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Recommendations for a snow cat

JimVT

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
New to the forum and looking for answers . I own property and a cabin at a high elevation and want to be able to start going to the cabin on a regular basis during the winter . The problem is the last 4 miles is mostly up hill , I don’t know the exact grade or rise but it would average about 20 degrees above flat. This road is through the trees with a lot of turns . The snow gets to be about 15 feet deep over the winter with the top sometimes being 6-8 feet of soft powder .

I own a 1995 arctic cat 580 ext ( old heavy sled ). And this machine has zero chance of getting up this road , I have attempted it several times and always get stuck within the first 100 yards . However the newer deep powder machines make it up this road without much effort but only with a single rider and no extra gear .

A sled isn’t going to work for me and I would really like to use a snow cat but I don’t know which one to buy . What cat works best uphill in deep powder ? Would a tucker be best ? Or maybe a wide tracked two track ? I can’t afford a new one but I can shop around and would love to spend less than 10k but could spend upwards of 12k if I had too. There is a Thiokol Spryte with 48” tracks I have been looking at but I just don’t know if it can do what I want it to . Whatever I get will have a winch mounted on it . I don’t need or want a blade on it . Cab size isn’t too important either , I just need the best machine that had the best chance of getting me up there without getting stuck too often ( or ever ) .

Thanks in advance for any and all advice and suggestions . Please feel free to give your personal opinions and any facts you may have .
from what I've seen your on the right track with a sprite. but 8 foot of fresh snow you may need a groomer on the first trip.
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
IMHO, so much of any snow cats ability comes from a capable patience operator, and very experienced operator can make any snow cat look good, and Jim VT is a great example of that very patience operator...
 

JimVT

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
IMHO, so much of any snow cats ability comes from a capable patience operator, and very experienced operator can make any snow cat look good, and Jim VT is a great example of that very patience operator...

oh,you say that to all the guys:17875:
 

m1west

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
IMHO, so much of any snow cats ability comes from a capable patience operator, and very experienced operator can make any snow cat look good, and Jim VT is a great example of that very patience operator...

I think that statement has a lot of truth to it. I haven't scared myself yet and I don't plan on it (not on purpose anyway). But I maybe I've been in bad situations and too inexperienced to know it?? I go slow stay away of where I think the edge of the road might be, stay away from tree wells and look for water running under the snow. other than that I don't think on my trip there is anything else that could hurt me other than a breakdown.
 

m1west

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
goes down and up no problem. I didn't put an angle finder but every bit of 20 plus degrees.
 

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Blackfoot Tucker

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
I actually wrote a much longer post with a lot of information, but it may be stuff you've found already, and if so, I didn't want write something that you might consider too basic. So after heavily editing it for brevity:

My recommendation would be for a long track machine. The cab style is your preference (two door Tuckers are almost always cheaper), but I would recommend an automatic transmission. Whether you need (or want) a blade, or winch is up to you. (The factory winch was the Warn model 8274.)

One key takeaway from this long post should be this : The cheapest machine, be it a Tucker or any other make, is almost always not the best value. For Tuckers, I think all the parts in the track system are available. But when you start replacing idler wheels, drive sprockets and track belts; they add up… fast. You are way better off spending more money for a low hour machine in great shape than a machine with a lot of hours that was "rode hard-put away wet”.

Good luck in your search, and on these forums the only "dumb" question is the one not asked...

 

Tmadse

New member
I want to thank everyone for their input. I have spent alot of hours the last couple days researching and weighing my options. I am confident I know what i want now. I am looking for a 2 track machine, most probably a thiokol spryte . I would like to have a 5 or 10 person cab but a 2 person cab isn't a deal breaker. I want a good winch or a blade. I Have a couple i am looking at but i might try to hold out for one that is the right price and a little closer to home. again thanks for all the advice
 

PJL

Well-known member
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Thiokol-Spryte-1200-C-Snowcat-/282821327109?rmvSB=true&nma=true&si=J8FMj4GNjlKrhUeimdHr%252FtnXfwg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

To my knowledge this one never sold. He wanted 15,000 USD for it.

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?p=20648250#post20648250

Has a full cab and blade. It's a Spryte. 300 CID Ford 6 with a C-6 automatic. I run an 88 with the same powertrain and it runs and drives very well. There are some aftermarket fuel injection systems available for that engine.
 
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jo5

Member
The snowcat season is getting close to ending here
If you have a idea what your looking for an aren't in a hurry you have a lot of time to find it
Best of luck
 

andyv916

Member
Something to consider , 48" tracks you better have a 300 CID engine in it . Also will there be any washouts in your road due to melt / runoff that create huge drop offs you will need a plow for sure .
 

Blackfoot Tucker

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Thiokol-Sp...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

To my knowledge this one never sold. He wanted 15,000 USD for it.

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?p=20648250#post20648250

Has a full cab and blade. It's a Spryte. 300 CID Ford 6 with a C-6 automatic. I run an 88 with the same powertrain and it runs and drives very well. There are some aftermarket fuel injection systems available for that engine.

PJL beat to it (recommending this particular machine). He's absolutely right though. But it was for sale more recently than the links he posted, which might mean it's still available.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283289958831

Yes, it's in Canada, and having it shipped would likely be quite expensive. However, picking one up in Canada is not difficult (I've done it twice).

I'll confess I thought (still think) this is a bargain price for the value of that machine. I've thought seriously of buying it to resell... and if it's still available in a few months... I might.
 

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Thiokol-Spryte-1200-C-Snowcat-/282821327109?rmvSB=true&nma=true&si=J8FMj4GNjlKrhUeimdHr%252FtnXfwg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

To my knowledge this one never sold. He wanted 15,000 USD for it.

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?p=20648250#post20648250

Has a full cab and blade. It's a Spryte. 300 CID Ford 6 with a C-6 automatic. I run an 88 with the same powertrain and it runs and drives very well. There are some aftermarket fuel injection systems available for that engine.

I had been flirting with that machine a little, pretty sure it sold for the 15,000 starting price on eBay, I believe there was just the one bid. Had it only not been a wide track and 40 hours away....

I, for some reason, keep posting this super imp in Idaho, closer, widetrack, six, auto, oc12, tilt trailer what’s not to like??:thumbup:

https://eastidaho.craigslist.org/hvo/d/pinehurst-smaller-groomer-reduced/6809177413.html
 
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