16 Front End or 3 Inch Power Claw?

89sandman · Jan 25, 2016

I've been trying to decide which of these mod's to do first to my 2012 Pro Climb. One day I'm ready to do the front end the next I think I'd rather have the 3 inch. Don't want to spend the coin to do both this season so have to decide on one or the other. Does anyone know if you have to change the drivers on the 12 or can I run the 8 tooth. Know I have to have my shocks shortened to do the front end kit.

CO 2.0 · Jan 25, 2016

If you have a 2.25 track currently then I'd do the 3".

tswan · Jan 25, 2016

3 inch is a huge difference. Other than being new, the front end thing does not seem to be all its cracked up to be. That is my take on it. I am sure someone will call me stupid.

cpa · Jan 25, 2016

Isn't it fun to have to make such hard decision? I would go track if it was me.

kuart · Jan 25, 2016

While Id love to go 3" track. I have the Barcode 36" wide kit. And its night and day difference in handling.

DDECKER · Jan 25, 2016

Id gladly sell you a slightly used 3" 153 track

M8onEdge · Jan 25, 2016

What's your goal? Seems like different objectives. I've jumped back and forth from my '15 with '16 cat front and '14 without and difference in ease of finding edge, steering and sidehilling is huge. But, if you want to climb or perform better in the snow, 3" track is big over 2.25. Crap, go rob a convenience store or something, you really need both!

Chewy22 · Jan 25, 2016

M8onEdge said:
What's your goal? Seems like different objectives. I've jumped back and forth from my '15 with '16 cat front and '14 without and difference in ease of finding edge, steering and sidehilling is huge. But, if you want to climb or perform better in the snow, 3" track is big over 2.25. Crap, go rob a convenience store or something, you really need both!

x2, do both - sell your plasma if you have too. I've owned a 13 153 LE, a 14 162 LE (one season with stock front, 2nd season with the skinz front-end) and this 16 153 LE is hands down the best of the lot, the funnest damn sled. The 3 inch track and new front end is a sweet azz combo.

summ8rmk · Jan 25, 2016

I just ordered the front end.
Side hilling on firm snow sucks with the 14 front end. The 2.6 does well for my area.

GS6

rockymtnboy · Jan 25, 2016

Track!! Especially if ya got a 2.25. The skinny front end is nice but the 3" is king! The 8t will work fine. Running them on my 13 m8t and they work great.

WyoBoy1000 · Jan 26, 2016

I would do the bm fab boards first if you haven't.

Then the track, then at least the 16 spindles with z Bros upper arm, or go with the cat 36

DDECKER · Jan 26, 2016

Ill post info here just due to the 9 emails I got lol so here we go 1 owner 3"x153 track! Track only has 1500 miles on it give or take, great shape only missing 3/5 lugs all in random spots left and right side none are in a row at least

make offer! please

madmax · Jan 26, 2016

If you still have the stock 40" 2012 front end I'd be real tempted to do the front end first. Either one will make a huge difference on a stock 12'. Just an idea, Maybe compromise if you don't have the funds. Do a 38" front with wyo steering mod. That will be a huge improvement on the front and you don't have to buy new shocks. Then do a 2.6 track. The 2.6 is a big improvement over the 2.25 and you can pick them up for under $500 used. You could do the 38" front and 2.6 track combined (if you find good used parts) for less than doing the 16' front or 3" if you buy them new.

There are quite a few good used complete 38" front ends around for pretty cheap.

Another thing to consider is how much longer you going to keep this sled? Doing the 3" track and 16' front end is a lot of money to spend on a 2012.

89sandman · Jan 26, 2016

Will be keeping the sled for awhile, only 1200 miles and got it for the full tunnel cooler. I have grandkids that are starting to ride so like the bigger seat of the 12 for when I'm cruising trails and riding double. Have all the updates done and once I get the narrow front end and bigger track I figure I'm close enough to what a current year has to make me happy and in it a lot less.

Bacon · Jan 26, 2016

My take is get a 2.6 track and the new front end. The 3 inch track is a great track but for 90% of riding the 2.6 is a track that will make you happy and you will be less money into the setup. I do have the small lugs cut off on our 2.6 tracks so maybe that is why I don't see a major difference in performance.

bkm20x · Jan 26, 2016

Bacon, would you recommend cutting the fingers off the 2.6? I talked with Dakota Performance on clutching, big bore, cans ect... and they recommended it just haven't done it yet. Saves 5lbs? Any drawbacks? Thanks

BlueDevil · Jan 26, 2016

I would do the front end if you have a 2.6. After riding a sled that has a 15 frond end I would much rather have the frond end then a track

leadfoot33 · Jan 26, 2016

if u got the 2.6 front end if not then the track

Bushpilot · Jan 26, 2016

I have a 2014 and I have swapped to 2016 front end and 3" track.

I ride with a guy with 2016 sled and both sleds are very even. My clutching is better on my 2014, so I am getting better track speeds etc. but with the suspension on the 16 it seams to make up the difference.

I also ride with a 2014 with a 2016 front end, clutching, and 2.6
same length track. On more set up snow days this track works great and even though he is a bigger guy he has highmarked us.

3 in is great in some snow conditions and 2.6 is great in some snow conditions. I think that the 3" track going down the trail throws more snow on the tunnel cooler, but you better have your scratchers down to keep the hi-fax lubed.

akMcat · Jan 26, 2016

I've got a '12 that I swapped to the '16 front end. If you've still got the stock 40" front end do this first, if you've got the coin to do it get the BM Fabrication skinny boards too so you can narrow up the panels. The combination of the two make it a totally different sled. It's amazing the difference these two mods make.

16 Front End or 3 Inch Power Claw?

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