Used sled, Backcountry ski 2up.

[CB_Rob]

When shopping around for a new sled what should I be thinking about when it comes to sleds that were used for backcountry skiing.
The guys that ride two up Canadian style? Is that hard on a sled? The tunnels get wrecked? Running boards?
Not sure if that's an easier life foration snowmobile than being used by one person for high RPM powder riding... Any snowmobile mechanics that have seen a trend on wear and tear?

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

When shopping around for a new sled what should I be thinking about when it comes to sleds that were used for backcountry skiing.
The guys that ride two up Canadian style? Is that hard on a sled? The tunnels get wrecked? Running boards?
Not sure if that's an easier life foration snowmobile than being used by one person for high RPM powder riding... Any snowmobile mechanics that have seen a trend on wear and tear?

Can be hard on belts if they really run it hard.

 

[tomx]

As avid Sled Shredder for past 10 years I can talk to things that have impacted my sleds in the past. Really it's mainly suspension and tunnels. When riding two up, it's generally in short bursts. At least for us out in the PNW we are only shuttling two up on the last 600-1000 vert at most. Sometimes shorter. Tunnels can take some abuse from snowboards/skis in the racks. I had 2013 RMK Pro and I cracked the tunnel where the rear running board meets the tunnel. This was more stupidity on my part as I hammered a 9 mile whooped road one day on the way back to the truck. Two boards in the rack and me just hitting whoops at speed was enough to crack it an inch or two. I immediately reinforced the tunnel and it never got worse. I blew the rear suspension while it was still under warranty and Polaris luckily replaced it. Been a while I can't recall exactly what broke but they didn't consider it wear and tear, I wasn't going to complain. By the third season the front shocks were toast so I replaced those with aftermarket. Else everything was peachy. I sold it with 2600 miles on it, still ran like a champ.

 

[tomx]

Oh and you might ask this question over on the sled shredding forum to get more insights..

Sled Access, Skiing & Boarding

The new home for Snow Boarding.

www.snowest.com

 

[kidwoo]

I always put tunnel reinforcing bumpers on my sleds because ski/board racks but look at the tunnel of any sled around where the idlerwheel bracket/running boards meet the tunnel.

Cat and doo running boards bend, polaris not so much. You'll notice that when looking at it obviously.

If it's a polaris, check the base of the mountain strap to see if there are cracks in the aluminum.

 

[CB_Rob]

I always put tunnel reinforcing bumpers on my sleds because ski/board racks but look at the tunnel of any sled around where the idlerwheel bracket/running boards meet the tunnel.

Cat and doo running boards bend, polaris not so much. You'll notice that when looking at it obviously.

If it's a polaris, check the base of the mountain strap to see if there are cracks in the aluminum.

Thanks kid

 

[Jaynelson]

Running boards are either bent/cracked, or not....so pretty simple diagnosis. If there are large racks on the tunnel, without reinforcement - that can fatigue the tunnel in the whoops as mentioned.....cracks or bends. But again, it's either bent or not. Rear suspension and torque arm bushings, but that's not specific to 2up use. Outside of that....riding 2up can be more prone to overheating and clutch wear.

Just like sleds from any other user group....I've seen nice ones and trash ones. I would say *generally speaking* the average sled used for ski touring leans toward the rougher side aesthetically and upkeep wise. And if it's anything even somewhat commercial.....all the sleds we sell to ski hills, cat/heli ski outfits, or anything along those lines....trashed in a very short period of time, stay far away.