HOW MUCH ICE FOR SNOWMOBILE??????

[Higgins]

I would like some input from every one. How much ice is safe to drive a snowmobile or quad . My take on it is at least 7".Whats your opinion

[empty hook]

I would like some input from every one. How much ice is safe to drive a sowmobile or quad . My take on it is at least 7".Whats your opinion

5" will hold up but sure feel better with 7".

[craig mack]

I guess it depends on how much the SOW weighs. I would say at least 6 inches.

[Elk5012]

I won't take my quad out unless there's 6 inches of ice. It's weighs 650 lbs plus my fat butt 250 lbs. Hey wait, I may be pushing the ice's limits.

[dachmation]

I rode one across a small pond once with 3", Luckily I stayed ahead of the wave in the ice that followed me. LOL.
Needed to change my shorts after that, LOL

[icecaptain]

should be at least 7-8" i would say

[Elk5012]

This is from the farmers almanac


Ice Thickness* Permissible Load
3 inches Single person on foot
4 inches Group in single file
7-1/2 inches Passenger car (2-ton gross)
8 inches Light truck (2-1/2-ton gross)
10 inches Medium truck (3-1/2-ton gross)
12 inches Heavy truck (8-ton gross)
15 inches 10 tons
20 inches 25 tons
30 inches 70 tons
36 inches 110 tons
*Solid clear blue/black and lake ice.
Slush ice has only half the strength of blue ice.
Strength value of river ice is 15 percent less.

[Spawnwalker]

Good one!   

[swampbuckster]

4" to 5" of clear black ice, I'm riding.

[flagup#1]

Ice?  You don't need no stinking ice!  Just don't stop!

[swampbuckster]

Hey, have done that too! Not like these guys though, check THIS out!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdSCjrICcBg

[flagup#1]

Wow, just plain wow!  I've crossed water but that is insane!  By the way, avoid slush on top of the ice at all cost, once you get stuck in that you will spend the entire rest of the day getting your sled off the ice.

[Higgins]

Ice?  You don't need no stinking ice!  Just don't stop!

Hey now your thinking but I have an idea to fish while your at it, just put some down riggers on the back and now you have my attention. Also ELK5012 I know that you didn't make the chart but only 7 1/2" for a car that seems hard to believe.

[craig mack]

That video is sick!!!! Those guys are crazy!!!!!

[Higgins]

Hey, have done that too! Not like these guys though, check THIS out!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdSCjrICcBg

Hey SWAMPBUCKSTER I will let you know how my 79 Arctic Cat does on the water. Who knows maybe I can get 10ft

[Elk5012]

I know I wouldn't take my truck out there unless it was 18 inches thick, and then I'd fish 50 yards from it.

[DRR324]

my local lake, 385 acres, had 4" on it this past weekend, snowmobiles and quads running all over it.  Not enough for me to take my ranger on- but enough for my brother to do so.  Drove the thing all the way out to my shanty to pick me up.  Ticked me off- but we got off with no problem.  I plan to check and see if last nights cold snap made the top layer strong enough to hold.  Have 3 inches of slush on top of 4-5" of good ice.
Will be driving the ranger on it this weekend for sure.

[sightfisher]

 Ive seen a parking lot on the ice w/ no more than 14'' of ice w/ at least 25 trucks... Ive had my Jeep Cherokee out on Higgins on a solid 8" of clear ice and I'll take my snowmobile out on 4 1/2'' of solid clear ice.

[swampbuckster]

Hey SWAMPBUCKSTER I will let you know how my 79 Arctic Cat does on the water. Who knows maybe I can get 10ft   

Hey, I use to run my '79 Yamaha Exciter 440 across the water all the time. You just have to build your speed and momentum up before you hit the water. I've probably skeed across 70 yards of open water with it. It was stock except for a 1" paddle track I put on it.

[addicted2ice]

I played paint ball with my cousin last week who is a diver, he said he helped out a buddy who sent his Quad to the bottom of the lake over near Trufant a week before Christmas.  The Guy was on 4"' of ice and went through, but it wasn't just any old quad, the guy "supposedly" had $18,000 wrapped up in it.  I did ask what kind it was but he said it was brand new and had the track system on it ( 4 tracks were the tires would be).

On another note he also told me it is a $750 dollar fine from the state if you do go through....he said this is the same for ice shantys too....any truth to that?

[swampbuckster]

I bet that track system added at least another 300 lbs. to that quad. Some people have more money then brains.

[Higgins]

I bet that track system added at least another 300 lbs. to that quad. Some people have more money then brains.

Yeah but the way the world is today it seems if you have enough money you dont need brains .
Sad but true .

[fisherman58]

yesterday at a local pond here in ma . i drilled 20' from the edge had 7'' so i rode the quad out loaded  drill a hole  3''  1/2snow crap ice 1/2 good black ice i did not go through but i took the quad back to shore

[djkruszewski]

i wouldn't take any atv out on the ice until you have a good 7-8 inches.  remember ice never freezes at a uniform thickness.  some spots may be 6 and others may be 8.  waiting those extra few days is worth it.

[slabgill]

consistent 6 inches

[skulldugary]

Lets see now......me/6'7"@235lbs.....quad/@630lbs......gear/@100-125lbs...close to a half ton......8""of good ice for my big carcass.....

[Spawnwalker]

When I owned a snowmobile we would wait untill we had 5" of solid ice. We never had any problems.

[Higgins]

When I owned a snowmobile we would wait untill we had 5" of solid ice. We never had any problems.

Thanks guys learned allot and from what I gathered, I'm going to go with a happy medium and say 6" is perfectly safe for the rig that I have. "STAY DRY AND DON"T DIE" thats the new slogan.