SxS/UTV With Tracks Experiences

[Boss .300 winmag]

If you own one with tracks, or have driven them in snow, what’s their limitations?

[KFhunter]

Common problem is getting a track under a log that it went under instead of over it like you wanted 

Worse is when its a rear track, the front went over, but the back didn't, then you back up and the front won't go over now either, so you're high centered on it. 

[Southpole]

We have a Polaris Ranger we just put the tracks on for the third year in a row. The only limitations is that they are wide so if you’re going to take it on some skinny trails that it fit through with the tires you’re probably not going to get through with the tracks. The other thing to keep in mind is you need to think ahead for sharp turns. It doesn’t turn on a dime. Other than that we love it. No matter how much snow or the quality of the snow it never sinks more than about 7 inches deep. It’ll go anywhere a snowmobile will.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Common problem is getting a track under a log that it went under instead of over it like you wanted 

Worse is when its a rear track, the front went over, but the back didn't, then you back up and the front won't go over now either, so you're high centered on it.

Has this happened to you in snow?

[Caseyd]

We have a Polaris Ranger we just put the tracks on for the third year in a row. The only limitations is that they are wide so if you’re going to take it on some skinny trails that it fit through with the tires you’re probably not going to get through with the tracks. The other thing to keep in mind is you need to think ahead for sharp turns. It doesn’t turn on a dime. Other than that we love it. No matter how much snow or the quality of the snow it never sinks more than about 7 inches deep. It’ll go anywhere a snowmobile will.

SXS on tracks cannot go anywhere a snowmobile can. The pressure per square inch is about 4 times the amount of a sled. This is the first year that sxs owners can legally register their vehicle for snow travel, you must duel register as a snowmobile. With that said, many sxs have already been severally stuck and rescued by snowmobilers. The motto of never ride alone applies to sxs also and some of them would of never made it out alone.

Most are finding they don’t want to venture to far off the groomed trail.

[Magnum_Willys]

Snowmobile = 500 lbs
SxS with tracks = 1500-2800#

Plus snowmobile glides on skis at speed - think drive over water at speed.

But compared to a truck oh yea!

[Southpole]

We have a Polaris Ranger we just put the tracks on for the third year in a row. The only limitations is that they are wide so if you’re going to take it on some skinny trails that it fit through with the tires you’re probably not going to get through with the tracks. The other thing to keep in mind is you need to think ahead for sharp turns. It doesn’t turn on a dime. Other than that we love it. No matter how much snow or the quality of the snow it never sinks more than about 7 inches deep. It’ll go anywhere a snowmobile will.

SXS on tracks cannot go anywhere a snowmobile can. The pressure per square inch is about 4 times the amount of a sled. This is the first year that sxs owners can legally register their vehicle for snow travel, you must duel register as a snowmobile. With that said, many sxs have already been severally stuck and rescued by snowmobilers. The motto of never ride alone applies to sxs also and some of them would of never made it out alone.

Most are finding they don’t want to venture to far off the groomed trail.

That hasn’t been our experience. We’ve ventured up into 3 feet of snow, never had any issues. Fresh snow old snow no problems. We have talked to guys that have been snowmobiling for years and they see tracked Polaris’ up where they ride from time to time with no issues. And no you’re not going to race around like a snowmobile and fart around vertical like a snowmobile. It’s still a good idea not to travel alone regardless.

[bearpaw]

We have a set of tracks we've used on two of our Vikings. In fact we used them enough to wear out one set of bearings and have completely rebuilt them with all new bearings (you can get all the new bearings in Spokane).

I don't look at it as a replacement for a snowmobile, it's not. I view it as a UTV I can use all winter on most of the roads I would use it on during the summer, but at a much slower speed. They seem to go fine in 3 or 4 feet of snow, if it's powder it pushes through, if it's wet snow you sink half way, but there is a lot clearance on tracks, as long as it isn't too steep they seem to go pretty good.

[Southpole]

I think some people think you’re going to be able to race around and “play” like a snowmobile and maybe that’s where some people have gotten in trouble. As mentioned it’s a vehicle to get to point a to point b with no farting around or going fast.

[Norman89]

No experience with a sxs, but a local guy I use to wheel with had a Suzuki samurai on mattracks, pretty much the same thing to me I have always called my samurai a adult sized street legal go cart. That guy would always be at the back of the pack to pull everyone out no matter who or what got stuck. He would race up the ditch in 5' of snow like it was nothing at all. No he didn't try to mountain climb like a sled, but it went wherever he pointed it. I'll be building one, that's for sure

[Southpole]

No experience with a sxs, but a local guy I use to wheel with had a Suzuki samurai on mattracks, pretty much the same thing to me I have always called my samurai a adult sized street legal go cart. That guy would always be at the back of the pack to pull everyone out no matter who or what got stuck. He would race up the ditch in 5' of snow like it was nothing at all. No he didn't try to mountain climb like a sled, but it went wherever he pointed it. I'll be building one, that's for sure

Okay, you need to get a picture of that thing, sounds bad ass.

[Ridgeratt]

Heres a ford ranger.

https://kootenays.craigslist.org/snw/d/grasmere-1983-ford-ranger-on-tracks/7427146544.html

And a road trip.

[Southpole]

Heres a ford ranger.

https://kootenays.craigslist.org/snw/d/grasmere-1983-ford-ranger-on-tracks/7427146544.html

And a road trip.

Oh nice 

[jackelope]

This was out front of Bickford Ford a few weeks ago.

[Boss .300 winmag]

This was out front of Bickford Ford a few weeks ago.

Was it for sale, or just a tease mobile?