Atv/ Utv trail grooming equipment

[goofy600]

With all the Atv/ Utv clubs and trails now days would anyone here know what some clubs are using to groom/ grade their trails during the summer? My area usually has the professionally graded every year but by end of season they are really torn up which makes getting them ready for winter an issue. Would like to find something that I could use right about this time of year to take the whoops out before it starts snowing. Something that could be hooked up to our tractor like a groomer. Thoughts, pictures, websites, any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[SledTL]

I see a lot of posts on facebook from some group in northern lower michigan called Kalaska sand and snow. They appear to have a dirt groomer drag and it looks like it smooths things out really well. I would imagine since dirt doesnt set up like snow overnight this is nearly a fruitless endeavor, but whatever floats their boat.....

 

[mezz]

I wish they had some spring/summer maintenance here in the Keweenaw particularly with the restoration of trail 3 from Dollar Bay to Lake Linden, some of the trail was shifted to adjacent rail grades and the base was not properly prepped with sand & gravel between Tamarack & Lake Linden & as such is now a potholed mess.
I realize this restoration project was a huge undertaking, but, the rerouted areas should have a better base than what is there. Naturally, this will not be a huge issue once packed with snow for the sledding season, but, we all know what areas start to turn to crap first with heavy traffic or thawing. Who is responsible for this when it is a shared trail with the ATV/UTV & Snowmobile Clubs? They should try to collectively get the rough areas graded to benefit the shared use by each.

 

[goofy600]

I wish they had some spring/summer maintenance here in the Keweenaw particularly with the restoration of trail 3 from Dollar Bay to Lake Linden, some of the trail was shifted to adjacent rail grades and the base was not properly prepped with sand & gravel between Tamarack & Lake Linden & as such is now a potholed mess.
I realize this restoration project was a huge undertaking, but, the rerouted areas should have a better base than what is there. Naturally, this will not be a huge issue once packed with snow for the sledding season, but, we all know what areas start to turn to crap first with heavy traffic or thawing. Who is responsible for this when it is a shared trail with the ATV/UTV & Snowmobile Clubs? They should try to collectively get the rough areas graded to benefit the shared use by each.

Agreed completely. Problem I see is western UP has one atv club that covers multiple snowmobile clubs area. So unfortunately there isn’t a lot of working together. I’m still learning everything about what can be done and how to get it done, but really wish atv and snowmobile clubs could work together better. Atv club paid big money to have everything graded in early summer but now they are trashed and need grading before winter.

 

[garageguy]

In the lakewood area they groom with a dirt groomer it's a large piece and a very large tractor. I will look back in my phone for pictures

 

[garageguy]

Saw it in operation south of Dunbar

 

[dfattack]

Saw it in operation south of Dunbar

I was going to say I think the dunbar / goodman area grooms the ATV trails in the summer, but not 100%

 

[heckler56]

I see a lot of posts on facebook from some group in northern lower michigan called Kalaska sand and snow. They appear to have a dirt groomer drag and it looks like it smooths things out really well. I would imagine since dirt doesnt set up like snow overnight this is nearly a fruitless endeavor, but whatever floats their boat.....

Kalkaska just smoothed the trails this last week, prior to hunting season start. So they should be untouched by season opening.

This last fall I took my dirt bike up to the Manistque/Munising areas. I haven’t been on those trails in the summer since the 70’s. I Completely understand why Alger Sorva has some issues. Pure deep sand from Shingleton to Buckhorn! On the bike I might get 1/4 mile then whipped around by the sand. It took me 5 hours from Manistque to Buckhorn.. took forest roads back in 2 hours….

 

[hermie]

It would be nice if the UTV/ATV clubs would repair the damage created before the snow flies. I know in St.Germain the UTV club is supposed to go out and smooth things out before the sled season starts. To be able to get smooth trails it sure helps to start out with a relatively smooth ground. I have heard up on Alger county they got a dirt groomer and it has really helped the snowmobile trails. To me it only seems fair that the clubs do what they can to smooth things out before the ground freezes. Most of the UTV clubs have benefited from the snowmobile trails already being in place. The snowmobile clubs have done most of the leg work to establish the trail system so the least the UTV clubs could do is go out and fix the damage created by the UTV.

 

[goofy600]

Hermie you are absolutely correct. In the UP with the DNR being the prevailing boss or both ATV and snowmobile really wish that was the case. Snowmobile club shouldn’t have to spend their money to fix what Atv’s destroy. And snowmobile club should have to make sure trails are flat at end of season

 

[LoveMyDobe]

It would be nice if the UTV/ATV clubs would repair the damage created before the snow flies. I know in St.Germain the UTV class b is supposed to go out and smooth things out after before the sled season starts. To be able to get smooth trails it sure helps to start out with a relatively smooth ground. I have heard up on Alger county they got a dirt groomer and it has really helped the snowmobile trails. To me it only seems fair that the clubs do what they can to smooth things out before the ground freezes. Most of the UTV clubs have benefited from the snowmobile trails already being in place. The snowmobile clubs have done most of the leg work to establish the trail system so the least the UTV clubs could do is go out and fix the damage created by the UTV.

Our clubs contract with the National Forest expires in early Sept (Bayfield Co) so no trail work can be done.( we have tried for years to have it extended). County trails are still graded tho.

 

[LoveMyDobe]

Trails North Atv Club Iron River WI I'll try and dig up more pictures of the blade we have that pulls behind . These are old picture sorry.

 

[LoveMyDobe]

Trails North

 

[goofy600]

LoveMyDobe thanks for the pictures. We have a very old drag that we will try to build into our own dirt drag

 

[hermie]

Trails North Atv Club Iron River WI I'll try and dig up more pictures of the blade we have that pulls behind . These are old picture sorry.

Looks like that drag does a nice job smoothing things out. With a base like that before the snow flies would make for a great start to smooth trails. If you got about 8" of snow you would already have a nice trail.

 

[mspease]

LoveMyDobe thanks for the pictures. We have a very old drag that we will try to build into our own dirt drag

That's what we do. We took an old snow drag and beefed it up a bit for a dirt drag. Our local ATV club grooms the trails 4-5 days a week through September 15th, and for some crazy reason, our snowmobile club takes it over from September 15th and we just finished up this week. We have been going out at least 3 times a week, which keeps the trails pretty nice.

 

[mezz]

I wish that was able to be done here, it sure would be beneficial to everyone.