Skid Plate or No....on Proclimbs?

[Frostbite]

Having a new sled that is sitting in the shop and being inside waiting for snow is absolutely maddening but, it does give one plenty of time to go through the accessories available for the Proclimb snowmobiles.

Not too many years ago, skid plates were all the rage. We put them on everything. In fact my 09 M8 has had the Arctic Cat Full coverage skid plate on it for years, and based on the really deep gouges just below the clutches, I would say it has paid for itself several times over.

So, with the new Proclimbs what's the consensus?

Let me guess.... there will be those that will say "we spend $500 to loose a couple pounds of weight, why would you ever put a modification on a sled that actually adds weight"? Just let your insurance cover it and forget about it!

Then there will be those that say, "yes it adds a small amount of weight but, think of a skid plate as insurance to protect your substantial investment". Who will go on to say, time has proven that what looks like a soft fluffy mound of snow that you undoubtedly will use as a launch pad is actually a very sharp rock just waiting to gut the innards of your fancy new machine.

What's your take and which one would you buy?

 

[CO 2.0]

I dont run them anymore on the proclimb. I had one on my 14 cause of a chaincase breaking on my buddys 12 years ago hitting a rock crooked going off a jump in low snow. Who knows if the skid plate would have even saved it. Since then he had a skid plate on his 12 and 4000 miles later not a scratch on it. Maybe some tree bark but nothing that dug in. 500 miles on my 12 and nothing. I had 1650 miles on my 14 and my skid plate had nothing on it. 2014 and newer sleds wheelie so much more that the skid plate hits stuff even less too. I had 650 miles on my 15 and didnt have a skid plate on it and didnt hit a thing. Wyoboys and my other buddies sleds were fine too. I ride a lot of early season low snow no base light pow around here and usually hit a lot of stuff too. But it's mostly ski and track hits it takes. The skid plate on also makes it a PITA to service the sled when you need to. From a arms, to chaincase, etc. This is with using rhe Cat HD oem skid plate. And its pretty heavy as well.

 

[kiliki]

just put a good front bumper on it that covers the lower front part of the hood.

 

[CO 2.0]

Agreed. I just run the cat proclimb bumper and there is a plate that covers the lower part of the hood and goes down under the sled a bit.

 

[kiliki]

Agreed. I just run the cat proclimb bumper and there is a plate that covers the lower part of the hood and goes down under the sled a bit.

thats the same one i run, it will take a beating and show abuse from rocks and trees but just look at it as a disposable item.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arctic-Cat-...288-/291522913235?hash=item43e01ea3d3&vxp=mtr


or this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arctic-Cat-...814-/301704520231?hash=item463efda227&vxp=mtr same as the bdx pumper

 

[Frostbite]

I think that's the front bumper my 2015 came with stock. I was going to maybe add that little skid plate for the bottom of the bumper (if that's the one you guys are talking about). It's the clutches that I worry about taking a big hit. When you have a primary clutch spinning at 8,200 RPM and it takes a hard hit and snaps off, it could go anywhere (not that I have ever seen it happen).

Here's the front of my new sled.

 

[CO 2.0]

That's the same bumper we are talking about. The proclimb chassis just doesn't drag in the snow under the belly pan like the M's did. I smashed my belly pan on an M1000 back in the day and exposed the clutches.

 

[kiliki]

That bumper comes on the 15 and up Limited and the other just have a hoop up front. put the hoop in the trash and put the ltd bumper on and bash some stuff!!

 

[Frostbite]

So, is the little skid plate that covers the bottom of the bumper even worth the trouble? It might keep the paint from getting scraped off the bottom of the bumper but, that's about the only benefit I can think of?

 

[kiliki]

im with c.o i just run the bumper and nothing else.

 

[Vern]

Same bumper I put on my '14, much sturdier than the chinsy a$$ hoop it came with. I've never had a skid plate on any sleds and haven't had a problem yet. Have had a primary clutch fall off once on an old indy during a climb due to the bolt snapping. Surprisingly no real damage occurred other than a few dings on the clutches once the clutch lost momentum and rolled back into the secondary. the momentum of the clutch spinning kept it up front in the belly pan until it slowed down. Now if a rock hit just right and broke the clutch at full rpm that would probably be a much worse out come with the shrapnel

 

[ezra]

I put one on my 14 a skinz. we ride a lot in stump /rock country in the UP of MI and N MN and N WI.
works well for bouncing off stumps. that said It holds a lot of snow around a arms that turn to massive ice blocks that can be a PITA to get out n the am with a long screwdriver and a hammer.
but I have some pretty good gouges in my skid plate .
actually thinking about getting out the router and opening up under the arms

 

[Frostbite]

It's almost like, if you buy a skid plate you'll never need it but, if you don't, a rock or stump is bound to find your sleds vitals. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I hate to add weight to a sled but, there are a few items that just make sense.

It seems skid plates are almost like survival gear, you should always have it with you and you hope you don't need it but, if you do, it's there.....

 

[Chewy22]

I'm with CO 2.0 - after having one on the 14, not putting one on the 16.

 

[madmax]

I haven't put one on any of my pro climbs, my 12, 13, 14, 15 or new 16. I probably should, get a few scratches underneath each year. Cheap insurance for a couple pounds of weight though.

 

[usmc_powerhouse]

Like the others have stated, the full skid plate isn't really worth it and is far too much weight for what it does(or doesn't do). I also agree a sturdy front bumper (which you have) is crutial.

But what I will add to the discussion, is that the center rear aluminum belly of the proclimb is very thin and dents really easily. It also houses the heat exchanger cooler right at the back of it before the track. This pan takes the brunt of most contact if you do run over anything. I would recommend adding a Racewerx rear skid plate or similar. It mounts using the existing rivet locations so as to not impeed maintenance and adds a lot of strength. I'll never run any of my personal sleds without one after finding out the hard way after ripping a gouge in the heat exhanger on a log, tore the pan like a piece of paper. If you have some skills you can fab up your own from an aluminum plate, I used a piece of 1/8" tread plate and it looks OEM.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks USMC_Powerhouse!

That makes a lot of sense! That's the area that looks like it needs protection. I like the idea of a small skid plate that just covers what it has to and doesn't hold a lot of extra snow like many plastic skid plates do.

Is this the part you are referring to?

http://racewerx.myshopify.com/collections/arctic-cat/products/rear-skidplate-procross-proclimb

I'm not sure but, I think I might almost prefer it if that skid plate made out of heavy plastic? Thick Plastic doesn't dent, it doesn't bend, and it doesn't hang up and stop you dead on rocks like aluminum does. However, that would work just fine!

 

[usmc_powerhouse]

Yes that's the one. Unfortunately like everything else Racewerx, it's overpriced but it does the job. For the same price you could buy the full plastic belly pan and cut it down.

You're right, aluminum vs plastic, plastic would be the way to go. It would be cheaper and easier to make. I thought about making it from some thick plastic but couldn't find any over 1/8", so went with some scrap I had.. Next time I would go non-treadplate, but being free I figured why not try it and haven't had any hang up issues with this one and it has 800+ miles.

Oh and just like all other Cat parts, check Country Cat. Even can save a few $$ on Racewerx..

http://countrycat.com/ccstore/index...accessories/skid-plates-guards.html#limit=100

 

[Tyman212]

I'm running the z brow racing front bumper and skid plate. I got mine last year and it came as one piece. By looking on their website to get a link I see it's now in two pieces. Believe the skid plate is still aluminum.

http://zbrozracing.com/zbroz-arctic-cat-pro-climb-cross-snowmobile-front-bumper-with-skid-plate

 

[Frostbite]

Tyman12, that skid plate portion of the Zbrozracing kit sure looks like plastic to me when I zoom in on it. I wonder if they would break up the kit and just sell the skid plate. If they did, they would probably want $100 for it. Who knows, I may end up making one too?