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I have a 4X8 open trailer and wonder if a sled would fit? I suppose a 15 minute drive to Chaumont could put a tone of salt on a sled. Ice scratchers to get lube to the rails? I have been warned that sleds need snow so I assume the scratchers solve the problem. I am ignorant of sleds, are scratchers home made or purchased?
It's subjective. If it's for ice fishing only it's a simple question...sled will work nearly 100% of the time, ATV will not. There ya go. But you'll also have a machine that sits idle 9 months a year. If you have some other use for an ATV...hunting, plowing, property maintenance, trail access for fun, then an ATV might be a great compromise, but in deeper snow, things get sketchy and in slush, forget about it. That said, the kind of conditions that make an ATV useless, but will still let you get out with a sled might be the kind of conditions that you don't want to be fishing in in the first place.
I'm actually thinking of saving some $$$ for tracks for my fourwheeler. That way I only have to maintain 1 vehicle and not a snowmobile and atv. I know it won't go as fast as a snowmobile and might not be quite as good, but I have watched a lot of youtube videos and the atvs with tracks go pretty good in the snow. But that is a dream down the road.
What you've said holds true for ATV's without tracks.
Maybe, for the most part, but like I said it's subjective. ATV with tracks are still far from perfect...there's the cost factor, snow/ ice/ slush gets everywhere including on the driver, passengers and gear, ice builds up on critical components and in the engine bay. They are slow, harder to steer, colder (without a windshield and heated grips) and gas mileage sucks. And heaven help you if you get stuck in slush with tracks. Bottom line is snowmobiles are designed for the snow and ice, ATV's aren't. For the cost of an ATV and tracks you could also get an ATV and a sweet sled and have best of both worlds. Like I said, it's subjective, depends on the budget, space, time, location, conditions, etc. I still say for what you'd pay for a decent ATV and a set of tracks, you could have both machines as opposed to one that's still a compromise.My 2 cents, your mileage may vary.