Been wondering how well my trusty 200SX would do on a packed sled trail all summer, so I threw it in the back of the chev and away I went. Uppon arriving I had to have fun in the truck first and found that I could go on the trail with my Z71 chev in 2wd just fine with the quad in the back but I unloaded the quad anyway The quad did just fine on packed trails but oh man, dont go off into soft stuff! When following sleds uphill I also quickly found the need for a 4x4 quad with chains as the glaze stopped my day of fun. I did find a frozen lake, it was 20 deg outside and I was to scared of breaking threw..how do you northern riders test ice before playing?

 

I sure do miss the snow. We had our first real cold snap today and we are taking the banshees
out this am for a quick brisk run.....ya ha
can hardly wait..

 

JRM first of all us northerners wait until late december early january before we even think about playing on the ice, at least where i live. It takes a long time for ice to freeze enough before it can take that much weight.i'm talkin at least a month of freezing temperatures. i'm sure elevation plays a role in it. Usually take a few steps and jump on it a few times. if ya fall through well you got your answer. if not go out a bit farther and dril a hole to check the thickness. And i wouldn't recommend going near any inlets or outlets at any time it's thinner there always. hope this helps ya.

 

JRM,

Where did you go riding in the snow? Frog Lake? I can't wait to go & play in the snow.

 

Yep, Frog lake.. I drove my chev down the boat ramp and about 10 feet on the ice (kept my rear wheels on solid ground) where cracks appeared and i nailed reverse. I got out and looked down to see that I was about 3 feet from the bottom. The ice looked 4 inches thick though. Its still not worth takeing sleds up there yet as every sunny spot is bare and natzi sled heads are really tilling up soil in the campground.

 

i live in alaska and we always check the ice before we go out. i usualy wait till theres a foot of ice just to be safe.its usauly ready by now but it has been really warm up here this year. its even in the mid fortys! the guys from palmer anchorage and eagle river know. its alot of fun riding even in the winter.

 

I've ridden my Rancher ES 4x4 through some extremly deep snow. The trick is make sure the snow has a high water content and keep your momentum and stay in the fresh snow where no other vehicles have gone and you can go like a snowmobile. I've done this often and only sunk a few times.

2000 Rancher ES 4X4
1999 Recon
1999 KLX 300

 

Hey man, i know how you feel. I thought i was the only one with a 200SX. I have a 200SX also, its a 1986. I started ridin that thing when i was six and it is wooped intot he ground now. So i just bought a new 2001 300 ex. well just tellin ya bout my sx
se ya