Ski Doo Summit Questions........

[groomerdriver]

Not quite sure if this is a Tech Forum question but I'll start here.

My USAF son up in Anchorage is in the early stages of shopping for a sled. For what he wants to do with it and his budget a MY2011 - 2013 Ski Doo Summit 800 154 is at the top of his list. He does not want a Cat (I told him an M8 would be a great choice) nor the potential issues with a 800 Polaris.

His riding will be a mixture of mountain/powder and "trails". Trails in AK are nothing like they are here in the upper Midwest. Think "wide open spaces/lakes/rivers with flattened down snow with sticks for trail markers".

So can anybody shed some light on all things good and bad with the Summit and the 800 Doo motor? I'm ASSUMING the 800 Doo motors are E-techs?

He is not a wrench at all and will be relying on a dealer or a friend for any work that might be needed.

Thanks for any input I can pass on to him.

 

[harski]

If he would buy a Skidoo he should not have any problems whatsoever! Enough said!


All kidding aside, I've had an '08 carb and am currently on an '13 E-Tech no problems whatsoever with either sled. If I recall correctly, the '08 was under the recall and I had about 3K on the sled when I replaced it with the '13. All miles on both sleds have been trail riding which obviously doesn't take the punishment an off trail motor would incur. I'm sure others can pitch in that have the off trail experience with this motor.

Good luck with his search and once again that him for his service to our country!

Harski

 

[lenny]

For that era of machine (2011) the Doo is near the bottom of the list concerning mtn riding only beating a Yamaha and for side hilling,Yamaha will beat that summit. 2011 summit is a trail sled chassis with a long track skid. Do some research on the motor also because I think they were still having issues in 11 with the 800. A cat m8 in 2011 is by far and I mean by far a superior sled that a summit. I'd seriously discourage him from 2011 summit . Now if it were a 14, totally different sled.

 

[snobinge]

Oh this one is going to get interesting...

Lenny said a 14 would be totally different, but Doo started the XM in 13'. The OP said 11'-13'. 11' & 12's Summits are the XP Chassis, however they will have an improved rear suspension and S36 front end vs. earlier XP Summits. Those model years will offer both the Carb PTEK and ETEC motors. The 13' will be an XM in the X and SP models. Doo still makes a Sport Model Summit that is still a PTEK in the XP Chassis with a lot of the XM features...The best value on snow!!!

 

[lenny]

Isn't 14 when Doo got real serious into the Mtn segment and sculpted off the chiseled look, changed the foot boards to great snow evacuation and sharpened up the steering post angle. I may be off on the exact year but I do know the XP's were a planted sled and did not roll over nearly as well in the powder as the other 3 manufacturers. I rode them and thought what a hard machine to manipulate compared to m's and pro's. I think Doo is doing a great job now in the mtn segment and rightfully so, they earned it! I guess a guy has to do the right research and pick the right year for his riding style.

 

[ezra]

I would not get a older doo. but the new doo summit sport 800 is a steel and deff worth looking in to.
the snow around his parts is more set up or a crust on top even up north the open and wind makes for crusty stuff. the assault / hcr/ or what ever doo has like that with the harder track and wide stance is what he wants .
U need to head up there this spring and u 2 can hit up the arctic man.

 

[lenny]

Last time I was out in the Big horns I rode a XM. In fact Ezra, I rode Cameron Chimenti's sled,,,,, your buddy. I immediately thought the Doo had more power than my pro. Cameron let my buddies ride it also and they didn't have as favorable opinion of the Doo as I did.

If the 13 model year is a XM with the pivot thingy on the skid that would be a good one but the year with the upgrades to foot boards, steering post and rounded edges rocks!, are those mods on the 13 also or did they come out in 14

 

[srt20]

For a mix of mtn powder and trails, I would definitely get a XM over the pro. The pro is gawd awful on trails. The XM is a good sled. Not as good as a pro in the deep stuff, but it's not like going back to a 1997 136" mtn sled.
I prefer the pro for mtn powder, but the XM isn't bad in powder, and it's better than the pro at pretty much everything else. Trails, hard snow, comfort, etc.
just my opinion.


P.s. I haven't ridden the mtn XP, but it's not a ton different than the XM. They both trench, and the both don't side hill very well. They XM feels kinda heavy at times and I assume the XP does too. It's pretty much the same chassis with bandaids to make it an XM.

 

[groomerdriver]

Thanks guys! Please keep the comments coming! I'm going to tell my son to watch this thread and he'll see this all firsthand.

I've seen some Clist ads with "XM" in the wording and didn't know what it meant.....now I doo.
He has a friend who has a '14 154 Summit and was able to ride it a bit. He really liked it. If he decides that he wants to go for a '14 it's his $$$ and it'll be fine by me.

Ezra - based on what he has told me and in pictures you are pretty much spot on regarding the snow conditions. You can get into pure powder in the mountains but I THINK the bulk of his riding will be on snow that you describe with occasional blasts into the powder when he can find it. I hear Arctic Man is an intense gathering of sledheads and I'd like to go there someday.

Lenny - I told him about an M8 but you know those kids! LOL!!! BUT I think if he found an M8 for the right price he'd have to think hard about it.

EDIT TO ADD: He is not a off trail/mountain technical rider like many of you are or seem to be. The main focus will be RELIABILITY but a Yamaha will not be considered due to the weight. He is a wannabe wrench but for now just wants to ride and not have to worry much.

 

[srt20]

Btw, I thought the M8 was the worst all around sled of the 3. But it was a 12 that I had. The first year of the new Cat chassis. Maybe it's better now. IDK.

 

[Hoosier]

You guys haven't even considered what yellowknife thinks. Back in the winter no one could mention doo without that lottadoo guy or whatever his name was jumping in and referencing yellowknife

 

[ezra]

Last time I was out in the Big horns I rode a XM. In fact Ezra, I rode Cameron Chimenti's sled,,,,, your buddy. I immediately thought the Doo had more power than my pro. Cameron let my buddies ride it also and they didn't have as favorable opinion of the Doo as I did.

If the 13 model year is a XM with the pivot thingy on the skid that would be a good one but the year with the upgrades to foot boards, steering post and rounded edges rocks!, are those mods on the 13 also or did they come out in 14

u really should have asked for logan . he has this rout from ryan park to the parking lot right down the ditch for like 5 mi. then around the trail around the hill amazing stuff. it is always fun to guide the guide back to your cabin when he is lost.
I think the new sports have the t motion . only reason I say doo sport is it is relatively cheep and has motor that will actually burn more than a quart of oil a yr. and u said budget .by far best bang for the buck.
best part of AK is the mountains that start at sea level . also he deff wants to invest is extra lighting led or otherwise. loved it in the summer when the old man would say be home by dark but winter is a diff sort of depressing 6hr deal

 

[groomerdriver]

Ezra - as you already know some extra lighting up there is deff a plus!

Separate question = I'm going to suggest to him that he invest in a 1 place enclosed trailer. How LONG should an enclosed trailer be to fit ONE 154" sled? I learned here that some trailer OEM's measurements include the vee and some don't so please be specific in your answers.

 

[snobinge]

12' if it is a clamshell. Up there I would go with a sled deck though...

 

[ezra]

depending on where he is going to ride . kind of like being out west some times u have to drive up some chitty goat trails to get to the foot of the snow . in summer if they are going to poach glacial pack or get real high they really need a pick up truck and a ramp or just the truck and a snow bank .

 

[Bradzoo]

If he rides around Hatchers Pass the snow conditions will vary, up on the mountain its usually hard pack, in the valleys it can get deep. If he rides up to Pettersville its deep tell him to watch the creek bottoms cause once he gets in it can be tough to get back out and don't ride by himself. Riding the rivers is all hard pack but never trust them to be frozen there are always open spots especially on the Big Susitna. Sled wise buy the best he can afford and enjoy it, just make sure its ready to go cause its along walk out with no roads. If he's got a pickup I'd just load the sled in the back.

Bradzoo

 

[groomerdriver]

If he rides around Hatchers Pass the snow conditions will vary, up on the mountain its usually hard pack, in the valleys it can get deep. If he rides up to Pettersville its deep tell him to watch the creek bottoms cause once he gets in it can be tough to get back out and don't ride by himself. Riding the rivers is all hard pack but never trust them to be frozen there are always open spots especially on the Big Susitna. Sled wise buy the best he can afford and enjoy it, just make sure its ready to go cause its along walk out with no roads. If he's got a pickup I'd just load the sled in the back.

Bradzoo

He rode up there last year in several areas including Petersville and others that I don't remember. Several times, another friend (a local who knows the lay of the lands) let him use his 07 (?) RMK Dragon 600 (700?) whenever they went. He rode the '14 Doo Summit 154 I mentioned earlier 1X.

He has an SUV right now.....not a pickup so the sled deck or "throw it in the truck bed" isn't going to happen...at least this winter. If I were going to buy a trailer NOW I'd invest the money and buy an enclosed. I am so sick of uncovering a sled with a cover that's caked with sh*t then covering it up again (when it's -10F or snowing sideways). Call me a glutton for punishment I guess!

 

[Bradzoo]

I have a friend (ya I know I pay him alot) who is 24 and he rides a 2010 XP chassis summit 146 800 carb and he gets around in the UP pretty good on it but he doesn't have the elevation changes that Alaska has. I'm sure your son has checked the base for sale lot, sometimes there are some pretty good deals with folks PCSing and having to sell fairly fast. When I was riding out there I rented a Polaris Switchback 144 with a 2" track, the extra length would help in the deep stuff.

Bradzoo

 

[groomerdriver]

I have a friend (ya I know I pay him alot) who is 24 and he rides a 2010 XP chassis summit 146 800 carb and he gets around in the UP pretty good on it but he doesn't have the elevation changes that Alaska has. I'm sure your son has checked the base for sale lot, sometimes there are some pretty good deals with folks PCSing and having to sell fairly fast. When I was riding out there I rented a Polaris Switchback 144 with a 2" track, the extra length would help in the deep stuff.

Bradzoo

I take it you are ex-military and have been there?

Yes he's watching the base FS lot and the various Anchorage/JBER "for sale" pages on FB and the net. As I mentioned in post #1 he's in the early stages (getting a feel for what's out there and how much $$) of buying. We've seen some seemingly really good deals on sleds where the owners are heading to the lower 48. If it's a good deal they are selling pretty fast.

It seems like it's going to be a difficult choice in a way. The 2012'ish era Polaris' have well documented problems with their 800's. Seen lots of them for sale where it's stated that the engines have been rebuilt. I don't have a good enough handle on the 800 Doo's and their problems from say 2008 to 2013. The Cat 800's seem like they were pretty reliable in any given year. The focus will be on engine reliability as again, he's not a technical rider (at least not yet) and just wants to be able to pull the rope and go.

 

[800etec]

Groomerdriver-i dont have much advice but i will say this,1) i would love to shake your sons hand and thank him for serving our country! 2) i have a 2011 800etec renegade ski doo rebuilt with the recall,it runs flawless.5000 miles now.i know thats not the chasis you are asking about,but the engine is great.