track truck

[osakis cabin]

I have a 1980 asv

track truck do I need tabs on it to drive on ice?

[Orlip]

It will need to registered with the dnr for sure.

[osakis cabin]

I figured one of the bomber guys up there would know for sure I asked a law enforcement person down here and he had no clue I think it would be classified as a ORV its over 1800 pounds which they say under 1800 is ohv according to DNR regs . I will register it that's not a problem but no idea if its a DMV thing its not for highway use .

[Walleyehooker]

I thought they were registered like snowmobiles but yours doesn't have skis on it which may or may not make a difference.

[Ballyhoo]

If you put skis on it, it is a snowmobile and will need to be registered as one. Right now it is an ORV. A lot of guys with 4 tracks on their small vehicles put skis under the front tracks so they can be called a snowmobile and drive on the trail up to Garden.

[Boar]

I know a guys that fabs skis for wheel houses ifn yur interested.

[LightningBG]

If you put skis on it, it is a snowmobile and will need to be registered as one. Right now it is an ORV. A lot of guys with 4 tracks on their small vehicles put skis under the front tracks so they can be called a snowmobile and drive on the trail up to Garden.

[Walleyehooker]

Will be interesting to see if the track rigs stay off of the trails on LOW or if they enforce it.

[jerkbait]

Mine is registered as a snowmobile. I put skies on the front. All my neighbors are registered the same too.

[Walleyehooker]

This is what the DNR site says

New in 2014: Snowmobile definition

"Snowmobile" means a self-propelled vehicle originally manufactured and designed for travel on snow or ice steered by skis or runners. Snowmobile does not include the following vehicles equipped with aftermarket ski and track configurations:

◾An all-terrain vehicle

◾An off-highway motorcycle

◾An off-road vehicle

◾A mini truck

◾A utility task vehicle, or any other vehicle being operated off road.

[Kaz]

It Will be interesting to see how the Resort Bombers handle this new definition.. I have a Polaris Ranger with tracks on the rear and skis on the front.. WHAT TO DO???

[Ballyhoo]

It will not affect the bombardiers, they were originally built as a snowmobile, powered by tracks, steered by skis. They are called a snowmobile by the mfg'er. Your Ranger on the other hand, falls right into the new regulations.

[Walleyehooker]

Maybe they should have said if it has more than 1 track its not a snowmobile.

[Kaz]

I think we can challenge this. If quacks like a duck and walks like a duck and looks like a duck, it's a duck. If it has tracks like a snowmobile and skis like a snowmobile and goes over snow like a snowmobile then we can call it a snowmobile. If a Bomber is called a snowmobile with two rear tracks and two front skis for steering why is a Ranger or any other vehicle with two rear tracks and two front skis for steering different?? I'd like to hear a Judges opinion on this.. Any Lawyers on the blog with an answer??

[Walleyehooker]

Im guessing this change is to try to keep these smaller rigs off of the other state snowmobile trails. LOW is about the only place where you have a lot of bombers and other large track rigs running around. And most state trails aren't even wide enough for some of these rigs.

[Kaz]

Then the DNR should post an exemption for LOTW.. Lots of fisherpersons use these on LOTW like you say, and it would create a Hardship and Safety Issue if they can not use the trail out to the Angle, plus Bridges and Knight, which are also on the State Trail.. I know Sportsman's uses the trail to get out to their Oak Island resort, and it's a "Bomber/Snowmobile" to haul clients out there..

[Ballyhoo]

Not that I am on the DNR's side but the wording they used is the difference. A bombardier was originally designed as a snowmobile. The word aftermarket applies to a Ranger or a Geo with tracks on them as they were originally designed to be driven with wheels. I think that the rule was made as people thought that if they paid the trail fee and it was registered that they could drive them on any snowmobile trails. It is not about tearing up the trail but safety as imagine riding a snowmobile and meeting a vehicle like that on a corner. The snowmobile would lose every time.

I think that we could push for a rule change for lakes only and it could be enforced. You unload and drive on the lake only, not on wooded trails.

[LightningBG]

I think it's about safety as well. I think a couple rangers meeting up on a narrow trail is recipe for disaster. On some trails its tough for normal sleds to meet and pass safely.

The bombers are a conundrum for the trails because they are built to be "snowmobiles". I think they are more or less stuck with letting them be snowmobiles.

In general, I think it would be best for them to just let the new definition stand and make exception to let "skied/tracked ATVs/UTVs/ORVs" use certain trails where deemed necessary like around LOW or wherever.

[Kaz]

Hey Guys we're talking "Lake Of The Woods" here not other trails in the State. The lake trails are as wide as a runway and not any curves I can think of. It's discrimination to now change the definition after many years of track/ski vehicles on the lake and not allow them to use the trails "on the lake". Yes I see where 4 wheel drive will damage the trails, but these vehicles with skis and tracks don't hurt them anymore that a Bomber/Snowmobile loaded with people does. We need and EXEMPTION on our lake.. Someone needs to talk to the DNR to get them to look at what they are doing..

[aczr2k]

I will continue to drive my tracked Polaris ranger on the so called "trails" on LOW. To me a staked out area on a lake is not a "trail". Is it a trail just because there is some lath stuck in the ice? I will not be disturbing anything or tearing anything up. The laws are made up by people with no common sense. Am I going to go trail riding in the woods? No of course not, but again MN is behind the times on this as well, many states and even in Canada tracked atvs/utvs are allowed on snowmobile trails and with some trail maintenance it would be perfectly safe.

[fiskyknut]

Well some are indeed groomed and designated snowmobile trails.

[Freewheeler]

I just registered my Conversion Jeep and State sold me tabs and trail sticker through 017. Lic and Registered after August this year. It says Jeep on the Snowmobile Tag as well. It has skis on the front also. You would think the Lic people would tell you if you could no longer do that on Lake of the Woods, before they took your money just for that purpose. Then again its not trail time yet either. Maybe time to bend some ears.

[osakis cabin]

Well I'm pretty sure its not a duck lol !!it did come with skis and has tires to move it around in summer time I have no desire to operate it on a trail . just want to go to fish house and back .in osakis we have no lake trail

[Twisted]

Track truck is an OHV, skis or wheels. Same with my twin track groomer.

Commercial vehicles are exempt on state lands/waters. That's how the resorts pull it off.

Anyone notice if the trail groomer on LOW has skis???

[NAMASafetyDirector]

The groomers on LOW and the Rainy River trail are being pulled by Jeeps with American Track Truck tracks on all 4.

[jerkbait]

Track truck is an OHV, skis or wheels. Same with my twin track groomer.

Commercial vehicles are exempt on state lands/waters. That's how the resorts pull it off.

Anyone notice if the trail groomer on LOW has skis???

Funny, my track truck is licensed as a snowmobile.

[Twisted]

My info comes from a long conversation with a CO and a lot of research after driving on 50' of groomed trail with my groomer, and getting pinched, after pulling into one of the resorts along the way. Your TT being a snowmobile makes life way easier. My Bombardier bus is listed as a vintage snowmobile so good to go there.

I guess all we can do is follow the rules and enjoy the ice as best as we can. Good luck to you all and have fun on the hard water.

[jerkbait]

So I wonder, what is a Sno-bear licensed as? that is twin tracks with skis.

[leech~~]

So I wonder, what is a Sno-bear licensed as? that is twin tracks with skis.

If I remember right the Snow-bear has to have a Snowmobile lic on it too?

[aczr2k]

It's just plain senseless why these idiots in the head office of the DNR can't figure out such simple things.