The truth why you will need more than a 144 sometimes!

[Himark]

Out riding last weekend had a group of 8 guys, snowing heavy and winds were strong so decided to stay in the thick trees all morning. Problem was my sled was down and one of the other guys was nice enough to let me use his daughters spare rev chassis 600 with a 144. Sled runs out strong and is in no way a slouch. We headed into the thick trees and they are thick and tight, no way to point and shoot lots of stopping starting and picking your way. I was able to lead these guys for a couple hours but it was a work out. Trenching, running along side of sled at times and not as easy to pick a line with much decision time. The guy that let me use the sled (beergut)said..."Wow you are getting your azz kicked, why dont you take this 151 800 instead since you are leading" I agreed and all planets aligned and the world was calm after that. I had more time to pick and choose, was able to make better decisions and was not leaving such a huge trench for the other guys. Beergut was on the 600 144 was fine also since there was a nice path layed out by several riders. That 600 would do fine ripping the pow as long as it kept up the momentum and was at times more fun since it was a challenge! But not good lead sled.

In summary IF you are the lead man on deep pow in the mtns you WILL need more track on those days period. You can argue all you want but most of you need to realize those days your on the short track you are most likely following or your not in the deep pow.

Edit....heres a pic of a 151 800 in a open flat meadow on the day I am talking about.

 

[IceCap]

I agree totally, I ride 06 900 166" and ride with 163",155, 151, 144, and on deep days (which is mostly when we ride) the long tracks always lead.
The shortest track I would consider is a 155".
Also 2.4" or 2.5" or 3" lug is a must on those deep days.

 

[wasatchrider]

going to have to disagree on this one i think it was more of the 600 to 800 your not talking about a lot of track length difference. all my buddys that ride xp sleds ride 146 and do better than fine in those situation and just overall
a lot of it is rider as well of course

 

[backcountryislife]

you've got to understand, some of us are just SO dam good we need the challenge though!!!

 

[longtrack156]

I can relate directly with that.
Lots of guys said that it wouldn't work when I put a 156 under my old Powder Special.
They were often proven wrong.

 

[tudizzle]

I am going to talk in circles in talk to going am I

 

[Tree Boss]

reminds me of a 03 800 rev that I had that had been long tracked out to a 144. That pig was stuck all day, hell if I looked at the deep snow on the packed trail it would get stuck LOL. I sold that sled for cheap and bought a 07 Summit and never looked back to a "shorty" again!!

 

[keefer]

Must be nice to have enough snow to have that problem...

 

[Mtn-Track]

I had more time to pick and choose, was able to make better decisions and was not leaving such a huge trench for the other guys.
Edit....heres a pic of a 151 800 in a open flat meadow on the day I am talking about.

Ummmmm..., if that was YOU on the 151, I'd have second thoughts of trying to poach YOUR trail!

I'd like to see what kind of trench you left with the 144! Did you have to re-jet once you got it back up on top of the snow?!?

 

[togwotee9]

I wish when I rode 136's in the 90's you where there to tell me I needed a longer sled Wait I rode all over the mountain then like I do now.

 

[milehighassassin]

90% rider

10% sled

of that 10% sled maybe 3% might be the track. You already said you were on a 600 and riding with 800's. You are running way less power. I went from a 151 to a 144 and now a 146. I can get to places on the 144 and the 146 that my 151 wouldn't go and I am not as tired after riding for 3 straight days.

You need a sled that you are comfortable on and that includes track length. Everything else equal a 144 will not outclimb a 163, but a 163 also will not boondock like a 144. What kind of rider are you?

 

[sledin]

Thank God I have a 146

 

[k-dog]

rider over sled !!!

 

[Jay]

Did you have to rejet when you got back on top of the snow? best laugh I've had all day.

 

[GlennRMK]

I never understood how anyone can say a 144 boondocks better then a 162?

Do you think you can turn tighter or do tighter donuts or what?

The longer the track the more flotation and more time you have to pick your lines through the trees. I love boondockin through the trees and really like my 162.

I would not ride anything shorter then a 153. Why ride shorter and get stuck more?

I'm not much of a jumper, but I see a lot of guys going big on long tracks so why bother with the shorter track?

 

[Teamdog]

You know this subject will never be decided because there is always someone that thinks they can go anywhere on a short track and there will always be someone who thinks they can boondock better on a long track.

I personally think that it depends on the snow conditions more than rider or HP.

These are facts

Short track sleds maneuver better than long tracks.
Short tracks jump better than long tracks

Long tracks climb better than short tracks
Long tracks do better in deep heavy powder than a short track


Where we ride in the Pacific northwest in the Coquihallia I would never take a short track into the back country because I am not a good enough rider to take a short track into the areas that we ride without working my &$$ off except if the snow conditions are hero snow.

Long tracks rock for me and I hate digging out. I can make my way thru the tight trails in the trees and boondocking is still quite easy on the 163.

A flat lander will never understand until they come for a ride. Like a guy from the prairies riding with us last weekend said sleds arn't supposed to do what we do with them here in the mountains.

Later....

 

[Cascade Crud]

Looks like you just need to go faster. If you never slow down, you never get stuck! If for some reason you do have to stop say for lunch or to figure out where the hell you are, I sugjest doing so on the top of a large cliff, right on the edge, with your skis hanging off. That way you can get going again If you are in a flat area with no cliffs I would advise stoping on the top of a large tree. For instructions on how to park on top of large trees you will have to PM trailtoy1993 because he seems to have it down? If there are no cliffs or trees then there is no reason to get stuck in the first place.

 

[fordpickupman]

I vote for longer

I used to think that 151 was too long, but the 136 just wasn't cutting it in the trees like I needed it to. I put a 151 on my ol' XLT this year and love it. It is a completely different machine. It goes through the bottomless powder pretty good, and the extra length isn't really noticeable on the road. I am 6'5" and have a lot of leverage and not real great balance, the 136 got to be a hinderance for power turns and sidehilling. It would kick out of the groove too easy. The 151 holds it way better.

The rider makes the difference, better rider + better equipment = amazing adventures......

 

[Burr]

I have a 144 -159 and 163 and i like each one on different days. Some days i will ride all three. When my wifes brothers come out west with there 121s i use the 144 and still get tired of helping them get unstuck! I dont help them as much any more so they stay on the trail more now!! So i trail ride with them on the 144. I dont take the big boys out with them because there is no way they can even get close to me to help me when i get stuck!! I have 3 snobunjes so they can each have one!! Now if i could get them to get a back pack and shovel i would be in heaven. Back to the ? Its alot about the rider weight and skill. I have the weight with just average skill so i like the 163.I would get as long as track as you could.You will learn to like it and its still the best when it gets deep.

 

[Xrider]

I think an XP with a 146 is a different animal than other "short tracks" mentioned. They go!!!