XP Skid, who has made the swap?

[Vailguy]

Gearing up to run a 154" track next year. I Picked up a powdermax2 and plan on breaking it. Taking out the 144" and running 2.86" 440 8T drivers.

This begs the question. Should I get some 07 151 rails, put on my big wheel kit and call it good? or....

Should I embrace some weight loss, and better floatation by getting an XP 154 skid and mounting it up? If so... Does anyone have some measurements on the front axle location? or center shock requirement?

I have read Wildcards dissertation on the T-motion upgrade, and I am open to that. However, there are too many variables in his setup for my comfort (D&R, bracket in the middle of his preferred mounting location, etc.)

So I am looking to start simple and move forward.

I have also read that the 08 skid is different from the 09-10. So, it may be best just to get the 08 rails, T-motion upgrade, and new front shock. Correct?

Can someone help a brother out that has gone down this road with the REV. I remember doing a 144>151 skid setback on my ZX, and making sure I got the correct geometry on the front axle kept me up at night.

TIA

 

[eddy]

154

We have done this and the easiest way to accomplish it is just put 5" to 6" extensions on the rails and tunnel. Works great.

What is your big wheel kit?

 

[Vailguy]

I have a Mountain Machines Big Wheel Kit, combine that with 151" rails, and I have been told is enough to take up the slack on a 154" track. No doubt this is the easiest route.
However....

Cost of XP 154 rails vs. 151 rails....Wash.
New center shock, I need a new one anyway....Wash.
T-motion kit...$320 + other XP parts...$360.
Sell the Big Wheel kit... -$100.

Other wash items
2.86 drivers
tunnel ext
drop brackets for the 2.5" track

I could get T-motion for about $260 more. Not to mention shed close to 20 lbs (MM kit factored in). The real question is how much of a PITA is it to locate a new front axle mounting location.

 

[Wyorever]

I brought the entire XP skid under my rev, saved a couple lbs, but if I could do it again,I would just bought some rails from ice age.

 

[wildcard28]

Most all the info your requesting about the Tmo install is in my thread,

you can get the Tmo for $320 but not sure where you figure the needed xp parts are only $40?? , reread my thread all the parts you can reuse and needed are in there. you don`t need the xp front shock you can use your
Rev shocks. My sled was originally a 144 so those are the shocks I am using in the new skid.

If you don`t have a D&R then you don`t have to worry about the bracket being in the way.

You could just get 144-151 rail extensions and move youd skid back a bit to the 154 position. use your wheels after you install the 2.86 driveshaft and calculate the difference in driver size but thats not really much that would be your easiest cheapest way. a big wheels kit could take up the slack and wouldn`t have to move skid back but would add a bit of weight.

Iceage could make you a set of rails that would bolt to your skid and set what ever size wheels you want in what ever track position you like. and everything stays bolted where it is..

20lbs loss to a xp skid is alot, how do ya figure??? when going from my 144 skid with extension skid set up as a 159 and setting back a 154 xp tmo kit installed both skids with 2whl kits and all other wheels removed was only 8lbs..... and the Tmo front a rear arm assemblies are lighter than the xp`s. the aluminum aftermarket offset rear axle is heavier than the stock Tmo straight axle assembly. which are like all xp`s 8inch wheels rev wheels are 7inch and are listed that way even tho they actually measure 7 1/8 lol

Good Luck, Wildcard

 

[Vailguy]

Wildcard,

thanks for replying to my post, and thanks for the extensive write up. It's members like you that help propel us backyard mechanics forward.

So....I reread your post. I must have been smoking crack. the 17" to 17 1/4" rear shock mod threw me off. I associated that with the center shock since I have read the suspension was a little different from 08-09 to 10-11. I also placed more of a value on the weight of my two wheel kit, but given you had one, and the rail extensions, it would probably be a wash. As much as I would like to do the T-Mo, I think I will just swap the rails for now and call it good.

 

[wildcard28]

I am not to familiar with the xp shock mod unless its the year the summit went to the 36 inch frontend since the front is narrower even with the different front shocks offered with this front end it still stood the front of the sled a bit higher than the wider frontends do in those years they offered a longer center shock to balance out the transfer to the higher setting narrower front end.

My sled has the Tmo in it now, and the swap with out a existing xp skid can be a bit confusing and took me a bit to figure out exactly what was needed to purchase and could be reused from the rev skid, thats why I beleive why I am one of a small few who have done it but if your a Rev rider with an xp skid already installed your golden and the swap in Simple and only takes a couple few hours.

the stock rear shock on the rev is 17 1/4, the shock that was on my sled was a replacement non x model shock from like denniskirk and measured 17 (but the shock pretty much new had all the recieipts with the sled) so I extended the shock eye to save money. the extra 1/4 inch didn`t seem like much after I was trying to swap it over to the Tmo but it make a big difference in the geometry of the rear arm positioning,

Good Luck, Wildcard

 

[snowguthrie]

If your interested I have a set of 151 rails off my 07. had 600 miles on them then I went to a 163. Also have the stock extension bumper and the mounts. Pm me if interested. Would make a pretty smoken deal on them. Has tail light and snow flap to.

 

[wwracer]

I did an XP swap on my 05. Used a P/max II 154, 440 8T drivers, and evolution air components. I like the set up a lot, the XP skid will knock some weight off of the build, plus they're reasonabley priced used. The center shock was relocated back an inch in 2010, a fairly easy mod for pre 10 units. Also moved the skid back and down an inch. I had to use 9" wheels to get the track to adjust properly. Awesome track and skid combination. You wont be disappointed

 

[Vailguy]

I did an XP swap on my 05. Used a P/max II 154, 440 8T drivers, and evolution air components. I like the set up a lot, the XP skid will knock some weight off of the build, plus they're reasonabley priced used. The center shock was relocated back an inch in 2010, a fairly easy mod for pre 10 units. Also moved the skid back and down an inch. I had to use 9" wheels to get the track to adjust properly. Awesome track and skid combination. You wont be disappointed

Sweet, Thanks for the heads up. BTW I got to thank you for bulk head brace. In last years SH!ty snow. I hit a stump within the first 10 min. Hit it hard enough on the left for the bulk to fold toward the clutch. Without your brace I would have been towed home. Instead I rode back.

 

[wwracer]

Yeah, stumps suck for sure. Check your post in the WTB section, I have some drop brackets you may be interested in.... William Sr.

 

[BCRyan]

I found a good deal on a 2010 154" Skid off a X model XP for $400 bucks with the upgraded shocks. The skid was noticeably lighter than my stock skid, it rides a lot better. I was always told the 2010 skid had different geometry that got up on top of the snow better and trenched less, I dont know if it was the skid or the 2.5" flexedge track but something worked, really well. Im totally happy with the setup, smoother ride, better deep snow performance as well. I thought I might do the t-mo kit after but with the flex edge track the sled already falls over if I sneeze close to it, it really gooey and fun to ride in technical terrain.

The 2010 skid is narrower front to back so i split the difference and drilled new holes. I have drop brackets but have not put them on yet and only had very minor tunnel slap from the bigger paddles, I did go down a tooth and used avid drivers. Biggest pain in the *** was getting dealer to put drivers on for me, big mistake, should have done it myself.

 

[Vailguy]

Any idea how far down and back the front arm had to be mounted from the stock skid?

 

[wwracer]

Take it back 1 inch.... I lowered mine 1 inch to account for the drop brackets. Some people drill out the rear hole on the reinforcement where the existing hole is, seems to work well for them...