Cost of snowmobiling

[theletup]

I'm 26 years old, married with a 3 year old son... Damn... I shouldn't have read this post because I seriously can't understand how the hell I afford to sled! ha ha... In all seriousness though, like others have said when you love something and it's all you can think about you just make it happen. I started out 3 years ago on a 98 700 RMK 144" that I just happened to get a killer deal on from an old man (sled was like new still) and bought my wife his wife's 2001 600 RMK. Lucked out and got the pair for $1500 ($750 each) in the middle of summer when they needed the cash. These sleds were like showroom condition too! Half way through my first season I stood on a Dragon at the Polaris dealer and decided I had to have one. Realizing my wife wasn't going to be a sledder I sold both sleds and bought a used Dragon for the same price as I got for both sleds. Fast forward to now I've just kept trading up sleds and am picking up a 13 Pro RMK tomorrow. Yes I will be making payments on it. I'm alright with that. I don't make payment on our 10/13 year old cars. I'm a mechanic by trade and have studied everything I can about snowmobiles so I knew what to look for while trading up and never had to work on my sled (except when I wrecked them). During the summer I work my *** off flipping cars, trucks, boats, sleds, whatever so I can make money to go snowmobiling. Then in the winter I ride 50+ days. I don't have a nice trailer. It's a 15 year old open 2 place but it gets me there. I shop ebay for all my gear to find good deals on last years stuff when it's on clearance. I'm okay with cutting back every where else in life so I can enjoy snowmobiling because it has become my passion and I hope to share it with my son someday. To me you can't think about the money or it definitely won't make sense but if you hustle you can get into the sport for pretty dang cheap. I enjoy flipping things and make pretty good money doing it though. My wife is a stay at home mom and I make about $40,000 a year working. All the rest of my money is made after hours and on weekends during the summer and fall. THEN IT'S PLAY TIME!

 

[stum1967]

This is an expensive way to spend our time, but when you go to the lake in the summer and see the new Duramax pulling a $60,000 5th wheel with a new Skeeter with more electronics than nasa on it, it makes snowmobiling look cheap.(buy the way, I have a 97 f150, 2002 model sled and a 1990 boat, but no payments)

 

[orange2]

You can make any hobby expensive, whether it be camping, boating, fishing, hunting ect. Its just your decision how far to take it. I am starting to think less is becoming more, i have a bunch of toys and never seem to get to you them anyway.

 

[more snow]

I totally agree with the "pay with cash" approach (especially for toys). It isn't wise to spend away tomorrow's dollars today. Sledding can still be a blast even on an (older sled if need be)! When the rainy day storms of tomorrow come, you can sleep better at night knowing that you aren't burdened down with debts that you can't pay. Live within your means...brings peace of mind.

 

[kingofthemountain]

I make a lot of sacrifices for snowmobiling because its what I love. The budget gets tight but that's the choice I make. Sometimes it gets so tight I feel like I'm in an Allstate commercial, "like a ramen noodle every night kind of budget"

 

[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

So anyways....On vacation in West Yellowstone this week.

TM8 snapped an exhaust valve cable. No one in town had the parts.

Solution? Bought a new Pro RMK

 

[0neoldfart]

Sledding costs

I have a decent job, and will buy a new sled every 4-6 years (buying used has never worked out for me) Always saved up & paid cash for them. I don't live in a fancy house, my summer vacations are motorcycle trips, and I don't drive a new truck. I bought my first Harley at the age of 40 (it was a basket case that I built from ground up), I do NOT take my sleds, vehicles, bike into the shop for repairs - I do it myself (I am a liscenced mechanic by trade, but don't work in that field anymore). You have to prioritize and make sacrifices - sledding isn't always #1 (though it would be nice if it was). I am fortunate enough to have the knowledge to troubleshoot and repair my equipment, and apply a little preventative maintenance. I truly believe that I am more meticulous at maintaining my equipment then most dealers, as I've never had a major failure. If you have to live in a palace, go out for dinner, and drive a new vehicle, chances are you cannot afford to be a sledder

 

[phatty]

lets see i can rebuild a motor, fix suspension, replace shox, etc, etc every year for a couple grand on old sleds, or i can spend a couple grand to buy and sell a new sled every year...
will never own another sled without warranty. Its just too expensive to fix. Better off taking the deprecation hit on a new sled that has warranty and (relatively) no problems.

everyone has their own finacial systems and ideas of what is best. I personally finance mine at 0% for 12 months and sell the sled before the 12 months is up. Im not losing interest, and I am paying the same amount (or less) than i would be to fix broken stuff on old sleds.

statistics show the average snowmobiler is 41-45 and makes 68-75k a year.

 

[CatRyder88]

I don't even want to know what I spend a year on sledding. I didn't get into the sport to save money so I don't complain or really care how much it costs for that matter.

You can't put a price on that. Sledding is my escape from reality.

 

[snowmobiler]

my rich gramma pays my way.

 

[CatRyder88]

my rich gramma pays my way.

Trust fund baby? Lol

 

[snengineer]

Insurance is the only way I could afford this hobby. I've owned 6 sleds in 20 yrs and only paid for 2.