled. I am definitely a deep powder and boondocking kind of guy that jumps very seldom and climbs occasionally. In looking at all the posts I see a few durability issues with the Pro RMKs (buckled tunnels, etc).

After reading this, the Assault with a 155" powder track is starting to appeal to me. You get better shocks, the same powder track (if equipped that way) and I'm not sure what else. I am concerned about the wide front end for boondocking in the tight trees with the Assault though.

However, I'm guessing you couldn't swap the front end out for a Pro front end without changing the shocks as well, right?

So, is it worth the extra weight and width penalty to get the durability and better suspension of an Assault over the Pro RMK?

 

[tek9tim]

I have the Assault with the powder track. I like that setup a lot. My riding style is similar to yours. The ride height is noticeably higher on the Assault, which keeps the belly pan further up out of the snow, but messes with approach angle of the track. The wider front end is plenty easy to roll up on edge, and for stock shocks, the adjustment range is great. The width keeps the panels further out of the snow when on edge too. Worrying about the width not making it through trees is perhaps overthinking it. At the narrowest setting, the Assault skis are a half inch farther apart than the RMK at their widest. So we're talking about 2.5" of extra width vs the RMK at its narrowest. You just aren't going to notice it. Yes, statistically speaking, you will fit between more trees with the RMK. But you'd fit between even more on an XM.

In the spring of 2012, I couldn't decide what I wanted to snowcheck and had a hard time deciding since there were so many pros/cons both ways. Now, having owned an Assault with the 5.1 track, looking at the current lineup the choice to me is whether I'd want a Polaris belt drive or not. Or a 163. The wide front end isn't a detriment like I thought it would be.

 

[diamonddave]

Yep, the assault is awesome and I own both.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks guys!

I forgot that the Assault doesn't get the cog drive system.

How much more weight does one get with the Assault over the Pro RMK?

 

[sledneck600]

http://youtu.be/DImdtEiFeJs
I do fine with mine. 2012 snowcheck with the powder track

 

[OuraySledder]

PRO RMK 155 is 417 lbs, Assault 155 is 435 lbs. It is still much lighter than the competition. Chaincase and driveshaft are tougher than the Pro QD system. As mentioned shocks are better, one additional inch of travel in front.

I do not think the tunnels are any different though. I had an Assault all lined up, '13 holdeover in Steamboat, great price. Then I found a '13 Pro with 5 miles on it for a net $2k savings over the Assault. I had to do it.

Just two rides on it.... GET ONE, it is better than you think, more FUN than most of us can describe. You can't lose with either.

 

[Reg2view]

Relocate front skid arm on the Assault for better pow performance with the 5.1.

 

[eyefish123]

Everybody loves to play in powder. The Pro is a great sled but for those times when you have to ride in minimal snow or on groomed trails the Pro has issues over heating. My son has a Pro and I think his next sled may be an Assault just for the cooling difference. We rode last weekend and two XMs were always waiting for the Pro to cool down. In a perfect world we would be in powder all the time but we know things aren't perfect in our world. Good Luck with whatever choice you make, I'm sure you will be happy.

 

[tuneman]

Relocate front skid arm on the Assault for better pow performance with the 5.1.

I wouldn't recommnd that, IMHO. It transers the weight too far forward, but I know several guys have done it. I like a light front end.

Here's mine with the powder track. I have the skis set all the way in, which is only 3/4" wider than the nominal setting on the Pro. You'd have to be one heck of a rider to be bothered by that little difference.

 

[Pownar]

I was under the understanding that the assault and the pro-rmk had the same coolers and that the standard rmk has an extra cooler at the front of the tunnel. This is what my friend with an assault said and we run into the same problems on hard trails at exactly the same times as my wife cruises by on her standard rmk with no issues.

 

[granto]

I love my assault with the powder track and like not having to worry about the quick drive belt.

 

[tek9tim]

I was under the understanding that the assault and the pro-rmk had the same coolers and that the standard rmk has an extra cooler at the front of the tunnel. This is what my friend with an assault said and we run into the same problems on hard trails at exactly the same times as my wife cruises by on her standard rmk with no issues.

Yup. Since I've had mine though, the scratchers have only failed to keep it cool in the most extreme ice conditions.

Also, a fair part of the extra weight on the Assault is in the competition track, so it will weigh less with the 5.1.

 

[tdblakes]

Everybody loves to play in powder. The Pro is a great sled but for those times when you have to ride in minimal snow or on groomed trails the Pro has issues over heating. My son has a Pro and I think his next sled may be an Assault just for the cooling difference. We rode last weekend and two XMs were always waiting for the Pro to cool down. In a perfect world we would be in powder all the time but we know things aren't perfect in our world. Good Luck with whatever choice you make, I'm sure you will be happy.

as others have said, there is no cooling difference between the Assault RMK and the Pro RMK. The Standard RMK is the only 155 RMK that has the front/extra cooler. My Assault RMK will overheat in low snow/hard trail conditions too...

 

[M8Chris]

I ride a lot of tight trees and Boondock a ton the assault has never bothered me with the front end. I love it! I did move the rear skid into the position of the pro so it climbs a lot better instead if wheeling everywhere. You'll be happy with either one. The assault shocks are awesome!

 

[Scott]

I've hopped back and forth from my QD equipped Pro and a chaincase Assault back on the same day. Carving and booning tight conditions...

I'll take the ProRMK there.



Cooling Assault vs Pro...they have the SAME capacity. Std RMK is the only one with front cooler.

Riding style DOES have an impact on coolant temps.
Buddy and I were riding one day last spring on an icy conditions. He was heating up to 165°-170° I was running at 130° Both of us had scratchers down.

We swapped sleds for 15 mins.

I gave his sled back at 130°.
When I got on mine it was 175°.
He said "WTF?" LOL

The only thing I want off the Assault are the reservoir shocks for the RMK stance.

 

[Frostbite]

Great stuff guys!

Other than the 18 lb. weight difference, can you feel the difference between the chain case sleds and the ones with the Quick Drive system?

Does it seem the issues with the QD system have been alleviated for 2014?

What's the price difference between a Pro RMK 155 and a Assault 155 with a powder track?

 

[Scott]

Great stuff guys!

Other than the 18 lb. weight difference, can you feel the difference between the chain case sleds and the ones with the Quick Drive system?

Does it seem the issues with the QD system have been alleviated for 2014?

What's the price difference between a Pro RMK 155 and a Assault 155 with a powder track?

I'm not afraid of the QD at all.

The three of us riding that day DID feel a noticeable difference in the effort and control in carving with Assault vs Pro. Both were 155" tracks. Assault didn't have powder track.
Pro was easier to work. Mind you, two of us are 5'8", 145lb dudes. The other was 5'10", 185lbs. A real tall and heavier person wouldn't notice a difference.

I'm not saying the assault was HARD to ride by any means...just saying we all felt the the Pro was easier.

 

[jakey-boy]

I love my 14 assault. Shocks are amazing for stock shocks. The sled overall feels more solid and rideable than my 13 pro did. Doesn't feel like you are riding a tin can that could fold at any second.

With that being said. The width is noticeable. I can ride the trees with the best of them and I'm here to tell you holding a sidehill on the assault is not the same as a pro. It fights you more and takes more effort to hold. Getting it tipped up is not a problem it rolls right over just as easy as the pro but holding it is noticeable. I ordered a set of alternative impact a arms and am going to narrow it up I will report back.

I was of the same mindset as the previous commenter that the pro in its widest is only .5" narrower than assault at its narrowest so its not a big deal. But most people don't ride their pro at the widest so a pro in the middle is 1.5" narrower and if you run pro in the narrowest 2.5". That is a pretty significant difference. Everyone on here is raving about the zbros 36" arms and how much easier it is to ride than a stock pro and this is the same difference.

I will try and report back after riding the narrowed sled. If it was me I would definitely do an assault and plan on narrowing or get a standard rmk and put nice shocks on it. Either of them are good options and probably similar end price.

 

[eyefish123]

I was under the understanding that the assault and the pro-rmk had the same coolers and that the standard rmk has an extra cooler at the front of the tunnel. This is what my friend with an assault said and we run into the same problems on hard trails at exactly the same times as my wife cruises by on her standard rmk with no issues.

My bad. I was under the impression that the Assault had the extra cooler like the standard RMK. Sorry.

 

[mt.aero]

The adjustable shocks was the deal maker for me when I was in the same boat. There is nothing like being able to change the ride characteristics within seconds depending on snow conditions and what you are riding on a given day. Gonna ride bottomless pow and just boondock, crank them down to soft... gonna be sending it, harden the compression up. If you dick around with the compression a bit, you will eventually just know where you need to set it, give or take a couple clicks. I know a lot of folks bitch about the stock walker evans, but they really are awesome shocks on a stock sled. (even though I just snapped my rear ) Anything better and you'll be spending 2k.

My buddy rides a pro, so I have some time on one as well. What others say is true about not side hilling as easy and not powder turning as well in the trees and when the snow is more firm. That said, you can adjust your suspension compression to help compensate a bit. You will be 100% happy with the assault. Given the choice again, I would still go with the Assault.

FYI, I run the 5.1 track as well