Thanks everyone for their input. Very helpful. The Bombi is clearly not going to work for my needs. Tucker sno-cats appear to be a great option. Sno-Trans (which is relatively close to Sun Valley) has several Tuckers for sale, although the newer ones are out of my price range (trying to spend less than $30K). Sno-Trans does have a 1987 Tucker 1342 with a 2 man cab (v-8 gas, with a 5 speed) for sale in my price range. It could work with passengers riding on the stake bed (I guess I would bolt on a bench seat). Is the manual transmission going to be a bear to drive and does this cat brake or hydrostatic steer (I think I prefer brake steer for quick warm up and maintenance). There is also a "Custom Quad Tucker" for sale at chameleonic.com for $20K. Although there isn't much info on this cat (year made/hours?). Would the best Tucker for my needs be the 2000XL if I can find one in my price range?
Another brand I'm considering is LMC (although I'm definitely mindful of Blackfoot Tucker's point on closed manufacturers). Would a LMC 1200 (is this a spryte?) fulfill my needs? Sno-Trans has a 1990 LMC 1200C ST with a 10 man cab for sale for a bit over my price range (217 hours, auto transmission). How does this machine steer (brake) and is it easier to trailer than the Tuckers? Finally, is there a better model of LMC for me to consider?
Thank you for your help. I would love to figure out my best option and get it bought for when the snow finally starts flying. Hasn't snowed for weeks here.
P.s. And no my yamaha nytro MXT wouldn't do the job of the Tucker in that really deep powder! It probably could get up a pretty steep slope if I was just riding it alone (without a passenger tucked behind me and towing a skier).... But since we rarely get that kind of massive deep powder in Southern Idaho and I don't use it for high lining (just yoyoing up skiers or accessing the deep back country as an approach vehicle )I can't say. But I'm jealous of that kind of deep powder, particularly this year (so far)! Thanks again.
Silver,
The Tucker line up has changed considerably over the years. In the seventies and eighties the nomenclature was a four digit number.
The first two digits referred to the series; 1300, 1500, 1600, etc. The 1300 series had short tracks with four idler wheels. The 1500 series had five idler wheels and the 1600 and 1700 series machines had six idler wheels. (more on this later...)
The third digit was a four and that's because Tuckers have four tracks (as opposed to most other manufacturers whose machines have two tracks).
The last number refers to the number of doors. A xx42 would be a two door machine (think standard cab pickup). A xx43 would have three doors. The configuration is two doors in front and one all the way in the back. The rear seating configuration was two benches facing each other. Three door models are also referred to as "sedans". Finally an xx44 would be a four door (think crew cab pickup).
The three door models are the most rare and the two door models are the most common.The 1300 series machines are common in the midwest and the northeast where they get considerably less snow and the snow has a higher moisture content. Out west 1500 and 1600 series machines are more desirable because of the longer tracks which provide more surface area and better flotation.
Tuckers don't "brake steer", they "crab steer". As I mentioned a Tucker has four tracks. Two tracks are on the front axle and two on the rear axle. When you turn the steering wheel you send hydraulic pressure to a cylinder that simultaneously move both axles-in opposite directions. So you turn the wheel left, the front tracks turn left and the rear tracks turn right.
Personally I'd stay away from a two door Tucker if you want to carry more than one other person. Yes extras could ride in the back, but that's far less than optimal. The full cab Thiokols/LMCs/DMCs have considerably more room in them than the Tuckers.
I've had three Tuckers and they all came with manual transmissions. You pretty much have to start in the gear you want to run in. They decellerate so fast when you step on the clutch that the machine will stop before you've finished the shift. The exception would be fifth gear where you'd start in fourth... Honestly, Tuckers are very easy to drive. It really is like driving a pickup with a standard transmission (or an automatic as that was an option).
Good Luck and ask as many questions as you'd like.
