Opinion wanted, 4X4 or Snowmobile for towing the gear?

[Gamalot]

I am getting older and dragging all the gear in the 2 man Clam is becoming a real problem for these old legs. I just don't go alone any more because I need help. I've been contemplating getting a machine to be the mule but am having problems deciding what to get.

There are two real considerations regarding both types of machines down here in the lower Catskills.

#1- 4X4 ATVs are pretty much banned on any property that is not your own or club owned that allow ATVs. They are allowed on some frozen lakes.

#2- Snowmobiles are allowed on the same frozen lakes where the ATVs can go but most years we don't get enough decent snow to to run them anywhere but on frozen lakes. That means either of these mules spend a lot of time sitting around unused and will be pretty much dedicated to towing ice gear on the lakes.

I see guys with both dragging their gear but I have always wondered which type of machine is best for that particular job. A four wheel drive ATV or a long track snowmobile?

Guys who know the snow machines say to go for the Ski Doo Tundra/Scandic models often used by clubs for trail grooming and towing apparatus behind them. Those types of machines are not very common down here.

Guys who know the 4X4 say to get one with 4 wheel drive that can take chains or ice studded tires. What concerns me most is getting off the ice on either of these machines. Often times right at the shore line is an up hill battle through high snow drifts and many times this is the weakest ice where either type of machine could break through.

My Clam 2 man shanty loaded with all my gear, power auger, bait, tip ups and rods, food and beverages for the day and the seats and heater probably weighs close to 125- 150 pounds. Getting it stuck at the ramp is not an option and would leave me stranded if I can't get it un stuck and no other guys around to help.

I would like to hear some opinions of the advantages and disadvantages I need to consider before I drop the bucks on a machine. I won't be going out to buy a brand new anything so will be searching for a used but not abused machine preferably only adult owned by a guy who takes care of his stuff. I damn sure don't need or want a Go Fast anything and it will be used strictly for towing my stuff from the launch to the fishing spots and back. I would really appreciate hearing from guys who have experience with both ATVs and Snowmobiles for this duty.

[bigstorm]

Living in southern WI, we generally don't get a lot of snow so an ATV works great for me. There is no public land close to me for riding, so the ATV is mainly for ice fishing season for me. I bought a 2004 Grizzly 660 in 2013 and it has served its purpose very well

[Gamalot]

Living in southern WI, we generally don't get a lot of snow so an ATV works great for me. There is no public land close to me for riding, so the ATV is mainly for ice fishing season for me. I bought a 2004 Grizzly 660 in 2013 and it has served its purpose very well

Thanks Bigstorm, do you have or need chains or studs on the wheels?

[jethro]

If I had to choose one it would be a snowmobile and the reason is this.. a sled works well 95% of the time. The only time it doesn't is when it is complete glare ice, and those are the easiest walking conditions possible. And to be honest, if you get scratchers or use a lubricant on your slides, you can even go slow on glare ice too.

Yes, it would be nice to have a toy for the summer too, but I ride motorcycles instead of 4 wheelers.

[jethro]

Oh, and you don't need a Skandic or Tundra, you can buy almost anything. Fan cooled would be preferred but remember that fan cooled can still be a problem in spring conditions when the air temps are warm.

[MichiganMan]

Only my opinion, but some things to think about.  If your only going to use it for ice fishing my vote is a 4 wheeler. Snowmobile, 2 cycle engines and mixed fuel do not store well, 4 cycle engines much less of a problem. Also a wheeler is much easier to start up periodically in the off season. If you have a concern of getting stuck add an inexpensive winch on the front. Get a set of "angel wings", they are about $18 and fit in the storage of about any 4 wheeler.  I'm 68 yrs young and can relate to you. I live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we probably get more snow than you do. That's the set up I've been using for quite a few years now.
   ps, I fish alone ALOT
Good luck, have fun, be safe

[Flatrocker]

To add, if the high snow area guys are getting along w/ATVs, there always a chance you might end up using the ATV off season because you have it. The snowmobile is for sure going to sit after season.
 

[hardwater diehard]

With an ATV you can mount your auger to the front rack w/o a lot of welding/rigging via some gun rack/mount. You can make a rack for your two man to be carried on the rear rack . Sounds like you bring as much gear as I do .

Although the don't make these racks anymore you may be able to fabricate something similar.

http://www.shappell.com/images/ATV-RK_ShelterRackFlyer_07.pdf

On my 2000 Yamaha Kodiak I am able to carry my 2 man Frabill with ease ... I also added a file box w/rod holders in front for my minnow bucket and a half file box to the side to carry my lantern odds and ends etc
 

[FISHFORPIKE]

Now there is a nice setup for ice-fishing.  I been trying to figure out a way to haul my shelter/sled, other than towing it.  Been thinking about building a custom rack that I can just hinge front of the sled to and "tip it up" for traveling.

[guthook1]

I have both a snowmobile Skidoo Tundra LT and a 4wd ATV.  A couple of years ago the ATV would have been have been worthless for the ice...(130" of snow that year).  It would normally work great - looking at some of the previous
ATV picture posts it is apparent you can carry quite a bit (sorta looks like the Beverly Hillbillies truck ).  For the most part I use the snow machine in the winter and toot around in the other seasons on the ATV.  If I could only have one the ATV would be my choice (with chains for all 4 wheels on the ice).

[hardwater diehard]

That rack is great ..at the time I bought it from SG it was 20 bucks(I should of bought more) ...the rack when installed w/o a shelter can be lifted up some if you don't zip tie it down . Those pictures are from last season when I didn't even remove my shelter due to that short lived warm season . This season took the shelter off several times . I sure I could of fabricated a rack ..sure I would of over engineered it and made it twice as heavy to boot.

[OntarioRider]

With an ATV you can mount your auger to the front rack w/o a lot of welding/rigging via some gun rack/mount. You can make a rack for your two man to be carried on the rear rack . Sounds like you bring as much gear as I do .

Although the don't make these racks anymore you may be able to fabricate something similar.

http://www.shappell.com/images/ATV-RK_ShelterRackFlyer_07.pdf

On my 2000 Yamaha Kodiak I am able to carry my 2 man Frabill with ease ... I also added a file box w/rod holders in front for my minnow bucket and a half file box to the side to carry my lantern odds and ends etc
 
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That is AWESOME!!
This is exactly what I want to do to my Big Bear next season. I have a 2 man eskimo flip and don't like towing it across the frozen stuff. I am always nervous of shattering the tub or filling it with water or slush in spring conditions.
Do you have any issues with too much rear weight?
I have my auger mounted slightly ahead of front wheels so that will help a little.

Frickn awesome.

[hardwater diehard]

That is AWESOME!!
This is exactly what I want to do to my Big Bear next season. I have a 2 man eskimo flip and don't like towing it across the frozen stuff. I am always nervous of shattering the tub or filling it with water or slush in spring conditions.
Do you have any issues with too much rear weight?
I have my auger mounted slightly ahead of front wheels so that will help a little.

Frickn awesome.

I put all my heavy gear in the front of the shelter/close to the axle as best I can ...I could make the rack sit more over the axles by drilling some new holes and moving it up some may lose a little room on the seat . May play with the preset on the rear shock next season ...but it has worked great as set up now...I travel about a mile or more on the road before hitting the lake ...beats loading my shelter and gear into SUV then having to drag it on the ice ...much easier at days end to boot ...in the garage remove my electronics for charging EZPZ. 

[hardwater diehard]

Thanks Bigstorm, do you have or need chains or studs on the wheels?

Gamalot I have considered chains for our area...but I don't think we would need them based on the last several season we have been having....now a winch could be quite useful and a multi-tasker . In heavy snow chains wouldn't help .Biggest problem with the ATV in our area is making sure there is good ice to get on and off and not to much drifted snow ...this season had to shovel some drifted snow a couple times as a precaution ...once some snowmobiles get on/off the access points its a lot easier . The packed snow also helps should the snow melt and/or water seeps up ..turns to concrete after one cold night. 

[Gamalot]

YUP! That looks like one heck of a great set up Hardwater. I have to go a good half mile across the reservoir to get to the best fishing spots but on clear ice and with my much larger 2 man pop up mounted on snow skis it's a breeze to drag. Once I get snow and slush it goes from easy to real hard and I would need a 5th wheel on the rear to keep the front end down. I did have a Polaris RZR side by side up until a few years ago but traded it in for the Kubota tractor because snow blowing works much better here than the snow plow did on it. I did stud all the original tires with Kold Cutter Ice Screws and they worked great on the ice covered black top. I never did take it on the ice to drag my gear because I kind of enjoyed the work out up until my knees started giving out. Being totally retired with the wife still working there were so many nice days I could have been fishing but most of my fishing buddies are working except on the weekends when my wife is also off. Instead I sit here finding little projects and POed because I could have been out fishing.

Thanks Guthook, that was a great reply from a guy who has the best of both. I really do like the Tundra machines and they appear to be the tow horse of the bunch but hard to find down here or at least ones that have not been beat to near death. An ATV with a winch would probably be my best option just in the event I do get buried when getting off the ice. Just need to find one that was not ridden hard and put away wet all the time. I just never owned a snowmobile because I saw way too many guys here buy nice machines and then have to travel north all the time just to find good snow and trails to ride them on. Lots of nice and very slightly used snow machines here after these last few winters with very little snow.

[lingcod]

I know this is a longshot, but if you  can find a used argo ( small amphibious atv) for a good price...

[MT_mulies]

I say ATV. I grew up in Montana and now live in Idaho. We have never used a snowmobile for ice fishing. Always used an ATV. I love riding snowmobiles, snowmobile riding is one of my favorite things to do. But when it came time to put money down for an ATV or snowmobile, it wasn't even really a question for me. I bought an ATV for versatility. I can use it all year, I use it in the winter all the time(mostly plowing my driveway), and if your worried they make tracks for them(although they are super expensive). But I use my 4wheeler for everything. I don't have chains, but I do have a winch. Haven't needed it, but at least I have it. I even used my ATV plow to make a road to one of the lakes I fish at. Everyone used it to, but that doesn't bug cause its a public lake.

The only way I would go snowmobile is if I didn't ever ride my atv or plan on it, and the lakes I fished were lakes that were in the mountains. But that's just my opinion.
I've seen a lot of snowmobiles and atvs while ice fishing. I seem to see more atvs, and i think its because of versatility.

[jiignut]

I'll go the other route. If your getting less capable, hauling trailer, snow only machine and everything else you want is going to be a burden also.
I'd suggest going lighter, and alone. Reap the rewards. I have a 1 man original clam pro.(used to load it up) Couple different size jet sleds, and what i do mostly lately is bucket with flasher in it two rods and my 4" synthetic Lazer hand auger. Great for going for an hour or two at the end of the day. I fish way more that way and catch as much. I enjoy the ease, simplicity and getting out on the lake for sunset more often. That stuff stays in my car all winter. I'm a minute man.
Learned you dont have to walk far. Caught my largest brown trout 20' out from the launch that everybody uses in 3' of water at noon while waiting for a buddy. We then took a short walk down the shore away from the hallaballoo and did well. Anyway consider going out alone, light, unencumbered and you might like it.

[Gamalot]

I'll go the other route. If your getting less capable, hauling trailer, snow only machine and everything else you want is going to be a burden also.
I'd suggest going lighter, and alone. Reap the rewards. I have a 1 man original clam pro.(used to load it up) Couple different size jet sleds, and what i do mostly lately is bucket with flasher in it two rods and my 4" synthetic Lazer hand auger. Great for going for an hour or two at the end of the day. I fish way more that way and catch as much. I enjoy the ease, simplicity and getting out on the lake for sunset more often. That stuff stays in my car all winter. I'm a minute man.
Learned you dont have to walk far. Caught my largest brown trout 20' out from the launch that everybody uses in 3' of water at noon while waiting for a buddy. We then took a short walk down the shore away from the hallaballoo and did well. Anyway consider going out alone, light, unencumbered and you might like it.

I can appreciate your response Jig mostly because I started ice fishing that way about 55 years ago. These days me and my Brittany really enjoy going out and sitting in the heated shanty and spending some quality time in comfort rather than just sitting on a bucket which isn't so easy for a 65 year old with lots of hard miles. I have to drive a good hour just to get to the lakes I like so we go for the day and I really do like all my gear that I have continually upgraded over the many years. I actually don't much care if I catch many fish at all because most go right back down the hole unless I get a medium size trout or two for a fresh dinner that evening. I'm more stuck in my ways than an ATV would be in a 3 foot snow drift. I'll probably look for something like a Honda Rancher and set it up with a winch and a hard hitch for my sled and outfit the tires with the ice screws. I already have a perfect trailer and all the gear is easy loading in my 4 runner right over the front trailer rails before the machine goes on.

[bigstorm]

Thanks Bigstorm, do you have or need chains or studs on the wheels?

I don't have chains or studs in the tires and havent' needed them

[joemx1825]

if there's any way you could use the 4 wheeler in the summer months I would go that route.  I sold my snowmobile 4 years ago and purchased a 4 wheeler, will never go back.  I love the flexibility on the 4 wheeler.

[52isntbigenough]

if there's any way you could use the 4 wheeler in the summer months I would go that route.  I sold my snowmobile 4 years ago and purchased a 4 wheeler, will never go back.  I love the flexibility on the 4 wheeler.

I had an old Arctic Cat I used for ice fishing only. When it started dying I told myself that I'd buy and ATV and that I could use all year long. So what happened? I bought an ATV with tracks new in 2014 and haven't taken the tracks off yet and the machine has 330 miles on it in 4 seasons of use.

[Gamalot]

An ATV here in the southern Catskills is near useless except for ice fishing unless you own property of have access to privately owned property to ride on. I have no interest in spinning around on my 3 acres and don't care to join a hunting club just so I can run it. I have a tractor for the yard work and spend enough time on that taking care of home, friends and neighbors. I have about 12,000 acres of State land bordering my back yard and can walk to my stand in just a few minutes but would be in deep trouble if I ever rode the ATV on OUR lands that we pay for with OUR TAX dollars if the DEC guys who's salaries are paid by OUR TAX dollars ever caught me off my property.

I think I will look for a decent used 4 wheel drive ATV to do what I need done and keep me fishing a few more years. Oh, BTW,  an ATV will have to be registered with plates and insurance which is yet another joke since the only place you can legally ride them is on your own property or on a frozen public lake.

[mealworm]

Can't go wrong with an atv with trax u don't need snow and the machines pretty much go anywhere may be a bit on expensive side though

[hot tuna]

Jignut is kinda on the right track IMO.  I don't know about sitting out there without a shelter though , I'm getting older too and like some comfort as well.
I bought a Yamaha grizzly with envisions of expanding the opportunities . In 10 years I used it less then 10 times on the ice . Mainly because it became a whole another "iissue " to deal with.  Started putting it in back of truck but ran out of gear space so I had to trailer it which again required another issue, parking , maintaining,  etc.   I have gotten it stuck in deep snow of over 12" so make sure you bring a shovel.  It just turned out to be more hassle and work then worth to me. It now is only used to drag deer and plow snow.

I bought a few shanties and have a ton of gear. What I have found is to pack and organize my gear according to conditions.  Now I'm not saying go buy 6 shanties but maybe think about a 1 man flip over which is much much lighter or going the pop up route.   My 2 man hasn't been used in 2 seasons but my 1 man gets rode hard and put away wet day after day. If you are more stationary , then consider a pop up .
If your set on the 2 man , the quick and easiest thing is to build a smitty sled and put it on there to distribute the weight and less drag.

Good luck with however you decide