Snowdog snow machine

Does anyone have any experience with these (good or bad)? I'm considering buying one for use with trapping.

Never tried one but it looks like it would be fairly useless for trapping.
Might be good to pull your kids up the sleigh hill.(toy)

Useless? Please explain.

Saw one for sale here, and yes. Appears fairly useless.

Just about any used sled would likely be better. Sorry to burst your bubble.

No apology needed fellas – I was just hoping for some substance to go along with the opinion. From what I can tell – they look very transportable to fit in the back of my truck – supposedly they can pull over 600 pounds, and they work on everything from grass to snow.

First off, very slow. Second, rough ride and very uncomfortable, since you sit in a sleigh with no suspension. Third, most of snowmobile manoeuvering off trail is done with body language. You couldn't lean the snow dog at all. Fourth, when you want traction to pull something, you actually benefit from having a bit of weight (the rider) over the machine. Since you are already towing the rider, that takes away from what you can tow. Get into a bit of powder and I feel like the machine will spin and struggle a bit even with just a rider in the sleigh. Just not heavy enough. An almost 800 pound skandic with a rider will tow 1000 lbs, and even that needs to be on a trail. I feel like their 600 lb tow rating is a bit liberal just given the weight of the machine alone.

When a sled accelerates, it transfers weight onto the track. Same in powder. More of a performance thing, but not happening with the snow dog.

I could be totally wrong, and likely am on a few points, but that is my take on it at a glance. It could have its uses in certain situations, but like I said, not a use that can't be replicated with the most basic of sleds. And sleds with a dealer network, and readily available parts. I'd look into a small trailer and a 1990-2000 era tundra or even bravo at less than the price point of a snowdog.

The only way to know what it can do is to try one out.

Thanks for the reply-- this is what I was looking for (having never owned a snowmobile or atv etc.). I'll definitely look into trying one out before making any decisions to purchase.

Do try a snowmobile as well. See which one you like. And good luck

Hello guys! My name is Sergei. I'm from SnowDog company and I want to address some qustions posted here about the machines.



SnowDog is about combining:

1. lesser cost (several times lower than the cost of an average snowmobile)
2. small size (can be transported in a car),
3. agility (can go where snowmobile can't)
4. year-round use (not just for snow/ice, it'll ride on grass, marshland etc.)
with
5. speed (up to 20 mph),
6. power (pulls up to 600 lbs, the number is real - just depends on the land surface)
7. ability to overcome rough terrain.

You are correct, of course, that the latter three points aren't as strong as in case of a full blown snowmobile. The idea is that, in many situations, the combination of 1, 2, 3 and 4 is more important. It's not "snowmobile's obsolete", but rather "different tools for different circumstances" logic.

Ride comfort generally depends on the land surface. Also, rides become more comfortable since we have developed soft seat, and introduced tubeless low pressure tires for shock absorption.

Finally, now SnowDog has a dealer network in the US and Canada, so parts/maintenance won't be a problem at all.

You can ask me any specific questions about these mechanical fellas.
Good luck!

Sergei claims this thing is so agile that it "can go where a snowmobile can't...

I looked at the website and watched a couple of the videos.

That statement appears to be unadulterated BS, wishful thinking and marketing hype! Wanna bet?

Pete

I just think it's hilarious that a snowdog marketing rep found this post on tman and replied to it, LOL.

Yeah, especially when a lot of trap makers and suppliers don't bother to post..... Carry on.

I can't imagine what a cluster that thing would be in the trees with those long control handles ! Can you envision riding that sled on a side hill ?? LOL !! What a joke !

You really need to look at the practical usage on lakes, open field and smaller hills etc.

There's a dealer near me. I might have to look that up.

Kudzu,privet, black berry and multi flora rose would have that wrapped up tight in no time. Bet deep powder snow be a no go as well.

Made in California, that rig wouldn't make it down the driveway come November.

There made in Russia.
Most of their pictures show them on the ice and grass , don't think their that much of a snow machine .

Like to see it do some high marking in the powder, in the mountains !

Grandma might like it, to go to the mailbox .

way back in the 60's when snow machines were new there was a real version of the snow dog..they were called huskies back then. had a friend almost freeze to death on one when he was on a trapline .he drove over a blow down tree and after the track went over the tree it sprug up and pinned his legs to the sled


https://youtu.be/74wl6Dph9dU

I watched a few videos. Great for a cabin owner who wants to ride lakes and groomed trails. Goes where a snow machine can't .....I don't think so! It would take me three days to check my line I could do in 4-5 hours. I wonder how many times those handle bars smash your knees going over rough terrain? They talk about running it through 4 foot powder...would like to see that video. Also state where it's better than the skandics or tundras in deep powder.....wow would like to see that demo.

Haven't looked up a price for the unit but I'm sure it's not cheap. Yeah it will cost less than a new snow machine but let's see it on some side hills. Places where I go with the tundra that thing would roll down a side hill for hundreds of yards and keep gaining momentum.

Probably has uses for a lot of people but on a trap line good luck!

anyone want to try the all electric version.....lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcIwrdeP21s

And even then, there is a problem.

Namely, on our traplines here, we don't just have "lakes, open field and smaller hills!" We have deep snow, mountains, trees, boulders, deadfall, sharp turns, overflow and all manner of other impediments.

This goofy thing wouldn't last more than a mile or two...

Pete

Many years ago Bolens made two versions, a smaller sleigh called a Husky with wooden cleats and a larger version called the Diablo Rouge with aluminum cleats. I owned both. They were fun to ride on flat trails and got around well in a few inches of snow. The smaller Husky with the wooden cleats on the rubber track handled a bit more snow than the larger version but both would not pull well at all on ice, where they just scooped away the snow and were stranded on the bare ice. In deeper snow they just dug down and were plain stuck. I seem to remember that Polaris had tried the same idea even earlier and had the same result.

During the same period of the 60s and early 70s, Johnson, Evinrude and John Deere, to name a few, attempted to build machines that were large and heavy. Generally they did not do to badly on groomed trails or fields with a few inches of snow. In Northern Wisconsin where I lived at that time, the lakes usually were snow covered by midwinter with several feet of snow and about 6 inches of slush at the bottom. All of the machines mentioned above when driven onto/into the deep snow on a slushy lake wound up buried and often had to be left until the broken trail froze down. Many, many frustrated owners and LOTS of frozen running gear. I know of a physician who with a son drove two new Johnsons onto a Northern MN lake to fish lake trout and who after several days battling to get the machines off the lake, gave them to the locals who aided in the rescue. So the Bolens were not the only early machines that did not perform as planned.

I have seen one of those early models sitting in a boneyard in Lake Minchumina. Not sure what brand it is. Heck I couldn't believe anyone would even try to ride something like that. Looked like trying to get through the snow with a self-propelled lawn mower.

white17: We somewhere have an old 8mm film of me with a tiny daughter seated behind me and clinging onto my waist while we are charging through a foot or so of powder on a yellow Bolens husky while dragging out our newly felled Christmas tree. Winter of 1972 I believe. I surely wish I could return!!!!!!!!!!

Someone should re-make the snow bug-great old trapping machine.

I hear ya Jim !!

Far off topic and I apologize but the memories! We have another bit of film of my wife and daughter on an old Johnson snowmobile and me on a SkiDoo Olympique pulling a sled stacked with 32 beaver crosswise from a days check trip into the Chequamegon Natl Forest circa 1979???

I could see it working for ice trapping on a marsh

I note that Sergei has not been back to defend his ridiculous assertion that this goofy thing can "go where a snowmobile can't...!"

Interestingly enough, I spent some time reaserching theses things about a year ago when a local dealer started selling them and found that they are hugely popular in Russia and if you do a little looking there are hundreds of YouTube vids of them in use in Russia and many of them homemade

I guess it all comes down to where you live and the terrain you have to deal with.

Everyone one here knows that Duke 1 1/2cs is the best trap for everything, RIGHT?

Hi, Pete!

SnowDog is more maneuverable since it's ~twice less in length, height, width, and weight. It's easy to imagine a situation, when SnowDog can go where snowmobile can't - just picture a couple of trees with 3 feet between them. SnowDog, being less than couple of feet wide will go through there nicely.

Also it provides less pressure on a surface of snow - easier to ride on the snow, not in the snow.




Hello, Saskbone!

Handle bars won't smash anything SnowDog’s design provides a downward supported floating handle bar, eliminating injury by stationary handle bars.
By the way our machines are already being used for trail grooming.

Important thing to emphasize: we don't position SnowDog as a competitor to snowmobile, it's just a different type of product. Cheaper, more agile and useful in any season.

They cost $2.799 - $3.499

I'm attaching a youtube link to give you a general impression. It's in Russian, but it's self-explaining

Hello, cohunt!
Our machine, of course, doesn't have any problems with ice, either covered by snow or bare. This is what the attached video is about.

Can pull a 600 lb payload? And the operator is part of that payload?

I'm sorry but it would be useless.

Go find a good used snowmobile and a trailer. I could see myself dieing on that thing on the ice.

Hello, Steven.
To each his own, I'm sure you know what's best in your case. Still, if you'll have a chance, test the machine, a lot of people have found it useful, after all. (I'm attaching the video with example)

More like drags a small calf moose.

P

Guess Im odd man out because I can see lots of uses for this machine. It won't replace a snow machine but doesn't sound like the makers claim it will. A few uses I can see.....it would be a great tool for remote trappers who must fly into their lines early. I know a lot of guys that go out in late Sept before the lakes freeze. Since the snowdog works on bare ground I could see a lot of uses around the cabin...wood, water, etc. They would be easy to fly too.....thats a big plus these days as new machines are so big and heavy you need a big plane. Just from watching a few videos I have no trouble believing they can go where a snow machine can't. Heres an example. Last season we had so little snow I couldn't use half my trails. One of my most productive lines goes through a real swampy area for a few miles. I got in there with my skandic but it was just to rough with all the frozen hummocks, exposed logs etc. I could see how a small light machine like that COULD get through.......riding it might be another thing entirely. Im not planning to go out and buy one, but I can certainly see that it could be very useful in some situations.

Yukon, I could see possible uses for it as well. First I would have a snowmobile and an atv. Then if I had money burning a hole in my pocket I'd consider it.

The electric one looks pretty capable (realize that they have the advantage of editting-out bad parts, though).

Stud the track for smooth ice, same as any other snow machine.

-NC

I see the price as a big plus. A new snow machine is going to cost you 12k , so at $3700 this is a lot of savings. I live on a huge lake...lots of retired people live here. I would think thats where this thing would sell. These people could use it for all sorts of things without the cost of a big machine.

What is the biggest one you make Sergie,and whats the HP and how much does it weigh.

Hey sergei, Send me one and I'll test it for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w4GTj1OEy0

I had never heard of these before but it intrigued me to do a little research. Best thing I found was this entertaining video! Last minute and a half is the best! Don't think it would be ideal for most folks, but I think they could have a place. Happy trapping! ScottW

The concept isn't entirely new since my old neighbor had one of these Bolens that he would drive past our place back in 1969 or 1970.

A man can buy a good used snowmobile for 3700. At least in the lower 48.

Thats true here too Steve, the problem is getting them out to the bush. Takes a pretty big airplane to haul these newer sleds. Im not saying this thing will replace a snowmobile ( it won't) but I can see where it could be useful in some scenarios. A good buddy and I used to hike into this little lake and get our moose every year. Problem was that there was no trail to speak of and no snow when we hunted there. Many times we packed a moose out of there on our backs ( 5-miles or so)....I think this machine would get into places like that.

Hello, Boco!

The biggest one (B13MER) has 13 HP, and it weighs 330 lbs. Average fuel consumption 0.8 g/h.

Width: 24 in
Height: 30 in
Length folded: 58 in
Length unfolded: 95 in

You can compare different models here: Models

Hi, Ryan!

In North America we operate through dealer network, perhaps the nearest dealer will be willing to arrange some testing program.

Here is the map of our dealers: Dealer locator
We just started to develop this dealer network last year but it is growing quite dynamically.

Hello, MnMan!

You are totally right! It'd even say this idea is even older.


But many of the previous variations were built rather for fun/sport than for doing actual work and were pricey as well.
Compared to them SnowDog has higher pulling capability, while being of similar or smaller size. Its developers focus on practicality.

Thanks for the info Sergie,There is a dealer near me,I will go and check one out.

I'm going to have to see the local dealer.

I have been thinking snowmobile. Maybe Snow Dog for me.

Thank you Paul. WOW, a tough crowd here and I sure do understand we all have our own opinions on machines and just about everything else.
I just bought a Snowdog B13ME and love it.

Some background may be in order. I am just reaching the ripe young age of 66 in April. I trapped as a kid but just rats and I was not very successful at it at all. I do hunt deer and dogs but I spend the majority of my outdoor sporting time on fishing. I like the remote lakes and ponds with my kayak in open water but I am a nut case when the ice gets safe and I love the hard water fishing most of all. I am retired and between my knees and aches and pains my get up and go got up and went. The past few years I had to depend on my younger buddies if I want to go hunting or ice fishing because I have the money for all the creature comforts when I fish or hunt but I need the mule power to help me drag it all in and out. I found myself sitting home on great days when I could have been out on a lake in 15 degrees because my younger pals were all at work. I never have owned a snowmobile because here in southeastern NY we have too many winters when the snows elude us. I have had numerous ATVs and side by side UTVs over the years. All were good except here in NY the laws are highly restrictive and they can't be ridden on any state owned land except on some frozen lakes. A snowmobile was out of the question and another ATV was just too expensive. I looked at a bunch of used 4 X 4 ATVs for sale and in my price range between $3,000-$4,000 I was finding a lot of capable units that all needed a lot of work and maintenance. Most were missing the titles which are a strict requirement along with plates and insurance to be legal on the ice.

I saw the Snowdog machine and immediately thought of my old Gravley walk behind mower with the old stand on sulky. It was new and in my price range and looked like just the mule I wanted. My wife pushed me to get one because she said it was cheaper than the heart attack I would have from dragging a deer or all of my ice gear. She goes to work each day and worries about where they will find me because I have to go and stay active outdoors.

The Snowdog is my mule. It is not the end all do all that many here might need or want but it does perform exactly as the guy Sergei is claiming. I have old wood roads out behind the house on 120 acres where I hunt. I don't need snow to use the dog but it does great with snow and even with deep snow. It is pretty tough to maneuver through deep and thick woods but it has the power and traction to drag me and my deer out and back home where I used to have to call a friend for help. On the ice it is a dream come true. I have a large sled shanty flip over style and load it with the power auger, bait, food and beverages, heater, ice gear, electronics and all sorts of creature comforts and go for the day. I am sure this all is well over 200 pounds. Very easy to drag on bare ice but impossible once we get snow on top. The dog will hunt and will fish and never even knows it is pulling a load. The track is not studded but goes fine on bare ice because the entire weight is right over the track. Stud screws will be added soon. I pulled out my 200+ pounds plus two additional similarly loaded buddies shanties last week through 6 inches of heavy wet snow a half mile across the lake and never slipped the track at all. The dog is a locomotive in this regard. Dragging a deer over rough terrain was a little tricky and the machine can be laid over if you don't pick the right path. A snowmobile or an ATV would do no better in tight woods simply because of the width.

I don't have a need for speed but it goes at least 20 MPH if necessary. It has a simple but tried and true Briggs & Stratton 13 HP motor that is plenty powerful enough. The one and only disadvantage I have found is the lack of reverse gearing on my B13ME model. The B13MER does come with reverse but none were available this year through my dealer. Snowdog corporate is working to get me the option as we speak and I will certainly add it the minute it arrives. Trying to pull 300 pounds backwards when you get in a tight spot is just not in my wheel house. What is even a bigger plus is the size of this machine. It folds up to store in my shed corner in a 2' X 5' spot leaving room for my mower and other lawn care gear. It drives up into my truck or trailer leaving room for my other gear. With a snowmobile or ATV I would have needed a much bigger trailer. Running a trap line with a Snowdog would all depend upon the conditions you encounter. I have stuck just about every machine I ever owned at one time or another and have helped my buddies rescue their own machines when they stuck them. Sure, a Ski Do Scandic would be the cats meow if you have an extra $13,000 laying around and don't mind taking it out and beating it to death. A Polaris Ranger is another good option with room for the chain saw so you can clear the way and widen the path as you go. Some places just don't lend themselves to any machines at all but the Snowdog will go just about any place most other machine will go and needs only a 30 inch wide relatively flat path. I am already planning the build of a wheeled sulky to drag my kayak back to the remote lakes in this area all through the spring, summer and fall. Guys that see me on the ice are very impressed with the abilities this little machine has and so far here in NY we do not need to register and insure them which saves me close to $400 per year. I am pretty sure that NY will want their "FAIR SHARE" in fees in the near future but for now I am running under the radar. It is not listed as a Motor Vehicle because you don't ride in or on it and it has no steering linkages. It is a tow motor and has no VIN numbers. It is certainly not for everyone but it works perfect for my needs and I am pretty sure others here will be very satisfied while others have negative opinions. I say "Don't knock it until you try it".

Gam