Design and Application of Skidozer Snowmobile Trail Grooming Equipment

Along with the tremendous growth in the number of snowmobiles in use, problems related to ecology and safety have grown. It is no longer possible to use snowmobiles wherever it is convenient and whenever it is enjoyable. Trails specifically designed for the use of snowmobilers are currently being developed. These new trails and areas must be maintained for optimum safety and enjoyability just as ski slopes are maintained for skiers. Factors affecting the design of trail grooming vehicles are different geographical areas requiring different facilities, the financial resources of those groups involved in trail maintenance, and the problem of safety. Bombardier Ltd. has developed and manufactured new tracked vehicles and accessory equipment to groom snowmobile trails effectively and at a reasonable cost. These are described in this paper.