97 vmax 700sx mountain conversion

Sx700bb

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What is the easiest skid to swap into my vmax 700 sx? If there is such a thing.. The sled runs awesome, just does terrible in powder over a foot in depth. Is a mountain max skid a direct bolt on swap?
 

I would do a rail and tunnel extension to a 136" if your still looking to trail ride it. Anything over that and the skid really gives up a lot performance wise being stretched that much. A mtn Max skid may depending on the year use the front skid mounting hole and that's it. The center mount is farther back and the rear mount is almost at the end of the tunnel with steel drop brackets to get the mount below the tunnel.

What is your goal? A full blown mountain sled conversion or just better off trail performance? If you go the mtn max route the 2000 and up skids have a better track approach angle. You will also need to change the gearing, clutch weights are different and the drive axle runs 8 tooth drivers on anything over 1.5" lug. You can keep the 9 tooth if you take the tunnel protectors out.
 
Extend your skid to 136" and get a 1.35" Cobra track or something simular. It certainly won't be a full on mountain sled, but the difference off trail is really amazing, and keep good on trail handling.
 
What kit do you guys recommend as far as the extension goes? I'm looking to maintain trail
Riding ability, I'm just looking to turning it into something that doesn't sink like a rock when I hit powder


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I know how you feel. Even with a factory long track my Venture was absolutely pathetic in any kind of snow with the stock rubber. Its a completly different animal with a Cobra track!

I have no experience with rail extension but TrackUSA sells them and seem to be a popular choice on this Web site.
Sometimes you can get lucky and just get an entire long track skid for reasonably cheap. Goodluck
 
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Well when it snows it snows. A lot of the trails have fallen trees across them that the forestry doesn't bother cleaning up. I was riding last weekend and came into an area that that was 3-4' deep of powder and needless to say I got frustrated quickly with the the sleds tendency to sink.


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By the sounds of it, I would feel better if you stretched it out to 144. That would be the way to go to insure you don't get left out buried somewhere. And then if you do that, you can put the Cobra 1.6 on it.
 
I had tracksusa rails on my mtn Max when it went 151". I can say they are the best looking extensions around. I really like the way everything interlocks and it extends the rail so you can run a longer hyfax all the way back to the rear axle. If you decide to go 144 I would use tip ups to keep some kind of trail handling.

For what it's worth my 136" Indy sks with a 1.5" ripsaw is an animal in deep snow. It will carve powder and rock the deep snow like my mountain sled. The only difference is being selective where I stop, how steep uphill I point it and how slow I go. And sled to sled the Indy is much heavier than the mountain max was before I started lightening it.
 
First things first. If you still have the stock steel skis, we need to get the front end on top of the powder. Judging on your snow conditions, start searching for skis that are 8" wide or better. Once your floating on top and not plowing through the snow, your existing skid set-up will be more affective. After you get skis, we can work on the skid.
If you would like pm me your ski budget and I can look around for you.
 
listen to these guys, they helped me out a lot with mine, i did slp rail extension to 136 with 1.5 track and mountain max front end sled goes places i didn't think it would, only thing i need to do is get a new shock for the rear and tighten the shit out of it so me and the wife can ride lol.
 
listen to these guys, they helped me out a lot with mine, i did slp rail extension to 136 with 1.5 track and mountain max front end sled goes places i didn't think it would, only thing i need to do is get a new shock for the rear and tighten the shit out of it so me and the wife can ride lol.

Did you do the 8 tooth driver?
 


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