Bagger trip advise

[rancidjo]

I am planning a 7 day bagger trip this year (I know the season is barely over and I'm thinking about next year). I have never been on a bagger before, let alone for 7 days. I am looking for some advise on doing so. Mainly on the stuff I should be bringing. I will be riding with blueballer so we will both be on 4-strokes, and we know about 50% of the trails/areas that we will be going on. I dug up a couple of threads on the subject which were very helpful. I am just wondering if there is anything else, as these threads are a few years old. Maybe there is new stuff out there that we should be bringing, plus alot more experience has been gained in doing baggers over the last few years.

Links on other bagger info:

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... ght=bagger

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... r&start=15

 

[ahicks]

Girlfriend and I did a 3 day in early March, was our first. Had an absolute blast. Like you, I knew about half of the trails. We went from the northern lower, up across the bridge, into Mi's UP. I would pack a GPS with a couple extra sets of batteries, a complete set of maps for the areas you plan to visit, a compass, a camera, wear bars if you think you may need those, and whatever clothes you think you may need... We too WAY to much STUFF! Will be running much lighter next time. -Al

 

[rancidjo]

what did you bring that you DIDN'T need

 

[Viper_Dave]

I packed for 5 days. Clean socks and undies for each day, 1 pair of jeans and 2 casual shirts, a swimsuit, and a pair of shoes to wear when at our nightly stop. Put everything except shoes in ziploc bags and squeeze the air out of 'em. Put my shoes under the hood up in the nose. Had my normal tool roll in the seat, and a UP wide mape and smaller local maps, cell phone and I brought my GPS, but never used it. Fit it all in my Sport combo and tankbag. Could go longer if I wasn't fussy about the skivvies LOL! MAde sure I had decent slides before I left, and I run Bergstrom's Triplepoints, so wear bars aren't an issue. That's it! Normal stuff in our tankbags and we were on our way.

 

[pip]

I've done many saddlebag trips, some to remote areas, some to more populated areas (Like the U.P.).
There are a lot of great suggestions already noted.(above)
- Ziplocks are a must for anything u want kept dry and to keep toiletries from leaking onto other things. (bring extras too...wet bathing suit?)
- I also assume the worst, being stranded in the woods overnight. For this you would want a space blanket (takes very little space) and fire starting equipment (matches, lighter, or magnesium striker)
- shoes to wear when not riding (or mocassins, easy to pack)
- I also use bungee nets(over the saddle bags) to hold the bags secure to the sled (torn bags can ruin your trip)
- I also take several spare nuts, bolts, zip ty's, duct tape, & heavy gage wire (a tool kit of course)
- it's also a good idea to leave about 10% of you total storage volume empty, for a souvenir or ??? (dirty clothes never pack as tight as clean ones)
- I also keep a pair of gaunlets stored on my handle bars rolled up off the controls until it get s real COLD. (What happens if you handwarmers quit?)
- if you use electric shield, you may want to carrry goggles or an extra power cord for an emergency (I personaly prefer goggles anyway)
- obviously maps, GPS, cell phones
- it's a good idea to share your plan with a non-rider, someone you check in with along your route....who can sound the alarm if you don't arrive.
- some food & water, spare gloves/mittens, work gloves, rags or small towels
- Baby powder & vaseline (A little personal, but a worthwhile addition, escpecially if it's a long ride)
** the better you prepare the more fun you'll have!
IT'S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO TRY & SET UP SOMEONE (NOT ON THE RIDE) WITH A SET OF KEYS TO YOUR TRUCK, THAT CAN BRING YOUR TRAILER TO YOU...IN CASE OF INJURY OR BREAKDOWN. I once had a spare sled delivered to me (via my truck) 400 miles away, the hotel we left the truck at set it up! (NO charge...good business)

 

[snowpromod]

We are planning a Gaspe trip this year - thanks for all the information, our first baggin trip as well!!!!

 

[420ATTAK]

i love bagger trips i try to do one a year even a weekend trip i cant stress what viper_dave said about the zip loc bags!! its a life saver, the only worse thing than being cold is being wet too! a couple pairs of gloves, and i take the handle bar muffs if you even think that it will be cold, you dont need to go crazy with clothes, but i found if it was worth taking 1 its usually worth taking 2! (shirts, pants, gloves, belacalavas, lots of socks!) a couple universal tools are handy too (vice-grips) helped me last time, probibally the most important thing i too was my YAMAHA HAT!!

 

[420ATTAK]

one other thing, i hate sadle bags so i used a really good outdoors sport back pack and it was nobother

 

[Budweiser]

The Gaspe is a great saddlebag trip. Very well signed. Plenty of fuel. Great, great people. I've done it twice. Its pretty populated too. (around the outside) Lots of dealers. I've also done from Maniwaki north to Val'dor and around. Now that is much more remote! When the lodges your at run on generators....now that's remote! (to me at least!)

All the above stuff is great info. In the 5 saddlebag trips to Canada I've done, each over 1000 miles, we've only ran into sled problems 4 times.

1 Artic Cat quit and was towed 75 miles by a Yamaha.

1 Polaris had a cracked chaincase. Grease was pumped in and it made it back.

I hit a log in the trail and bent my trailing arm. Place we stayed at (Jonca) welded it back together and made it another 700 miles.

1 Polaris caught on fire 30 miles from our starting point. Guy rejetted it and it was fine after. Until he went off the trail and hit a tree. But it still made it back under its own power.

Stuff happens and you deal with it. I think the right attitude on these trips is anything can happen.

 

[MR LAKE]

GASPE IS A GREAT TRIP. HAVE DONE THAT FROM VERMONT AND BACK.
GREAT SERVICES FOR THE WHOLE TRIP
ONLY PACK FOR HALF THE TRIP, IF YOU CHECK,AT SOME MOTELS YOU CAN WASH YOUR CLOTHES. ALSO I NEVER CARRY BACK DIRTY SOCKS AND
PERSONALS, FOR THE COST JUST THROW THEM OUT ON YOUR RETURNING DAYS
PM ME WITH PHONE NUMBER I CAN HELP YOU AS WE HAVE DONE THIS
TRIP BEFORE AND PACK OUT A LOT

 

[rancidjo]

thanks for all the great tips guys...keep them coming ....being prepared will make this trip even better.

 

[LJ 452]

I would look in to R-U Outside under armor. Very nice stuff. Last year our group did a five day back pack trip around the entire UP. Lets just say it holds up well day after day. Call ahead and verify you hotel has a washer and dryer, this can reduce the amount of clothing needed. Remember to bring a good cable/lock for nightly security. I would bring a GPS loaded with maps as well as paper maps. This year our group ran into a bit of a problem when the trial from Escanaba (sp) to Manistique (sp) had a 20 mile closure. Had to ride shoulders around the closure. Fun but challenging. Pack your bags with the heavy stuff on the bottom, may seem basic but figured I'd through that out there. I would try to take a short ride with whatever bags you plan on using prior to the trip, this will help you make adjustments or find what works and what doesn't before it's too late. Duct tape, Multi tool, zip ties, electrical tape, good wind proof lighter, if you sometimes require an electric shield, just put it on before you leave. That's all I can think of for now. Maybe more latter. Good luck, it's a blast. Nothing like leaving the truck and thinking it the last time your going to see it for five to seven days.

 

[rancidjo]

there are no "too basic" tips.... I will be leaving from my front door.... first bagger trip and first 4stroke all in one year....lucky me...the wife may be a snowmobile widow this winter

 

[Swiss Sledder]

I've done many bagger trips and they are my favourite trips. I packed way too much stuff for my first trip, so here is the list/rules I have used for the past three seasons.
1) I take two sets of clothes; one for riding and one for nights out. Two pairs of riding socks and a clean pair of underwear for each day
2) Always pack a swim suit and make sure you stay at places with a hot tub
3) Pack a soft sole pair of shoes to wear in the evening
4) I used to pack clothes in zip-lock bags but I don't anymore as they never get wet
5) I do pack my toiletry items in a zip-lock bag
6) Lots of cash as you never know when you end up at a place that doesn't take credit cards
7) If possible, plan your route to pass by a Yamaha dealer as you might need to stop in for a repair

If you are headed out with Blueballer, I can highly recommend the ride from Falcon Lake over to Dryden. The Pipeline trail heading east out of Kenora is awesome and one of my all-time favourites.

 

[BLUEBALLER]

Hey Matt,

We haven't ventured into Ontario before. Do you know if they are still sticky on having an Ontario pass? Or are we good to go up till a certain point. I've heard conflicting reports on this, just wondering.

We weren't planning on heading that way, but nothings been ironed out yet. LOTS of time to plan this one.

Joe's got sled fever so bad his wife has caught him making sled noises at night since he bought the 4 stroker. lol

Also - I think there's a new Yammie dealership going up in Lac du Bonnet. Lucky us!!