Need Advice / Recommendations

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

I'm looking for a snowmobile 1995-2005 that will get me to my radio repeater site in the winter. It must have electric start and reverse. It must be able to break trail on un-groomed roads and trails in Northern Idaho. I will be by myself when I go so reliability is a high priority. It is all up hill to the site.

Every time I inquire on a sled that looks like it would work it doesn't seem to have the reverse and electric start.

Any recommendations on sleds that have the features I require will be greatly appreciated.

 

[UP RIDR]

Pretty much any RMK or Summit from the early 2000's will have reverse , the trick will be finding one with es. Es can be added to just about anything but can get expensive. Probably 5 to 8 hundred to add.

 

[hughesfoundation]

The WSSA snow show is one of the best places to get the electric start kit, new old stock or used.
Also put a ad on here looking to buy one.

 

[SRXSRULE]

Can I ask why you said 95-05? If price is the main factor, then telling us your budget would be much better then telling us years.

Im trying to decide if a true mountain sled is what you need, or if a deep lug utility sled would be a better fit. Can you give us more info on your needs. Do you ever need to haul in parts or tools with you? Is this the only use it will get? Eric

 

[joshkoltes]

If it's strictly for work and no play I'd suggest a skidoo skandic or tundra. They are built to last and carry loads
The tundra is alot lighter which helps stay unstuck
The skandic has more power and a bigger footprint which also helps
http://bozeman.craigslist.org/snw/5986502292.html
http://bozeman.craigslist.org/snw/5986832951.html
http://eastidaho.craigslist.org/snw/5969887789.html

 

[joshkoltes]

Or if your not really interested in riding at all

http://missoula.craigslist.org/snw/5928987855.html

http://spokane.craigslist.org/snw/5958996494.html

http://boulder.craigslist.org/snw/5972177250.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/snw/5970807773.html

http://provo.craigslist.org/snw/5946947766.html

 

[volcano buster]

I used to cruise timber in the winter in NE WA, N ID and W MT. We had a couple sleds to use, one of which was a '96 Bearcat. BIG and HEAVY! It would haul 3 people if need be and had reverse. It was nice most of the time but since I was the best rider I took the other guys out to their drop off points and went to the far end to work, at the end of the day I was to pick them back up at the pick points. Not any margin for error on getting stuck because that thing was a pig. We ran into a guy outside of Bonner MT on a job that was on a Tundra. 250cc motorized snowhoes. That guy was not fast anywhere but he got where he was going every time with little effort. If he got hung up in a drift or had to cross a log, he simply picked up one end slid it over, then picked up the other end and did the same. He said he never had to get help or walk out. I found a lot of respect for the Tundra after that. The early ones even had the electric reverse which the new sleds have now and I think you can get them with e-start too.

If that doesn't float your boat, I would prefer something like a Pro-RMK which is about as light as possible. Again, your budget might be your limiting factor.

 

[AZ800]

even if you're hauling some gear or pulling a sled, what you get depends on your health and riding ability.
Even on roads n trails you'll hit off camber drifts that require sidehilling.
I'd go for the newest/ lightest powder sled you can afford. Realize that reverse and e start together weren't really standard until a few years ago.
You can get electronic reverse on Doos and Poos back to the early 2000s. 09 for Cat.
Assuming your budget is putting you in the 10-20year old bracket, then I'd be thinking 09 Cat M or raw chassis rmk 600 late 2000s.