Snowmobiles costs? (rental, buying, road, ticket)

[BendLocal]

I'm considering adding a sled to my collection of photography gear so I can access the backcountry this winter.

Is a used sled a wise option? For point of reference I'm a big believer in buying used cars.

[skinnayyy]

The good thing about recreational vehicles is they generally depreciate VERY fast because a lot of the time people buy them with all the intentions of using them "every single day" and then they sit for 2 years not getting used and now they just want to get rid of it so you can pick up good condition used ones for very cheap.

If you keep up on the maintenance you can easily keep a used sled around for a long time. My dad bought a late 1980's sled in the early 90's and just with the normal maintenance and random thing that breaks here and there, it's still running fine! It can't top out 110+ like it used to but it gets into the 90's no problem.

I also recommend getting a used one because you probably don't know how much use you will actually get out of it so if you buy a new one and don't use it then you'll end up in the first category. You could buy a used one and not use it and then sell it for roughly the same price you bought it for.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Snowmobiles depreciate A LOT, and quickly. Being somewhat financially challenged, I'd never buy new; there are lots of machines out there with very few miles on them, just a few years old. Are you in Bend, OR? A long-track mountain sled sounds like the ticket for you. How much do you have to spend?

[chris410]

Yes buy a used sled. around here (new England) it baffles me that people spend 10k+ to buy brand new sleds and then only get to use them 2-3 months out of the year on a good winter..

Good condition used sleds can be had for HALF the price in perfectly running well maintained condition around here.

A sled will allow you to get to places that you could never easily get to by foot or car with ease. Some of my best photographs come from the trail. Winter is one of the most beautiful seasons in my opinion plus sleds are fun

[kbeefy]

I've had about 15 sleds, and never bought any new. Look for one with under 1000 miles and you should be fine. You can usually tell if they've been taken care of or abused.

I love mountain sleds, but if your just getting into it try out a few first. You might consider something like a Skandic wide track with reverse. They get around awesome, even if they're not as fun they do alot of work.

[Brian_M]

Originally Posted by BendLocal

I'm considering adding a sled to my collection of photography gear so I can access the backcountry this winter.

Is a used sled a wise option? For point of reference I'm a big believer in buying used cars.

Of course it's a wise option. Just take all the same due diligence you would with any vehicle, pay someone who knows the type of machine for a pre-purchase inspection so you know what's wrong with it/what it needs.

There are different Kinds of sleds too.... my folks bought a couple of sleds designed more for groomed trails off of the US Forest Service because they really needed a couple that were better suited to open snow. That's not to say they can't be used in non-groomed areas (just like a 2wd car can tackle dirt roads just fine), they are just closer to the limits and harder to use.

You may be better off finding a rental if this will be your first winter, just to see if it's something you Really do. I had access to a couple sleds for 2 months this past winter and went out... twice. On the other hand, I was on snowshoes or skis 5~6 days a week (with camera). Just shook out that way for me.