I got a 4 wheeler this fall for the first time and have used it on the ice to tow my sled a few times this winter. It works great and I love my setup. However, we just got about 14 inches of snow where I’ll be fishing this weekend. I’m wondering what tips/advice you guys have for taking a wheeler out in deeper snow. Is there a certain point at where it just won’t work? Thanks in advance for helping a newbie out!
Is there a certain point at where it just won’t work?
simple answer is YES. There is a point where it won’t work. However, there are a number of variables. Wet packy snow, deep powder, machine size, weight, tires,….will all contribute to how easy or difficult your travels will be. Experience will be the best educator of YOUR (and your machine’s) limitations.
I assume you have a winch. I would pack extra rope and a couple 14ish pieces of 2×4. When your that stuck, drill a hole, push a 2×4 down the hole sideways with tthe rope, and pull yourself along. It sucks and a crap ton of work. Not that I know from experiences 
Chains and a small shovel. Be smart and pick your spots. Good luck!!
Tracks would help.
I’d say 14 inches is a tough go for a wheeler. My experience is once you get snow deeper than about 8 inches you just sink in. Especially wet snow.
4WD works well but don’t lock the front differential. It doesn’t take much speed to start “head shake” and it can rip the bars out of your hand.
Big fat tires with lug treads can go through anything but wet slushy snow, but wet slushy snow can stop even the best machines.
I have wide 27” Zilla tires on my ATV, pretty much unstoppable, but I know my obvious limits and avoid them…
Besides the 14” of fresh snow the snow drifts will really get you stuck.
I’d think a short test run with no equipment would be ideal. At least if you do bury it, turning around and getting back might be easier.
We got a lot of snow here as well, along with a boatload of wind. Depending on the size of the lake, orientation, wind direction, etc, you might be fine. There may be plenty of paths to travel between between drifts (Although, the drifts can sneak up you). The lake may have even been blown well below the 14 inches in most places.
If nothing else, unless you’re remote, you’ll likely have some paths to follow that have already been blazed by someone else.
I sure pity all of those that didn’t get their houses off the lake before this storm. I saw some houses today that were barely visible (almost totally drifted over), and since it wasn’t real cold before the storm hit, I’m sure they’re frozen in something fierce. Having holes open from the day before, with all that weight dumped on the ice, then a freeze…ouch.
yes, deep snow and slush will make an ice cube out of anything…
phishingruven01 – no kidding! I hope that was taken after you were done for the day.
Slush is bad to be honest because it can freeze up your wheel and cause damage. As far as deep snow it can really vary depending on so many variables. Besides having a winch a few things I bring with: 20′ tow strap, couple extra shackles, shovel.
Learning to read the snow and maintaining momentum without going too fast will go a long ways.
Now I need to find a better way to anchor in snow with the winch, sometimes finding something to winch to can be a problem. This year I look forward to the wife has an ATV as well so only one of us is pulling a sled leaving the other ATV free and if one of us gets stuck it should be easier to pull the other one out.
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