Cost of snowmobiling

[Cowbell]

So after buying a couple used sleds for this season and having to fix them after every ride, I'm getting a little frustrated with the sport in general...

Can't afford to buy a new sled that doesn't have anyone's previous problems (not that the new ones don't have any). Now I have a burnt down engine that will cost around $600 for me to rebuild with USED parts. I've basically spent the season so far trying to work all the bugs out of these sleds and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I make pretty decent money but these sleds are tapping me out between riding and fixing.

SO, my question to everyone....how do you do it? New sleds are 12g's. Riding gear is getting outrageous. The cost of fixing sleds is not cheap and it seems like sleds break down more than any other recreational vehicle out there. Every time I go riding I see brand new sleds being unloaded from nice enclosed trailers behind brand new trucks and $1000 worth of gear, not to mention all the turbos running around.

I guess nobody has to answer this BUT, do some of you make over $100,000 a year or do you have a lot of debt to enjoy this sport? Maybe you eat ramen noodles for supper every night and bike to work so you can spend most of your check on snowmobiling? Just say screw health insurance and retirement and put it towards parts? Live with your parents still? Not trying to be a negative nancy but I guess I just don't get it....

 

[Rinker]

I feel your pain, cowbell. There were many years that I wasn't able to ride due to children, house payments, medical expenses, etc. You are going through tough years- I am assuming just married, mortgage or rent payment, children.....

Don't get discouraged. Many of us have been there and done that. I am 40 and finally able to enjoy riding again after taking a few years off for some more important things in life.

 

[2Thetopp]

If you have a passion for something you'll do what it takes to make it happen. It only took me one time and I was hooked, I knew that day that this is what I want to do until I can't physically do it anymore. You don't have to buy new to have fun, but you need to have dependable, save for a better sled instead of paying for parts. Try to stay away from financing a toy, save, even if you have to miss a season, then buy the best you can with what you save. Go have fun.

 

[polaris dude]

I've asked this many a times on here. The most recent answer I've come up with is that most of the people who are as u described are farmers. They have the trucks and trailers already and the sleds they can afford and don't work as much in the winter(unless they have cattle). Anyone else care to chime in?


Advice: don't buy a sled for less than 4,000(they are usually not worth anything because they will be broken constantly). Find sleds that everyone says are reliable (IE a polaris 600 or an m8). Also take note of the mileage on each sled.

 

[Whimp]

I think your right! Farmers make all the Money!!!!!!

 

[norsepeak]

It is an expensive sport, no doubt. The majority of the cost is just getting started...buying the sleds, trailer, gear etc. After that, it's fuel, food and maintenance. It is frustrating when your stuff breaks, been down that road MANY times. Now I ride stock and love warranty. Once you get your reliability issues ironed out, you should be able to ride several winters on your sleds and have a great time. Good luck.

 

[the fix-it guy]

Yea it's just us farmers that buy new trucks. I don't see any construction guys, plumbers, electricians buying new trucks. With that said many of the trucks you see are not just toy haulers they are being used for work also. Many trailers also see multiple use, I know mine does.

 

[coyoteman]

I think your right! Farmers make all the Money!!!!!!

No we don't. want to see my tax papers?

 

[Bacon]

Wait till you have two teenage sons that love to ride. Those trips out west get a little spendy then. I myself farm and ranch. Right now money is good in ag, but I remember the lean times too. Pulling sleds out with a 2 place open. Not having brand new sleds every year. Only one trip a year cause that's all I could afford. Just hang in there and try buying a sled that is only a couple years old. The money you pay up front will be better than the repairs and breakdowns on older sleds.

 

[tdbaugha]

I get this a lot being only 23 years old. A lot of people think that mommy and daddy give me everything and that's the only way I do it. Well I love sledding and save up all summer and spend it all on sledding. I still drive a $2k truck, don't spend hundreds at the bars on the weekend, and don't go on spring break vacation like my other friends. Thankfully, scholarships and grants pay for almost the entirety of school bills and I happen to have the knowledge to diagnose and fix anything that might break. Like said above, if you love the sport you will make it happen.

 

[knzee]

Sounds like what the op needs is a couple friends that like to ride and like to push each other. Pretty soon your working overtime to buy some shiny aftermarket go fast part that will help you put a beating on your buddies sled...sledding is as expensive as you make it. My wifes aunt and uncle have two trail sled with umpteen thousand miles on them and they look like they just came off the dealer floor. All they do is put gas and oil in them and never leave the trail. You have to start out with decent iron or you are going to spend some money to get it useable. Just starting to ride I will almost bet if you buy a sled in good shap you will not be able to abuse it to the point where you have to work on it every week.

 

[skibreeze]

It's stupid expensive, I don't even want to add it up. I do know that if I saved every penny that I've spent on sledding in the lsat 15 years, my house would be paid for.

 

[Dogmeat]

Its NOT a cheap hobby, its an expensive lifestyle..... unless you are lucky enough to live in a place with epic terrain and a lot of snow nearby, you don't really just sort of casually 'go snowmobiling'..... not only is it expensive, its a whole lot of work.....work to fund the habit, work to keep equipment going .......work carpooling to save on fuel costs, planning and prepping for that big trip..... all for the hope of 6 hours of thrills without getting stranded in the back country and freezing to death..... yeah you gotta just have some screws loose to be into this hahaba

 

[snowmobiler]

in 1972 my dad bought 3 brand new sleds for $3000

 

[V-Man]

Motorsports are expensive, period. A co-worker of mine races cars and spends 60k a year to race, and that doesn't include the cost of buying his car, truck, and trailer. I think we've got it pretty good compared to that! Racing dirt bikes or street bikes will cost you a fortune in tires alone.

I've always bought new, and even if I only ride a seld for 3 seasons then trade it in, it's only depreciated roughly 2k/year. Fortunately I've never had to tow out or do any major repairs. That's about the same cost as buying some skis and a season's pass each winter. If you are in CO, that's the cost of a pass alone. My open two place trailer lasted 13 years, then I still got $400 for it this year when I upgraded. My truck is a daily driver, just like any other car.

It takes some cash to get started with new sleds, trailer and truck, but your yearly overall cost isn't bad after that since every one of those things still has some value when you upgrade. Pay now for reliable new technology, or pay later repairing something old. Plus, the new sleds are so freaking awesome, worth every penny.

At the end of the day, no matter what hobbies/sports you enjoy you have to pay to play!

 

[PJ-Hunter]

You think that's expensive? Try adding in dirtbiking, hunting and kids who love to do the same exact thing you like to do.

SkiB is right, my house would be paid off too. I don't have a brand new trailer nor do I have a new truck. I bought a used trailer and my truck is an old 2003 F250. Granted, it's just as modded as my sled is. LOL!

I'm lucky. I pay more to commute to drive to work than I do to drive sledding. I live 15 minutes away from the riding area.

I also sell all of the parts that I have laying around for bikes and sleds and that helps offset the financial expenditures one accrues for sledding.

And no, I don't make $100k/year. Sure wish I did though.

 

[Modedmach1]

I buy everything used. Bought a used truck, always had a crappy open trailer that I rebuilt a bunch of times. Found a screaming deal on a enclosed this year. I have always pieced my sleds together cause I love building them almost as much as I like riding. Bought my wife a used M7 for a good price got it paid for then, I bought a turbo sled used for a good price. Most of the guys you see with all the nice equipment, got there over time. It doesn't happen overnight.
I don't go on vacation, I spend most of my extra money on sleds & jetboats. That is what my wife & do for fun, so that is where our money goes.
Don't get caught up in having the nicest stuff out there, learn how to repair your sleds yourself. (If you don't already) That alone will save you thousands. If you enjoy it find a way to do it. Go a few less times a year, so you still get out & do it but, you don't spend quite as much on it. Give it time & one day someone will be asking you how you afford the things you have. Life is short & you can't take money with you when you go. Josh

 

[harrysmith500]

Think this is expensive? Have you seen how much a meth addiction costs

Screw is definitely loose in my head. But nothing else in the world compares.

 

[backcountryislife]

Think this is expensive? Have you seen how much a meth addiction costs

Screw is definitely loose in my head. But nothing else in the world compares.

I'm pretty sure Meth would be cheaper.

I make $45k or so, my wife is a teacher who makes even less, but we do what we love. I spend what I need to, to enjoy the sport.

We don't smoke, we don't drink, we don't go out to eat much, I drive an 04 jetta that gets 40+MPG & isn't flashy, live in a little house, we bich about $$ here & there, but we have an 11 turbo, and a 12... and we ride whenever we can. (this year is an exception, but usually 50+ days a year)


It's simply a matter of priorities. I choose this over other vices folks waste money on... and I'm glad I do.

 

[cateye5312]

Disclaimer: I DO make lots of money.
That said, I have been able to find killer deals on used sleds. Typically, I watch for low mileage vehicles. Then, I upgrade them every couple of seasons. I'm not always riding the newest and the best but who cares? Most of the time I am able to find sleds a few years old that are $4,000 to $6,000. And if you want to go even older you can get alot cheaper. Again, look for good low mileage stuff. There's alot of it out there. My maintenance costs over the years have been almost nil. You really need to learn which sleds to avoid because there are alot of years/models out there that definitely need avoiding. Seek out advice from someone who is really knowledgeable in the brand you are interested in.

This year, I spent a little more money and for $7,500 each I bought a 2012 RMK 600 ES 155 with 101 miles on it and a 2012 Pro RMK 600 with 68 miles on it. Cash talks, BS walks and the best time to buy a sled is in the middle of summer!
Like one of the previous posters said, once you are hooked, you are hooked and it gets kind of spendy. Right now I am running 7 sleds and two enclosed trailers. We just bought avy gear for everyone, that was $4,000. But as our riding skills have improved the places we go get more and more risky so the avy gear had become a must have.

I got started with two sleds and a trailer that I split the cost with with my brother in law. That was a great low cost way to get started! Now we both have WAY too much sh&t!