Snow Depth -- ATV vs. Snowmobile

[Chris Raymond]

At what snow depth would you consider purchasing a snow machine instead of an ATV.  Yes, I've seen those exotic tracks that can go on an ATV which make them fairly impervious to snow.  I'm just talking wheeled ATVs here.  I'm moving from an area that I would consider buying an ATV and into one that might need a snow machine.  Obviously the four seasons use of an ATV beats single season use of a sled. 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[billditrite]

 the wind will usually help clear a lake of loose snow and packed stuff is fine for an atv.if on average there is 10 or more inches of snow that my quad will sink in , i will bring the sled instead.quads can get stuck easy if the snow packs up high enough to get your wheels off the ice, but of course it varies all the time

[Phoenix]

I've got both. If there is less than about eight inches of snow I go with the ATV, it's easier on gas, easier to get on and off the trailer, and hauls more stuff without needing a gear sled/trailer.

Like buildit' said, usually during the course of the season the lakes are swept clear of snow and you can navigate with the atv (as long as you can get to the lake). If I had to choose just one machine it would be the ATV, even though there would be a few times during the winter I wouldn't be able to go where I want to.

BTW Here in Maine your register the ATV (as an ATV) and then if you put those track thingamajigs on it you have to register it again as a snowmobile What a ripoff

[Chris Raymond]

The problem for me will be not so much on the ice as it is getting to the ice.  Roads and access ramps don't get plowed up at all on all but a few lakes.  The snow will be able to build considerably, not to mention the road berm getting off the road that is plowed.  I know the answer for the most part...just don't want to hear it I guess.  If money weren't an issue (is it ever not?), a tracked ATV would be the answer.  They cost about as much as an older beater sled. 

[Polar]

Alot depends on how much snow the lake has on it. I never have to worry about this I walk.

[fishercat]

Chris

          Keep in mind if you went with the tracks your top speed  will be around 15-20mph. Tracks cut your top speed by 2/3.   

[mjc2799]

At the price they charge for the trax for the 4 wheeler upgrade you can buy a good used 4wd or sled .... im not sure where your located at Chris ... but even in a snowbelt you can only use the sled for about 3 months of the year ... a 4 wheeeler can be used rain or shine 365 days of the year ... if you have the money for gas ... I would say go with the 4 wheeler , I did and am very satisfied ....

mike

nafc life memeber
nahc lief member

[billditrite]

my atv uses about 25% of the gas my snowmobile does!  for real!!so take the extra 75% and save it till you can but a snowmobile too!then youll have both

[PerchBusterSD]

I have an ATV, because i can only afford one. The ATV made more sence to me because you can use it year around long after snowmobiles have been put away

[PAcatchreleaseman]

i opted for the sled for a few reasons i guess. 
i hate mud and really have no desire to go out and get slopped up(which is most of the time the trails are open round my camps neck of the woods) riding the trails. 
the guy i went in on the camp(s) with recently purchased 2 honda rubicons so when trails do dry out i've got one to drive(lucky me ) if i care to....but basically i work all spring/summer/fall and bide my time and "fishing credits" with "the boss" so i can ice fish when the time comes....oh, and it WILL come!

where i do my ice fishing it can be a down right mess.  in fact, we helped a guy pull his 4 wheeler out out of the snow/slush mix on our way back to weigh in.  that same guy came in with an 1/8" bigger perch than i had and took 3rd place  

i got a smokin deal on the sled, the county sled routes right across the street from the camp, camps in the snow belt of NY etc.....i cant friggin wait!

i just thought id point out some reasons you may want to go with the sled.  but i can see where this thread is goin

[Hoppes]

Answering the original question:  8-11" go to a sled.  My Arctic Cat has a pretty good clearance in the snow.

I went with the ATV for many of the same reasons above but it can be pretty dang cold riding without a windshield or handwarmers.  I normally put in a hotter plug during the winter months in the ATV, anyone else do this?  Both a sled and an ATV are great when ice fishing, sometimes it depends on if you have a camp near or on a lake, snowmobile trails and access to where you fish.  An ATV might not make sense where you live or fish.  If I rountinely drove to a parking lot and had a decent plowed or packed access to the lake, I'd say ATV.  (But then again, why not drive your vehicle right on the ice!)  Yeah, I guess I'd have to say Dodge truck and ditch the sled and ATV.   
Hoppes

[duck doctor]

I have heard what everyone has said about atv's being the cats Ars.but here in NH there are very limited areas to ride an atv. I run my sled all winter ice fishing whether there is snow or not. What is $20 for new sliders when you can really find out what the top speed is of your sled?  Well that is if you are studded or not.

[Chris Raymond]

Re: location.  I currently live in Traverse City, MI but will be moving back to Houghton, MI (as in the U.P. not Houghton Lake).  Lake effect snow happens in both places but up there, the snow get some depth. 

Re: tracks.  In looking at those Mattracks, it didn't seem there was as much speed bleed off as has been discussed above.  Still for the $3k or so to get the tracks, getting a used sled is certainly an option.  Gotta admit that those tracks would be cool...expensive though. 

Thanks guys.

[kerosenecounty17]

Chris,

How much money are you looking to spend?  A wheeler is going to cost you at least $4K, unless you can find a great price on a decent used one - not likely.  You can pick up a real nice used sled for about $1500 anywhere in nothern Wisconsin.  Wheelers are great for all the reasons mentioned, but they don't do well in 8" plus snow, and in Houghton, that's a strange year.  So, if you've got $7k budgeted, buy a nice 4wd wheeler and then start looking for a decent used sled.  Otherwise, just buy the used sled and start saving for the wheeler - that's what I'm doing.

kc17

[PerchBusterSD]

ATVS do great in deeper snow if ya got a blade in front of it

[crappieloo]

I bought a atv so i could haul stuff, winch logs, yard work, go hunting, plow snow and most important go icefishing. Some of the ice acess roads are marginally plowed and my 2wd s-10 makes it up and down them just fine. The problem is dragging ice equipment out over 1 mile (sometimes 2) to get to my spot.  Its very tough to walk-drag. I dont know how my 4 wheeler will do in 1 or 2 foot of snow yet because i just bought it. I did go to a derby last year that had 1 foot+ snow on the ice and there were a lot of quads there. They didnt go fast, but they were going. Simetimes there is 3 or 4 feet of snow on the lakes and we walk-drag on the snowmachine trails because its packed down hard. So why cant we drive a quad on a snow machine trail?

[duck doctor]

A lot of clubs frown on it because the wheels (or I should say the people operating them) seem to tear the crap out of the trails. I don't care myself, but there is nothing worse than having a freshly groomed trail that has been torn up by a quad.  That makes me mad!  Not saying that sleds can't/don't trear up trails, but quads do it more frequently!

[Chris Raymond]

Chris,

How much money are you looking to spend?  A wheeler is going to cost you at least $4K, unless you can find a great price on a decent used one - not likely.  You can pick up a real nice used sled for about $1500 anywhere in nothern Wisconsin.  Wheelers are great for all the reasons mentioned, but they don't do well in 8" plus snow, and in Houghton, that's a strange year.  So, if you've got $7k budgeted, buy a nice 4wd wheeler and then start looking for a decent used sled.  Otherwise, just buy the used sled and start saving for the wheeler - that's what I'm doing.

kc17

To be honest, I really haven't thought that far ahead yet.  I'll buy used in either or both cases though I suspect.  Yes, Houghton does get a good bit more than 8" of snow on the ground.  Personally, I wish the area had a bit more cold and a little less snow but it is what it is and I love the area. 

[crappieloo]

duck docter, i meant the snow tracks all over the lake not the snowmobile designated trails.

We have the same peoblem here, too much snow and not enough cold.

[duck doctor]

Silly me! Sorry for the misunderstanding!

[Traxion]

I know some people hate buying used toys, just for the abuse factor that you don't know about, but this is what I would do.  First, find yourself a nice used 4 wheeler.  Then, with the money you have left over, go buy an older sled.  I'd pick up a early to mid 90's Polaris Indy 500, fan or liquid cooled.  Both motors are basically bulletproof, with the liquid making more power.  The fan is probably the longest lasting motor out there.  The Polaris Indy chassis is relatively unchanged from 89-98, so other than a better suspension on the newer year sleds, most everything is the same or dang close.  You should be able to run on to a early 90's sled for about $1,000, and I wouldn't pay and more than 1,500 for a 97 model.  Just my .02.

[crappieloo]

I just brought home a new quad, and if i brought home another ''man toy'' the old lady would kill me.

[Jimmy The Jigger]

I have a 4 wheel drive honda rubicon with chains on all 4 wheels,It does the trick for me.I live in western mass,and most of the lakes I fish dont have a ton of snow on them.some lakes like pontoosuc/and Onota I take my truck out when the ice is thick enough.

[Icemanjim]

In western Wyoming, snowmobil is the way to go.  You can only get within 5 miles to some lakes by vehicle and there are some that are 20+.  Watch out for slush after it snows.  A large snow pushes the ice down and makes slush.  I have seen ATV's and snowmobils both stuck in this but snowmobils are much easier to get going again.  Mine machines are old and couldn't climb a very steep hill, but they will take me across the lake at 40-60 mph just like a hard water bass boat. 

[TGF]

I hear ya Icemanjim. I too have to travel long distances to fish sometimes. Take my remote cabin for instance.
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I have to travel 11 miles to get there. 3 miles on old road and the rest on the lake. I have taken my quad in the road when the snow is 3ft deep but my quad tires are too widely spaced for the narrow snowmachine trail. I kept being pulled off the trail as one wheel would stay on top and the other one would drop. Lots of that trip I was breaking thru the crust of the established trail. Took me 2 1/2 hrs to cover the 3 miles. I guess it would have helped to have chains. A snowmobile came by and whipped around me. That was in spring and I didn't think there would be that much snow. I vowed next time I would take the snowmachine. I did but there was only 8 inches of snow when I returned 2 weeks later. There were some bare spots and at that time I wished I brought the quad. They both have their advantages, but when the snow gets more than 3 ft, the quad bogs down some. Thats when I tend to take the snowmachine.