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/