Long foot rails or cut them to short???

[spomey]

here is my delema - I know that alot of people cut their rails to change the look and be more modern, but, does it really help performance and climing?

I am 6'"4 and I actually use more of my long rails than most people but I can always change my riding style to accomodate shorter ones.

here are my thoughts, cut rials allow the rear end to "dig deeper" and cause less "drag" and may allow better climbing ability and moving in the deep powder.

or

the longer rails provide floatation and keep the track from trenching as badly. also they provide more surface area when sidehilling and allow more stability and keep the rear end from "washng" as easily.

I know all the new sleds are going to the shorter rails but I also have heard from some serious big named sledders that they perfer the long rails on their 300+ hp sleds (no I'm not in that league). and that stability is ke for them.

your thoughts?

 

[kidrman]

I cut mine and have found good and bad to it. The short running boards definitely work better in the deep allow the sled to cut into a sidehill easier. Having said that I have "whiffed", hope you are a baseball guy, with my feet when jumping around where the longer boards would have been and fallen off or gotten stuck because of it. Once I got used to the short boards I would not go back.

 

[Rixster]

I like mine, I also am 6'4. I did whiff once but then I learned.

 

[spomey]

thanks - any more comments?

 

[kidrman]

I did the 09 edge rails along with the gussets and it worked out really well. I didn't have to grind anything off the gussets that way and the 09 edges seem to bite my boots better. Give me a holler if you want pics.

 

[Twostroke]

lets see em kidrman!

 

[Rixster]

I tried to use the 09 rail edges, but could not make them work with my cutler snow eliminators. The 09 edges over lap on to the board surface about 1 inch from the edge.

 

[kidrman]

Here are a couple of pics. The edges do overlap the snow eliminators so I drilled right through them and used a long stainless rivet with a wide head, really firmed up the running boards.

If you look by the footwell in picture 1 where the running board edge meets the footwell I trimmed a little material in a semi-elliptical arc there to make the fit nice.

 

[spomey]

I appreciate the pictures but I'm still wanting comments on performance of cut versus uncut running boards.

extra flotation keeping the back end up vs digging deeper/less drag.

keep in mind body position and weight. I weigh 250 so I'm trying to figure out if I would trench more....oh I'm running an extreme 162x15

 

[kidrman]

I am certain the track digs deeper and keeps going better than with the long boards hanging up. The long boards will stop the sled from digging down and the track will cavitate.

 

[bgreen776]

I really like the new narrow tunnels like whats on the 09 and 10 M sleds, I think it allows the track to keep on digging without getting stuck. I wish I could post pictures of this, but it really helps. Especially when using a snobungie. The difference between my wifes 08 M8 and my 10 M8 is noticeable in this situation. (I'm 6'4" and 265)

Here is the best picture I have of the narrow tunnel providing some benefit. I doubt it would matter either way if all you ride is bottomless powder, but if you ride wet snow, or any spring snow, I think it makes a huge difference.

 

[sierraclimber]

Just got a ride in fresh powder with my new black diamond xtreme conversion. Feels like there is more carving control on steep side hills. I was used to the stock boards "pushing" the sled back over on the steep side hills but now it carves better and holds it line. 2 wheel kit helps too.

As far as trenching goes, ya it seems too dig deeper in powder but sometimes thats what keeps you going instead of getting stuck. If you do end up trenching to a stop its only a little more work to get it out.

Didn't step off the back accidentally either. The boards are still long enough for me at 5'11". Adding the front steering post relocation may help the taller guys feel like they have more room on the boards too.