ATVs 

Choosing the type of ATV you need is the first step towards a solid purchase. Think about the terrain you’re riding, the type of riding (recreation, work, a little of both) and what your skill level is. Hill climbs demand a specialized vehicle with more bells and whistles, but if you’re doing more leisure or work-related tasks, you might want to look at towing capacity compared to RPMs.

Available attachments might also impact your decision. If you’re primarily offroading, you might want to make sure you can get a compatible winch to help you out of a sticky situation. For work, do you want a snowplow, a winch, towing, or a dump bucket to get the most out of your setup? 

Snowmobiles

Know your snowmobiling needs when you’re picking a make and model. Where you’ll use it will be key to what sled will be the best for you. The experience of cruising groomed trails with a few buddies on a Sunday afternoon is very different from accessing the backcountry for skiing or hauling gear for ice fishing. 

The size of the sled itself will come into play depending on how you’re hauling it and where you’ll store it. And weight will be important depending on whether you’re riding powder or groomers. In fluffier powder, you want a lighter snowmobile that gets to higher RPMs so you can float on the surface. But on groomers, a heavier sled will help you ride the washboards more smoothly. 

General considerations

Though buying an ATV is a bit different than buying a snowmobile, there are a few general considerations that apply no matter what type of gear you’re buying. 

Find comprehensive reviews 

Reviews in ATV or snowmobile publications are a good place to start. You can take a deep dive, find independent reviews, and get to know the specs. You might want to seek out local expert opinions from snowmobiling clubs or ATV associations for a personalized recommendation, too. 

Consider your budget 

Your desired rig and use case hopefully have some overlap with a realistic budget. You might want to go with a used model to save money, or you could prefer the lower maintenance costs of a new ATV or snowmobile. Think this through before you get too far down the road towards a purchase. But it never hurts to dream! If you’re hoping to buy a snowmobile or ATV in the future, start thinking about how that fits in with your financial goals now.

Find the financing 

As you’re considering your first snowmobile or ATV purchase, it’s never too early to look into financing. Low-interest rates from your community credit union can mean you might be closer to your purchase than you think. 

RMCU is here to help you out. Get in touch with your personal loan officer in Bozeman, Belgrade, Butte, or Helena, and see how to make your first purchase possible. 

*Non RMCU links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Rocky Mountain Credit Union of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. RMCU bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external sites.