$led Rental$

C

chicagosledder

New member
With the winters we have been having I would say the rental companies may be eating the cost of these sleds in the long run. I also agree with them keeping them for a year longer and charging less, but once again business isn't waht it used to be for them either. If this trend continues our sport may be in jeopardy. In my opinion I would try to borrow one or buy a cheap one and resell it. I feel like they gouge you when the weekend comes and a lot of rental companies are not very flexible on their rental times.
 
Y

yamaholic

Member
Sold my last sled about 5 years ago miss the trips to the U.P each year but with the cost of fuel, lodging, food and the other $$$ that goes with snowmobiling and the fact that it never snows in southern Mich just not worth having a sled take up space in the garage all year. Been thinking of buying a place up North when and if I do I'll get back into the sport. until then no thank's I'll just read about it.
 
B

blkhwkbob

Active member
Builder Bob said:
Now there are other ways of looking at this.
How about the OP loaning his sled to his buddy, and the OP renting.

If you want to try sledding, buy a sled for $1800, use it a few times, sell it for $1700.

If you rent for few days per year, it about the same money as depreciation.
Click to expand...
Ummm. I've got too much invested in my sled for my *** to not be on it all winter. I would gladly buy a "buddy" sled but right now we don't have trailer space. As a matter of fact, at two separate times I have had an extra sled for my friends to ride.
 
B

blkhwkbob

Active member
Another idea: Rental place replaces HALF their fleet every year. Charge more for the new sled rentals and less for the year-old models. Let the customer decide between price and "latest and greatest." After year two the old sleds get sold and replaced. Reduces dealer cost and the resale isn't going to be vastly different from one year to two.
 
S

snoeatr

Member
Cant rip a rental like our own cause too ner ous it will end up in a tree. Ride it like a rental is a bad phrase
 
C

caged_beagle

Member
blkhwkbob said:
Another idea: Rental place replaces HALF their fleet every year. Charge more for the new sled rentals and less for the year-old models. Let the customer decide between price and "latest and greatest." After year two the old sleds get sold and replaced. Reduces dealer cost and the resale isn't going to be vastly different from one year to two.
Click to expand...

Or, heres an idea; You spend the upwards of seven figures for a snowmobile dealership, front all the money for inventory, man-power and utilities and then rent your snowmobiles the way you want on your own terms and find out how "easy" it is? It's too easy for someone not in the business to sit in the parking lot and think they know whats going on inside the shop.....regardless of what kind of business it is.

Eagle River Mike has it spot on, BTW!

__________________________________
swmpdky2.jpg
 
W

whitedust

Well-known member
Yep every sled rental I know turns the fleet every year sells the fleet & starts over new. They seem to do just fine & IMO if you can't afford it then you don't get to play. Rental cars are out everyday all year rental sleds are rented when conditions permit for what 90 days if lucky. I really don't see the comparo apples & oranges.
 
B

blkhwkbob

Active member
Here's an idea. Why don't you just cool your jets, big guy? Lack of snow getting to ya? I'm not telling anybody how to run their business, just offering an idea. Now, if someone really in the businees wanted to tell me why that idea sucks, fine, but your reply answered none of that and was just a useless attack by a jerk.
 
S

StreetnSnow

New member
Another affordable rental option besides Dan's is Pat's Yamaha. They've got a Yamaha SXVenom for ~$125/day. Although it's not a current model, it's a well maintained lc 600 triple that's more fun than a 550 fan.
 
Y

yamirider

Member
IMO if your only going to go once or twice renting is the way to go. No big cash outlay for a new sled, no trail permit, no registration, no insurance, no trailer, no maintence and no storage costs. Better gas mileage driving up not pulling a trailer. I have owned for more than 20 years, sold out last fall. With my kids involved in sports and things I just don't have the time to go like i use to. We went once to Munising last year rented for a couple of days and had a great time. I am sure I will own again down the road, but right now renting makes more since for me.
 
W

whitedust

Well-known member
Maybe & would get to me if in his shoes. Rental sleds sitting for most of the month is hurting a lot of the rental organizations. I have helped break in new rentals for 1 org & he turns over the fleet every year. Surprised me at 1st so we talked about it & once you get into the ROI it does not make sense to keep & not turn over the rentals. You have to remember warranties are also involved & everyone likes to buy a used seld with some warranty.
 
M

Mark@TimberlineSports

New member
I cant speak for anyone else, but the main reason we get new sleds every year is reliability. I dont think it matters if your spending $50 or $500 a day on a sled, if your rental is broke down out in the sticks and it takes hours to replace it if there is a replacement left. Not to mention the warranty issues with old equipment.

And BTW for the record, You would be mad also, if you were a Caged_Beagle. LOL!

-Mark
______________________________
securedownload.jpg
 
Last edited:
T

Team Elkhorn

Guest
Team Elkhorn said:
Yep, the sport has gotten expensive. The last time someone asked me what the total cost of a weekend snowmobile trip with a rental sled would cost they thought I was joking. Especially when they can rent a midsize car with unlimited miles for less then $20 a day.
Click to expand...

whitedust said:
Yep every sled rental I know turns the fleet every year sells the fleet & starts over new. They seem to do just fine & IMO if you can't afford it then you don't get to play. Rental cars are out everyday all year rental sleds are rented when conditions permit for what 90 days if lucky. I really don't see the comparo apples & oranges.
Click to expand...

I'm not questioning the prices. We rent when we need an extra sled ourselves. I just repeated what the last 3 or 4 people that asked me what a weekend trip would cost said about prices. The OP was about getting a noob into the sport. I agree that its apples to oranges, but thats what all the people I talked to used as a reference for the price of rentals, like it or not.
 
W

whitedust

Well-known member
Team Elkhorn said:
I'm not questioning the prices. We rent when we need an extra sled ourselves. I just repeated what the last 3 or 4 people that asked me what a weekend trip would cost said about prices. The OP was about getting a noob into the sport. I agree that its apples to oranges, but thats what all the people I talked to used as a reference for the price of rentals, like it or not.
Click to expand...

We agree rental sleds seem expensive but not nearly the cost of ownership of your own sled, gear, truck, trailer, food , room, replacement parts, insurance gas cost back & forth to snow. When you consider all the costs involved in the big picture the casual user is better off renting a sled. If you can afford all that is necessary to enter the sport then by all means own your own. The typical renter schedules time to ride,rides then walks away carefree & does not think about carbides, hyfax, trail permits, registration all that is taken care of & inclusive in the rental costs. Really not a bad deal for the casual infrequent rider.
 
J

jake7880

New member
At least if he rents his own sled and pays the $600 he will get a clear view of what the sport is really going to cost. the only thing crazier than the cost of this sport is the people who take loans out for snowmobiles!
 
C

chop

Member
Compared to other recreational vehicle rentals, sled prices arent out of line. If anything they are cheaper than they could be. Look into boat or motorcycle(harley) rentals and $180 for a sled seems pretty reasonable considering the length of season. Buying new every year keeps the miles down to a level where the dealers can still sell them. I dont know anyone who wants to buy a 3 year old sled with 15k miles on it.

Im not saying Im renting. But I have considered it. I was actually thinking about it but we went from planning a 2 day trip to munising to a 5 day. So now justifiying a rental by the gas money saved by not trailering doesnt add up.

As far as the OP trying to get someone new into the sport. Get them to buy a cheap sled. I spent $500 on my first and after a couple years of riding I am now thinking of buying something alittle newer. For $1500-2500 you can find some pretty nice older sleds that will give you a couple years of service for basically just the maintenance cost. When you want to move up or get out of the sport. It should be worth what you paid for it or close if it is taken care of.
 
B

blkhwkbob

Active member
As a follow-up, he rented a sled from Dan's in Houghton for 3 days and less than $400. The woman taking reservations was great and I think the price is fair. Also nice to support a business in the Northwoods Directory. Thanks to GaryL for the recommendation!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top