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I have a 97 440 bearcat in the garage.. great sled.. but yes heavy in the snow! but it's the only sled i know that you can stop in the deep powder and easily move after. If you buy this sled, make sure you buy a cover for it... air intake get full of snow when not in use. ( mind you that can be any sled) over all, a great machine to fish pull and go for the odd rip off trail!!!
Bought a new Bearcat 570xt in 2014. Just over 1000 miles on it. Nothing but use for ice fishing and towing stuff, kids, and wife into the cottage in the winter.
No complaints but have never driven anything other than an Arctic Cat. Has done everything I have put it through. Was impressed last year when we did a 3 hour round trip through nothing but slush/snow on Lake Temagami. We all know what deep slush does to snowmobiles on a lake. Drove through it like a champ while buddies struggled hard and blew belts. This is where the 20 inch wide track saved my butt.
Only thing I wish mine had was heated hand grips for the passenger. I know earlier models had them but in 2014 they didn't. I don't know if the newer models have them again.
Good machine. Would buy another just to leave at the cottage all year. I refer to mine as a big comfy couch that I can just hope on and go for a ride where I want when I want.
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I have the 2015 bearcat 2000LT 570cc machine and i love the machine will go almost anywhere has a 151 track 8 " skis .I use this machine for Ice fishing back country in Sudbury area as this is where i live.Weight is about 650 LBS.Attachment 33926
Don't forget to add on the weight of a full tank, about 64L if I'm not mistaken. We have two at work and have left the keys in hoping someone would steal them, so far no luck. As far as quality, both needed new electric starters right off the assembly line, bad bendix. And then now head units, I've never seen a clock show 33:15pm. Buy the winch kit or at least a come-a-long, when you get stuck, you'll be there for a while. Unless you're Hercules, no way one guy can pick up the rear end, never mind the front end.Quote:
Originally Posted by sparky30250
Look for a yamaha VK540. We have 2 at work and they are bulletproof. They will go anywhere and drag anything. We use them to pull groomers for x country ski trails.
S.
Those bearcats are use full sleds. I'm running a Yamaha venture 2 up with the 151 inch track. The long wide tracks are a must if you spend a lot of time on the lakes. They fly over the slush and when they start to break through a touch of the gas and your back up on top. Two riders and a sled full of everyone's gear in 2ft of slush and untouched powder on a back lake and I was the only one not getting stuck.
I would x2 on the VK540. Even the Viking professional 2.
Does your venture have the wide track??Quote:
Originally Posted by toddy
I have a venture 500 fan 2 up.....136" track. It goes anywhere I point it, and hauls loads of gear. I usually have a passenger, and tow a 2 man flip hut, with another 6ft sleigh behind that. No problem. I needed studs last year though. No snow, so I ran a lot on bare ice and had no traction. My buddies on liquid cooled sleds struggled with over heating, but they had traction with studs on their machines. I don't know how well mine would do through 2 ft of powder with a passenger towing 2 sleds, but I'd giver a whirl!
The VK's we have at work are tanks and go anywhere. They are tough as nails. We to x country ski trail groomers behind them.
S.
You would look like a submarine in a snowstorm, been there, done that. Had to stand up to see where I was going.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinker
Ive done it without the passenger and 2 sleighs.... lol. The VK'S would eat that stuff for a snack!
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15 inch wide track.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinker
Scratchers are a must if your running on bare ice. Studs help a bit with cooling but do nothing for the sliders.