1970s Snowmobile Conversion Kits: How Sleds Became ATVs When Snow Melted

Snowmobiles are built for winter, but what happens when the snow melts? For decades, snowmobile owners faced a seasonal dilemma: their prized machines sat idle for months, taking up garage space. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a clever solution emerged—conversion kits that turned snowmobiles into three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for year-round use.

These kits, pioneered by companies like Canada’s Forward Ideas Limited and U.S.-based Skat Trak, allowed snowmobile owners to adapt their sleds for warmer months. Though purpose-built ATVs eventually replaced them, these conversion kits remain a fascinating footnote in powersports history.

Wunder Wheels: The Canadian Innovation That Turned Sleds Into Trikes

Wunder Wheels, created by Forward Ideas Limited, was one of the most notable conversion kits of the era. Founded in 1968 by Andry Balazs, the company sought an inventor to develop a unique product. Enter Brit Donald Sessions, who designed a steel frame that slid under a snowmobile, replacing the track with two front wheels and a single rear wheel for steering and propulsion.

According to a period newspaper article shared in the Wunder Wheels/Skat Trak Registry and Help Line Facebook group, Balazs wanted something "cool"—and Sessions delivered. The result was a functional, if unconventional, way to repurpose a snowmobile for off-season use.

While exact sales figures are scarce, a group member claimed that 1,751 Wunder Wheels kits were manufactured at Forward Ideas’ shop in Tillsonburg, Ontario. Today, surviving examples are rare, making them prized finds for collectors.

Skat Trak: From Snowmobile Conversion to Sand Rail Pioneer

Skat Trak began as Acricast in 1952 before pivoting to snowmobile conversions in the 1970s. Its design took a different approach: instead of a full replacement frame, Skat Trak added independent front suspension to a snowmobile’s ski pickup points. This simpler, more modular system allowed for easier installation and removal.

Beyond snowmobile conversions, Skat Trak also produced paddle tires that could transform a sled into a sand rail. Though the company’s website is now defunct, its paddle tires remain available for purchase, a testament to their enduring utility.

The Rise and Fall of a Niche Powersports Solution

The practical appeal of these kits was clear. In Canada, converted snowmobiles could even be driven on public roads at the time, offering year-round mobility. However, their popularity was likely limited by the rise of dedicated ATVs in the 1970s, which made conversion kits obsolete.

Yet their legacy endures—not just as functional tools, but as symbols of an era when innovation thrived in garages and small workshops. Unlike today’s app-driven startups, these kits were the brainchild of inventors and tinkerers who saw potential in repurposing existing technology.

For enthusiasts, these kits represent more than just a clever hack; they’re a window into a time when powersports innovation was driven by hands-on creativity rather than corporate R&D.

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