snowcat question for you guys

[jimh]

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone had a great christmas. I am seriously considering picking up a tucker 2000xl snow cat. From what I have found it seems to be the best out there. Is there anything else I should be looking at?

I just don't want to pick it up and find out later the drawbacks, etc.

Thanks
Jim

 

[MASI95]

I know 6-7 people who own the 2000xl. Every one of the has lost at least one trans. One guy in on his 4th or 5th now. They are nice and comfortable but slow as can be. With a new price of over 100k I don't know if I would buy one. My Thiokol is noisy and old but it is faster than a Tucker and more reliable IMHO.

 

[jimh]

interesting, that is the feedback I am looking for, what years are the ones with the tranny issues? Thanks for the help!

 

[MASI95]

Oldest is around a 2000 and the newest is around 2006 2007. All had the same issues. The guy with the most tranny problems has an approximate 40/50 mile round trip to his cabin. One has approximately 50/60 mile round trip. Everyone else has a 15/20 mile round trip. Heard it was how tucker had valved their tranny's. I personally think it has a lot to do with how their run. The guy with the least problems is meticilous about his driving and maintenance. The one with the most issues drives it hard. My personal opinion is if i were to spend that kind of money i would want to drive it, not baby it. We will see this winter how they hold up. I have heard of no problems yet, but its early.

I forgot one tucker had 3 broken mail leaf spring at the end of last year. This was obviously caused by driving to fast on a wooped out trail. Again for that much money i would like to think i could drive the thing.

 

[Shermanator]

BRP 400+, just turning over 12000 hrs on the one! I think they all have issues, run them hard or easy, they are destined to break! Our biggest failure are the grouser blades, on the hard packed stuff they do tend to bend and break. They are nice to drive though and depending on what your using them for I think long term reliability could be there. I'm not sure price wise what they'd fetch used, up here in Canada I'd be guessing ours (94') would be in that 20-30 grand.............Sherm

 

[jimh]

hmm, the one I am looking at is an allison tranny, I am surprised they are having problems. I know they had problems with the chrysler, thats why they switched to the allison exclusively. Every communications company that I know of runs a 2000xl because its under 10k for transport and 8' wide. Crazy thing is there are no used ones around...

 

[arcticridr]

Hey jim, how bout the PB100 that Kaasbohrer builds right in the Reno Facility!!!!! If its anything like their big cats they are awsome.. the 100 is trailerable etc might want to check it out!!And the service center is right their!!

 

[jimh]

interesting about the piston bully, I am actually in medford tonight and am visiting the factory tomorrow. I did ask about the tranny issues and they are the chystler trannys. Starting in 09 they went with allison trannys only, the same ones in the big tuckers...

thanks for the input, if we pick it up, I will post some pictures...

 

[snomoride]

snowcat question

Hey jim, stay away from the PB100 i have owed some PBs there great cats but the parts are big$$ got to remember there a german tractor the PB100 is built in Reno but they have heating problems and they are slowwwwww. I have a 1996 BR275 great cat and the parts are here in the USA. What are you using the cat for personal transport or other and do you to to move it alot. PG&E has bought some troopers from camoplast just a smaller BR 275 or BR 400 they seem to like them.

 

[jimh]

Thanks guys, we ended up getting a 2010 tucker 2000xl. It has the allison tranny. We took it out yesterday to the top of one of the mountains. 3 people and about 700 pounds of gear and it was no problem.

Its slower than a snowmobile, but everything has its uses...

I am really impressed with the workmanship and quality of the machine. It has the same tranny as the big tuckers so hopefully those issues are in the older models only.

Thanks for the help and input and have a happy new year.

Jim

 

[shredder]

when can we go for a snowcat ride?
scott

 

[lynxer292b]

Awesome! Good to hear you got a good Tucker Machine! any pictures!?