Loading into the truck and not needing a trailer is the biggest advantage for me. In mn you don’t need to license them so that’s nice. You can run them on dirt if you want to. You can take it down tight trails that a sled wouldn’t fit down. It all depends on your needs and how you operate. If you are running a line more than 15 miles long you would probably want a snowmobile

Fair question. It seems snow machines just always seem to have something wrong with them I have been around them a lot. Engines and mechanics of construction are very complex.
These is a ~13hp engine and very simple and all bearing can be bought over the counter and are common. Then for the reason you stated I'm in the back country by myself 99% of the time and would be hander for me. At 300 lbs you can handle that type of weight if stuck etc. I don't need to have a machine that travel 50 plus miles an hour just needs to get in and out and round at ranch checking on things. For trapping and ice fishing and hunting it would be easier to handle etc. Nice and small for storage in off season and be easy to work on not like a snow machine. That would be some of my reasons.

Yep on all accounts!!! A side x side would be nice but I don't need something like that in summer and the cost is more then I want and deep snow you would need to get tracks for one. The price for all of that isn't worth it to me.

I've seen a couple on the ice. One was pulling two sleds with a man in each and two portable shacks. It looked like a train on ice.

A neighbor rancher got one and got rid of it in a year. Slow was the first complaint plus hard steering, pulling power second, Then had problems with the tracks and adjustments called the factory numerous time with little help and he is a good mechanic. Final blow was engine problems all it was was a Briggs and Stratton mill and junk. I think he said he paid about 5 k for it and got rid of it in a bit over a year. I rode it twice and thought it had potential but did not really per say use it.. Im thinking it was a good idea but has a lot of issues and too work them out you would be getting into a lot of money and then just as well get a snow machine.

Quite a few of the Russian Snodogs machines came in before the war, has anyone seen these in operation ?

My friend has one, we use it for ice fishing . It easily pulls upwards of 3 sleighs. So far does not need registration and insurance in NY, and that’s why it’s better than a snowmobile, but I’m sure that will change. Driving it takes some getting use to.

Facebook has a decent snowdog group, lots of valuable information. Everything I've read on them, great in flat terrain, also on trails. Deep snow they do well, unless it is real powder and then they tend to sink bad and go no where. I was looking at the long track, but even those are being reported as not good in the mountains or hills and deep or rough terrain. They sure looks like the cat's meow for ice fishing!!

I sure hope you find a smoking hot deal on one in MN.
drive all the way to pick it up and have the seller re_nigg on the sale.
Us MNans are great at doing them sort of things yunno.

While beaver trapping on ice that last few days I seen a guy using one to pull him and 5 buddies around the lake.
He said it would run on 2.5 inches of ice.

There's even an electric model. (saw vid in foreign tongue)
Might not be a totally bad Idea.
Within a given range ....... and very stealthy.
DIY project. golf cart motor and a few DC batteries.
Hmmmm

Thanks for all the great advice and life experiences. I have done a few PM's and I thank them a lot for their help. I pretty sure I'm going to make a deal soon and the machine checks the boxes to a T for what I would need to do with it.

I live close by power house and m&m in central mn if you do need dealer help I can swing by either.

That is a True MN Kindness trait!! Thank YOU for that great offer and I have been in touch with a few great businesses from MN. I ended up finding the one I was wanting in the Dakotas and waiting for a firm price to make the deal.

Another good place to find one is the Fargo MN Scheels. My dealer priced matched it. Scheels has the best price I could find.

I may be slow, ...Never heard of these, Do you stand up in the sled to operate it?, like a motorized dog sled?

watch the u-tube of Rednic79 for driving etc

I would have my doubts that they would be suitable in mountainous country.

Yes

This fellow has a chair/seat on his electric model.