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Cat skiing vs snowmobiles? in tahoe?

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Mukluk
Posts: 104 - Karma: 25

So Tahoe Freeride has its fleet of six snowmobiles sitting in the driveway and ready for snow...

This fleet is worth = $xx,xxx

$xx,xxx is about what it would cost us to get a decent snowcat.

What do you think would be better? a snowcat or six snowmobiles?

Pros, cons, and usage:

Either way, this/these will be used as tools for Tahoe Freeride skiers, boarders, and filmers to get to the super sick backcountry areas. We'll be using them every week in the tahoe area, and we have a few trips planned to film and shred in the Ruby Mountains, UT, CO, and a trip to BC in the spring. We need to carry our athletes and lug all that film equipment. I'm trying to figure out which would be better to have in our first season: 6 sleds OR a snowcat

sleds are fast and fun. they also get stuck, break down, and can be dangerous when a kid like justin anderson (a TFC skier) is riding them. haha. with six sleds, we can take about 10 people plus film equipment in the backcountry at a time. an inexperienced rider can crash. Sleds are sick

The snowcat we're looking at carries about the same amount of people (plus can tow alot), cruises at about 25mph instead of 60mph, has a more dependable engine, can go pretty much anywhere a sled can and won't get stuck (easily), can use plow to build big BC jumps, is heated, has a roof rack. Can be trailered anywhere sleds can go, and all you need is a green sticker (just like a sled).

What do you think?

Check out our website at www.tahoefreeride.com and if you want to get in on this, shoot us an email.

Nov 1 2008 7:56PM
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Mukluk
Posts: 104 - Karma: 25

These are some of the Tahoe Freeride snowmobiles...

Click for larger imageClick for larger imageClick for larger image

Nov 1 2008 8:07PM
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Mukluk
Posts: 104 - Karma: 25

and here is the snowcat we're looking at...

Click for larger image

Nov 1 2008 8:36PM
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powderhound100
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 144
Unluckily I have no experience with either. but one positive thing I can think of for the snowmobiles. is that if you build a jump, its a lot easier to get people back up the hill with the snowmobile. With a snowcat it would probably be to much of a pain.

man tahoefreeride sounds sick.
Nov 1 2008 9:05PM
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weedski
Posts: 383 - Karma: -101
snow cats are to slow and you would never get no work done...think about it........have you every took a ride on the snow cat at a resort some where like keystone kinda of a.....boring ass ride.......plus you couldnt do tow ins.....take cliffs with you sled  ........Sleds over  the snowcat for surrrrrrrrrrr.....
Nov 1 2008 11:30PM
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HankTheTank
Posts: 286 - Karma: 17
can you take the cat everywhere the snowmobiles can go?
Nov 2 2008 1:37AM
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Funnel
Posts: 7808 - Karma: 1,414
If the cat can get anywhere a sled can than I would definitely get the cat.  I'll type a big list of reasons tomorrow when I'm not tired.
Nov 2 2008 2:15AM
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VC
Posts: 1011 - Karma: 12
If they're 6 sleds and you're trying to take 10 people who aren't very experienced (at very minimum a season on a sled) to break trail.  You wouldn't be getting anywhere.  If you're going to session a jump, yeah it can probably be done.  If you actually want to ski some lines, not so much.    
Nov 2 2008 4:52PM
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mtbikeer
Posts: 46 - Karma: 10
maybe 1 or 2 sleds and then the cat
Nov 2 2008 5:53PM
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jex
Posts: 2189 - Karma: 288
Those sleds are for sale on craigslist.
Nov 2 2008 6:27PM
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nohajs
Posts: 388 - Karma: 555

You'll need a mechanic in your crew. Cat's break all the time (even brand new). Cat's break even more when you take them into pow.

You will need to have all your parts on hand(hydraulics,engine,tracks) or you might get stuck in BFE. Sleds break alot but a rope and some duct tape will usually get you home.

Without a blade, it will be hard to get where you wan't. You'll be stuck to roads(if that). Most roads are buried beyond being usable for a cat. Plus downed trees are a major problem in the winter on the forest roads. Bring a chainsaw. Sleds can just go around and you can blaze trails way eaisier.

Fuel for a cat is expensive and you'll need some way to refuel. Fuel trailer?

Sleds get stuck but have you ever seen a stuck cat? They don't get out of holes easy. Sometimes it will take two cats to get one out of a hole.

Unless your going to give tours or somehow make money off the cat, I think it's not a good idea. I'd sell those sleds. Buy new sleds. Go ride pow. That cat would be a major headache!!

Now a helicopter, Click for larger image  Click for larger image  thats a different story.

Nov 2 2008 8:39PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7808 - Karma: 1,414
Fuel for six sleds is probably about the same as that one cat.
Nov 2 2008 9:09PM
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Mukluk
Posts: 104 - Karma: 25

yea and new sleds or a helicopter would be sick as hell and maybe in the next few years... haha. 6 new revs would be like $35,000. 6 older summits is like $10,000 and they do the same job. i'm getting a rev for myself though!

hopefully next year we'll have a bigger budget and can upgrade to newer better toys

Nov 2 2008 11:14PM
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VC
Posts: 1011 - Karma: 12
I would like to buy 2 new revs at that price.
Nov 3 2008 12:02AM
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Mukluk
Posts: 104 - Karma: 25
yea but 2 revs carry only a few people. we need to get like 10 people at a time around. revs are more fun and better sleds, but if you know how to ride you can get anywhere on an old beater with a 136 track (ours are not old beaters, and they have 144 and 151 tracks)
Nov 3 2008 1:07PM
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VC
Posts: 1011 - Karma: 12
I was just saying that if you were getting new rev's for 5,800 (6/35,00)  I would like 2 at that price. 


Nov 3 2008 9:01PM
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K.C.Deane
Posts: 1730 - Karma: 315
uhm, where are you going to take a snowcat, the only place that is even remotely possible is blackwood,and you would still have to hike your ass off. word of advice stick with the sleds
Nov 4 2008 12:05AM
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Mukluk
Posts: 104 - Karma: 25

as far as legality goes, you can take a snowcat anywhere a sled can go. u just need a green sticker for it. if you have a good cat, you can go almost anywhere a sled can if it's narrow enough.

After more research and talking to some of the right people... i think we're gonna stick wit the sleds. just cause it will be cheaper for mantainance, and once we get to our spots we can lap a lot easier wit the sleds. plus i took one out on rose today wit some of the coaches and had a blast, i wanna keep that!

Nov 4 2008 11:55PM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
sleds.
Nov 5 2008 12:11PM
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tahoearmada20
Posts: 971 - Karma: 352

Snowcat someday... but for now our krew has about 10 sleds (mostly REV's).  We are out all the time at Blackwood, Castle, Hope Valley, Mt Rose, Sonora, and some secret spots.  We are always looking for new blood out on the trail, so hit me up when you're ready to shred!!! 

Nov 5 2008 12:45PM
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The_Oakley_Kid
Posts: 3128 - Karma: 179
sean...  just stick with the sleds
Nov 5 2008 2:44PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7808 - Karma: 1,414
Hey by chance, was it Squaw selling the cat because I know they're selling a cat for 18k I think.
Nov 6 2008 11:12PM
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