Why I ride "Off Trail"

[Firecatguy]

I have and IMO don't wast your money....there is a ton of variables to a stuck sled..so not one way works every time...BUT I have learned that shoveling does nothing for a stuck sled.....you do not need to dig it out all you have to do is get it up on the snow....I watched a guy take a sky jack thing out put it together then jack sled and it slipped off jack so he had to let jack down put back on sled jack back up....WELL when it fell the second time I said hold on a sec.....got one friend and he tugged on a ski i ran gas popped it back on the snow,,,off we went total of 3min to get unstuck........one trick I use alot is tip sled on side....rev the motor up and get all the snow out of track....that snow now fills your hole and will also have some traction to it......should be able to drive out or at worst stand next to sled and lift on tunnel and give some gas......sooo many different ways to get unstuck....the least amount of time and energy is the goal so next time you find yourself stuck leave the shovel alone get a bud tug a ski etc......

 

[frosty]

Firecatguy, where do I send my money for tutition?! I feel like, I've just been schooled!

I just figure it was just another gagdet, to help in the unfortunate circumstances of a stuck. Heck, it looks alot better than shoveling!

 

[lenny]

I have and IMO don't wast your money....there is a ton of variables to a stuck sled..so not one way works every time...BUT I have learned that shoveling does nothing for a stuck sled.....you do not need to dig it out all you have to do is get it up on the snow....I watched a guy take a sky jack thing out put it together then jack sled and it slipped off jack so he had to let jack down put back on sled jack back up....WELL when it fell the second time I said hold on a sec.....got one friend and he tugged on a ski i ran gas popped it back on the snow,,,off we went total of 3min to get unstuck........one trick I use alot is tip sled on side....rev the motor up and get all the snow out of track....that snow now fills your hole and will also have some traction to it......should be able to drive out or at worst stand next to sled and lift on tunnel and give some gas......sooo many different ways to get unstuck....the least amount of time and energy is the goal so next time you find yourself stuck leave the shovel alone get a bud tug a ski etc......

while a ski tug will often suffice, there is no replacement for a shovel. A shovel does the same thing as you mention, it gets the sled level because you dig in front of the sled and right under the front of the skid and front sus. I often stomp some of the snow 2-3 ft in front of the sled to lessen the incline. You start lifting a sled back up on the snow you get tires real fast. At least a shovel allows you to take your time. Sometimes in da up with the radical terrain you loose site of your buddy and you may be alone for a while so it's up to you to be prepared to do whatever you need to do to get it unstuck. Try tugging a trenched in sled, sometimes their like unmovable. A shovel is a necessity so don't leave home without it. You need to be prepared to deal with the situation as if no one else is around and if they are around than the shovel can take a rest.

 

[winter_time]

I have and IMO don't wast your money....there is a ton of variables to a stuck sled..so not one way works every time...BUT I have learned that shoveling does nothing for a stuck sled.....you do not need to dig it out all you have to do is get it up on the snow....I watched a guy take a sky jack thing out put it together then jack sled and it slipped off jack so he had to let jack down put back on sled jack back up....WELL when it fell the second time I said hold on a sec.....got one friend and he tugged on a ski i ran gas popped it back on the snow,,,off we went total of 3min to get unstuck........one trick I use alot is tip sled on side....rev the motor up and get all the snow out of track....that snow now fills your hole and will also have some traction to it......should be able to drive out or at worst stand next to sled and lift on tunnel and give some gas......sooo many different ways to get unstuck....the least amount of time and energy is the goal so next time you find yourself stuck leave the shovel alone get a bud tug a ski etc......

Let me be the first to tell you that you can not always get unstuck without shoveling. I spent over an hour shoveling because there was no other way to get the sled out we tried bunje's and all. If I could've got it out without shoveling I would have. My Sled was facing down hill even and it would not come out of the at least 6ft deep trench that I had made. As for the jack goes I have no idea how they work because I never used them.

 

[winter_time]

Are you all right? Hopefully just a bruised ego and sore arms from all that digging!!!!!

I am alright, I had to do all the digging the day before I did all the damage. When I hit the rock I went over the bars and I thankfully did not get hurt.

 

[snoluver1]

I have never once in all my years of riding snowmobiles, been in a situation where I needed a shovel to get unstuck, and I have been stuck every which way from Sunday. The bottoms of creeks, down hill nosed up against a tree, upside down at the bottom of a ravine, you name it I've stuck it there. I started riding off trail before I could even lift a sled by myself, and 90% of the time I was alone. There are many tricks to getting a sled unstuck with minimal effort. One of the biggest is learning how to not trench yourself in. You have to know your machines limits and know when to let off before you make the situation worse for yourself. The one and only reason I carry a shovel is for avalanche safety. I'll admit, there are times when it can come in handy, but it certainly is not a necessity, in my opinion.

 

[snoluver1]

A saw. Now that is something I never ride without!

 

[Hoosier]

well my boat floats with all riding. But we are in the western section. Boats tend to float off trail in western section.

That is a good point. You guys are patting yourselves on the back but you're doing it in your own playground. LOL.

Hopefully next year I'll get back out West. Hoping to stretch the Fusion and catch a ride on the Mom bus.

 

[frosty]

I am alright, I had to do all the digging the day before I did all the damage. When I hit the rock I went over the bars and I thankfully did not get hurt.

I hate when those boulders just jump out of nowhere and ruins your day! Must have been cruising pretty good to put you over the handlebars?! What was it, sidehilling or were in a zone of slicing and dicing through the trees?

 

[Firecatguy]

I have never once in all my years of riding snowmobiles, been in a situation where I needed a shovel to get unstuck, and I have been stuck every which way from Sunday. The bottoms of creeks, down hill nosed up against a tree, upside down at the bottom of a ravine, you name it I've stuck it there. I started riding off trail before I could even lift a sled by myself, and 90% of the time I was alone. There are many tricks to getting a sled unstuck with minimal effort. One of the biggest is learning how to not trench yourself in. You have to know your machines limits and know when to let off before you make the situation worse for yourself. The one and only reason I carry a shovel is for avalanche safety. I'll admit, there are times when it can come in handy, but it certainly is not a necessity, in my opinion.

could not say it better!!!!!

 

[winter_time]

I have never once in all my years of riding snowmobiles, been in a situation where I needed a shovel to get unstuck, and I have been stuck every which way from Sunday. The bottoms of creeks, down hill nosed up against a tree, upside down at the bottom of a ravine, you name it I've stuck it there. I started riding off trail before I could even lift a sled by myself, and 90% of the time I was alone. There are many tricks to getting a sled unstuck with minimal effort. One of the biggest is learning how to not trench yourself in. You have to know your machines limits and know when to let off before you make the situation worse for yourself. The one and only reason I carry a shovel is for avalanche safety. I'll admit, there are times when it can come in handy, but it certainly is not a necessity, in my opinion.

Wayne I will let you tell him about how I was stuck and the only real way out was to shovel wether I shoveled the snow with my hands or a shovel is another story.

 

[polarisrider1]

Wayne I will let you tell him about how I was stuck and the only real way out was to shovel wether I shoveled the snow with my hands or a shovel is another story.

Joe, I was completely exhausted just watching you dig. Joes rock crash was the following day after the 6' plus deep powder planting He did. Joe was heading up a nice size hill that had what appeared to be a large rock outcropping with about 2' of snow on it. It actually was a 6-8' deep wind blown hump of powder (not a cornace) just at the crest of the hill. Joe disappeared into it heading upwards. As he dig to turn around his sled with ski's aiming to the sky the hole had to be made pretty big. So Joe shoveled the snow towards the down hill side, got his sled turned around and then realized that he had to drive up out of this Pit he made in the side of the mtn. Doing this he had to drive up and out to go down hill. (we are talking major snow here) Well he still was not at the bottom of the pit he dug and he actually was stuck going down hill. So he dug some more. (I never seen snow shoot both out the front and back of the track at the same time on a stuck before.) The 3 of us who was with him could not get a snobunje down into the pit to him and we could not stop beside the pit because the hill was very steep and we would slid right on past him down hill. Pulling on the skis by hand did nothing. so.... The shovel was about the only way to get him out without a helicopter involved. Joe dug about 10 yards of snow, enough to fill a dump truck to get out of the mound.

Now Joes totalling of his sled the next day, That was on a short steep straight shot up a powder covered hill similair to the ones we all been hitting that day, he just happend to find a very pointed rock in his. Most the guys who we ride with have extra A arms for just such thing. Joes Heavy 900 hits a little harder.

 

[lenny]

could not say it better!!!!!

until I bought a shovel I never used one either so what's your point,,,,lol. The shovel is the easy way out and when riding all day I prefer to use my energy for riding, not pulling or lifting my sled especially when there is no bottom. So your telling me it's easier to lay your sled over and fill your trench in which is bogus to begin with because the skid don't hold much and you can stomp on the side of your trench easier with gravity helping you to fill in a low spot. I used to always lift the rear over to get on top but I'm not talking baby snow. I'm talking deep drifted filled in ravine bottomless snow. The simplest way out is to take your helmet off and dig for a few minutes. Stick with me boys and I'll learn ya!

 

[polarisrider1]

until I bought a shovel I never used one either so what's your point,,,,lol. The shovel is the easy way out and when riding all day I prefer to use my energy for riding, not pulling or lifting my sled especially when there is no bottom. So your telling me it's easier to lay your sled over and fill your trench in which is bogus to begin with because the skid don't hold much and you can stomp on the side of your trench easier with gravity helping you to fill in a low spot. I used to always lift the rear over to get on top but I'm not talking baby snow. I'm talking deep drifted filled in ravine bottomless snow. The simplest way out is to take your helmet off and dig for a few minutes. Stick with me boys and I'll learn ya!

thank you. lol

 

[lenny]

I have never once in all my years of riding snowmobiles, been in a situation where I needed a shovel to get unstuck, and I have been stuck every which way from Sunday. The bottoms of creeks, down hill nosed up against a tree, upside down at the bottom of a ravine, you name it I've stuck it there. I started riding off trail before I could even lift a sled by myself, and 90% of the time I was alone. There are many tricks to getting a sled unstuck with minimal effort. One of the biggest is learning how to not trench yourself in. You have to know your machines limits and know when to let off before you make the situation worse for yourself. The one and only reason I carry a shovel is for avalanche safety. I'll admit, there are times when it can come in handy, but it certainly is not a necessity, in my opinion.

all the years I never had a shovel, I never thought I needed it either and I got out of everything I got myself into. We're just saying there is an easier way to get out than lifting and pulling and it's good to know what it is. Try one sometime and I think you'll than me for it. I use a rag, sponge and brush to wash my car but I could use a sock I suppose

 

[polarisrider1]

all the years I never had a shovel, I never thought I needed it either and I got out of everything I got myself into. We're just saying there is an easier way to get out than lifting and pulling and it's good to know what it is. Try one sometime and I think you'll than me for it. I use a rag, sponge and brush to wash my car but I could use a sock I suppose

I wash my truck on wednesdays it is $2.99 car wash day and you get a punch card, every tenth wash is free. The attendant is also cute. But then again I could locate a bucket and the soft brush with handle I use on my boat, locate a garden hose that is not frozen and make an ice rink in my driveway but I don't get the cute girl then. moral of the story is there are many ways to get the job done.

 

[frosty]

I wash my truck on wednesdays it is $2.99 car wash day and you get a punch card, every tenth wash is free. The attendant is also cute. But then again I could locate a bucket and the soft brush with handle I use on my boat, locate a garden hose that is not frozen and make an ice rink in my driveway but I don't get the cute girl then. moral of the story is there are many ways to get the job done.

Or I just watch my wife in the garage wash the truck, her car, and the prius. The Prius is the best car ever, if I could only tow a sled with it!!!

 

[lenny]

I know I'm a persistent SOB often, I try to fight it but loose it from time to time. My apologies if I come on as always right and the last word, not my intentions and I can do better. I need to stick with you guys and learn something like not being rude,,,, sorry

 

[polarisrider1]

I know I'm a persistent SOB often, I try to fight it but loose it from time to time. My apologies if I come on as always right and the last word, not my intentions and I can do better. I need to stick with you guys and learn something like not being rude,,,, sorry

Don't beat yourself up Lenny you know we all love ya!

 

[snopro1]

I usually just roll mine over to get it out. Easy and fast.