PowderPanda
Staff member
This time of year is an excellent time to buy a sled… and from the sounds of the ping of Mike and I phone from members thinking about it this year… We're stoked to see it.
That said, I wanted to runs few things down to look for when searching.
Where:
1. Check the good shops weekly (http://www.vpowersports.com/map_hours.asp or http://www.allsportracing.com) Both will carry used sleds and they go through them before they're s sold (I personally used Valley Power sports in Kingston, ID and had great service with them).
2. Craigslist. Awesome place to look and get a feel of what prices are, but buyer beware.
3. RV Trader. Like Craigslist, but in paper form
What::
-This is where you need to be careful. If the sled has a lot of modifications to it (engine, shocks, etc) good chance it has been BEAT on. I just looked and saw a sled for a decent price that has a pic of the rider dropping a cornice.. That's a deal breaker also. Check the miles versus how old the sled is. My 2009 Skidoo Summit XP had 3000 when I bought it in 10/13, I now have 3455miles..
-Ask why they are selling the sled. Many people buy a new sled every year and sell the previous.. it's a game actually, where they "snow check" the sled, make a few payments then you pay it off for them as they pick up the new sled in Oct/Nov (these are obvious as the prices run really high). For most of us, these sleds are overkill anyway..
-If you plan on just using the sled for forest service road access to zones you plan to park and hike, look for something that is not high end.
-Will it take 2 people on it.. Although doubling up on sleds must be done carefully due to stress on shocks and clutch, many of us do it often. Then you ned to take into consideration carrying your board/skis. Does the sled had longer track for a longer tunnel to allow for a rack to fit on. Obviously, a 163 track will tack anything.. but a 135 trek not so much…
-Once you see a sled you like.. do a little research, talk to people about that specific sled. For instance, Skidoo Summit 2007-08 and 2010-12 had engine issues.
The 2006 & 2009 don't (can you guess which 2 sleds I own) Bringing up another point, did they do recent engine work on the sled, my 2006 top end was rebuilt when I got it. So that relieved some of the worry about sled.
Again.. ask people.. I'm partial to Skidoo's.. but doesn't mean the others are not good sleds. Mike and Brandon run Arctic Cats.. (Realize I blow them away on the straights… ahahaahaaa)
Also, use the internet to Google issues or reviews.
Bobby Tarr recently sent me a picture text of snow and a sled that read 19 Friday until Winter!!! Now 18!!!
That said, I wanted to runs few things down to look for when searching.
Where:
1. Check the good shops weekly (http://www.vpowersports.com/map_hours.asp or http://www.allsportracing.com) Both will carry used sleds and they go through them before they're s sold (I personally used Valley Power sports in Kingston, ID and had great service with them).
2. Craigslist. Awesome place to look and get a feel of what prices are, but buyer beware.
3. RV Trader. Like Craigslist, but in paper form
What::
-This is where you need to be careful. If the sled has a lot of modifications to it (engine, shocks, etc) good chance it has been BEAT on. I just looked and saw a sled for a decent price that has a pic of the rider dropping a cornice.. That's a deal breaker also. Check the miles versus how old the sled is. My 2009 Skidoo Summit XP had 3000 when I bought it in 10/13, I now have 3455miles..
-Ask why they are selling the sled. Many people buy a new sled every year and sell the previous.. it's a game actually, where they "snow check" the sled, make a few payments then you pay it off for them as they pick up the new sled in Oct/Nov (these are obvious as the prices run really high). For most of us, these sleds are overkill anyway..
-If you plan on just using the sled for forest service road access to zones you plan to park and hike, look for something that is not high end.
-Will it take 2 people on it.. Although doubling up on sleds must be done carefully due to stress on shocks and clutch, many of us do it often. Then you ned to take into consideration carrying your board/skis. Does the sled had longer track for a longer tunnel to allow for a rack to fit on. Obviously, a 163 track will tack anything.. but a 135 trek not so much…
-Once you see a sled you like.. do a little research, talk to people about that specific sled. For instance, Skidoo Summit 2007-08 and 2010-12 had engine issues.
The 2006 & 2009 don't (can you guess which 2 sleds I own) Bringing up another point, did they do recent engine work on the sled, my 2006 top end was rebuilt when I got it. So that relieved some of the worry about sled.
Again.. ask people.. I'm partial to Skidoo's.. but doesn't mean the others are not good sleds. Mike and Brandon run Arctic Cats.. (Realize I blow them away on the straights… ahahaahaaa)
Also, use the internet to Google issues or reviews.
Bobby Tarr recently sent me a picture text of snow and a sled that read 19 Friday until Winter!!! Now 18!!!
