Long track snowmobile question ?

Are long track snow mobiles more or less tippy than the shorter version ? I just flipped my machine today and wonder if it would have happened with a shorter machine .

Pretty subjective. Long tracks are generally used for off trail, deep snow, mountain riding. Short tracks are generally used for trail riding and are better for closed quarters riding. If you flipped your long track it depends on how you were using it but in general its foot print is less likely to flip over than short track

It depends on the type of sled. Mountain sleds definitely have a narrower ski stance. Some cross country/back country/hybrid/utility sleds also have narrower ski stances. That will make a sled more maneuverable, but also more tippy.

If it’s it a Mountain sled long track the skis are closer together so they will tip easier. The skis are closer together so they can maneuver in deep snow. All depends on what you are using your sled for, to what kind of sled you need.

Nothing to do with the long track.

Blaming the snowmobile for flipping over?

As mentioned above the ski stance may be narrower than standard sleds making it more prone to role. Also, you might looked to see if it has the torsion bars hooked up for the front end. Sometimes disconnects are added (or the torsion bars are fully removed) on some sled to make side-hilling easier in deeper snow.

A number of factors play into rolling a sled…

The mid length (renegade) are just as tippy as the short tracks. Mountain sleds are designed to be tippy so don’t go there.

Tipping/flipping a sled has more to do with the operator than the machine.

The reason for my query is that I purchased a new machine last spring and it is very different than my 2006 model . They both are long tracks but the new machines have a much higher center of gravity than the older units . As a result they are more prone to tipping , I was wondering if a shorter track would make a difference . So to answer someones question ,yes ,I am blaming the machine . The day I flipped we had both machines out going the same speed on the same track but only the old one came home intact

With high center of gravity cars a shorter wheelbase makes them more prone to rollovers. Gravity is a b_tch!

uninc4709 wrote:

The mid length (renegade) are just as tippy as the short tracks. Mountain sleds are designed to be tippy so don’t go there.

Tipping/flipping a sled has more to do with the operator than the machine.

My buddy has owned a plethora of different types of sleds over the last 25+ years and is extremely proficient when it comes to riding. His latest is a 2017 two up Yamaha and it’s a very tippy sled, to the point he’s selling it.

Sounds like the operator rode past their abilities and is blaming the machine for their mistake…I’m not a doctor or mechanic, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night, however…

To answer your question, no. They wont keep you from tipping any more than a short track. Longer tracks are much harder to maneuver in shallow or hard packed snow without experience and their ski width is generally narrower, making them more prone to this scenario.

Signed,
long track owner.

Curious what model snowmobile it is. I know the 2011-present XU chassis skandics and tundras are incredibly tippy. They’re just not designed to be on trails and lakes.

tswoboda wrote:

Curious what model snowmobile it is. I know the 2011-present XU chassis skandics and tundras are incredibly tippy. They’re just not designed to be on trails and lakes.

Not sure the model, I’ll find out.

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On top of the crazy power new sleds have I have noticed a more up right design in them. That’s a fine line for tipping and definitely takes more skill to ride

bigpike wrote:

On top of the crazy power new sleds have I have noticed a more up right design in them. That’s a fine line for tipping and definitely takes more skill to ride

Rider Forward chassis design started in 2003. It’s amazing the difference in comfort and stamina, but yeah you do have a higher center of gravity.

I have had a dozen different machines and have been riding more than 50 years but this machine 2018 skidoo expedition is by far the most tippy ! I like the machine it has to go his spring , debating on either a shorter track or a switch to Polaris Titan wide track . My other 2 up machine currently is at t660 cat and is was more stable and a lot faster . I also have a yamaha enticer wide track and you couldn’t tip it if you rode it off a cliff

cheers wrote:

The day I flipped we had both machines out going the same speed on the same track but only the old one came home intact

You never did mention what the machine was that you rolled.

I put a couple hundred miles on this past weekend, splitting seat time between an 08′ AC Crossfire 800 and a 13′ AC M800 Sno Pro 153″.

The M800 was by far way more prone to rolling, as it should be given how it was set up. First off, the ski stance is adjustable and this one was set up at 38″ (max is 39″) as opposed to the Crossfire which can be set between 42″-44″. This alone makes a huge difference when trail riding.

Another big factor impacting role would be how the suspension is set up (did you set it up at all for your riding?). The M800 was a sno pro version which has Fox Float 2.0 shocks. Yesterday we spent most of the day ditch banging powder so we decreased the amount of air in the shocks. This negatively impacted corner role when trail riding. We pumped the shocks back up near end of day when we had a long trail ride back to the house….and there was a decent difference with corner control. We tend to ride more aggressively so this became apparent rather quickly.

2019 skidoo expedition . Dealer set up for me not sure of settings

It looks like that sled has an adjustable ski stance between 38-40”. It’s a narrower than the MXZ and Renegades which are 42”, more your standard width.

I would say the sled would likely be more prone to tipping in corners with the narrower stance.

I would check the ski stance and set it for 40” if it’s not already. I would also look at the spring adjustments on the front end and see where they are at. If they are set to the softest setting turn them up and see if it makes a difference. You could possibly look at strong springs for the front as well, but your still dealing with a narrower ski stance.

These adjustments might help some, but you still have a narrower stance which could play into things depending on your main useage for the sled (ie trail riding vs off-trail).