To sell or to keep?? That, is the question!!

M

mikes99ss

Well-known member
So for the fourth year in a row now my sled is seeing very little use and I'm having a really hard time trying to decide if I should keep it or just sell. I've been a sled guy my whole life but how long do you hang on? What do you guys think?

Pros,
Super cool sled I bought new and customized to my liking. A few spare parts and most tools to do my own maintainance. Bought and paid for.

Cons,
Lots of $$$ sitting for a toy that gets used 3-4 times a year. My kids are 7 and 10 and are getting involved in a lot more stuff. Dance, hockey etc...

So, What to do?
 

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F

ffemt

Member
There is only one answer that matters and that is yours. We are all at different stages of our life, age , wants n needs. Whats right for one of us is different than what is right for you and your family. Best Wishes
 
F

fusion

Guest
It's simple math that I go thru on paper every single year.
Figure approx. $900 per year depreciation on a new sled, give or take a hundred. Add insurance of $150 on that.
Rental is about $200 per day. $1050 divided by $200 = 5.25
If you can't ride it more than 5 times a year, it doesn't pay to own it!
End of story

And that's why I sold one of my sleds this year, and haven't replaced. (so far)
 
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shelby369

New member
With kids 7 and 10, your in lockdown for the next 11years...........been there done that... you have a small window to enjoy your kids, enjoy. my kids all rode from 3 years old up, so that helped.......but I did sell the Harley because I wasn't riding........kids gone now, so HD coming back this summer.
 
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POLARISDAN

New member
if you cant trailer because of the kids, or get away with buds or by yourself..u might as well sell..u cant count on snow at home in lower, wi ill or mn..trailer or nothing this year so far
 
H

Hoosier

Well-known member
fusion said:
It's simple math that I go thru on paper every single year.
Figure approx. $900 per year depreciation on a new sled, give or take a hundred. Add insurance of $150 on that.
Rental is about $200 per day. $1050 divided by $200 = 5.25
If you can't ride it more than 5 times a year, it doesn't pay to own it!
End of story

And that's why I sold one of my sleds this year, and haven't replaced. (so far)
Click to expand...

Seems smart to me. I have 3 little ones at home. I prefer to keep my 06, figuring its cheaper to keep and ride than rent. I like having it around anyway.
 
S

sweeperguy

Active member
I see more than a couple sleds up for sale every year because of low usage. Yours wouldn't be the first or the last. With this year being so bad for snowcover, if you can hold out till next year (hopefully better conditions) to sell may bring more interest and quicker sale.
I rode very little for alot of years due to wanting to do things with the kids and more overtime available in winter. (Used to drive yow truck) but had older sleds of little value sitting in garage so not much advantage to selling. If they had been worth several thousand dollars i would have sold while they held value and then replaced when time permitted to return to the sport I love.
 
U

united

Active member
I say keep it. Once its gone you might not get another one. At least keep it another year for the reasons sweeperguy mentioned. You may feel differently with snow on the ground.
 
E

electraglide1

Member
One part of the rental equation is damage. A small amount of damage on a rental can get extremely expensive in a hurry. Convenience is also a factor with renting in my opinion. You are limited by the rental operators hours with pick up / drop off. Great looking sled you have. You're getting some great advice in the above replies. Good luck with your decision.
 
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skeeter2010

Member
An older friend said this to me when my wife was 7 months pregnant. If you have a toy now meaning, motorcycle, snowmobile ect... don't sell anything, if you have one you want buy, buy it now, because there will never be enough money for THAT in the future. Sooooo my Wife is in labor in the hospital I am sitting on Craigslist looking for sleds showing the Dr's what I am buying I had the deal made in a couple hours and sled delivered 2 days after our daughter was born; have I used it enough to justify it, barely. 3000 miles in 4 years that’s why I bought a 1 year old model because I knew I would have it for a long time.
KEEP IT at least you have something to show for your money a large tangible item that burns gas and makes noise, I Love my kids more than anything, but sometimes after writing checks for Daycare, dance, diapers it kind of hurts. Go Start it up in the garage make your cloths smell like two stroke and throw logic out the window.
 
M

MZEMS2

New member
Sold ours a couple years ago. Don't regret it a bit. I figure I save money by not owning it..and it was paid for. I still stay active with our club with all the work that needs to be done, and I do most of the grooming. When it snows of course. I was pretty stoked early season to get in the groomer, but now, at this stage of the season, I'm ready to get the motorcycle out.
 
R

Ramsey

New member
For what it's worth this is my situation. I live in Southern Illinois, rarely do we get enough snow to get mine off of the trailer. The sled is 15 years old, I paid cash for it so I'm planning on keeping it. I have two grade school age kids as well, when we do get enough snow here I take the kids out for a little ride and they enjoy it but not as much as I do.
Me and my buds make one trip a year to Iron County, stay four or five days and put on four or five hundred miles and I couldn't be happier. Granted the sled is old and may very well leave me stranded one day but it does everything I need it to do and I'm not neck deep in debt over it.
Your sled looks like a pretty nice piece, if I were in your shoes I would sell it and buy something much cheaper that you could take out from time to time when it's an option. If you don't get to use it at all you're not out much.
When my kids are gone to college and I'm retired I plan to be one of the grey hairs sitting at the bar that all the younger people look at and think 'man I hope I'm still riding when I'm that guy's age'. The wife may not like it but when that day comes the trips will be longer than four or five days.
That's my two cents.
 
Z

zltim

Member
I live in snow country, NW wi and we have not enough to open trails. My 06 sled is long paid for and only 6000 miles on it. Only cost now is ins and some maintenance every couple years. If I sold it, when the kids come to sled I would be staying home and not enjoying the grandkids in the great outdoors. If I only get 2-500 miles this year, it lasts 1 more year. Your mountain sled could be sold and get an older trail sled to have on hand when it snows. I could trailer but even the counties near me are low snow and mostly snirt.

If you sell it, the money will be gone somewhere and it will be harder to justify another sled in the future. Good luck on your decision.
 
G

G

Guest
It cost some $ to get your sled to where you want it. It looks good to me. As has been said if you sell it the money you will get will soon be gone. If you choose to rent after that you will not be able to rent a sled just like yours. It is not free to rent especially if you get in even a small wreck. All you are probably paying is insurance on your sled right now. If I were you I would keep it. Once you sell it you will never be able to justify another one. When it comes right down to it justifying a sled is hard even if you put on 2000 miles a year. There is no way anybody ever comes out financially on a sled. Sledding is a frame of mind. It really doesn't have that much to do with money.
 
D

durphee

Well-known member
All above are some great comments. I have three kids and the sled is always in debate between selling and keeping. But, one important thing is that although you have kids you still need to enjoy YOUR life. Parents need to get away and have their own life from time to time. I love being with my kids and attending their events, as we all probably do. Many parents give it all up and are hover parents, not allowing any free time for themselves or their children. Some times getting away can strengthen family bonds. If you can financially afford it, keep it. If not, sell and get a older one which is more affordable but I wouldn't quit an activity just because of the kids.
 
T

t_man

New member
To me, this is a decision from the heart if you aren't in a financial crunch. Go with what is important to you.

I live in Cincinnati (a long way from rideable snow) and rented for a number of years. I ended up buying again in 2009. Any financial analysis I do would say rent for the number of times I am able to ride. However, I really grew to hate renting. Now I have a sled that is just what I want, in excellent condition, that I can ride wherever I want whenever I want or can. It is definitely more expensive but also much more enjoyable. Worth it to me for the few times a year I can ride. This year I probably won't get to ride at all. Started a new business last year and can't afford the $ or time away. I thought for a few minutes about whether to sell my sleds but it was an easy decision in the end - keep em!
 
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HardwaterHoosier

Member
I remember my dad selling his boat when I was in Elementary school, it didn't get replaced until I entered my 30's.
I bought my sled a few hours before I took my wife to the hospital to have our daughter. I almost sold early fall, but I remembered why I bought it.

Selfish, maybe. If it was a financial issue it would be gone the next day. But for now, it's there if I find time in-between basketball games and birthday parties. It'll loose a little value setting a few seasons, but it will still be ready at a moments notice.
 
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