To stud or not to stud?

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Garrett

Member
Still in the hunt for a mid 2000 trail sled. My buddies and I have snowmobiled for 25 plus years. None of us have ever had a sled with a studded track. I noticed alot of used sleds have studded tracks. Have we been missing something all these year? We are trail riders, no racing or off trail running.

I would hate to buy a used sled with a studded track that is going to need to be replaced.

Thanks
 
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slimcake

Active member
Yep not exact on the miles but last 15 years and lots of miles. Never studded. Figure out how to drive I don't think ya need em.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Not sure what you are looking for Garrett? Riding style hp, track length, lug size have a lot to do with traction devices. At the end of the day studs are a personal choice. If you haven’t felt a need for studs why would you want them now? In the used sled market you get whatever ever the previous owner preferred. If track and studs are in good shape great if not make your offer adjusted for track replacement. Exactly the same as good/ bad tires on a used car/truck.
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
Back in my trail sled riding days, I preferred studs. It comes down to personal preference.
 
1

1fujifilm

Well-known member
Garrett said:
Still in the hunt for a mid 2000 trail sled. My buddies and I have snowmobiled for 25 plus years. None of us have ever had a sled with a studded track. I noticed alot of used sleds have studded tracks. Have we been missing something all these year? We are trail riders, no racing or off trail running.

I would hate to buy a used sled with a studded track that is going to need to be replaced.

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you spend your miles riding South of US 2 you may want studs, if you ride North of US 2 it is needed less.

Bear
 
misty_pines

misty_pines

Member
Studs are nice for riding on ice patches on lakes and icy corners on trails. The help keep the sled in control. As other have indicated, if the trails you ride usually have good snow on them, then in my opinion, studs aren't needed. For many trail riders that put a lot of miles on, the trail conditions vary widely throughout the year and studs are nice to have when the snow conditions are real hard packed and icy. It all comes down to personal preference. When looking at used sleds to buy with studded tracks, be sure to look over the condition of the track and look under the tunnel to check for any damage to the heat exchanger. Sleds with studded tracks should have tunnel protectors to prevent damage to the heat exchanger.
 
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G

Guest
Track tech has come a long ways since the early 2000s. Back then there were no Ripsaws or Predators or Ice Rippers. A lot of the tracks were 1 inchers. The tracks that came on both my 2001 AC and 2003 Yami were the conical lug variety. You had to stud that track or you would die. I put a Ripsaw on my 2003 AC 900 which originally came with a 1 inch lug track. Changed the whole personallity of the sled for the better. But like has been stated it is a personal preference thing. I like studs because of the fact that a person can ride 1000 miles and not need them but then all of a sudden trail conditions require them. On an icy lake all of a sudden the back end of the sled tries to pass hte front of the sled. And then all that waxing you did in October goes to waste. And maybe you get to separate your shoulder too. Been there done that. Also studs help a lot for braking on a hardpack trail. And lastly and most importantly if you are studded and your buddies are not you will have better control -usually- and be able to pass them and be first and get to talk smart at the bar.
 
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Tracker

Guest
no studs here either....not needed....and if I buy one used with studs....I replace it with a FULLY CLIPPED version with no studs ASAP....usually the owner does not keep it banjo tight and check every ride so there is damage....and engine failure is not far behind IMO....look for unstudded I would...unless cheap enough for a new fully clipped track which is like 750.00....but I have joanie at adventure centre Gwinn get one for me at a reduced rate in off season....call and see what she has in stock IMO....bottom line...keep looking
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
Last January i was trading in my M8000 on a new axys rmk, we left Twin Lakes around 930 in the morning headed to Pat's motorsports. Trail 3 was rock hard, and the 3 paddle track on the kitty did not like that at all. Even with scratchers down, we were pulling off the trail every couple of miles to cool the sleds down and get some snow on rails. The trail was so hard, we couldn't even think about cracking the throttle, it would fishtail so bad because of the lack of traction. Pretty dang scary. Even a trail track would have had issues with no studs.
 
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Tracker

Guest
Skylar said:
Last January i was trading in my M8000 on a new axys rmk, we left Twin Lakes around 930 in the morning headed to Pat's motorsports. Trail 3 was rock hard, and the 3 paddle track on the kitty did not like that at all. Even with scratchers down, we were pulling off the trail every couple of miles to cool the sleds down and get some snow on rails. The trail was so hard, we couldn't even think about cracking the throttle, it would fishtail so bad because of the lack of traction. Pretty dang scary. Even a trail track would have had issues with no studs.
Click to expand...

FYI to get rid of the overheating on hard pack trails...you pull over and cut a block of snow maybe 6 to 10 inches deep and 18 inches wide by 2-1/2 feet long depending on length of sled and you put that on the rear tunnel on top in rack or whatever ya got to keep it on there....then as you ride it melts the block and cools the coolant in exchanger under there with no overheating for miles of smiles...rinse and repeat as needed along the way
 
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ICT Sledder

Active member
Mostly upsides, hardly any downsides... when you’re actually on the trail riding the sled. The safety factor is real nice, along with a generally more planted rear end.

Only downsides back home. Studded tracks can destroy garage floors and driveways.
 
2

2TrakR

Member
Won't ride without them.
Have been run off the trail by guys without them that could not keep their machine under control.
Have had guy riding with me without studs loose it on a slow slight downhill road that we were using to get to to the gas station. Maybe 20MPH, but how it spun him around and then bit, he and the sled barrel rolled ~6 times. (I would have let go sooner). We were a looong way from the truck and luckily he was not hurt, maybe just needed new undies and was sore for a few days. Very experienced older rider on an 07 Blizzard.

If you've never run studs, now is the time to try something different, if you trail ride. If it's just off-trail, then not really worth your time.
 
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Banjo Man

New member
I’ve had sleds with and without and studs are definitely better on ice and hard pack. The difference I noticed is ride without studs is softer and I think better.
 
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buddah2

Member
slimcake said:
Yep not exact on the miles but last 15 years and lots of miles. Never studded. Figure out how to drive I don't think ya need em.
Click to expand...

A guy on another site uses a tag line that reads: Studs are like training wheels, once you learn to ride you can take them off.
 
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DamageInc

Member
It all depends on where you ride. If all of your riding is in deep, powdery snow (like the Keweenaw), studs don't do much for you. If you ride a lot of WI, lower MI, or MN trails that tend to get icy, studs can literally save your life. But if you have them and ride with people without them, warn them not to follow too close, or they might hit you when you brake. On icy trails, the studded sled stops in a much shorter distance. They are also nice for getting up icy hills.

I ride in WI and the U.P., so I have one sled studded and one without studs. Ride the best one for the conditions of the day.
 
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