I had an arctic cat zr 7000 129? which is a pure trail sled, and I ordered me a 2018 Sks 146.

My impression is that unless you do deep snow and Mountain riding, the sks is a perfect sled. It has the 2.25? lugs for good off trailing and the tipped up rails to make it nimble on the trails which according to assault owners works EXTREMLY good.

So the sks146 should be the perfect 50/50 flatlander off trail/ trail sled.

The sks 155 will obviously be better off trail, but on trail the sks 146 will be significantly better with the tipped rails and better shocks.
Also the ayxs chassis that is on the sks 146 is uncoupled which is great for off trail.

 

I ride in central Maine and northern NH as well and have been riding since I was 7 years old. I've been lucky enough to ride a lot of snowmobiles over the years, and not just Polaris sleds. Here's what I can tell you from my experiences and from what you mentioned above...

A Pro RMK is not a bad choice, but it's not a great choice either, mainly because of where we ride. If you do any type of trail riding or plan to in the future then I would strongly suggest you do not buy an RMK. You would be much better off with an SBA or the new 146 SKS. Biggest reason is that the RMK does not have a front cooler and anything over a 2 inch lug on the trail is senseless. The SBA Way better on trail characteristics and it will go anywhere an RMK will go on the east coast. SBA suspension is stiffer, more adjustable, and more durable. I know you said you put a down payment on an RMK, what dealer did you buy from? And if they have any snowcheck SBA's or 146 SKS's I would look into maybe transferring your payment to one of those if they will let you?

 

I have an SKS 146 coming. In OPs case I would've probably bought one of those or a SBA. Or perhaps an SKS155. Only way I'd ever own a Pro was if all I did, all the time, was ride at elevation in the trees on steep terrain. You can trail ride the Pro if
Needed. Just not ideal

 

The XF9 snowpro needs to be clarified as they were less of a crossover and more of a 137" track ZR 9000, which its called now.

You'd be amazed at how much better a Switchback Assault, true 50/50 crossover, will go through the east coast "deep snow" than those 137" 4 stroke cats. Let alone a 146" or 155" SKS which is probably the sled you're more looking for.

 

I bought the 2017 pro rmk last year and absolutely love it! I've been riding a long time and on a lot of different sleds, this new pro rmk is by far the best I've ever owned....BUT I spend 90% of my time in the backcountry, deeper snow conditions and technical riding with very little trail. I have used this sled on trail as well though and 99% of the time there was no issue but in the spring I did have some issues with cooling if the trail was ice or hard packed. I added 4 more idler wheels and the longer sks snow flap, problem solved for the most part but it's only an issue in late spring...just my 2 cents

 

Biggest question is what are your buddies riding?

 

My situation, been riding 47 years, old now, but still get after it. Started getting more and more into the offtrail riding in Northern Maine, first on a XF1100 turbo, which was pretty surprising where it would climb just on sheer track speed, but like the OP said, just heavy and hard to maneuver. Went to a 137 Freeride and got more into it. Was an awesome really versatile sled, but couldn't hang with the 155s in the deep stuff over 5 ft. In 16 I bought an SKS 155 and hoped it would be ok on the trails. It was a beast offtrail, keep it pinched and wiggle it, it would get through some amazing crap. But on the trails, even though it handled pretty good for a mountain sled, and the coolers never had me worrying about overheating, it wasn't fast enough. Tapped out at 80 just doesn't work with the shorter tracked sleds. At the end of the day I had to be honest with myself about how much on trail vs off trail I'd be doing, and decided the Switchback Assault would be the perfect compromise.

 

I checked an SKS146 and battled the same thing. Probably be the last 70/30 sled for me. In a few years I'll be 50 and will be focusing more on trail miles again with some logging roads and mild offtrail exploring mixed in. Enter the SBA.

 

Just got my 2018 RMK 155 I added a 5' MNTTK tunnel cooler it's absolutely awesome can't wait rip it.

 

Yes you ordered the wrong sled.

The right sled for you as far as a polaris model would be the Switchback Assault 144

Some explanation of model line up. Polaris divides there sleds into 3 categories

RMK - pure DEEP snow mountain climbing sleds

----under this category would be SKS 155 is same as rmk with more cooling, bogey wheels and low snow condition capabilities for guys that need to ride trail to get to back country area. Not really a cross over

-----also under this category the new 146 SKS. this is based on the switchback assault 50/50 off on trial sled but modified for more off trail 70/30 off to on trial use. (bigger lug track, narrow and taller front end than switchback assault)


SWITCHBACK - These are true cross over sleds

---switchback assault 144 is 50/50 off trail on trial sled. also 2 tracks offered 2 inch or 1.35 inch depending on which side of the fence you lean toward off/on

---the switchback pro s or pro x 137" track would be more for on trail the length is more for a smoother ride but they will do better in deep snow than the Rush/indy.

RUSH/INDY - Trail sleds



Your last sled the XF 9000 sno pro would be equal to polaris switchback Pro S 137. This is a "crossover" but these sleds are trail sleds that have a little extra length mostly to bridge bumps but also go a little better in deep snow but not really true back country deep snow like you found out with yours.

You may be able to work something out with your dealer get your deposit back if you buy a Switchback assault 144 there. You will just have to talk to them and work something out. But I think you would be making a very big mistake if you buy the RMK.

 

first qualifier is.... how closer do you right to mountains?

How big are these mountains?

i see your in maine. i don't know your answers, but you don't need a 2 inch lug there. you bought THE WRONG SLED.

 

You've obviously never ridden off trail in the western mountains of Maine.


OP based on re-reading your original post and the fact that you later added you'll be keeping your trail sled I'd probably opt for the SKS155 based on maybe it being slightly more durable with the chaincase and extra coolers, but if the dealer renegs on his offer you'll probably be fine on the Pro too. If I had a trail sled I'd have no qualms about adding a full blown off trail weapon as a second sled. Problem is you'll always be on the wrong one lol

 

I have the 2017 swb assault last year and change to the sks 146 this year because of the track and offtrail capasity.the perfect sled for your riding will be the sks 146.i really like the assault but not like the soft 2.0 track.good in cold powder but to soft for the trails and springsnow.good luck

 

Imho, based on SBA and RMK, never ridden the SKS, you bought the right sled.
You're saying you will ride mostly off trail, deep snow, through the trees, and jumping, so I don't get why people are telling you to get the SBA.
It is indeed a great cross over sled, which you say you don't want, nor need.
Again, I don't know the SKS, but I'd stick with the RMK.
For extra cooling on trails or ice, scratchers work. And just don't ride trail. It works, but it doesn't feel 'at ease' on trail.

Have fun with it!

 

these are the questions you need to ask yourself.

do you ride over 90% of the time off trail. RMK

do you ever trail ride more than 80 miles? SBA

do you ever go over 80 miles per hour or want to? SBA

do you like to jump if yes and in good snow than RMK,SKS if not in deep snow SBA,SKS.


do you run scratchers? if no? SBA if yes RMK personally i hate scratchers. had them get caught in stuff and ripped them off at the same time i went over the handlebars.

the RMK light nimble and weak. you can't have both. the sks stronger. the SBA the strongest.

my pick for N.H. and M.E would be the SBA but i'am almost 60 years old so maybe that's why? i don't like rolling the sled over or trying to get it pointed down hill in 5' of snow anymore.

 

Thanks for all the great advice guys I spoke to my dealer and he will let me slide over to a 155 sks wit 2.4 inch track. Since I already have a trail sled the sks will be used primarily off trail deep and fresh snow, up hill through the trees. I really like the additional cooling and beefier frame and suspension and chain case drive the sks offer. Unfortunately he only has it in electric start and I think pull start is the way to go and easily looses a few lbs as compared to having a batery and starter ect. Not to mention adds so e cost. I also really agree with the fella who said the xf9000 is not really a true cross over, because it really is not. It's a trail and lake sled, fast as a banshee, but heavy as a box of lead. Stopping in that sled in 2 foot or more of non trail snow means you better mean it when you want to get going again. Always having to ride at those speeds and effort all the time wears you out quick. So hopefully the sks will be less fatiguing or at least won't need a winch in a bag if I do get it stuck.

 

The SKS 155 will be a better choice. They are absolutely nothing like a trail sled. If you do have it on a trail it rides like a lumber wagon. The front end is very narrow and tippy but its made so you can tip on side and sidehill. But when you get it in its element in deep powder they are in Heaven. It will be so much different riding one you will have to get used to it. I wouldn't worry about the electric start. Especially the really heavy sled your coming from you will not notice that little extra weight at all. And it is so nice to turn the key instead of pull starting you will love it. Good luck.

 

You wont even notice the extra weight of the e-start. It will be nice when you are finished digging you buddies sled out and you hop back on your never stuck machine and turn the key.

 

Love my SKS 155 I had the last 2 years, Just got my 2018. Never have to worry about plowed logging roads or hard pack. Always stays cool.

 

^ agreed, while in some years the snow has been almost non existant, last year and the year before the snow was so deep in some of the small valleys and lake edges was up to the handle bars. I have a go pro video of me jumping the road plowed snow bank to get on a lake and the go pro was up on the handle bars...after I l clear the bank it's a white out over the bars, clears up for a second as I gained so e speed and floatation, then white out again when I hit the lake edge. Then it stays white out for a good 2 minutes until I got the heavy cat up to speed with lots of track slip. I was so worried I was going to dig myself into a giant deep hole in the middle of a lake with no one around, I headed back in towards land as fast as she would go but with all the track spin that wasn't very fast and ended up getting stuck in snow bank on the side of some guy's house on the lake. He was nice enough to offer help. Luckily I had driven up in my plow truck in my buddy was back at the house having lunch and I was able to call him and have him come pull me out with a tow rope on the road with the truck. So I can definitely say even a 3in lug is definitely useful here in Maine granted not all the time certainly, but if you want to ride Fresh Off Trail snow bigger is better.

 

The trees are the problem. You have to go fairly slow to get in between them while sidehilling. You're not doing that in 3-4 feet of snow with a 1.35" lugged 144. At least not traveling uphill lol.

You don't need a 2.6" 155 to ride powder in a field or on a logging road or open
Climb but as soon as you get in the trees on an incline and stop, you're digging out if you're on anything less.

 

as soon as you get in the trees on an incline and stop, you're digging out if you're on anything less.

X2

 

Are RMKs still a narrow ski stance compared to the SKS? I know years ago they were. I not sure about todays big trackers.

 

SKS and ProRMKS come stock with same ski stance which I believe is 39" and can be adjust at ski spacer to 40" or 38"