Question about tunnel height...

[ViperTurboPete]

After seeing pics of everyone's mountain sleds I notice the tunnels (distance from running boards to the ground) sit quite high. My RXM was as high as the sky until I dropped the suspension into the tunnel making it much easier to drive (TV's suspension bracket mod).

Yesterday before going to work, I dropped the suspension into the tunnel of my work 700 Mountain Max. Again, while out working (and playing in the powder) the sled was easier to handle, tipping over very easily to carve, etc.

I always thought the more running board clearance you have, the better it is in deep snow. After riding my sled and my work sled with nip/tuck suspension, they are easier to carve, less top heavy.

So, seeing your sleds sitting so high and the noses pointing to the ground I am just wondering why...is it a mountain climbing thing? I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I just have to ask.

I am on the hunt for a 141 M7 suspension and I won't want the machine to sit too high at all (if I ever find one).

 

[SoCoRX1]

mine sits high because of the suspension. My ekholm kicks it pretty high.

Thats usually the case - the suspension having more travel than the stock 9" so it sits higher. Having more suspension travel is better for climbing

 

[doo_man]

I believe you need clearance but you also need the skid to be set-up soft to compress and not trench. I found with the M7 skid it had to be mounted tighter to the tunnel and on soft settings to get it to work real good in the deep snow. I did a set-back in my Summit a few years back and had too much lift in the rear and it was a trencher! Bad!

PS - Found a 162" skid and track, should have this month - M7 141" skid will be for sale - email me for pics! Won't be out until April though!

 

[Thrusted Vector]

The other problem you have with the suspension jacked is it changes the steering geometry and makes it harder to steer.Setting the skid into the tunnel allows it to transfer more,Linc

 

[SoCoRX1]

i finally rode the ekholm today and while it does kick the back up quite a bit, i noticed no difference on the trail. In the deep stuff it is a dream.

 

[Kachess]

Our sleds squat pretty low while riding and I think it helps with stability. I tried lowering the suspension to a lower mounting hole in the holz brackets and it was noticably tippier. I dropped it back down. Our tacks barely clear our exhaust. They still are able to make incredibly deep trenches without trencing out. The holz seems to have alot of sag and drop down when needed. I think the height of the stock suspension contributes to the sled's top heavy feel.

 

[snowmotion]

The only problem with a lowered tunnel is getting Stuck

The Stock 03 04 tunnel extention points down already with the suspention lowered into the skid in deep powder or very soft snow the running boards and the stock tail extention will take the track off the snow enough to get stuck much more easily than when it sits higher that said having it higher make the handeling totaly suck an after market tunnel extention or an after market tunnel will help but the lowered ride is easier to handle you will just be stuck more in real powder

 

[Jabber]

Pete I put a 162 x 15 under my sled with stock suspension. Had the rear in the lowest holes on the drop down bracket and had miles of ground clearance. The sled was very hard to steer, too much ski presure, it went ok in the deep powder and climbed ok.

I did Thrusted Vectors drop down mod and hooolllyy sh** what a difference. Steering is lighter and handles like it is on rails. In the steep and deep it keeps up to everyone. I can even high mark a 144 Rev now. Best mod Out there for us broke stockers.