My thoughts on sledding and hi fuel costs

[Hardass]

Not that it matters but with fuel going even higher over the next couple of years, i;m thinking less will buy new sleds. And at first people will just ride less and then decide it;s not worth having a sled any more and try to sell off there stuff. This will create a glut (even more than now) on the market with quite a few less buyers. There will be no pricing power as there are fewer buyers. Some will never be able to get rid of there stuff and it will just sit in the back 40 like so many junk vehicles. This is just a thought, if you have one to ad do sur way of sledding is dwindling fast so enjoy whats left while you can.

 

[snowmanx]

I totally agree. 6 years ago I ran 5-6 sleds, one for each member of the family, and we could ride all weekend, Friday night, Saturday and Sunday all for about $100 a weekend. Today, just my son and I go and it costs us about $120 for the day, not including fuel for the truck and other miscellaneous stuff. Mind you 6 years ago all I was running was 340-580cc sleds, and now I'm running an 1150 and 900 twin.

If oil keeps going up the way it is, by next winter gas is going to be up around $10 a gallon... I don't think many people will be sledding any more, I may not be.

I want to buy a sled right now, as there are incredible deals out there, but if fuel is $10 per gallon, I don't think I want to ride anymore. Just in fuel alone it would cost a guy 400-600 per month...JUST FOR ONE SLED!!!!! That's only going once per week(my sled only gets about 4.5 miles/g).

There will be alot of nice sleds out there not being ridden and you won't hardly be able to give them away.

 

[graveler]

when gas hits 6 bucks it will be over for many people

 

[THEPOWDERHOUND]

Thats good, more pow for me.

 

[cowboysedge]

I know it has affected me, no long sled trips where I have to haul. This year if I couldn't ride local I didn't go.

We also just bought another sled so I didn't have to ride the turbo on every ride. I think the cost will be about the same. Ride the new one with a few mods, nothing that will take race fuel. Then save the race fuel and turbo for the no cloud sunny days.

 

[Hardass]

Thats right for some it will be great but for many not so great.There are a lot of average income earner familys and singles that ride or use to ride alot soon it will be not. i ask a lot of people how there season went this year ,and am told alot we did;nt get out much this year because it was to costly. Like said a family of 4 will cost you big.The costs of every thing we use is on the rise because of fuel costs.I my self never really thought of all the things that were connected to oil. i guess i took it for granted.It wo;nt be confined to sleds either,You can;t hardly trade in a truck and expect to get top dollar as yhe lots are full of them. For those that can it will be a buyers market.

 

[Sledsniper]

I talked to a guy that said grass seed has more then trippled in cost.Said last year he paid less then a 1$ a pound, this year its over 4$ a pound.So even owning horses isn't going to be a cheep alternitive.
I gess those of us that aren't couch potatoes may have to learn to be, or take up hiking and biking.

 

[Hardass]

Hey even pump gas turbos use a lot of fuel.

 

[Top]

I started up a seperate savings account that I'm putting $50.00 a week in. I know it's not much but it's better then nothing. All this money will be for fuel during the winter months. $200.00 a month X 7 months = $1,400.00 to start the season out for fuel.





Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................ Just don't tell the wife

 

[Hardass]

Hety Top for 5 gallons i wo;nt say a thing

 

[Rush44]

I've been looking into a 4 door flatbed truck so that I can haul 4 sleds and split the gas for the ride to the trailhead. I don't think $6 or $7 a gallon gas would stop me or even make me go less.... it would just mean less money in the savings account.

As long as the fuel is available and my sled is working, I'm going.

 

[PowderBrad]

Lot of people complaining on gas. I'm one of them!!

At the moment, and for hte last year, we've been paying 1.30 / litre for gas here in Edmonton, Alberta. Which = $5.90 a gallon!! I read about some people complaining about 3.80 gallons and ****. Cmon...we're 2 bucks over that already and have been for years. ****.... its been 4-5 years since we've had 3.8 / gallon (83 cents / litre) here.

I read this stuff and think, damn I shouldnt have bought a new sled since it takes 65 bucks to fill for a ride. But I cant help it... Guess I'll ride once in awhile at home, and a few times in the mountains, but thats all I can afford. I certainyl aint gonna quit.

 

[Hardass]

Oh and i'm not complaining it just how it is. Times they are a changing and you either roll with it or turn out bitter like so many that hate change.With prices on the rise i wonder what it might be like in Canada since you guys have already been paying more, will it even out or will your gas just go that much higher? i put this up just to see what people would say about it.

 

[-Alticity Films-]

As long as the fuel is available and my sled is working, I'm going.

me too!

 

[justadude]

That is a really good idea.
I myself would rather be blissfully ignorant of what it costs me.

I started up a seperate savings account that I'm putting $50.00 a week in. I know it's not much but it's better then nothing. All this money will be for fuel during the winter months. $200.00 a week X 7 months = $1,400.00 to start the season out for fuel.





Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................ Just don't tell the wife

 

[Snowmark]

ridin $

very hard to sell, just like our trucks.....we are thinking about keeping our sleds/tow vehicle in storage somewhere near our main riding area, then take the 3 hour ride up in my civic since the towing is really where the fuel is used.

 

[03rmking]

It's pretty sad. Sledding will be over as we know it and this whole country is going down the drain over these rising fuel costs. And for what? Completely senseless. No doubt in my mind the sled industry as a whole (manufacturers, aftermarket, entertainment, accessories) will be a tiny fraction of what it is now. I better update the resume.

Heck, I stopped at the gas station, filled up the diesel, and a few 5's and spent $450!

 

[Beels]

I started up a seperate savings account that I'm putting $50.00 a week in. I know it's not much but it's better then nothing. All this money will be for fuel during the winter months. $200.00 a week X 7 months = $1,400.00 to start the season out for fuel.





Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................ Just don't tell the wife

I think you mean $200 a month.

 

[Top]

I think you mean $200 a month.

Whoops.... fixed

 

[SnowSnob]

I usually run a gallon of race gas, this season I ran 2 gallons of Av Gas instead at $5 a gallon.
If Av Gas gets over $6 a gallon I'll be running the Klotz Kl-602.
By ruff calcs. you can make 110 for $6 a gallon with 91 being $4.

The thought about leaving your sleds where you ride is a good idea. Towing those sleds sucks up a lot of petro, he11 most of our rigs suck up the petro NOT towing anything.