One thing that our forums proves to me is that there is room in the marketplace for a personal or family sized snow cat. An inexpensive go anywhere machine.
So if we all get together and pool our resources to open up a new snowcat company, what would you say are the important features?
Here is my list, what needs to be added?
One thing I see as especially practical with the Snow Trac is that it has multiple cargo areas. Over the tracks are cargo rails. On the roof is cargo area. And inside the cabin there is also room to store some cargo in addition to the 7 people. So you can really load them up. I know of no other SMALL and AFFORDABLE design like this.
Below are photos of the Argo. You can see the shortcomings of the design. No storage area. Comfortable for 4 but not for 6. Not designed for snow, but capable or dealing with modest NON-POWDER snow conditions.
Your thoughts?
So if we all get together and pool our resources to open up a new snowcat company, what would you say are the important features?
Here is my list, what needs to be added?
- Modest cost (under $25,000 complete)
- Heat
- Tracks options making it suitable for year round use
- Deep powder tracks would be optional equipment
- Seating for 6
- Trailerable (no wider than 6'6" with 'standard' width tracks)
- Dual battery
- Simple design
- Removable roof for summer use, or removable rear section for hauling material & supplies.
I looked very hard at the ARGO 8x8 machines. They are about $13,000 new. Add a lot of features and they come up to about $20,000 and 6 people would be very cramped and they would not handle powder snow well under most conditions. But they are similar in design to the Kristi KT4 in several ways. The Argo will carry 6 without a soft or hard top, but comfortably seats 4 with a top. The problem with most of these types of units is that there is no real cargo area. To be practical it needs a cargo area.
Honestly I think the Snow Trac design is excellent. Not sure if a modern version could be commercially built for $20 or $25,000. But use a modern Subaru boxer motor and an automatic transmission with a low gear ratio and it would be a great family machine, also great for business purposes. I think a modified track would be better than the tracks on the Snow Tracs, or perhaps offer it with your choice of several different tracks depending on the snow conditions of the region.
One thing I see as especially practical with the Snow Trac is that it has multiple cargo areas. Over the tracks are cargo rails. On the roof is cargo area. And inside the cabin there is also room to store some cargo in addition to the 7 people. So you can really load them up. I know of no other SMALL and AFFORDABLE design like this.
Below are photos of the Argo. You can see the shortcomings of the design. No storage area. Comfortable for 4 but not for 6. Not designed for snow, but capable or dealing with modest NON-POWDER snow conditions.
Your thoughts?