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skandic choice #6687200
12/08/19 06:14 PM
12/08/19 06:14 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 714
Deer lodge, MT
D
Dean Chapel Offline OP
trapper
Dean Chapel  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 714
Deer lodge, MT
I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a pair of skandics. Help me decide between the SWT and wt versions?

Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6687353
12/08/19 08:17 PM
12/08/19 08:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
You need to try them out to make your decision for what you need.
Where I am I tried out all different machines and engines-I settled on the 600 4 stroke ace engine with the wide track(not superwide).It has suited my requirements perfectly.
Some guys like the 900 with the swt.I think if I got the 900 eng I would also get the swt,but it was no good for my conditions.
I like the 600 wt for fuel consumption and handling and it does not lack anything in my terrain and snow conditions that the 900 swt offers.
Like I said try out several different machines before you buy one.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6687554
12/08/19 10:31 PM
12/08/19 10:31 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,169
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,169
McGrath, AK
How about one of each ?


Mean As Nails
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6688615
12/10/19 12:35 AM
12/10/19 12:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 71
North Pole, Alaska
T
Taiga Offline
trapper
Taiga  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 71
North Pole, Alaska
I've got a 900 ACE WT. Love it. I can pull it over to side hill, flip it upright, etc. I don't know if I could do that with a SWT. For my line and use the WT is the way to go. Narrow trails that require lots of turning. I haul a pretty good load with it when I want to as well. I guess the bottom line is what and where your use is.

Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6688630
12/10/19 12:55 AM
12/10/19 12:55 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,102
user conflictville, Alaska 99X...
martenpine Offline
trapper
martenpine  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,102
user conflictville, Alaska 99X...
I have both 550 wt and 900 swt. They are both great machines, but for breaking trail in deep snow the swt really shines compared to the wt.


When there is shot in the air, there is hope.
When in doubt, throttle out!
ATA, NTA, NATCA, ITA
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6689562
12/10/19 10:25 PM
12/10/19 10:25 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Alberta
S
st99 Offline
trapper
st99  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Alberta
For those who has experience with both, the WT & the SWT, which one is the most stable? less tippy?

Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6689621
12/10/19 11:04 PM
12/10/19 11:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
In my conditions I found the 600 wt easier to handle than the 900 swt.Even though there is not that much weight difference,the 900 seemed very nose heavy.
We all put the ski skins on here,it helps a lot on packed trapping trails to keep the machine from nosediving off to the side of the trail In deep snow,especially at higher speeds.
One thing about the swt when you run in and back out you will have a 4 ft wide trail.

Last edited by Boco; 12/10/19 11:07 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6689683
12/11/19 12:35 AM
12/11/19 12:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 983
Bemidji, MN
J
Jacks Offline
trapper
Jacks  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 983
Bemidji, MN
I have not driven the wt, or swt, but I believe your going to like the expedition much better same as wide track with better suspension and more comfort

I also like my expedition, but if I was buying today, no doubt about it I would buy Polaris titan

Re: skandic choice [Re: Jacks] #6689712
12/11/19 02:05 AM
12/11/19 02:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
trapper ron Offline
trapper
trapper ron  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
I have the Skandic WT with 600 ACE and really like it. My friend has the SWT with 900 ACE and seems it may have a couple of features I do not have, like an economy mode or some such thing. I also have the 10" ski skins which really make a difference for stability.


Member BCTA
Trapping Instructor

"It's what you learn after you know it all that really counts."
Re: skandic choice [Re: Jacks] #6689916
12/11/19 10:47 AM
12/11/19 10:47 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,971
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
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Hutchy Offline
trapper
Hutchy  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,971
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
Originally Posted by Jacks
I have not driven the wt, or swt, but I believe your going to like the expedition much better same as wide track with better suspension and more comfort

I also like my expedition, but if I was buying today, no doubt about it I would buy Polaris titan


Titan looks great. A better all around sled for us guys who like to go fast and do stupid stuff as well as haul and trap. Until I can afford a Titan, you wont pry me off my Voyageur 155

Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6689956
12/11/19 11:31 AM
12/11/19 11:31 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Northern Alberta
T
Tundra 300 Offline
trapper
Tundra 300  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Northern Alberta
The Expedition WT is my choice over a Skandic for my type of trapping.
The Polaris Titan looks good but its the same 800 engine used in the Rmk and its has not been reliable that i would trust it in the bush.
Very hard to beat the Rotax for reliability.

Last edited by Tundra 300; 12/11/19 11:32 AM.
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6691005
12/12/19 11:41 AM
12/12/19 11:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Get the WT. It will do anything you need. The SWT are nice but very hard to handle on sidehills


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: skandic choice [Re: Tundra 300] #6693950
12/15/19 01:24 AM
12/15/19 01:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 714
Deer lodge, MT
D
Dean Chapel Offline OP
trapper
Dean Chapel  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 714
Deer lodge, MT
Originally Posted by Tundra 300
The Expedition WT is my choice over a Skandic for my type of trapping.
The Polaris Titan looks good but its the same 800 engine used in the Rmk and its has not been reliable that i would trust it in the bush.
Very hard to beat the Rotax for reliability.



WHat is it that makes your type of trapping preference lean to the expedition? I said initially that I was going to go with skandics, but the truth is I would go skandic over tundra, but open to others. My type of trapping will be primarily on snow-closed roads and pretty gentle terrain. Will not be hauling heavy loads- almost never more than 75 lbs, and usually 20-30 lbs.

Re: skandic choice [Re: Tundra 300] #6693959
12/15/19 01:54 AM
12/15/19 01:54 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
S
Stan Z Offline
trapper
Stan Z  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
Originally Posted by Tundra 300
The Expedition WT is my choice over a Skandic for my type of trapping.
The Polaris Titan looks good but its the same 800 engine used in the Rmk and its has not been reliable that i would trust it in the bush.
Very hard to beat the Rotax for reliability.


Polaris water cooled Liberty engines (600,700 and 800) are laying all over this village seized up after very low millage. My son had two 600 RMK's and never finished a season on either and did 5 top end rebuilds between the two before we stuck a 340 air cooled engine in one and it's finally gone 2 years and is on it's third. He puts 5000 easy a year on his machines. Finally figured it out when I talked to a performance engine rebuilder in the city and he said the issue is the cylinders have no steel lining and are electro/chemical coated and are very affected by all sorts of things like regular gas, out of sync fuel injectors and ingested snow etc etc and very few ever make it past 4-5000 miles. He pointed to a wall in his shop completely full of shelves of Polaris water cooled cylinders sent out for new coatings and said "I make most of my living from rebuilding those engines. A Polaris salesman last year said the new ones in the last couple years don't have that problem (but are still same coated aluminum cylinders). Heard Skidoo has them now on some of their engines. So many people had trouble with these I asked lots of questions of alot of people and would appreciate input but want everyone to be aware of this.

Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6694097
12/15/19 09:48 AM
12/15/19 09:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Wonder how a guy would find out which engines have the steel lining? I looked at the specs on my new VK540 and it doesn't say. I dont know if my old Bearcat 570 had steel lined cylinders but its been a bullet proof engine.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6694216
12/15/19 12:37 PM
12/15/19 12:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,184
Armpit, ak
D
Dirt Offline
trapper
Dirt  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,184
Armpit, ak
Imo Dean a Skandic ( or any widetrack) would be over kill for what you are planning. However, in new utility machines, you have no real choice. frown


Who is John Galt?
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6694220
12/15/19 12:42 PM
12/15/19 12:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Northern Alberta
T
Tundra 300 Offline
trapper
Tundra 300  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Northern Alberta
Originally Posted by Dean Chapel
Originally Posted by Tundra 300
The Expedition WT is my choice over a Skandic for my type of trapping.
The Polaris Titan looks good but its the same 800 engine used in the Rmk and its has not been reliable that i would trust it in the bush.
Very hard to beat the Rotax for reliability.



WHat is it that makes your type of trapping preference lean to the expedition? I said initially that I was going to go with skandics, but the truth is I would go skandic over tundra, but open to others. My type of trapping will be primarily on snow-closed roads and pretty gentle terrain. Will not be hauling heavy loads- almost never more than 75 lbs, and usually 20-30 lbs.


I have a Tundra for tight bush trails and exploring but most of my trails are opened up now so I prefer the ride of A arms.
The arm can handle the moss hummocks without breaking the frame.
2 fellow trappers, one one a Skandic 600 ace and other on an Expo are trapping really rough country in the hills, after a couple seasons i had to weld up the front frame and suspension of the Skandic, the Expo got new shocks.
The pogos bottom out all day if you ride fast, going slower its fine.

254, almost all fan cooled motors have a cast iron sleeve and some of the older liquids did as well. But now almost all run the Nicisil coating.
One thing that kills the Polaris motors is lack of oil due to meeting Epa regs, by turning up the oil pump they can last alot longer.

Re: skandic choice [Re: yukon254] #6694340
12/15/19 03:53 PM
12/15/19 03:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
S
Stan Z Offline
trapper
Stan Z  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
Originally Posted by yukon254
Wonder how a guy would find out which engines have the steel lining? I looked at the specs on my new VK540 and it doesn't say. I dont know if my old Bearcat 570 had steel lined cylinders but its been a bullet proof engine.

Polaris 550, VK540, Skidoo 550 and all the 4 strokes I've seen all have steel lined cylinder you can hone. Never rebuilt a 570 but it's probably steel also. Had one dealer not want to tell me but when pressed he finally did. They are cheap to make and cut weight which is the name of the game nowadays when a high percent of machines never get many miles put on them. Tundra 300 is right about the oil also. I run 75/1 oil in tank plus oil injector in all my machines and have gotten 30,000 (no rebuilds) out of two 340 Polaris that way. Finally got my son to run double oil in his 600 RMK the year he gave up on it and that year he got the most miles of all but it still wore the coating off the cylinders after just under 5000 miles. I'm just a backyard mechanic but rebuilt lots of engines and tried to figure this all out - all views appreciated.

Re: skandic choice [Re: Stan Z] #6694369
12/15/19 04:42 PM
12/15/19 04:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Originally Posted by Stan Z
Originally Posted by yukon254
Wonder how a guy would find out which engines have the steel lining? I looked at the specs on my new VK540 and it doesn't say. I dont know if my old Bearcat 570 had steel lined cylinders but its been a bullet proof engine.

Polaris 550, VK540, Skidoo 550 and all the 4 strokes I've seen all have steel lined cylinder you can hone. Never rebuilt a 570 but it's probably steel also. Had one dealer not want to tell me but when pressed he finally did. They are cheap to make and cut weight which is the name of the game nowadays when a high percent of machines never get many miles put on them. Tundra 300 is right about the oil also. I run 75/1 oil in tank plus oil injector in all my machines and have gotten 30,000 (no rebuilds) out of two 340 Polaris that way. Finally got my son to run double oil in his 600 RMK the year he gave up on it and that year he got the most miles of all but it still wore the coating off the cylinders after just under 5000 miles. I'm just a backyard mechanic but rebuilt lots of engines and tried to figure this all out - all views appreciated.


Thanks Stan. I also run heavy oil....always have, even in my outboards. Just lately switched to Amsoil.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: skandic choice [Re: Dean Chapel] #6694385
12/15/19 05:03 PM
12/15/19 05:03 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Northern Alberta
T
Tundra 300 Offline
trapper
Tundra 300  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Northern Alberta
Stan, to get 5000 miles out of the bigger polaris motors is really good. The oil ratio on polaris motors is about 70:1 and some even less when the oil pump rod is out of adjustment which seems to be about about half of the machines i get in.
The Etec design does not send gas thought the crankcase so it doesn’t have the oil washing effect and therefore can get away with less oil and meet regs.
I enjoy working on the fan cooled engines with liners, and having the equipment to bore the cyls makes them an easy rebuild vs the Nicisil lined which i send out to get rebuilt.
I run a small engine/marine shop and get to play with 300-350 units a year and during the slow season still get out on the trapline.

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