
Attaching Wheels to a Snowmobile Creates a Wild All-Terrain Trike
mycustomgokart (YouTube)
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Have you ever thought about the kind of fun you could have with a snowmobile during the summer months? If you happen to live in a region where winter seems to have vanished, this thought might cross your mind more frequently. But what would it take to enjoy a sled when there's no snow at all? How about adding some wheels to it?
That’s precisely what the YouTubers at mycustomgokart did with an old, 600cc Ski-Doo Formula III. In terms of builds, this one is quite straightforward. Most of the work involved taking off the snowmobile’s track and creating a new axle system for the rear wheel. They fitted a set of wheels with impressive knobby tires using custom bearings designed for the front end, attached where the skis were removed. This was an easy exchange, but it gave the Ski-Doo a look akin to a possessed gardening cart, especially after they applied a 12-inch-wide slick tire to the new rear axle.
Once that was all sorted, the Ski-Doo required some mechanical work. Initially, the engine faced a fueling problem that was fouling the spark plugs, so they needed to service the carburetor. They also suspected that the stock cooling system wouldn’t be sufficient, leading them to fabricate and install a new radiator in the back of the engine compartment—not the ideal location, but it was what they had to work with. And with that done, it was time for some testing.
Sure enough, it’s functional. Their brave test driver (complete with hardhat) needed a bit of time to adjust to the quirky snowmobile-turned-street-rod, but after some practice and nearly spectacular mishaps, he was able to execute a few impressive donuts. Concerned they might attract unwanted attention, they moved to private property for more fun. After some off-road antics, the team regrouped to assess how the sled was performing.
While the Ski-Doo drove better than the team anticipated, it was showing signs of stress after its initial test run. The rear axle mounting plates were welded to the Ski-Doo's rear tunnel, which clearly wasn’t designed for the kind of loads imposed by sticky tires on pavement. The entire structure began to warp, so the team worked on reinforcing their mounting plates with additional lateral support fashioned from a piece of pipe. With a new, more off-road-friendly tire on the rear, it was time for some genuine three-wheeling.
Believe it or not, it feels quite similar to riding a snowmobile. Getting power to the ground with a single rear wheel is challenging, and each test driver spends as much time trying to keep the Ski-Doo's front end aimed safely as they do actually applying power. It appears entertaining, but it definitely isn’t the most efficient mode of off-pavement transport. As the team noted, adding a rear suspension would be very beneficial—along with a longer battery cable.
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Attaching Wheels to a Snowmobile Creates a Wild All-Terrain Trike
A group that specializes in creating custom go karts used their expertise on an overlooked snowmobile. The outcome is, as expected, quite amusing.