Bought a snow dog today. Buddy talked me into it. Anybody got one? How do you like it?

Never heard of it so looked it up. Pretty sure I could hurt myself on that lol.

I had to look them up too and they look cold. I wonder how they will do in the slush and whether it will dump you out of the sled?

For what they cost I would buy a snowmobile.

Have only seen one in action. Last year on a coyote hunt.
Was basically worthless.

There is a couple Utube vids showing what it can and cant do.
i dont think it is made for trailbreaking in winter,according to the vids I seen.One guy had trouble with snow on the belt.

Let us know how it performs Nimzy.

I got one and I like it a lot. I can go places where a snow machine can't go in tight river bottoms and checks all the boxes for my needs. Easy to load and unload takes up hardly any room to store. Very simple, made machine with a Briggs/Stratton. I got mine new for 3200$ and is great for fishing, hunting and can use all year round. We did some logging with it and works great pulling timber out to cut up and load in sled to ranch house. Pull weight is about 1100 lbs they say, and we had all of that and got the job done. We use it at the ranch all the time. I think mine is 58 inches long 2 feet wide and 30 inches high. Can lift it up and move it around easy. About 280 lbs total. Goes through powder and wet snow with no problem got all the power we need it for.
I just need something to get from point A to point B and it fits the bill. We have had snow machines all our life here on the ranch and this fit our needs so much better and way more versatile. Don't need something that goes 50 mph and so costly when something goes wrong with them.
Another plus for us is don't require a license or insurance. Saves a lot of money.
I hope it works out for you. If you trap, hunt or fish it is an awesome unit for those because you can use it year around in mud, sand dry ground etc.

Buddy has one and uses it around his property hauling hay,wood dog food. He used to bring it out and ride along while I checked my trap line , not real fast but I was surprised where he could go with it. He did catch a rock with the chain once and broke it off. He now carries a small chain breaker and links so he can fix it in the field. Not practical for where I travel but have thought about them for hauling bear baits or critters off the hill.

Pictures needed

How wide is the track on them?

yotechaser is that a mountain in PA? Never been back there.

Thanks^^^

I wish! Site photo from an owner in Japan.

They pack many trails for traditional cross -country skiers here.
We were luck that a fellow came by with one after we dropped 5 big deer in the 800 yard between the legs knocking willow zone in a river bottom.
By the time the five were field dressed the trail had hardened up and out they came with no problem

Thanks
We’ll give it a whirl.

I think it would not work min the Mountains here min WV. I think it would not make it to the top before spinning out. My Dozer won'teven get to the top in the winter. My Horses do though.

My friend has one and we use it primarily for ice fishing. Works great , we pull 3 otter sleds behind it with us and all gear. Unlike a snowmobile , in NY you do not have to register , insure or wear a helmet when using them. YET.

How are you guys hauling them around? I see some on hitch haulers and it seems like a lot of weight to bounce around on a hitch. I'd love to get one, I think it would be great for ice fishing, especially if I didn't need a trailer.

I think they would go through tag alders better than a snowmobile because theres no skis to hang up.

There was something similar, can't remember the name. About 1968 , I rode one a couple of times. It towed a sled , with skies , a bench seat that you sat on. This was just about the time , that snowmobiles appeared around here. Possibly big red make , but not sure. old 243

I have a ramp just drive right up into the box of the pickup. If you get one with reverse drive it down or no reverse then pull down from bed box. If you have two people you can lift it in and out. A small pickup with a 5 foot bed will fit and be able to close end gate only 2 feet wide. Easiest of any track machine or atvs to load that we have ever had. No trailers to lug around or pickup loading and storage/carrying accessories to have.

Yeah, you go a lot of places that a snow machine can't because of the weight and the skies. I been around snow machines all my life and these are incredible machine but of course not for everyone and their purpose that you want it for is important. It will go through deep heavy powder or wet heavy and I have not seen where that has ever been an issue for us.

It takes a little time for you to figure out the steering and once you got that down you will like it. The picture is without the wood seat I made for it. I went and got a few pieces of wood I needed from the home place and just hauled them back like that. No need to plow things out just get and go!

Boland made the "Diablo Rouge" in the late 60's, same principle/design. My brother-in-law has a snow dog and really likes it for ice fishing and woods work; skidding ,towing and hauling. He told me the only difficulty was the steering/ learning curve. Once he got that down he said he wouldn't be without one. They can be used all 4 seasons, snow is not necessary!

Yep, the Bolens Diablo Rouge and Hus-Ski. Made in the late 60s. Here's a pic of me on a Diablo at the 50th anniversary get together a while back. My dad is the leading resource on all things Diablo Rouge, has a warehouse of parts and usually rebuilds and restores 3 or 4 each year for buyers.

Coincidentally some of the SnowDog guys from Russia were at the 50th anniversary get together as well doing demos. That was probably right around the time they were first introduced in the US.



One of the early Hus-Ski prototypes used a chainsaw for the engine, drive out into the woods, cut some trees then drive back.

Can you take it on the marsh?

If not, I only have one other question. Why?

I remember those sleds. We use to call them flying ironing boards. The seat on the sleigh looked like one.

Not sure about Horicon.

Why? It was on sale

I got one and it has worked out for all my needs. It goes thru a lot of snow. Also maneuvers really well thru the trees.

IMHO if its not legal on the horicon, I'd take it back.

They are drying out the main pool, so Horicon is going into limbo for a couple years. I will probably switch to beaver, rat trapping is too much work for an old guy.

It’s kinda funny, the guys that have them seem to love em. The guys that don’t like to criticize them... they must be good.

It looks like there is plenty of fresh stuff on the way for you to play in.

Well I suppose if one have it plus a snowmobile I'd say go for it. Otherwise they are extremely limited. Extremely!

It certainly won’t be my first bad decision.

There is always that lol.

how many rats is that going to take to pay it off ?

My Father in law had something like that we used for ice fishing many years ago.Was made by one of the Tractor manufacturers but I cant remember what one.

I think you have that backwards. A snowmobile has some significant limitations.

Nimzy, give that thing a workout or two. I can see how it could come in handy. But this thread will need some action shots of it in action!

this oughta cover it! LOL
Honestly thats an old photo i came across the other day, from my archives !

I see these machines are sold AT Metsa Machines from Merrill WI. I actually talked that guy in Merrill. This unit wouldn't have worked for us.
https://vaellan.com/

Uhm, I've put, very conservative estimate, 30,000 miles on the sleds in the last twenty years. Very, very little of it pleasure riding, like less than 500 miles. Fishing, trapping, working. I haven't found many limitations.

I guess it boils down to intended use and expectations.

Thats a heck of a picture Chris and one heck of a pay day. Most can't dream it.

Thanks! I’ve been very lucky. Always wanted to trap and been able to pull it off. That money thing is a just bonus, on better years you can have some toys. For me the real reward is the endless challenge that my warped mind creates. Not to mention the view. Focus on money and you’ll miss the “ lifestyle”. IMO

Take those problem solving skills you learned trapping and go out in the “real world”, during the off season, and make your money.

That is a lot of work to put up all those critters!!! I am sure you had some beaver and mink too......jk

We had help in the fur shed. Without it, it wouldn’t have happened

Did you leave any seed?

I couldn't resist lol.

Well I’m still trapping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKBy9hq5vt8

my comment was when rat prices were something it only took a days worth to pay for a mud motor ( Backwater brand) of 125 rats
Drooling picture Nimzy for a cat-tail trapper, not a tail-gate shot for sure that you posted

Nimzy- Time to pick up some skis at rummage sales and start some custom tag alongs. I bet you'll get a lot of use out of it- nice buy!

Well in our defense, this is what we had to work with. At the time, we didnt even realize what we had. Its bittersweet, Every now and then Mother Nature will offer up a real handout. that was sweet. The beginning of the end was the bitter part. There are too many spokes in this wheel.

I hope i can get several opportunities to test it!

I saw lots of Snow Dogs out on Green Bay ice this year. Guys apparently liked them.

Curious have viewed the utube video most are all on packed snow and lakes with minimal snow has an owner of one from here been in DEEP 2+ feet of Powder or unbroken trail? If so thoughts and comments.
Looking for something that can get me beyond the skinney sking and snowshoeing bunny snugglers. That can be handled (loaded/unloaded) by a semi healthy individual and yet not leave that person stranded 8 to 10 miles off the "beaten " path at elevations up to 6000 feet
Lol sales reps/manufacturers need not reply

Jingles
So i tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask , why?

Well in our defense, this is what we had to work with. At the time, we didnt even realize what we had. Its bittersweet, Every now and then Mother Nature will offer up a real handout. that was sweet. The beginning of the end was the bitter part. There are too many spokes in this wheel. [/quote]

That is what we call a "hopper marsh"
you hop between each hut, and dont get your boots wet
When that happened in the La Pas marshes they were producing 400,000 rats, I know one old time buyer that went out with his dog team and 200 pounds of flour and lard and would come back with 5000 rats the next day . He would change dog teams and back out at er the next day

Only twice in my life that has happened in the marshes in the bottom of Lake Winnipeg in the past 70 years. Disease went through once and it was a MT marsh the next year

Its mind boggling the density capabilities of a muskrat population when conditions occur.

i have been fortunate to see similar situtations several times. It never gets old:)

From experience sales reps are willing to say tell a potential customer absolutely anything, even fudge the facts to Get a sale and the manufacturer has absolutely the best greatest product on the market.
Also the area that considering beaver trapping is at closer to 8000 ft elevation 10 to 12 miles in, last several times to these ponds saw numerous beaver, and at that elevation snow comes early and possibly lots of it overnight, so do not want to be one of the mountain man found frozen at the base of a tree in the spring, so need something reliable

Might have to make one of these this summer. Should be able to find a cheap snowmobile to convert in the spring, and we have a harbor freight nearby for a motor. The rest should be easy, right? Right?

First impressions: lite, compact and easy to load. Not fast but beats walking. I think I can find a use for it. No regrets.

Did you buy an actual Snow Dog? I am building my own over the next couple weeks with hopes of having it done in time to use around maple syrup camp before the snow is all gone. I figure I'll have less than $700 into it when I'm all done.

Yes a snow dog. I only build what no one else will.

I'm no help on snow machines, but had to compliment you on the photo!! Nice!

Thanks hippie

My progress so far. I'm to the point where I'm done tearing it apart and can start rebuilding it.

Looks great!! That will be a nice project keep us posted on your track machine progress. Looks interesting!

It's ALIVE! Didn't take a video, but my dad gave me a crash course on welding tonight and I was able to get the exoskeleton frame on then get the motor in place and I couldn't stand to let it sit without firing it up. Wouldn't you know, that Chinese engine fired up on the first pull. I still need to build the handlebars and finish the frame, but I gave it some gas and it went forward, so I'm happy with it so far.

Finished just in time to test it out in the 15" of fresh snow we got last night in northern Wisconsin. Works like a charm both in the deep snow and on the cleared road. Loving it!

Also saw an otter making its way through the snow.

That is great that you could make your own version tlguy.
It probably works better than the bought version.

Very impressed with the Home build. Did you follow a guide or have one to look at or did you just wing it?

That is awesome!!! You did a great job on that build, and I tip my hat to You. I made a wooden seat for mine, that has plywood cut half the length of sled and a 20 inch high wood seat. I like to sit on my long rides into the back country to fish, trap or hunt.

Good Luck and have fun!!

Have you tried it out in 3 feet of powder yet,or sugar?

Nicely done, Tlguy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moosetrot

Put a Honda engine on it and I'd buy one.

I did have it in some virgin snow that was at least knee deep. It was a little tippy, but that's expected because the track is only 15" wide. In the deep snow you steer by tipping it to one side or the other, so that can get interesting, and I had to occasionally step out of the sled so the machine could get through the snow. My main use will be for ice fishing though, so I doubt I'll run into 3' of snow in my regular use.

Posco, the harbor freight engine is only $150, I could replace the whole thing a few times for what a Honda would cost.

Donnersurvivor, no plans, just figured it out as I went along. There is a Facebook group with lots of pictures and different builds guys have done so I had some things to reference.

It was a fun build. I'm already thinking about possibly selling this one and building another one this summer, but may hold off until next year and get some use out of it on the ice to really figure out what I want on the next one. I would like to build some sort of seat instead of standing in a sled, especially for ice fishing a nice boat seat on a swivel would be nice, then I wouldn't have to bring a chair.

Reason I ask is the old elans would handle 3 feet of snow with a man on top.

I was surprised how well it stayed on top of the snow. It sank maybe 6-10", if I stepped out of the sled the snow was over my knees, and if I stepped in the trail made by the track sled, I would still sink 3-4". I don't know exactly how much it weighs yet, but I would guess 2-300 pounds. A typical snowmobile is double that.