n8sjh
New member
Well I finished getting my sleds all set for snow(when ever it gets here) and loaded them on the trailer. I have got the tie down bar for the skis and ussually put a strap around the back bumper and down to the back of the trailer. I set on the back and put tension on the strap. Is this good or bad? Also is one strap enough or do you add one to the front. Also how many people use the parking brake? I have one with hydrulic brakes and the other is just a cable. I have heard that it can strech the cable? I ussually do not set the brake.
Just wondering what you guys do when loading any little things to secure your sled to the trailer so you don't loss them?
Just wondering what you guys do when loading any little things to secure your sled to the trailer so you don't loss them?
skidooboy
New member
i use the bar accross the front (skis), strap in back. i use ancra soft straps and tie downs for the rear bumper. and only tie them down just before we leave to go on the road, and immediately release the strap when arriving at the destination.
on the brake thing, the cable/mechanical brake is the only one you should apply all the time while trailering. the hydrolic brakes may leak back.
i want my sleds to be hanging from the deck if the trailer was ever to flip while in tow. also i dont want to have an unrestrained 600 pound missle behind me in case of an incident. dont know if i could live with myself knowing i killed or hurt someone else cause i didnt properly secure my sleds. ski
on the brake thing, the cable/mechanical brake is the only one you should apply all the time while trailering. the hydrolic brakes may leak back.
i want my sleds to be hanging from the deck if the trailer was ever to flip while in tow. also i dont want to have an unrestrained 600 pound missle behind me in case of an incident. dont know if i could live with myself knowing i killed or hurt someone else cause i didnt properly secure my sleds. ski
daman
New member
Tie bar in front stap in back no e brake,,wouldn't help any way.
bucky
New member
Usually just the bar in front. Sometimes if the frost heaves are bad I will put straps on the back...
sleddheadd
New member
isn't it a law in wisconsin that sleds have to be tied down in the back? i thought i had heard of someone getting a ticket for that? 
terret725
New member
i just use the bar and ebreak. never had a problem with it coming of or moving. i never go more then 5 10 miles away tho. few times i forgot the bar and got home with out it fallin off. lol
FuzzButt
New member
Well if you want to know if just the bar across the ski's is enough to (transport) a sled ask someone who has been in an accident while pulling the sleds. It does not take long as you should find that the bar is not enough.
(rant on)
I am of the opinion that anyone operating a vehicle on the road is responsible for his/her cargo and should be fined if loads are lost and if there are injuries then jail time is needed. I think it is about time people are held responsible for their actions.
That being said. I tie down with the bar clamps and double tie the back with diagonal straps. I reinforced the thin deck of my trailer for the hold downs. Oddly some new purpose built sled trailers do not come with the back tie downs. I find this odd.
We as drivers all know how unpredictable the weather can be on our way to and from our favorite sledding spots. I have seen hundreds of accidents in the 25 years I have been traveling to snowmobile. Why not take the time to make sure you are doing your due diligence with securing your load properly. I especially like the pickup trucks with sleds dangling off the back. I can't imagine where that sled is going to go in the event of a roll over.
(end of rant)
Sorry if I'm long winded. the number and frequency of unsecured loads in the Detroit area causing backups and accidents really pisses me off and while none of them have been sleds as far as I know most of them involve trailers or things not tied down.
(rant on)
I am of the opinion that anyone operating a vehicle on the road is responsible for his/her cargo and should be fined if loads are lost and if there are injuries then jail time is needed. I think it is about time people are held responsible for their actions.
That being said. I tie down with the bar clamps and double tie the back with diagonal straps. I reinforced the thin deck of my trailer for the hold downs. Oddly some new purpose built sled trailers do not come with the back tie downs. I find this odd.
We as drivers all know how unpredictable the weather can be on our way to and from our favorite sledding spots. I have seen hundreds of accidents in the 25 years I have been traveling to snowmobile. Why not take the time to make sure you are doing your due diligence with securing your load properly. I especially like the pickup trucks with sleds dangling off the back. I can't imagine where that sled is going to go in the event of a roll over.
(end of rant)
Sorry if I'm long winded. the number and frequency of unsecured loads in the Detroit area causing backups and accidents really pisses me off and while none of them have been sleds as far as I know most of them involve trailers or things not tied down.
daman
New member
Right i agree,, you get in an accident with only the front bar on
that sleds is going for a ride,,you need the backend tied down
as well..
that sleds is going for a ride,,you need the backend tied down
as well..
We've lost sleds before in the UP on black ice. The sleds were clamped on the front and strapped on the back. Everything was good untill the trailer hit the right shoulder snow bank and flipped. At that moment, both ski clamps broke and all but one strap broke(three sleds, open trailer). One landed on top of the now upside down trailer with the only strap still attached on the rear. One landed about 50ft ahead of us, upside down in the bottom of the ditch, the other just kind of traveled down the ditch like it had a ghost rider. Moral of the story, watch out for the damn black ice! Other important point, your bars may not stop your sled in the case of sudden deceleration! 
law
I never heard of that law.Almost everyone I know in WI never starps the back down.I have had cops follow me before and never got pulled over.
sleddheadd said:isn't it a law in wisconsin that sleds have to be tied down in the back? i thought i had heard of someone getting a ticket for that?
I never heard of that law.Almost everyone I know in WI never starps the back down.I have had cops follow me before and never got pulled over.
You ar e so right. I have seen 15K trailers with 25K worth of sleds flipped over on the road and the top was pealed like a orange open. Not a pretty site to the sleds that were never tied down??? I one case I did see the trailer destroyed but the sleds were hanging when flipped over. Take the time and tie it down GOOD and watch for the black ice.
Yes, sleds not tied down in the back can come through the front of the trailer if you hit something that slows you down abruptly, or so I have been told. Bigguy, Vmax, Tom, you guys be quiet . . .
Take all slack out of the back and then compress the suspension a couple inches. This gives it a spring action but should always keep tension on it.
Take all slack out of the back and then compress the suspension a couple inches. This gives it a spring action but should always keep tension on it.
Two years ago flipped the trailer, all four sleds were hanging from the roof (what was the Deck) only some nicks and one dented trailing arm from the jack flying around (that now gets tied down) we use 2500# 2" ratchet straps around the trailing arms to the floor and through the rear kid to the floor, 5000# D rings with a 1/8" Steel plate on the under side in the deck.viper7mi said:
FuzzButt
New member
That's some serious securing.Rex said:
Kind of funny thing is how weak the cheaper trailers are getting that the tie downs are much stronger than the sum of the materials they are attached to.
I really like it when I see/hear guys saying "I just drive it on the trailer close it up and go." I'd like to see their mouths after they dump them all out in a ditch after an unavoidable incendent.
Da_Moose
New member
Sorry for bringing up an old post:
A few years ago my father was in an accident with the sled on the trailer. The sled was tied down with the bar at the front, a strap at the back and a chain going from the ski to the front of the trailer to stop it from sliding back (ebrake won't help much). He ended up T-boning a car that pulled out in front of him at about 80 km/h. The hook on the strap holding the rear straightend out and unhooked, and the bar holding the skis ripped out of the holes in the trailer and the chain slid of that bar. The sled ended up hitting the car in the driver's side door after he came to a stop.
The cop that responded to the accident asked my father "imagine what would have happened if it wasn't tied down as well"
After that we started using a Superclamp for the front and looped a chain around one of the shafts in the suspension and used a ratchet strap to pull on the chain from the rear of the trailer.
We now use a homemade version of the new superclamp that clamps the suspension down.
IMO, I don't think there is much that would hold the sled to the trailer in the event of a major accident, but it still needs to be securly fastened down anyway. I seriously recommend getting the two superclamps (front & back) they make tieing it down soooooo much faster, drive on, clamp, clamp, done!
A few years ago my father was in an accident with the sled on the trailer. The sled was tied down with the bar at the front, a strap at the back and a chain going from the ski to the front of the trailer to stop it from sliding back (ebrake won't help much). He ended up T-boning a car that pulled out in front of him at about 80 km/h. The hook on the strap holding the rear straightend out and unhooked, and the bar holding the skis ripped out of the holes in the trailer and the chain slid of that bar. The sled ended up hitting the car in the driver's side door after he came to a stop.
The cop that responded to the accident asked my father "imagine what would have happened if it wasn't tied down as well"
After that we started using a Superclamp for the front and looped a chain around one of the shafts in the suspension and used a ratchet strap to pull on the chain from the rear of the trailer.
We now use a homemade version of the new superclamp that clamps the suspension down.
IMO, I don't think there is much that would hold the sled to the trailer in the event of a major accident, but it still needs to be securly fastened down anyway. I seriously recommend getting the two superclamps (front & back) they make tieing it down soooooo much faster, drive on, clamp, clamp, done!