it is kind of quiet in here so i figured i would ask a question. how many of you also own a snowmobile and how do you feel about atvs and snowmobiles sharing trails. the strictly atvers that i run into on the trails tend to have a lot of opinions on snowmobiles such as: they are not worth having, all trails should be used for both, and such. the snowmobilers i talk to really dislike the atvers. last trip up north i saw first hand the war that is going on, atvers ripping down snowmobile markers and vice versa. what is your take. one thing that i have noticed is that when on a sled it is a pain in the as* when you come behind a group of wheelers that do not want to move for you, kind of dangerous that way. also when riding a sled that is capable of doing over 120 mph along atvs that can only go 40 in the snow. just my 2 cents worth. let me know what you think!

 

i have a snowmobile as well as my 500i, and i have noticed on my own little trails in the fields that if i ride the atv on them it tears the **** out of them and whem i come cruising down them on the sled at 45-50 im getting thrown all over the place from the ruts.

 

I own both,and I also do a lot of volunteer work on the sled trails.I am dead set AGAINST sharing trails (in the same season).We do have groups starting up atv trails up here (for the spring summer fall).I have no prob with atv ing on the sled trails AFTER sled season is over as long as they have prior permission from the landowners!We have most of our sled trails in my area on private land and I know we've lost more than a few trails because of atvs using them in the off season without permission.As far as using an atv on groomed trails, they rip the crap out of the trails and they are also generally too slow to stay out of the way,and get stuck if taken off trail ( getting out of the way).I love both my toys,but sleds and atv dont mix...(works awesome for trail work though-staking trails,bring down trees etc)

 

This subject has been a bone of contention everywhere. The way I see it, you're causing a lot of hard feelings for no reason. Sleds only run these trails 3-4 months a year, other than that, the trails should be shared by all. By beating up on the ATV enthusiasts, and banning their use on these trails, all you're getting is people saying f*#@k it and ruining trails on purpose. Some of these sled trails are 50 feet wide, like friggen highways, and you can't give up 48" of that for an ATV trail? That's ridiculous. As for getting bounced all over the place, modern sleds have independant suspensions, with huge amounts of travel. Along with this is double eged ski's with carbides, they practically steer themselves.
Secondly, you shouldn't be travelling 120KM/H on a trail, most places have speed limits, the high speed should be for lake travel where you can see a mile ahead of you. There's no excuse for going 80 mph on a trail, you're asking for trouble, endangering both you, and say, some X-country skier out for his exercise. There's definetly opposition to both sides, probably because most sledders MUST pay for trail passes, and expect smooth trails for their 15" of suspension to work on, but there has to be give and take, include people in the sport of ATVing, give them designated trails, maybe alongside the sled trails, and you'll solve a lot of problems.

 

Can't we all just get along? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Seriously, though - I think that the trail system should be shared, but not in the same season. Leave the winter for the snowmobiles, unless there's no snow. Maybe also restrict ATVs during the wet months. But I see no reason why the trails can't be shared. With those restrictions, I really can't understand why people have such a problem with this (locally at least). And as for paying for access, I think it's proven that ATV riders are willing to pay for access. Look at the success so far of http://www.trailpass.com. It is the only legal trail system in NY and they seem to be doing quite well. Believe me, as soon as they open a trail near me, I'll shell out the $50/yr without even blinking.

 

Sleds only run the trails around here 3-4 months a year because they are SNOWMOBILE trails,(at least in my area) I realize its not like that everywhere.Like I said,I am a member of the club.The majority of our trails are on private land.The landowners have given us permission FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.They are covered by our liability insurance for LEGAL users.If there was an ATV trail system,I would (and will) gladly shell out $100 per machine to ride legal trails without worry of pissing anybody off.We have lost landowners permission due to atv's using them in the off season.We have the OFATV here which is just starting up,but they have no trails close,however I will be buying stickers fror both atvs and trailering them to where we can ride.Like I said I'm sure its a lot different story where there is more crown( or government) owned land.BUT, around here good luck getting permission in the summer from farmers who have crops to protect and livestock to keep in.Besides cant you just ride your atv the other 9 months and just use it to plow snow through the winter?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]Oh, btw,driving 80 mph on our trails (very tight and twisty for the majority) your life expectancy would be about 20 minutes...

 

I own both also. And I do snowmobile trail maintance here in WI. I think that the atv's should NOT be allowed on the trails in the winter time. Most of the ATV trails were snowmobile trails LONG before they were ATV Trails. The ATV's rip up the trail to much.

There, I feel better by saying my 2 cents worth!!

 

if u put skies on the front wheels of a quad is it still legal to ride a a snowmobile trail

 

I answered this on another forum and got my a## handed to me. I too own both and in Alaska we do not have groomed trail except for a short section that is done up by Eureka and I am not even sure they still do that as I have not been riding this year{snomobile} and I beleive everyone should be able to share the trail. Snowmachiners, fourwheelers, dogsledders and skiers all use these trails that are formed by snowmachines. You will always run into the case of a guy on a snowmachine plowing into a dogsledder or skier, rarely have I heard of a quad hitting anybody, in fact I can not recall a one instance. Quads travel at slower speeds and are able to stop faster then somebody ripping along at 80 to 100 mph and yes you can do these speeds as there is no speed limits as there is not legaly defined trails but I do not recomend going this fast if you can not clearly see what you are approaching. I know in the states and some provinces that there are actual groomed trails that are paid for by the snowmachiners and they post these as offlimits to any thing but snowmachines and I respect that. Some will say that fourwheelers dig up the trail which is also true to a point but with the sleds that are being built with over 100 hp and up to 3 inch paddles can cause more damage with just one snap of the throttle then a whole group of quads. I like to run my quad on the hard pack trails as well and I respect everyone out there, when I see a dog musher coming I pull over and shut off the quad{snowmachine}and wait for him or her to pass. I have been thanked more then once for doing this as it riles the dogs and I have also done this for skiers to, they are enjoying nature just like me and they do not need to be hozed with a roost or have to hear my exhaust screaming down the trail.
This can also be applied to the summer trails, we have alot of horse back riders and hunters and the sound of quads can make a horse get skittish and throw the rider.
So, in some cases I see no differnce in sharing the trails but everyone has to work together to establish rules and ethics of the trail use. I see no reason why the quads can not also pay for grooming and then they would have a say. Learn to respect every form of travel and maybe some day this will not be an issue.
It seems that from what I have heard that most trails have speed limits of 25 to 50 mph so why are people going this fast down there on the trails. Now I know that the trails do get soft in the spring and that is the time to put the quads up untill the snow is gone and the trail clears up. Up here that is 4 to 5 month window where the trails are hard as rocks. AlaskaBoy.

Yes I know QUADS are capable of going 50 to 70 mph but why would you want to be traveling that speed on a snow trail and have the posibilty of sinking your front tires thru a soft patch and introducing your crotch to your handlebars.

 

I totally agree with Alaska Boy! If we fight with each other we will likely loose the privilage all togather!