I know you guys get riddled with sled questions lol. I am going to be running a small Marten line here in Wyoming next season and am going to have to have a sled to get around to do so in the mountains. I am looking for some ideas as to what models to look for in the used field and what ones to walk from. I am not needing a fast unit or anything just a sled that gos well in powder and mountain terrain. There are a lot of RMK's and powder sleds around here i see from the recreational sledders but those don't seem to be to utilitarian. Persoanlly i prefer smaller sleds and i am not going to be running a crazy amount of gear so small is my preferred. Other than that i have no prefs. 2 stroke four stroke old new seems to be we have a lot of everything around here.

What do you consider a small machine?
What are the typical snowfall amounts?
Will you be climbing fairly steep long hills?
Will you be side hilling?

One more. How much do you weigh and how strong are you?

I'd go with a Polaris RMK in your situation.

It has been years since I have been in the snowmobiling game but when i was younger the smaller sleds were 440's. I had a JD liquid-fire and it served its purpose and was easy to get unstuck when i needed to. I then got a Ski-doo Mach1. Big sled pretty fast for tis time but just too big in my book. Bulky. I know looking sleds today are totally different new ones anyways. they don't even resemble sleds really from back then.

Snowfall amounts where i am looking to be running is in the feet plus. 6-8,000' in elevation.

Climbing long hills yes.

I am not looking to be side hilling as i am going to attempt to stay on trail/roadway areas.

There are a lot of rmk's around and seem to be popular just don't ever hear anyone on here talking about using one on the line pulling any sort of gear or working off from one.

I know of several guys who use rmks to trap, but generally one major modification is to drop the gearing about as low as you can go.

My first trapping sled was a 440 Indy I slapped an rmk 153" mountain suspension and track in. Dropped the gearing as low as I could in the chaincase. It would pull like mad.

I trapped briefly off my 2004 pro x 800 with a 137" track. The high gearing ate belts. Not even close to ideal, but a 2010 ish and later rmk would be a darn good all around sled if you can get one for cheap and rebuild it.

For a bit more money though there are better options for sure. I'd only consider it if it could be had for a few grand, perhaps blown up or high miles and able to be rebuilt.

I'd look for a Arctic Cat Super Jag. Good luck!

Have owned several 550 RMKs. Used them in western Alaska tundra mostly. Put a polaris rack on them but regularly pulled a sled as well. The 550 should have the power you need and give you around 11 or 12 mpg. You may need to dabble with carb needle setting to deal with thinner air at elevations and warmer temps at time. The 136 track with 1.25 lugs will give you decent flotation. It may not be the best deep snow trail breaker tho.
Skidoo tundras and yamaha bravos are other decent rigs for a marten line.
mt

^^^^^
Does the 550.RMK have reverse?

Kind of the same situation I'm facing looking for a trapping sled. I'm 6'3" 210ish and I need something that will pull some long, steep grades. I keep bouncing from the air cooled 550s to the 600 or 700 liquid cooled sleds, with an eye on a balance of fuel economy and longevity. Could be operating anywhere from 5k-10k between running the line and just exploring. I think I just need to find one and make it work. There's a 98 RMK 700 for sale with less than 500 miles if someone hasn't snatched it up already that I've talked to the owner about. I keep reading about those Expo fuel mileage numbers though and it has me thinking. I may be overanalyzing at this point.

The 550s after 2002 or so have electric reverse.
mt

Thank you for the information everyone. Exactly the information i was looking for. Now on the trek to find the right deal.

I feel your pain. Good luck!

If you could find a Polaris Voyageur that is what you would be looking for. 550 fan with a rack and hitch Reverse. I use one in NE Alberta on my line and it is great.

Sneaky, check the atv craiglist in spokane, some nice Tundras and Skandiks.