‘18+ Snow Flaps

B

brendank69

Free Member

Nov 11, 2009

52

23

8

Canada

• Nov 14, 2018

• #1

‘18+ Snow Flaps

What are guys running for snow flaps after adding an aftermarket rear bumper? Most aftermarket bumpers don’t support the back of the flap like the stock bumper does. I have one ride on my alpha and the factory flap is cracked and almost ripped out of the rivets on the tunnel already because of this.

Would prefer to avoid skinz as I’ve had a terrible experience with them in the past. What are the other options?

 

Last edited: Nov 14, 2018

B

blackcat09

Free Member

Aug 18, 2013

7

1

3

Canada

• Nov 14, 2018

• #2

I was looking at the PDP ones, I can't say for sure how good they are as the snow flap was low priority on the list of things to buy so i havent gotten one yet. They do look pretty good and are fairly inexpensive.
http://www.sledsolutions.com/index.php?id_category=49&contr

 

summ8rmk

Most handsome

Lifetime Membership

Premium Member

Feb 16, 2008

12,368

6,039

113

yakima, wa.

• Nov 14, 2018

• #3

What happens if run without a flap?
Deep snow performance will be improved, that i can promise.
My 09 made it 3,000 miles without a flap. No downside to me or the sled, just people behind me on the trail... lol

 

B

blackcat09

Free Member

Aug 18, 2013

7

1

3

Canada

• Nov 14, 2018

• #4

Did you ever have trouble keeping it cool on the trail? My 09 m8 is a PITA to keep cool at the best of times even with the flap on. Maybe I have an issue or something but she likes to creep 140°F unless conditions are mint

 

summ8rmk

Most handsome

Lifetime Membership

Premium Member

Feb 16, 2008

12,368

6,039

113

yakima, wa.

• Nov 14, 2018

• #5

09 Temp light came on two times in 4,000 miles. I had a gas can on top of the heat exchange both times and it was after 4 miles of up hill ice road riding. Most of the time i didn't even use scratchers on the trail. Just drag a foot here and there.

My 14 cat, whole nuther story.. can't even go down hill on a trail without scratchers down.

18 cat seemed almost as good as the 09.
I shortened the flap but never removed it.

 

P

pruner

Free Member

Dec 20, 2007

83

14

8

northern michigan by lake superior

• Nov 14, 2018

• #6

I'm running a 2016 Polaris RMK snow flap. $40 and works just fine.

 

U

ultrasks700

Well-known member

Premium Member

Jul 7, 2009

462

172

43

39

MAINE

• Nov 15, 2018

• #7

I went all of last season without a snoflap and didnt miss it one bit. Zero overheating problems(the HX is in the front so it doesnt matter if its there or not). IF you did really want ot have one Hubs performance offers rebadged polaris Pro one that alot of guys like

 

summ8rmk

Most handsome

Lifetime Membership

Premium Member

Feb 16, 2008

12,368

6,039

113

yakima, wa.

• Nov 15, 2018

• #8

Wonder if anyone has tried the ski-doo removable flap? That would be ideal.
Use it when u need to ride some trail, take it off when the snow is plentiful.

 

Vertical-Extreme

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Sep 15, 2008

1,555

500

113

42

Airdrie, Alberta

www.airdriejudo.ca

• Nov 15, 2018

• #9

No flap since 09 for me. Run the scratchers on the trail all the time and be done

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

CO 2.0

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Nov 26, 2007

4,470

2,994

113

44

Fort Collins, CO

• Nov 15, 2018

• #10

Yeah I haven't ran a flap in years. First thing that comes off my new sled. Only have overheat issues in real hard pack snow where the scratchers aren't kicking enough up. Happens maybe a couple times per year. Flaps just get too much in the way when you're stuck and digging out.

 

kidwoo

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Dec 28, 2008

2,630

1,875

113

• Nov 15, 2018

• #11

I like the PDP ones. Simple and the fact that they're smooth means they collect less buildup than the stock ones. And they don't auger into the snow because they actually flex. Also, why any sled company still makes horizontal bumpers is just stupid. Skidoo figured it out and finally raised the handles. Like tethers and powdercoated tunnels, there are some things that should be universal on mountain sleds. With a raised bumper it doesn't matter if your flap folds out when you get stuck.


Running without a flap seems crazy to me given how hot these sleds get (and quickly) with 3" tracks. Riding up in Pemberton last year in the mornings on icy groomers was a constant effort to keep cooling the sled down. Sometimes there's just not fresh snow at staging areas.

 

Wheel House Motorsports

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Nov 27, 2007

29,933

5,968

113

34

SW MT

• Nov 15, 2018

• #12

Flapless For sure. The cat track hooks and throws so much snow back into the tunnel it has to be the best stock sled for not overheating on the trail with no flap. Obviously on real icy days it is still a bit of an issue, but not enough to justify a flap.

The OEM flap is crazy stiff, dang near a wheelie bar.

 

B

brendank69

Free Member

Nov 11, 2009

52

23

8

Canada

• Nov 15, 2018

• #13

Thanks guys. Not sure if I’m ready to go flapless yet, I do have some concerns about cooling on the trail. Looks like PDP is probably my best bet.

 

F_ast

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Feb 22, 2008

973

361

63

41

Ontario

• Nov 15, 2018

• #14

I run a rogue rear bumper on mine

I used a ratched strap band and bolted it on with a stud washer.

 

Dam Dave

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Premium Member

Oct 27, 2001

4,302

2,252

113

Montrose

• Nov 23, 2018

• #15

brendank69 said:

Thanks guys. Not sure if I’m ready to go flapless yet, I do have some concerns about cooling on the trail. Looks like PDP is probably my best bet.

Click to expand...

PDP is junk

 

kidwoo

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Dec 28, 2008

2,630

1,875

113

• Nov 23, 2018

• #16

Wheel House Motorsports said:

The OEM flap is crazy stiff, dang near a wheelie bar.

Click to expand...

Rigid snowflaps are up there with wobble clutches and anytime polaris comes out with "new lightweight crankshaft"

Just shouldn't be done.

 

SledGuru

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

May 9, 2008

870

104

43

WY 307

• Nov 23, 2018

• #17

I know u preferred not skinz but I love the short flap on my 18. I ordered off Ebay and never had any issues. Minor trimming was required

Hoss

 

M

Matte Murder

Well-known member

Lifetime Membership

Premium Member

May 4, 2011

3,579

2,259

113

• Nov 24, 2018

• #18

I ran the removable flap on my 18 Doo last year. Stopped packing it around after half the season because I NEVER put it on. Really noticed a difference in better performance too. Had to reset my “sensors” on when I though I was going to be stuck. Late in the year on ice I did regret not packing it on the tunnel and over heated on that trail ride to the goods so I just put it on the back of the sled and kept it on for the last few rides.
For what’s its worth.....
You guys got me thinking I don’t need no stinking snowflap on my Alpha this year.

 

J

j hoalst

Free Member

Jan 17, 2010

214

35

28

40

emmett,idaho

• Nov 24, 2018

• #19

Itek industries in canada offers a bumper that has a bracket that rivets to the stock location on the stock flap. Also had bad luck with pdp unless u get their super long flap. I doesnt attach to the bumper and hangs down into the track on bumps

 

J

jim

Well-known member

Nov 26, 2007

1,014

635

113

Boise

• Nov 26, 2018

• #20

Did you ever have trouble keeping it cool on the trail? My 09 m8 is a PITA to keep cool at the best of times even with the flap on. Maybe I have an issue or something but she likes to creep 140°F unless conditions are mint

Click to expand...

I have no flap on my 09 M8 Turbo. No overheating issues...not even close. I have scratchers. I don't miss the flap.

One thing about the 09 is that the flap can get sucked into the track and block the rear cooler...this will cause overheating. Come to think about it, the only time I've seen overheating on that model year is when the flap gets sucked up into the tunnel and blocks the cooler.