[Jozz]

Over the years we saw many different tools and machinery to groom fatbike trails. From the time consuming snowshoe packing, to the somewhat bothersome and unreliable snowdog, to the ski doo Tundra highway maker.

Behold the MTT-154 lithium powered remote controlled snowbot!

 

[Jm_]

Needs to be about 1.5x as wide to get the sides reinforced IME. The main issue with all the snow-dog sized stuff is its basically for making a walking path to your mailbox. Need two independent tracks (for turning and reverse) and wide enough to compress enough so the end result isnt everyone slipping off the abrupt edges into nothingness.

Will be interesting to see, but the hand built stuff with snowshoes and snowshoves is always better here (than the “groomed”)

 

[Jozz]

Needs to be about 1.5x as wide to get the sides reinforced IME. The main issue with all the snow-dog sized stuff is its basically for making a walking path to your mailbox. Need two independent tracks (for turning and reverse) and wide enough to compress enough so the end result isnt everyone slipping off the abrupt edges into nothingness.

Will be interesting to see, but the hand built stuff with snowshoes and snowshoves is always better here (than the “groomed”)

It's 24 inches wide. They did not receive the winter grooming attachment yet which will be 30 inches wide. The thing actually turns by its pivot point (look at the hydraulic cylinder at the hitch point). He literally did a 180 in his garage!
It's controlled by an Atari style joystick.

That thing can also be used on summer hiking trail. It climbs in rocks and roots and mud like a tank.

Oh, cost $40k

 

[Jm_]

It's 24 inches wide. They did not receive the winter grooming attachment yet which will be 30 inches wide. The thing actually turns by its pivot point (look at the hydraulic cylinder at the hitch point). He literally did a 180 in his garage!
It's controlled by an Atari style joystick.

That thing can also be used on summer hiking trail. It climbs in rocks and roots and mud like a tank.

Oh, cost $40k

That sounds promising!

 

[Jozz]

That sounds promising!

Bragg Creek Trails on Instagram: "Hey fellow trail enthusiasts! We need your help to raise funds for an MTT-154 to keep our trails in top shape. Our old tools are about as effective as a spoon for digging, so we’re calling on you to help us upgrade. Plus, let’s be real, we’re tired of the blisters and sore backs from lugging the tools necessary for trail maintenance, and the body dexterity needed for Fatbike grooming with the bikes in deep snow. At $50,000, this electric vehicle will carry, push and pull high loads, making trail maintenance and grooming that much easier for volunteers. And remember, if it’s easier for volunteers, they’ll be less tired and can get more work done on your beloved trails! Help us out and donate at the link in our bio! #NewToolsNewTrails #DiggingForDonations#ToolsForThrills #ShovelReady #SupportYourTrails #TrailBossesUnite"

106 likes, 0 comments - braggcreektrails on May 6, 2023: "Hey fellow trail enthusiasts! We need your help to raise funds for an MTT-154 to keep our trails in top shape. Our old tools are about as effective as a spoon for digging, so we’re calling on you to help us upgrade. Plus, let’s be real...

www.instagram.com

 

[Rockland]

I remember seeing the tease for this electric job a long time ago. That thing is rad. Snowdog's are such turds.

 

[Jozz]

Snowdog's are such turds.

They are good at what they were designed for. Ice fishing on a lake. On mountain trails they are so hard to control. And not powerful enough to conquer more than six inches of snow.

And yes, they are turds!

 

[canadmos]

I can only picture snow dogs or even this battery robot with trailer thing barrel rolling down a slope after sliding off a bench cut

 

[Rockland]

They are good at what they were designed for. Ice fishing on a lake. On mountain trails they are so hard to control. And not powerful enough to conquer more than six inches of snow.

And yes, they are turds!

We modified ours with an articulated bar. It's helped steering some. Still not great.

 

[Jozz]

We modified ours with an articulated bar. It's helped steering some. Still not great.
View attachment 203564

Do you have to navigate steep up and down, or steep side hills?

 

[Rockland]

Do you have to navigate steep up and down, or steep side hills?

Yup. It's not a magic bullet on off-cambers, but it does help. When you reach "full lock" with the bar tilted over, the chain is taught, limiting any further tilt. You end up in a stronger body position to keep the dog from roll over.

 

[Rockland]

Better photo to help.

 

[kidwoo]

ski doo Tundra highway maker.

You deviated from this why exactly?

 

[Jozz]

You deviated from this why exactly?

What makes fatbike riding tolerable and fun is the narrowness and steepness of the trail. Can't achieve that with a Tundra.

 

[kidwoo]

What makes fatbike riding tolerable and fun is the narrowness and steepness of the trail.

I'll have to take your word for it.

Just kidding

LOL




Get a narrower sled. Tundras is fattys


Is that really that much narrower?

 

[Jozz]

I'll have to take your word for it.

Just kidding

LOL




Get a narrower sled. Tundras is fattys


Is that really that much narrower?

No. Probably a second pass with the snowturd. Plastic sled is a bit wider than the track. Tundra leaves skid marks outside the thread.

 

[canadmos]

Multiple snowdogs broken all the time, let's fund buying another one!

 

[Jozz]

The organization that manage my backyard trails bought this to groom the trails. I was skeptical, but so far it seems to do a pretty good job. They drag a 15 inches rim behind which create a 24 inches thread. We haven't gotten more than 8 inches at a time this season and thing seems to be able to compact it nicely. Although the edges remains softer than the center.

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[canadmos]

The organization that manage my backyard trails bought this to groom the trails. I was skeptical, but so far it seems to do a pretty good job. They drag a 15 inches rim behind which create a 24 inches thread. We haven't gotten more than 8 inches at a time this season and thing seems to be able to compact it nicely. Although the edges remains softer than the center.

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Looks way more fun than dragging a snow dog through the trails!

 

[Jozz]

Looks way more fun than dragging a snow dog through the trails!

So far it looks more reliable. No noise, no 'polution' and probably a bit heavier considering the rider sits on it + the weight of the batteries.

 

[rideit]

I’m envisioning a time in the future where the precise trail can be mapped so the device could actually go out at 4:00 am or whatever, and just groom autonomously.

 

[Jozz]

I’m envisioning a time in the future where the precise trail can be mapped so the device could actually go out at 4:00 am or whatever, and just groom autonomously.

Related, not related at all. For a couple of winters, a trail network in Quebec used a pair of 32 inches Honda tracked snowblowers to groom the trails. A friend of mine rode the trails and said it was a hoot since you were riding in some sort of 30 inches deep gulleys.

edit: Actually found a YT vid. Doesn’t look that deep, but might have been different has winter progressed.

 

[rideit]

We have about 50 miles that are groomed to be like that. High speed berms, rollers, jumps, all of it.

 

[Jm_]

We have about 50 miles that are groomed to be like that. High speed berms, rollers, jumps, all of it.

It better not be flat.

 

[rideit]

Faaaaaar from flat.
On a fairly typical ride, I get in 1200-2k vert.

 

[Jm_]

Faaaaaar from flat.
On a fairly typical ride, I get in 1200-2k vert.

Theres a new flat track w/maybe 250’ vert with a bunch of berms jumps and rolls theres no way to actually get air on w/a fatbike cuz its way too flat, but since its groomed flat w/a snowmobile it seems most riders think its the best thing ever. Seems boring as hell to me. Luckily w/little snow we’ve had epic conditions for the trails w/actual vert…but the “flat wide groomed” seems to attract riders like flies on shit. Good to hear it’s not flat.

 

[rideit]

The ‘jumps’ are really just snow covered, large drainage features (used to be known as water bars, but they design them to be fun for bikes and motos here these days).
So, yeah, steep enough that drainage is an issue.