So you are wondering what would be the best towing equipment for your snow groomer.  Are you wondering which is the best Side by side versus snowmobile?

In this article, we are pitting snowmobiles up against tracked side by sides. You can tow snow groomers with both but each other the different options have their pluses and minuses.

The Snow Groomer crew has a Ski-Doo Skandic, Honda Pioneer with Tracks, and a Yamaha Rhino with tracks.

We use both options during our winter snow grooming schedule.

Let’s dive into the snowmobiles first.

2021 Ski Doo Skandic WT 900 Ace

Snowmobile Snow Grooming Advantages

 

Snowmobiles are a great tool to pull a snow groomer and are built to handle the snow and cold.  This is true for quite a few reasons.  Especially when comparing them to a side by side.  Snowmobiles can go places where side by side cannot simply because they are not as wide as a UTV.  There are many trails that are only wide enough for a snowmobile to fit through.  Cross country ski trails and fat bike trails are often narrow.  So basically if your trails are narrow then the snowmobile or a snow-dog is the right kind of machine for towing your snow groomer.

Also if your snow groomer is an ultra-lightweight snow groomer then you typically have zero issues with towing. If your snow groomer is a very large drag then only a couple of utility snowmobiles will be able to handle that kind of weight.

 

A snowmobile may be what you already have.  If you have a snowmobile then using it to snow groom makes way more sense than buying a new side by side.  There are a few work-type utility snowmobiles that are meant for towing.  

Utility Snowmobiles for Snow Grooming

  • Ski Doo Skandic
  • Yamaha VK
  • Polaris Voyager
  • Ski Doo Expedition
  • Arctic Cat Bearcat

They already have places to attach a groomer too (Rear Hitch).   If you have them they work fantastic and can even pull our larger groomers.  If you have a mountain sled or touring machine then you will need to get a tow hitch so you can attach the snow groomer. 

Keep in mind that the towing speed while grooming snow should be around 8-12 mph. Lots of mountain sleds do not have the clutching to go that slow and its really hard on your belt but that does not mean you cannot tow a snow groomer.

You can see this in action in our videos on youtube.

Below is a list of the pros and cons of a snowmobile versus the tracked UTV’s.

Utility Snowmobile Pros

  • Hitch for towing
  • High and Low gearing for towing
  • Comfortable to ride
  • Large and wide tracks for traction
  • Electric start
  • Can fit down tighter trails
  • Economical when compared to a UTV or Snow Cat
  • Multi-use in the winter
  • Easier to see your snow groomer
  • Less impact on your trails

Utility Snowmobile Cons

  • Get stuck easier
  • Hard to maneuver
  • Exposed to the elements
  • Cannot haul as much
  • Cannot tow as much

 

Snowmobiles when compared to a side by side are less expensive to operate.  Less gas is the key thing here.  It is easy to just leave a small groomer behind your machine if you are doing chores or out cruising and you will hardly know it is back there.  

Side by sides with tracks have a larger turning radius than snowmobiles and because you can lean on a snowmobile it is simply much more nimble.

Snowmobiles can be easier to get unstuck.  This is only some of the time.  If you have a winch on your side by side then getting unstuck may be easier than lifting your snowmobile.

UTV snow groomer

UTV with Tracks Snow Grooming Advantages

 

A Side by side with tracks can pull large groomers in deep snow with ease.  See video.  They also can pull a larger groomer in deep powder than you can on a snowmobile.

It is easy to not go too fast when grooming on a side by side with tracks and it is much easier to go too fast on a snowmobile.

 

Having company when doing a large snow groom run can make it more fun. On a snowmobile riding double and pulling a groomer is lots harder than sitting side by side although getting hugged is nice.  MAny snowmobiles do not even have space to sit 2 people.

I love having a rearview mirror that is way more likely to come standard on a side by side than on a snowmobile.  There are mirrors on some snowmobiles but they are few and far between. It’s really easy to add a rearview mirror or side mirrors to your UTV.  Being able to watch your snow groomer in the mirror is nice to just see how things are working and that there is no trouble.

It is easy to haul extra tools in your side by side that you need for clearing trail when a tree has fallen or other trail issues.  Maybe the best tool is that you can have a snowplow on your side by side.  This tool can knock down drifts.  Cut the top side of the drift and move it to the bottom to make the trail more level.  Even take a first pass at knocking down moguls.  I have never seen a snowmobile with a plow on the front.

Most of Side by sides come with a hitch or place to put a hitch to pull your groomer.  It is nice when things are standard in getting to the job at hand.

Most of the time a side by side can pull more than a snowmobile so if your trail is wide enough then a side by side is a great towing machine for snow grooming.

Utility UTV Pros

  • Harder to get stuck in the snow
  • Tons of traction
  • Much larger towing capacity
  • ZERO issues going slow
  • More comfortable (Some have heated cabs)
  • More versatile and can be used in the summer
  • Carry more people and tools

 

Utility UTV Cons

  • More Expensive
  • Larger turning radius
  • Harder to fit down tight wooded trails
  • Hard to see your snow groomer
  • The tracks can level small ruts in your trail

Summary,

Depending on what you need to do.  What you may already own and how wide the trails are can be the difference in whether or not you choose a snowmobile as a towing machine versus a side by side.  We use both as they each have advantages.  What you already own can be the major factor in what to use.