A member of our snowmobile club organizes a trip to Yellowstone each year. This year will be the first for me.

It's a short trip. We will ride for 1 day in the park (must ride a 4-stroke) and 3 days outside the park.

The trip is a package price that includes a sled rental for the 4 days, but we have the option of upgrading. The standard sled a 09 Polaris 550 fan IQ, obviously not enough for off trail and the altitude.

The upgrade options are as follows:

09 Polaris 600 RMK an extra $56 per day.
09 Polaris 700 RMK an extra $70 per day.
09 Polaris 800 RMK dragon an extra $90 per day.
09 Arctic Cat M8 an extra $90 per day.

What would you chose? I'm thinking at least the 700 RMK to help overcome the loss of power at altitude.

If I was to go with an 800 which one?

Betwee the 700 RMK, the 800 RMK, or the M8 are any better or worse on fuel?

Thanks,

Doug

Depends on how you wanna ride. Spendin most of the time on the trails? Tryin hillclimbin? Pickin thru the trees? We spend alot of time in and around West in the winter. I used to ride an 800 RMK and love to climb and play in the trees and powder. Now I ride a Phazer and usually have all the power I need. Also depends on how much youve rode in the mountains, if thats what you plan on doin.

I would go for the 700 or 800 RMK or the M8. All three are great sleds. I prefer the ergos of the RMK better since I'm 6' 2". The M-series just sits too low for me. If you're going to do some hillclimbing rent one of the 800's. If you're not going to hillclimb or not much, rent the 700. It will go everywhere the 800's will except the highmark.

As an M7 owner, I couldn't agree more with this post. I ride with another M7 and a Dragon RMK 700.

You can't go wrong with any of the 3 sleds listed, but I would stay away from the 600 unless you're just going to trail ride.

The dragon 700cfi kills our M7s on fuel economy. I was putting in 2-4 gallons more than him every stop, but I also drive like a maniac compared to him. His was also VERY easy on oil.

We have always taken or own sleds for longer trips, but the last time (in 2002) I wasn't jetted lean enough. Dropped my sleds off at the Polaris dealer and rented 2 700 RMK's for the morning. They performed very well for us.

why not just try both 800's?

can't go wrong with either of those sleds or the 700 for that matter

I would take the 550 fan and enjoy the views. If your gonna run the trails at top speed you can do that anywhere. Slow and enjoy the Park.
JMO from an old man....lol

He's not gonna be riding the mountain sleds in the park. He will riding that during his time outside the park. IMO you're missing the best part of the experience if you go all the way out there to ride trails.

Thanks for the responses so far. Looks like the 600 RMK is definately out.

What I might try is see if I have the option of renting the 700 RMK for a day, 800 RMK for a day, and the M8 for a day. That is unless it creates a logistical hassle. If that is an issue I will probably go with the 800 RMK.

Doug

Go with biggest badest sled you can find lol Have Fun wish I could be there...

I went on the trip last year and am going again this year. I (we) rented 600 RMKs and had no problem. We went off trail and had fun. One of us rented the M8. He got it stuck in the powder and it used more gas than us causing him to pay for gas. One tank a day is free. A 700 Dragon was rented by one of us and it also used more gas. The 600 RMK is closest to what I have at home, a 600 switchback. We are not new to off trail riding but there snow out in West Yellowstone is dry and light and yes deep, not what a flatlander from New England is use to riding. This year my wife will be coming and I will put her on a 600 RMK and maybe a 700 for me this time. See you there.

and bring a shovel

Can that even spin the track?
HMMMMMM! Why go with a 700 when you can have an 8? It's not that the 7 dons't have the power for you its the point that when you want to power turn and jump tops you can do it. You want to slam the gas and wheelie like a Sum B, its there. Don't waste your time with a 6 get the 7-8. I owned f-cats and Dragons so the handling can be compareable to the M and RMK. Hands down the Rmk is better in MY opinion, I have rode the 08 switch for plenty of miles and own a dragon. They are lighter and have the power to do what you want them to. So yeah I would get the 8!

When it comes to a trip like this no one really cares about using 2 more gallons than a 600. You have all the time and money in it so enjoy it. Dosn't matter the engine size the sleds only as good as the driver, so if a 6 gets stuck by a rookie so will an 8.

Check out www.snowest.com lots of info. can be learned reading the forums.

Looks like everyone here has a different opinion on sled size. We didn't go big because we don't have the experience to venture out into the steep and deep. I know nothing of avalanches, I don't have the training to use a probe or a beacon or local knowledge to be safe in the outback. I brought a shovel and used to dig out from under a tree after a tree well sucked me in. It also took three other sledders to put it out with a rope. They had the rope not me. We stuck to off trail that was flat with smaller hills to play on. There is plenty safe off trail riding to do in West and the 600s did just fine. We had the time of our lives and are going back again. (See you there .) If you need to go big and steep and deep take the time for some training and get the safety equipment needed. I don't want to scare you. We rode Lyons head trail and had a great time. Than we find out that that is a dangerous area for avalanches. Will think twice next time. We rode over to Horse Butte and had a great time off trail in the bowls and smaller hills to challenge us and found it was all we could handle. Can't wait to do it again.

I just wanna say thanx for bein smart about comin out here. I hate hearin stories about ppl ridin around here that have never been out on the mountain and got buried cuz they didnt know what they were gettin into. You def have some good advice. And for anyone thats lookin at ridin in Lyons Head...I wouldnt, its not too bad of ridin but there are SO many places there that really arent worth the danger. Its not if that place will slide but when and how many times in one season.

On that note.... for anyone who is going to make return trips to the area, please consider some avalanche safety training. I took a course in January of this year and it was worth every cent and then some. A real eye opener as to what I was doing wrong, what I should do differently and what I shouldn't do at all.

a 600 RMK is a darn good sled, we demoed one 2 years ago and they are impressive--plenty of sled for new to mountain riding--if you have sveral years of riding here go 800 if possible

X2

Ya i agree, if your new to riding the mountains a 600 will be perfect. Anything bigger will get YOU FARTHER INTO TROUBLE.
First year i went out was on a 700 short track, it kept me in the places i should be and out of where i woulda died. Second year was on a 136" tracked 660 mod, fun year still learning off trail....kept me safely in areas i should be riding.
Third year on a 144" 800 mod got me everywhere i wanted to go and im still learning new stuff.
There are so many places you can get yourslef in big trouble out there. Not only AVYS, just lost, out of gas, stuck alone, etc.
We ran into a guy about 4 miles off trail last year on a rental renegade all by himself lost. I hate to ay this but he woulda died if we hadden run into him. It was his first time out there, he didnt know how to handle his machine in the deep stuff and couldnt turn around.
Stick to the tamer areas, a 600 will be fine for, and always ride with a buddy (and keep them in sight). If you really wanna venture far away from the trails get a guide(they will likely teach you alot more faster than you will learn on your own aswell).
Ok im done.

If there M8 doesn't at least have a riser and you're above 5'7" it will suck. Great sled but it needs to be setup for the rider. I bet the 2009 M8 will be better with the adjustable riser but then you have the ape hanger riding position when sitting. I personally have a 2008 M8 Sno Pro and love it but it is setup for me. I'd say go with the RMK 700 based on everyone's opinion here and maybe try the 800 for just one day.... the last LOL.

I've been riding out west for 5yrs now started on a F7151. Mtn riding and HP are alot different then trail riding the gearing is low and most riding is down below 45mph with even the big HP sleds topping out around 80 usually. The only time you'll need big HP is climbing otherwise playing in meadows and trees is all about the track and the rider. I'd say the 600RMK is plenty of sled and the 700 is more then enough for a first time and lower HP sleds are easier to get used to cause there not as jumpy. The biggest thing I'd check is make sure the 600 and 700 are running the same track size. Personally I like the 141-156 sizes as good all around sizes.