Differences Between Crossover and Mountain Sleds?

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maximumpsi

Member
The popularity of crossover sleds seems to be increasing rapidly, even among people who spend most of the time on the trails. For primarily trail riding, which features are a must and which need to be avoided to still be a good trail sled? What does a sway-bar do? Good thing on trail sleds, not good for off trail? What's the difference between coupled and uncoupled skids? Is one better for trail riding and the other better for off-trail? Thanks!
 
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thebreeze

Member
Coupler blocks, and sway bars are for railing trails. The things they do to the sled to improve trail handling, detract from deep snow maneuverability. i.e. increased ski pressure, and reduced weight transfer.
 
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Deleted member 10829

Guest
If you are primarily a trail rider, I wouldn't go with more than a 1.5" lug on the track, preferrably 1.25". The mountain sled will also be geared totally different and you will lose lots of top end speed as they are geared to climb, not race down the trail.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
same as above. A Renegade is closer to a trail sled and a Switchback is closer to a Mtn. sled. I know that much. Off trail is "Danger, Warning, Will Robinson" ( for those who remember lost in Space) as Cuzz says.
 
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salmonbum

New member
cuzzinolaf said:
Off trail is too dangerous in the UP. I say buy a trail sled for the UP and a mountain sled for out west.
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Huh??? What??? I ride the U.P. all the time, 90% is off trail. I don't understand what is dangerous about it, as long as common sense is used? I find it safer than riding trails at nite with drunks on sleds doing 90 mph to get to the next bar. I got tired of pulling them drinkers out of ditches half dead. Sure, we bust a Few A arms and bumpers, but most "inccidents" are at a slower speed then trail riding. I hit a tree, I need a new bumper. Guy on a trail doing 60 and miss a corner, he may need a new leg.


polarisrider1 said:
same as above. A Renegade is closer to a trail sled and a Switchback is closer to a Mtn. sled. I know that much. Off trail is "Danger, Warning, Will Robinson" ( for those who remember lost in Space) as Cuzz says.
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I have a Gade. I ride with other Gades. I ride with switchbacks too. They are bascially the same as far as crossover sleds go. Honestly, with the gade having a 16" track it leaves a larger footprint than a 144 switchback. Besides, its not about the sled, but more the skill level of the rider. I'm sure I can take a 121" back in some places a novice couldn't take a mountain sled.

As for differences between mountain and Crossover, Lug height is one, track width, ski stance (mtn usually narrower) ski width, gearing and clutching (mtn is all about track speed), suspension, sway bar (mtn sleds usually don't have them), tunnel cooler length ( mtn sleds are much shorter).

My gade is set up for off trail, but I still need to do some trail rides when I have a weekend with the girl. Skid plates, a-arm protectors, different clutching, lower gearing, lighter sled (take a bunch ofg stuff off not needed), harder compound belts, etc,..... I still only run a 1.25" lug, because I ahve to trail ride every so often as stated above and 1.75" would make things to easy. I need some kind of a challenge :).
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
UP off-trail riding is very dangerous..... PERIOD! Keep it out west and don't ruin the beautiful Northwoods. Too easy to wreck or total a sled and then what will you do? I highly suggest going out with a stove, camping gear and a way to start a fire. The powerlines are OK but never venture off of them if you must.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
cuzzinolaf said:
UP off-trail riding is very dangerous..... PERIOD! Keep it out west and don't ruin the beautiful Northwoods. Too easy to wreck or total a sled and then what will you do? I highly suggest going out with a stove, camping gear and a way to start a fire. The powerlines are OK but never venture off of them if you must.
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Cuzz, maybe.............. if they take an Avy class? lol.
 
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dafuzz

New member
I agree with Salmonbum, what's so dangerous riding off trail in the UP? I also agree that the moron drunks cutting corners and going way too fast on the trails make me want to stay as far away from trails as possible. Bartenders should be required to take keys from sledders and put them in a 12 hour time delayed lockbox if the sledders are drinking more than a couple of drinks or if they are obviously bar hopping and already lit. No keys, no drinks here should be the standard answer to sledders. The trails are way more dangerous to safety while the off trail causes more minor parts to be broken (skis, radius rods, a-arms, trailing arms, bumpers, tracks). I'll take off trail hazards any day!
 
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slickwilly08

New member
dafuzz said:
I agree with Salmonbum, what's so dangerous riding off trail in the UP? I also agree that the moron drunks cutting corners and going way too fast on the trails make me want to stay as far away from trails as possible. Bartenders should be required to take keys from sledders and put them in a 12 hour time delayed lockbox if the sledders are drinking more than a couple of drinks or if they are obviously bar hopping and already lit. No keys, no drinks here should be the standard answer to sledders. The trails are way more dangerous to safety while the off trail causes more minor parts to be broken (skis, radius rods, a-arms, trailing arms, bumpers, tracks). I'll take off trail hazards any day!
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You so craaazy!
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
dafuzz said:
I agree with Salmonbum, what's so dangerous riding off trail in the UP? I also agree that the moron drunks cutting corners and going way too fast on the trails make me want to stay as far away from trails as possible. Bartenders should be required to take keys from sledders and put them in a 12 hour time delayed lockbox if the sledders are drinking more than a couple of drinks or if they are obviously bar hopping and already lit. No keys, no drinks here should be the standard answer to sledders. The trails are way more dangerous to safety while the off trail causes more minor parts to be broken (skis, radius rods, a-arms, trailing arms, bumpers, tracks). I'll take off trail hazards any day!
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I hope the both of you you have large bank accounts to pay for all the wrecked sleds since you condone off-trail riding. Off-trail is good if it is out west.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
dafuzz said:
I agree with Salmonbum, what's so dangerous riding off trail in the UP? I also agree that the moron drunks cutting corners and going way too fast on the trails make me want to stay as far away from trails as possible. Bartenders should be required to take keys from sledders and put them in a 12 hour time delayed lockbox if the sledders are drinking more than a couple of drinks or if they are obviously bar hopping and already lit. No keys, no drinks here should be the standard answer to sledders. The trails are way more dangerous to safety while the off trail causes more minor parts to be broken (skis, radius rods, a-arms, trailing arms, bumpers, tracks). I'll take off trail hazards any day!
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Talk about infringing on rights. Most my friends act drunk when they are sober. We all gunna blow into a tube to get our keys back. first they got to take them from me. I am totally against drunk drivers but playing Gestopo in the US will not fly. A bartender is not a cop. Some of the bartenders have been drinking more than the customers. Reread your last line. If you off trail on private property are you and your buddies prepared for a shot gun blast to the chest?? Barb wire fence taking your head off is always a safety issue as you ignore the No Trespassing signs. Cuzz and I are concerned for your safety. ;)
 
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dafuzz

New member
I knew it'd prolly push some buttons talking about drunks on sleds. Just the way I feel, I don't think it's infringing on anyones rights if a bartender decides to make the choice to not serve alcohol to customers if it might cause them to crash, die or kill someone else. Bars are private businesses, they have the right to make the choice who their customers are and if their customers are safe when they leave that private business. I realize it'll never happen cause bars would lose out on too many customers and too much money but I just had to spit it out. Just a personal opinion that I feel strongly enough about to post it up. Sorry to get this thread off track for the original poster.
 
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nplathe

New member
I would go off trail riding anyday over just trail riding! A crossover sled is good just for that. If you spend 50% of the time on trail and 50% off the trail, then a crossover sled would be just for you. I would never go back to short track sled again! 144 is the shortest I would go. Polaris has a great crossover this year from what I've heard. Yamaha's XTX is good, but you'll pry want to get a different track, (1.5 or 1.75 cross-country) and change the ski's and I don't have much expierence with Doo's. The crossover may not handle like a 121 on the trails, but they will def bridge the bumps much better. With my XTX, i had absolutely no problem keeping up with my buddy's RTX and srx on the trails and there both short tracks. JMO here tho.
 
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nitroman

New member
cuzzinolaf said:
Off trail is too dangerous in the UP. I say buy a trail sled for the UP and a mountain sled for out west.
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West is ok but I hear the east is really becoming the new west. Boondocking the east is off the hook and with the lower elevations the crossover sleds are perfect out there!
 
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