western riding set up question

[iceman_1347]

i have an 05 600 renegade with a 2"x136"x15" track and 20/43 gears. i'm planning on going to wyoming next february to ride and i'd like to take my sled if possible instead of renting. i'm wondering if taking my sled would even be worth it or if i should rent. i'd like to save a few bucks. if i take mine i'm going to have to re-clutch and right now i can't find any set up for my sled. any ideas on what to do and how much it might cost? am i just wasting my time and money on trying to set mine up to go?

thanks,

pat

 

[willey]

Iceman, I would strongly suggest giving John at sledhead racing a call. He can tell you exactly how to set up your sled and if needed provide you with the parts or service to do it. I'm not sure where you are located but his shop is in Oak Grove MN. Is number is 612-718-3861.

Your sled would do just fine out west for your first time.

 

[lenny]

I think a important question to ask is: what is your skill level? I assume since you have a Renagade you are somewhat new to western riding or offtrail. A new rider riding out west on a wide stance Renagade will present some difficulty but you'll still have fun. If you rent a Mtn sled you will have lots more fun but also have the cost of renting. Me personally, I wouldn't got out west with a short track ever but I also like to climb as high as my sled will go as long as it aint straight up.

We just returned from a trip to Wyoming and had a blast. One guy in out group had a Switchback and had a great time but his sled was not set up totally, he just changed clutch weights and couldn't not pull the proper R's. He is a controlled
rider but he could have had lots more fum on a longtrack. He did ride my Pro and said it was cheating,,,,lol

Willey is right about having it set up right because if you take it your gonna need it to produce all available power or you will suffer greatly.

Have fun but look out, it's a different animal out there and you may just get bit and buy a mtn sled.

 

[iceman_1347]

I've been off trail riding here in Newberry for the past 6 years. We don't have the hills over this way on the east end of the U.P. so my sidehilling will probably suck just because I haven't done it. I'm used to riding in some deep snow and all I do is off trail ride but mostly it's on two tracks or open fields. My guess is we'll probably stick to meadows out there and probably get into some hilly sections but I don't see myself highmarking at all. I'd rather just do some carving and jumping. I've definitely moded out my renegade from stock to ride off trail but wasn't sure what else I would need to do or if it would even be worth it to take it out west. I know it would be a lot cheaper but would my fun level be diminished on a 136 with only 600cc's?

I'd love to buy a mountain sled if I could afford it, haha. A 154 will be my next sled once I'm ready for one but I have to run this as long as I can.

I guess the big question is, would my set up right now be ok for out there along with some clutch work? I want to have fun out there, especially for my first time out.

 

[willey]

Your sled would be fine. Pin weights and springs in both clutches most likely will need to be swapped out. You have your clicker adjustments on your primary to adjust engine rpm for elevation. Make the clutch changes per SHR and your sled will perform to its maximum potential. Maybe plan on renting for a day at the end of the trip to see what a mnt sled will allow you to do compared to yours. High marking and side hilling will be your sleds biggest challenge but rider ability plays greatly into that as well.

 

[pez]

Where in Wyoming?
Is your sled EFI or carb?

I am a fan of renting. Yes, it is more money, but the sled is set up for you already. It breaks, you grab a different one. That is a lot of time and money to drive out there and your sled breaks. Last time out a guy in the group had an older carb sled and it kept flooding on him...that and his pull cord was on the fritz. Made for a long afternoon.

 

[lenny]

keep in mind your gearing as that is important. There will be instruction for the elevation you wanna ride and the closer you follow the better performance you will get. For carving and jumping in meadows, you'll have a great sled for that. let us know how it all turns out when you get back.

 

[snoluver1]

Hollow pin weights and clicker adjustment is all thats needed. Take it out and make that sled your b..ch, you'll have a blast!!!

 

[ezra]

best deal in town for out west if u do not own a mountain sled

http://extremesnowmobilerentals.com/rentals.html
fly in to Denver round trip cheaper than gas they will pick u up at airport then u and a bud or 3 ren M8 for 185 a day or cheaper if u work a deal and a 4 dr ram for 125 a day they give u free trailer and oil .ride the ears for a day or 2 then hit grand lake or brek for a day or 2 then fly home 2 less days you are not off work wasting time in a truck not making money.the wife is happy u are not gone 2 extra. u can land in Denver at 8am and be riding by 11 catch a red eye out.
the gade will work o if u don't get in to bottomless pow but I can tell u I may sound like a ars but I would not ask a guy to ride out with us with a old short track my back could not take it.
our first trip out this yr we had a guy who had been with a few times in the UP and N MN .
he got a new 153 pro and was ready to hit the west. 2.5 hrs on 1 hill 6 deeeep stucks .ok it was bottomless but I thought I was going to dye after the 4th and on 6 was ready to cry.
we went home early that day tired. spent the next AM at a lot lower elevation with less snow teaching .

 

[misty_pines]

The link below has the BRP clutching info. Find your sled model in the chart. This will give the clutching recommendations for the altitude you want to ride in. I have ridden Renegades in the WY mountains for years and have always had a blast. Granted, once I moved from a 600 to an 800, it has been a LOT more fun. If everyone in your group has 800 mountain sleds, you might wish you had more of a sled, but if some others in your group have similar sleds, I would think you would be fine especially with the 2" lug track you have.

http://www.stbonimotorsports.com/2005skidoo.htm

 

[rmkking]

The longer the track, the bigger the engine, the more places you can get to. If you have fun boondocking in the Yoop you'll love being out west. Set your sled up take it with you. I'd rent the first day then ride yours the second day and I will guarantee you will leave yours in/on the trailer the rest of the trip.

 

[iceman_1347]

Thanks for the replys, I've been off the grid a few days.

I do have a carb sled and the more I'm reading and thinking about it I may just rent. I'd hate to get out there and have issues that I don't know how to fix. As much as I'd like to save some cash renting seems to be the best way to go.

We're planning on staying at the Tog Lodge for a week. Has anyone rented at the lodge? I saw that it was around 200$ per day but never saw anything about insurance. Any idea what that would cost or what I should do for that? 3 of the guys I'm going out there with have been out there about 8 years ago. Instead of flying we were thinking about looking into one of the ride-a-long services because those couple guys would probably bring their sleds.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[walldoo]

Pat, our first trip out west was to the snowy range with 1- renegade and 2 - 121". the trail system out of Albany Lodge was perfect for our 1st time with short tracks. clutching was very important as you loose a lot of power from the altitude. After that 1st trip we were in love with riding out west, after that our riding group has slowly been upgrading to mountain sleds. renting a sled is a good idea after learning the area. since the snowy range we have gone to western colorado, Tog, cooke city, & rabbit ears. The snowy range often referred to as the blowy range can get rough at the north end (libby flats) for visibilty. when we would drive out we would leave tuesday after work and get to the snowy range about 8am wednesday, ride wednesday, thursday, friday and 1/2 day saturday and be back in Illinois about 6am sunday. those trips would cost each guy about $500.00 less renting any sleds. when venturing out don't go down in an area to explore unless you are with someone who knows a way out. we learned that going into 7 fools, luckily we ran into a group of locals that helped us get out. Pack food, water, ava beacon, probe, shovel, fire starter, and stuff to spend the night, a snow bungee is also helpfull. stay close with your riding group as once you get into the trees its not hard to loose riders, I also carry a whistle with me and a compass, and a GPS helps as well. Have fun, drink lots of water, and remember some times its easier to roll your sled over than to dig out, with that also have a good saw for tree limbs.

 

[rmkking]

If your going to Tog get the package deal and you won't be sorry.