Snowmobile or ATV?

[DocHoliday]

I'm thinking about a vehicle for ice fishing. I fish in Roscommon area and with the new ATV ruling in that area I now have to make a choice. What do you guys prefer an ATV or snowmobile and why. The winters bring alot of snow in most years and I would like to be able to get around in deep snow so what works the best?

[Passmeabrewski]

I'm thinking about a vehicle for ice fishing. I fish in Roscommon area and with the new ATV ruling in that area I now have to make a choice. What do you guys prefer an ATV or snowmobile and why. The winters bring alot of snow in most years and I would like to be able to get around in deep snow so what works the best?

For DEEP snow, the choice is obvious, snowmobile. However, a snowmobile is limited to having snow. With an ATV, you have the added benefit of being able to plow the driveway if you choose, they are good for launching small boats, good for hauling or towing, winching down trees or pulling debris, and can be used in July.

In most cases, unless you're talking extremely deep snow, an ATV can do all that a snowmobile can and more (except for the speed on snow). If you're also an avid trail rider; you just need to decide if you like to ride in the Winter or in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.

[Ausable Junkie]

Due to my limited funds, i'm getting out with my '72 Elan. At $200, its waaay cheaper than a quad. If I was able to, I'd have both for the reasons that passmeabrewski talked about.


Till I get more spending money, I trust in the old 12hp Elan. :D

[WALLEYEvision]

Well said Passmeabrewski!

[grouly925]

In most conditions an atv would be your best bet. As Passmeabrewski said, they have many more uses throughout the year that will help relieve the burden of purchasing one. Fishing where you are, I would assume that ice thickness and pressure cracks are not of as much of a concern as with us fishing the Saginaw Bay where sometimes, a snowmobile is the safest bet. Even my 2wd quad will work its way through 10+ inches of snow, depending on its consistency.

[wally-eye]

Buy a new quad w/winch and blade and then purchase a cheap older snowmachine, best of both worlds.......:idea:


I love my quad but last winter at the Crystal lake outing Mr. Ed and myself sunk my quad to the running boards in the deep snow.......wish I had a track then but as others said you get 12 months out of an ATV and only a couple out of a sled.

Good luck what ever you choose.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/100_09042.jpg

[Burksee]

I fish Houghton Lake quite a bit and have found that a snowmobile is the better way for me to go, especially once the snow gets deeper.

BTW - You can find some very nice used snowmobilea for penny's on the dollar v/s what you'll pay for a quad. ;)

[basskiller46]

I have seen atvs out perform snowmobile on the ice unless the snowmobile is studded but if there is 3 inches of powder not packing snow the snowmobile can start to just spin out because of all the torque going to one area.But an atv distributes the power better and will spin out too but it will eventually get moving.
I remember last year i was riding a 2 wheel drive yamaha blaster on 7 inches
of snow hualing gear and it did fine. So unless your going through more than a foot of snow get a snowmobile but i would get the atv because you will get your moneys worth out of it in the summer and winter.

[GOTONE]

I have a snowmobile and it works great but not when there is no snow or in the warm months. Snowmobiles are cheaper than quads and work vary well in deep snow I don’t know how I would get all of my stuff out there without it they are a lot faster there are a lot of them on http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites (http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites) if you have not looked there.

[krt]

I don't think you can beat a snowmobile for ice fishing, especially on the big lakes. You would only be using it for a couple of months out of the year, though. For all around use the atv is the way to go.

[thill]

I would LOVE a quad!!!!, but I"m buying a cheap $400 snowmobile for ice fishing. It simply comes down to $$$ for me. If I had my own land or went on many hunting trips that needed a quad, I might have acted differently. I also have a new snowthrower so I can't use the "I'll plow my driveways" reasoning.

I'll get that quad someday.

[DocHoliday]

Thanks for the input everybody. Alot to think about. All year use mulitpurpose - ATV. Buying cheap - used snowmobile. I only need it for winter use so I'm kinda leaning toward snowmobile since I'm concerned with cost and the fact the state can recind the ATV ruling at any time.

[mikey]

How about the weight? Is one machine significantly lighter than the other? I read about how you only need 2-3 inches of ice to run quads, I guess some people have more kahunas.....are the sleds lighter?

[ih772]

I'd buy a quad. I have and older snowmobile for ice fishing and here's the problem I run into. I'm about 1000' off the lake, so I depend on the street having snow or ice on it. When they salt and plow the street, and there's bare blacktop, I'm out of luck. There are quite a few hedges and fences that keep me from using the shoulder.

You can do what others have suggested here and buy an inexpensive snowmobile to have the best of both worlds. A quad can be used 12 months a year, a snowmobile will get you four if you're lucky.

[blgoose44]

My dad gave me his snowmobile a couple months ago, took it out in the snow last week, and now I'm looking forward to snowmobilimg about as much as i do ice season. Lot of fun. Personally never enjoyed trail riding an atv.

[nscrfrk]

Do I want a 1 season ride, maybe,dependent on snow or all season ride with quad? More bang for my buck I say. Bought a 96 Kodiak for $1500 a year ago. Very happy with it...use it in the yard,woods,hauling deer not to mention my shanty.Betting on mother nature ain't worth it to me.There,my $.02

[Frantz]

Snowmobiles are cheaper then quads i nthe used market for a reason, at least in my eyes. The reason is that they are not as versitile and do not hold their value a quads do. Everyone here is correct though, you need to decide what how often you want to use it based on not just ice fishing alone. My quad is used for mowing my lawn, tilling my garden and plowing the snow. I am to big of sissy tot ake it on the ice (afraid of sinking it, I know it is dumb at times, but it is a phobia), so I could not live without it. I would love a sled for the deep stuff, but cannot afford to maintain another vehicle.

Again, depending on what you do with it, and what your funding looks like, there are a lot of really cool things you can do with a quad including adding tacks to them to make them a step better then a sled, but it comes at a price. Whatever you get, good luck and make sure it is well maintained and in good working order, it is a long walk back sometimes!