2022 I tried the sno-tracker aggressive set up, really liked how they handled, last year in a couple low snow conditions I noticed some issues with them, not that I'm going to let that push me away from them, but looking at other options. I have always used the woodys dooly carbides and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with using the dooly/navigator combination set up and opinions? Thanks!
woodys navigator/dooly opinions
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
High Country
Member
I have run woodys doolies on multiple cat sleds always had good luck. Last year cat went down low compression. Pi$$@d me off bought a new 23 polaris xc850. Was told to run snow studs 6" sniper double downs so I did. Out of 950ish total miles minus good 150 miles that I put on stock ones. They were totally shot . Yes there was some bare riding /no base but still. Junk burned all the way into ski on left side lol. So while at wide open wisconsin stopped at woodys booth bought new 6" dolly's with the navigators going to take skis off to see how bad they are can't remember it happend on Easter in the u.p. had to put stocks ones back on.
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indy_500
Well-known member
Very interesting… been running snow studs brand for a few years and have had great luck!
favoritos
Well-known member
@euphoric1 , Are you thinking about these for the Catalyst? They have a much different steering feel and use ski pressure different compared to previous models. In some ways I'd describe the effort like Twin Spar with steering bite that actually works. Might be worth trying your typical setup to see what you think.
I have not used the Navigator setup. I typically run some form of dual carbides. I see that they can be combined with dual setups, but I wonder how much gain could be achieved? With singles, I see more potential.
I could go on and on about carbides. I've tried quite a few over the years. I still swap ski - carbide, combos for the conditions I expect most during a trip. My main goals are handling and ease of riding long days. When conditions are poor, I add durability as another priority. IMHO, there is no one carbide setup that works for everyone. There are quite a few opinion out there about which carbides. I say, run what you like.
@High Country , That wear is a bummer. I've been through some junk over the years. I'd say your situation isn't solely the fault of those carbides. I wonder if that chassis has ski shimming is like those across the board? That didn't help, but it wasn't the only factor. Those are fairly durable carbides most of the time. The wider spread can work well with a variety of conditions. One disadvantage with wider spread is that the carbide runners are more exposed like single carbides. If you are riding clangers, the inserts take harder hits. Once the front section is gone the rest will soon follow.
If you guys want to ride sparks and clangers all day, go with long narrow spaced dual carbides on wider plates. The narrow carbide spacing helps share those rock impacts. The long carbide helps spread the wear. The wear plate cuts down on ski gouging. Backing off on ski pressure also helps. I typically go with that type of setup starting out each season. Last year was brutal. Buddy went with his favorite setup and it lasted one ride on the same machine I rode. My setup was looser handling but the carbides made a whole trip before I swapped.
I have not used the Navigator setup. I typically run some form of dual carbides. I see that they can be combined with dual setups, but I wonder how much gain could be achieved? With singles, I see more potential.
I could go on and on about carbides. I've tried quite a few over the years. I still swap ski - carbide, combos for the conditions I expect most during a trip. My main goals are handling and ease of riding long days. When conditions are poor, I add durability as another priority. IMHO, there is no one carbide setup that works for everyone. There are quite a few opinion out there about which carbides. I say, run what you like.
@High Country , That wear is a bummer. I've been through some junk over the years. I'd say your situation isn't solely the fault of those carbides. I wonder if that chassis has ski shimming is like those across the board? That didn't help, but it wasn't the only factor. Those are fairly durable carbides most of the time. The wider spread can work well with a variety of conditions. One disadvantage with wider spread is that the carbide runners are more exposed like single carbides. If you are riding clangers, the inserts take harder hits. Once the front section is gone the rest will soon follow.
If you guys want to ride sparks and clangers all day, go with long narrow spaced dual carbides on wider plates. The narrow carbide spacing helps share those rock impacts. The long carbide helps spread the wear. The wear plate cuts down on ski gouging. Backing off on ski pressure also helps. I typically go with that type of setup starting out each season. Last year was brutal. Buddy went with his favorite setup and it lasted one ride on the same machine I rode. My setup was looser handling but the carbides made a whole trip before I swapped.
Thanks favoritos, my only desire of running dual carbides was the reduction of darting on the trail, I will admit I have not driven a Catalyst as of yet, will be this weekend into the trailer LOL, The guy at the Cat booth was doing best to explain to me the new steering and how it will feel but in the end I really wont know until I'm in the snow with it. whitedust and dfattack both turned me on to the sno-trackers and I will say I was very impressed, but there were situations they were less than desirable, having said that I'm sure I'm not speaking alone but I hope we don't have a repeat of last year. The problems I encountered were when we got near L'anse last year snow was thin and had a couple of rocks get caught in between rails, and where there were road crossing's where the ground was exposed and was soft they really dug in to where almost literally stopped sled in its tracks. My choice of a dual type carbide or sno-tracker is solely to prevent or reduce darting as much as possible. and someone please correct me if I am wrong but I take it as the idea of the navigator is not only to protect the ski but to crush/fill in the previous runner track ahead of your own, I cannot wait to actually get to ride this sled! I would prefer not to ride sparks and clangers, dont need to ride that bad lol, had awesome trail conditions when went to big bay area last year, wanted to head to Hilltop and got a little thin that way. Thank you again!
No that’s not true been there plenty with 2 feet of snow or more in town. Plows dump snow on the embankment trail runs on that. Baraga is different story especially in March.
skidoolouie
Member
Way to much ski pressure.Make some adjustments.
Thats what I have been using for quite sometime. I think they work so well I wouldn't go bigger than a 6 inch bar, I have even used a 4 inch Bergstrom with great results.