HEllo all this year me and a buddy are going on our first really snowmobile trip we are planning on loading up the sleds and taking them about 8 hrs away and plan on driving 500-1000miles down by The Pas so i was just wondering on what we should do to get prepared what should we take for the sleds any cautions we should take or what any advice would be appreciated I have a 98 zl 500 and he has a 94 formula stx 583 thanks

are you planning on day tripping ? what i mean is sleep in the same bed evey night.

Originally posted by paul yarek@Sep 22 2003, 10:45 PM
are you planning on day tripping ? what i mean is sleep in the same bed evey night.
I know what you mean Paul, clean underwear is a MUST ;) ;) :D :D

Actually one of the more important things, besides your sleds, is to make sure your towing rig and and trailer are in decent running order. Nothing worse than having a break-down over something simple. If you have your sleds gone over and tuned to the proper elevations, if you desire, then you should be in decent shape for the sleds. I would deffinately give my truck and trailer the once and twice over though. Check your lights, tire wear, lube the bearings, take a spare tire....., just the usual stuff :sly:

ya we are planning in staying in the same bed we will be driving a 97 chevy 1/2 ton or a 2000 ford f-150 they trailer and stuff has all been check over it is ready to go so i hope all will go well and i still have to take the sled in to get it ready for the winter just a general look over and i will have to get the elvation for down there thanks anything else i should know

if you are staying in the same place every night all you are going to need is booze for the end of the day.

what they all said.........just check your machines over before u go. if u are staying at the same place each night its good to have a good bunch of tools with u. we used to get made fun of when we would bring along almost all of our tools on trips like this. Our bodies who ride Poo siad if we didnt ride cat then we wouldnt need those tools. well 3 yrs ago it shut them up because every sled but our cats was in need of some of those tools over the 4 days. that shut them up for ever.
also make sure u have good trial maps of the area and its always a good idea to have a few phone #'s u can call for directions if u happen to get lost.
have fun and ride safe

nate

Every sled out there should have a tow rope, Yet few carry them out of some false embarrassment in carrying one.They're not just for towing either;4 sleds with 1-10 ft rope apiece= 40 feet of rope to throw to someone down through the ice. The list goes on and on...

All the normal stuff - Spare belts, plugs, check your hyfax before you go. Check your rear skid bolts for tightness. Make sure you have everything in your standard toolkit including the little rope to start if your pull start breaks. Use isopropyl if its cold. I agree - bring some good tools and some general tools like a leatherman. Of course, one of the most useful things on the trail - DUCKTAPE! Have a small towel and keep it dry so you can dry off things before duct taping. There are lists around of standard maintenace items. Get them in as good a shape as you can, and bring some useful tools. Also, be sure to bring good flashlights, extra batteries, and a good thing to have is those little walkie talkie type communicators in case someone gets stuck somewhere out of sight. Have a great trip!

beer and beef jerky

:withstupid:

Anywhere east or west of The Pas is very isolated. Unless you are familiar with the area, make sure you have a good plan for gas stops and where you will tow to in the event of a breakdown.
It gets darn cold there too.

the most important thing to bring is high expectations of lot's of fun. just reading this topic is getting me all excited!! i always wear a backpack when i sled in unfamiliar areas with gatorade and some power bars just in case i get lost or hungry while i'm out there i ride alot alone and i have been stranded out on the trails once at night so now i take matches and a cell phone . I learned 2 things that night being stranded on the middle of the trails.... always carry a cell phone and don't ride an old sled late at night on an isolated part of the trail by yourself first thing i did when i got home the next day was to fix that sled and sold it. bought a newer one, not that they don't get stranded too!! but i'm glad to see that you have someone to ride with just follow all the tips in this post and have a great time.. :thumbsup:

I will agree whith what all the rest said, but bring a gps,phone,i.d. money, credit cards. Find out where the nearest sled dealer is , becuse of murphys law. if it can go wrong it well.

I'm pretty sure your cell phone isn't going to work at any significant distance from The Pas. Have a good plan.

Another thing that comes in very handy is a couple small pocket torches. If you crack plastic and have to duck tape it you will need to heat it back up to make the tape stick better. You can also heat it up and fuse the plastic back together a little.

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Besides carrying hand tools and such, I bring a flashlight in the truck and trail. In the truck I also carry a "bag of tricks", which includes extra batteries and bulbs for the flashlight, extra bulbs for the truck and trailer, electrical tape and spare fuses for the truck. I bring a 2 1/2 ton floor jack along with a spare tire just in case I have to change one. The floor jack is easier to use than the truck jack.

a good reliable tow vehicle is a must.............. :D

All the suggestions on this thread are bang on the money. With the truck, trailer, and sled maintenance done, you have completed all the preventative measures possible. Good local road maps, trail maps, and a compass are essential. From a safety standpoint, a good First Aid Kit with an "Aluminum Foil" type blanket is another good idea. Never, and I mean never, pass a gas station without topping up! I have done just this, got mixed up in the trails and almost run out of fuel! I stalled at the pump island when we did get to a gas station. Lesson forever learned that day!! On the lighter side, I did get 130 miles on a tank of fuel, not bad for a Mach Z. :D