I bought a Skandic and sold after 1 season for a Expedition. Found the Skandic very tippy especially riding 2 up.
I did not loose money reselling it so maybe take a chance and sell the Skandic if you don't like it??
Tough call.

 

I had the same debate with myself a few years ago and ultimately went with a Skandic. And I have had zero complaints. The deep snow trail breaking ability has been top notch. I have done several full days of groomed trails and while it is not the high speed trail demon some people want. It certainly can go down the trail all day and be comfortable. I do not have experience with the expedition I would expect the trail riding experience to be better on that but trail breaking is better on Skandic. As for towing an ice shack has exceeded my expectations of how easily it could pull. It has turned shack removal day from a 2 or 3 guy full day experience to a quick solo pull it off the ice for me.

 

You can't beat the Skandic for getting around in deep snow and towing things. If you just do a little trail riding, I would go with the Skandic. I had both.

 

Here is how I personally would decide in each factor:

Ice fishing: Expedition will be more comfortable and stable. Both models will pull your gear easily, but I would go Expedition for Ice fishing.
Trapping: Skandic hands-down would be better for riding trap lines through the woods. The A-arm suspension of the Expy makes the risk greater of damaging your suspension in the woods and it’s also wider than the Skandic, making the Skandic better for picking through the trees.
Breaking Trails: The Skandic will also likely perform slightly better here due to the large flotation of the belly pan and the LTS Suspension.
Trail Riding: I would definitely go with the Expedition for trail riding as the machine will be much more stable than the Skandic and it has better front suspension and also a more comfortable passenger seat with heated grips (depending upon the model).

Both machines are great but the Skandic definitely is built for riding in the bush and breaking trail in deeper snow. The Expy is more comfortable and stable, but you just need to be more careful if your suspension when riding through junk.

Just my .02 😁

 

Well from the engine back they are pretty much the same sled - its really the front suspension that's different. Skandic has one major advantage - in deep snow that huge wide belly pan drags thru the snow way easier than spindles and A arms like the Expedition has.

Its flip flopped on handling - stability.

 

The SWT is more tippy and harder to sidehill for sure, I jumped off mine many times before it went all the way over in order to make it less top heavy. Getting stuck was never a problem as many think because the big track and belly pan design works in your favor there.

 

I’d buy the Skandic, if you are trapping, breaking trail in the trees. The Skandic floats on the tub and fat ski skins…if you know how to move your weight around and turn into the lean,..they are not tippy…

 

Can you explain "turn into the lean" please? I'm new to sleds and have a 2023 Skandic, though not the SWT. I find it constantly feeling like a tip to the sides when in deep snow and even slight slope.
And can you recommend brand of skins and what to get if they help the situation?

Thanks!

 

It’s so situational, the pogo suspension kinda sucks, but works so well in the brush…expeditions ride nicer, but in old black spruce forest fire burns the “a” arms will catch those spears and punch em right through your oil tank, and other vulnerable bits and pieces I found… I prefer the skandic because it’s less work building and maintaining a narrower trail. Which helps trapping if you’re out for wolves… Sidehilling them is “easier” too, but I always use ski skins on the things. Which helps the “tippy-ness” feeling in alpine snow.

if I lived in open, non brushy country I’d be going for an expedition. They are more comfortable to put a long day of riding on.

my one edit would be think about the kind of snow you deal with. In my region it’s bottomless sugar crystals and we get 8’ on average, and up to 15’ of snowfall. So for me a super wide is the right machine.And even that will get stuck sometimes. But the wide track gets stuck a lot, lot more. That’s breaking trail with no brush to snag up on, throttle to the bar… I can get em stuck. A superwide can still get stuck, but it’s a bit slower to do so. When I’m running a hundred-120 miles of trap line I appreciate not getting stuck.

but if the snow was wetter and more dense, I could probably get away with a narrow track machine.

 

I’m 58 in similar situation And over the need for speed. I have had the opportunity to ride the skandic swt and wt. I found the swt had a mind of its own and was difficult to control at my age. I bought the skandic wt and have no regrets.
The guys above have made some very good comments for you to consider.

 

Thanks for the replies, I actually found a dealer that had a expedition sport in stock, sacrificing the 20 inch track for a 16, but for most my needs not sure i will need the 20 inch, plus the price point is much better lol

 

So, all of our effort to help you was a big waste of time.

 

Thanks guys for the responses, I was looking for a thread like this. I have worked in the bush all my career with tundra's (all years) and owning a 2010 550f and a 2013 tundra extreme it was time to move to a expedition. The wife was done riding and so that was also a deciding factor. For me the 20" track works but it the pogo vs the a-arm that I was fighting with. I think that having a suspension would be better for those times when I'm on a road when snowbikes cut up and the trench makers have gone though. But still like the " I can go though here " and hear the saplings hit the belly pan with the pogo stick. Tough for sure. But again thanks for the in-site and the experience.

 

Thanks Jack,
So far I am happy with my choice, we don't have alot of snow yet but have bin riding snowbanks and have bin impressed with how stable the machine is on them, have also hit alot of slush on the lakes and have had no issues so far. I have the 600 efi in mine, and so far haven't wished I had any more power...

 

I know I appreciate the information in here.
I fished exclusively in my younger days then got into trail riding for the last 20 years on a 4 stroke.
Retired and mostly just want to fish again so I got a 23 Expy sport 600 efi.
Let me say, wow, what a difference. Just wish we had more snow and ice this year