Off Trail Mike
Gone Riding!
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In an effort to keep my floor from being soaked with melting ice and snow after a fluffy ride today, my daughter suggested putting tote lids under the sled to catch water.
I also realized this was a perfect opportunity to weigh the amount of water coming off our sleds and more specifically where it is coming from.
Using my trusty bathroom scales (what else would you use!) I waited until most of the water melted (5 hours), and began weighing. The 6 totes overlapped a bit and covered about 20" each and here is what I found.
These are actual weights (weight of container removed)
Starting from the back of the sled:
Tote 1: 8 lbs
Tote 2: 10.5 lbs
Tote 3: 11.5 lbs
Tote 4: 17 lbs
Tote 5: 0.5 lbs
Tote 6: 0.5 lbs
add maybe another 0.5 for the snow on the skis.
Grand total was 48.5 lbs (22kg's) with the vast majority being rear biased.
We ran in powder pretty much all day. About 200km's. Temperature was between -5 and 0 deg C, and I wouldn't say the sled was unusually full of snow.
I remember reading that Polaris or Arctic Cat had done some weight work, to compare sleds, stating that the competition gained something like 90 lbs in ice and snow.
Well our Nytro's look like they gain around half of that. Its a bit more than I was expecting, but not a surprise.
It also tells you maybe all the rear biased weight loss we are achieving with lighter skids is more than offset by all the snow buildup on the tunnel/skid so the imbalance while running is less than you might think.
OTM
I also realized this was a perfect opportunity to weigh the amount of water coming off our sleds and more specifically where it is coming from.
Using my trusty bathroom scales (what else would you use!) I waited until most of the water melted (5 hours), and began weighing. The 6 totes overlapped a bit and covered about 20" each and here is what I found.
These are actual weights (weight of container removed)
Starting from the back of the sled:
Tote 1: 8 lbs
Tote 2: 10.5 lbs
Tote 3: 11.5 lbs
Tote 4: 17 lbs
Tote 5: 0.5 lbs
Tote 6: 0.5 lbs
add maybe another 0.5 for the snow on the skis.
Grand total was 48.5 lbs (22kg's) with the vast majority being rear biased.
We ran in powder pretty much all day. About 200km's. Temperature was between -5 and 0 deg C, and I wouldn't say the sled was unusually full of snow.
I remember reading that Polaris or Arctic Cat had done some weight work, to compare sleds, stating that the competition gained something like 90 lbs in ice and snow.
Well our Nytro's look like they gain around half of that. Its a bit more than I was expecting, but not a surprise.
It also tells you maybe all the rear biased weight loss we are achieving with lighter skids is more than offset by all the snow buildup on the tunnel/skid so the imbalance while running is less than you might think.
OTM
bholmlate
Expert
Thank you for the write-up. there is some good real world information there Mike.
Dimebag
TY 4 Stroke God
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Mike,
Thats awesome. Ever since I saw the video of the ice packed sleds I've wondered what the number would be on our sleds!
This proves my argument with my pro-rmk buddy, that our sleds weigh pretty much the same after a ride - only difference is that I have about 50 hp more than him. Or even more at elevation.
Thanks!
He's gonna get the news on tomorrows ride
Thats awesome. Ever since I saw the video of the ice packed sleds I've wondered what the number would be on our sleds!
This proves my argument with my pro-rmk buddy, that our sleds weigh pretty much the same after a ride - only difference is that I have about 50 hp more than him. Or even more at elevation.
Thanks!
He's gonna get the news on tomorrows ride
Off Trail Mike
Gone Riding!
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Dimebag:
Hear Ya! When I did this I wasn't really thinking sled comparison, but today I realized that a 417lbs Pro RMK is great, but what does it gain? If we gain 50 and they gain 100, then there isn't such a big swing between sleds.
Unfortunately, I'll bet all sleds gain similarly, but I'd like to see some confirmation on that. We have rear exhausts, they have long rear heat exchangers. There might be differences.
I guess my point is that weight "gain" (from ice/snow) might be more important than weight "loss" from all our aftermarket parts......
Who knew?
OTM
Hear Ya! When I did this I wasn't really thinking sled comparison, but today I realized that a 417lbs Pro RMK is great, but what does it gain? If we gain 50 and they gain 100, then there isn't such a big swing between sleds.
Unfortunately, I'll bet all sleds gain similarly, but I'd like to see some confirmation on that. We have rear exhausts, they have long rear heat exchangers. There might be differences.
I guess my point is that weight "gain" (from ice/snow) might be more important than weight "loss" from all our aftermarket parts......
Who knew?
OTM
Dimebag
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I agree.
By the way, your sled looks killer
By the way, your sled looks killer
couch
Expert
Biggest problem is the variation between riding conditions. Wet sticky snow & mild temps versus dry powder & cold temp versus slush, etc. Have noticed that with the modified exhaust - pipe exiting bottom of muffler into the tunnel - snow buildup is mostly on back part of tunnel .... figuring on deleting front bulkhead cooler and rad / fan but adding tunnel cooler ... move weight back off of front end and get better cooling in return.
linemech31
Pro
Cat did a youtube video on this the poo gains nearly 100 pounds. If i remember right.
Off Trail Mike
Gone Riding!
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Couch
Agreed, big differences depending on conditions and tunnel setup (exhaust and coolers). My xtx is brutal with ice buildup in the tail and I attribute this directly to the stock muffler shedding so much water. We tried a tunnel dump on the xtx and it made the situation worse. Just think of all that hot exhaust gas mixing with snow. Brutal, and the colder the temps the worse the buildup.
My MTX with the Yoshi tipped @ 30 degrees is almost out of the tunnel and a deflector for the part remaining is a vast improvement. I've had it out at -15C and as high as 0 deg and the tail stays basically clean.
The other big one is between our lower A-Arms. I put a piece of foam in there and I'm sure that took 10 lbs off the front. That area cakes full of ice, and having the long Roest skiplate makes it catch even more. With the foam, problem solved.
Then there is the running boards...and everyone knows what a RPITA they are.
It would be great if we could get a few guys to weigh the snow pack on their sleds, that way we could compare results.
OTM
BTW Thanks Dimebag....lots of work, but you know alll about that!
Agreed, big differences depending on conditions and tunnel setup (exhaust and coolers). My xtx is brutal with ice buildup in the tail and I attribute this directly to the stock muffler shedding so much water. We tried a tunnel dump on the xtx and it made the situation worse. Just think of all that hot exhaust gas mixing with snow. Brutal, and the colder the temps the worse the buildup.
My MTX with the Yoshi tipped @ 30 degrees is almost out of the tunnel and a deflector for the part remaining is a vast improvement. I've had it out at -15C and as high as 0 deg and the tail stays basically clean.
The other big one is between our lower A-Arms. I put a piece of foam in there and I'm sure that took 10 lbs off the front. That area cakes full of ice, and having the long Roest skiplate makes it catch even more. With the foam, problem solved.
Then there is the running boards...and everyone knows what a RPITA they are.
It would be great if we could get a few guys to weigh the snow pack on their sleds, that way we could compare results.
OTM
BTW Thanks Dimebag....lots of work, but you know alll about that!
couch
Expert
I would really like to try a tube tunnel with SMC (thermo formed plastic) for a liner in place of the aluminium .... bet the snow / ice accumulation would be significantly less even with tunnel dump exhaust ... plus as the snow drops off it would be kicked onto the bulkhead cooler .... do not see a lot of snow / ice buildup on any open plastics on the sled.
