</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One issue with these groomers is that theres no space for emergency clothing. I prefer not to where all my cold winter gear when grooming but it really stinks when you break down out in the woods and have to walk out. )</font>
Because mine is for family & recreational use, I've been giving this a lot of thought, and my needs are far different that the folks out in real remote regions. Here in the midwestern states, I doubt I would be out of CB radio or Cellphone range in most areas that I would travel, I can't imagine anyone being lost around here for multiple days but it is reasonable to assume a breakdown would yeild one very uncomfortable night and maybe a bit longer. So my plan is for a pack that will fit under the right side passenger seat and will be divided into a tool kit for repairs and a modest survival kit.
In the survival kit: 3 MREs, 6 granola/energy bars, Beef Jerky, first aid kit, 3(?) 100% wool blankets, 3 space blankets, 9 chemical hand warmers, water proof matches, spark stick, 2 LED flashlights, fresh alkaline batteries each season, 2 hunting knives, folding saw, water, 3 flares, duct tape, toilet paper. 3 candles (remove humidity from the air and create some heat). The point is really to be comfortable and safe for a reasonably short period, hopefully inside the cabin. This is not much more than would be carried in my SUV in the winter but in this area I think it is sufficient.
In the tool kit, are basic tools. The Snow Trac is a very simple vehicle. Basic wrenches, screwdrivers, nut drivers, pliers are all that is really necessary to maintain these. 6 chemical light sticks (they are windproof and could aid in a repair at dusk/night) A very sharp knife, like a carpet knife, would help with track repair. The 'variator belt' is probably the area of most concern, it controls the power to the tracks, an extra belt would be necessary in remote areas, I don't have one, I plan to get one. A fan belt. Some extra belting for the tracks would be excellent to carry, I'm planning on making a 24" run of track that could be cut into place as a repair. A good snow shovel, maybe 2 of them! 2 - 2"x30' tow straps.
Cliff . . . no. I did not. I'm still working on the interior and have taken pictures of the inside of the cabin, but not nearly enough. Right now it is useable and we've had some fun with it this year. Yesterday I finished the bench seats by making some padded and upholstered seats to put onto the metal seat pans (we had been using rubber mats to sit on, but they have 2" of foam padding now)
