Hey Bob, that is defiantly a cool machine. When I mentioned space for gear I was talking more towards the newer Two place groomers being used. (Tucker, Piston Bully, BR). The BR120 looks like there is a lot more cab room. Luckily I have always been able to get back home, but one of our guys broke down and walked out. We only groom at night, so it was probably about midnight. Poor guy forgot his keys back in the groomer so he walked back in to get them and walked back out. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
MAINE FOLKS FAVORITE WINTER TRACTOR
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Bob_Skurka
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I think the more modern machines have a lot less space in them than the older units. Mine is similar in size to an older Land Rover with rear bench seats that oppose each other, giving it a reasonable amount of passenger and storage space. The two exterior rails also function to hold gear and the Snow Trac is designed to carry 1000 pounds of cargo. In Scotland they were often loaded up with square bales of hay strapped over their tops from the left side track over the cabin to the right side track. They also built a short cab version for grooming that seated 2, but still had a reasonable amount of storage behind the cab since it was built on the same chassis, that version was often fitted with wider tracks.
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Here's the first Snow Cat. --WWII vintage Studebaker M29 "Weasel". My Dad, rest his soul, was in the Ski troops (10th Mountain Division) that trained in Colorado and kicked the SS out of Northern Italy. A Good number of the prewar skiers who went into the 10th and returned home to start the ski industry as we know it. They used these in training and a bit in combat and it no doubt influences the gromers of today.
Supposedly this thing was capable of speeds around 50 MPH over snow. Oy!
Supposedly this thing was capable of speeds around 50 MPH over snow. Oy!
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Bird
Rest in Peace
Duncan, my parents moved to Anchorage, AK, in October '65 without knowing that one of my brothers in the Air Force was being transferred to Elmendorf AFB that same month. Three years later, my other brother got out of the Air Force in California and went up there to visit and stayed. My Dad bought an old Weasel that they used for caribou and moose hunting.
Bird,
I'd kill to have one now. I Have a place in VT that was built by my father, a die-hard skier, when I was 2. If I had a weasel, my friends and I could screw the ski areas out of $70/day each in lift tickets.... Vermont has a lot of "sugarbushes" (stands of Sugar Maple that shade out all undergrowth)....the ones on steep mountains are very skiable...get a group of guys, one drives the machine down and the rest ski down then rotate. There are "sugarin' roads" everywhere for the weasel.
I'd kill to have one now. I Have a place in VT that was built by my father, a die-hard skier, when I was 2. If I had a weasel, my friends and I could screw the ski areas out of $70/day each in lift tickets.... Vermont has a lot of "sugarbushes" (stands of Sugar Maple that shade out all undergrowth)....the ones on steep mountains are very skiable...get a group of guys, one drives the machine down and the rest ski down then rotate. There are "sugarin' roads" everywhere for the weasel.
OP
escavader
Veteran Member
I got a local friend,Mike ,who posted on the CASE FORUM.He put tracks on an isuzu trooper to pull the drags with.He also puts them on his atvs,its amazing where they will go,and how much they will pull.I will see if he can post us a pic here.
ALAN
ALAN
Maine_Polack
Gold Member
I Have occasionaly visited the Fort-O-Kent area. I don't have a sled, but could not help seeing, and being impressed by a local club's groomer. Don't know their name. They reside on the Sly Brook Rd., near Eagle Lake.
Their groomer consisted of a very large New Holland Blue tractor, that had 4 sets of tracks, where the four wheels would be. The Groomer sled behind it was also large. It seems to me now the perhaps this grooming rig might have been bigger that their clubhouse.
Sledding in the "County" is really big business. It amazed me that after they redeived a 3 foot snowfall, our Gov. applied to the Feds. for Emergency assistance! Holy #$%$# Moly!
I described where it is located because maybe somone has a pic. they would post.
Their groomer consisted of a very large New Holland Blue tractor, that had 4 sets of tracks, where the four wheels would be. The Groomer sled behind it was also large. It seems to me now the perhaps this grooming rig might have been bigger that their clubhouse.
Sledding in the "County" is really big business. It amazed me that after they redeived a 3 foot snowfall, our Gov. applied to the Feds. for Emergency assistance! Holy #$%$# Moly!
I described where it is located because maybe somone has a pic. they would post.
Bob_Skurka
Super Member
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ( Bird,
I'd kill to have one now. I Have a place in VT that was built by my father, a die-hard skier, when I was 2. If I had a weasel, my friends and I could screw the ski areas out of $70/day each in lift tickets.... Vermont has a lot of "sugarbushes" (stands of Sugar Maple that shade out all undergrowth)....the ones on steep mountains are very skiable...get a group of guys, one drives the machine down and the rest ski down then rotate. There are "sugarin' roads" everywhere for the weasel. )</font>
There is a very nice Studebaker Weasel for sale on Ebay right now. Its got a custom interior and paint job and looks like a limo for use on the snow.
I also know of a mid-1970's Snow Trac for sale privately, send me a PM if you are interested. It is located in the New England area.
I'd kill to have one now. I Have a place in VT that was built by my father, a die-hard skier, when I was 2. If I had a weasel, my friends and I could screw the ski areas out of $70/day each in lift tickets.... Vermont has a lot of "sugarbushes" (stands of Sugar Maple that shade out all undergrowth)....the ones on steep mountains are very skiable...get a group of guys, one drives the machine down and the rest ski down then rotate. There are "sugarin' roads" everywhere for the weasel. )</font>
There is a very nice Studebaker Weasel for sale on Ebay right now. Its got a custom interior and paint job and looks like a limo for use on the snow.
I also know of a mid-1970's Snow Trac for sale privately, send me a PM if you are interested. It is located in the New England area.
