How Do You Tow Out a Broken Down Snowbike?

Frostbite · Feb 27, 2014

I'm sure every once in a while a bike breaks down deep in the backcountry.

How do you get them out?

In my mind, you would either use a kids sled under the track and have someone try to steer the bike?

Or just put the bike in neutral and have hook a rope on the front of the ski (or maybe the steering head) and pull it out?

Do you have to remove the chain?

Can a snowbike pull out a broken down snowbike in deep snow or is a snowmobile needed?

Any other tips or tricks?

kevinhoglund · Feb 27, 2014

Tow Out.

You wil run a strap to the front of the bike frame throught the forks. Put the bike in nutral and hold on for a ride of your life. Your can put a sled under the track. Also you can take the ski off, flip it around and strap the back of the track to a snowmobile and tow out. :amen:

1dn5up · Feb 27, 2014

To turn the ski and around and tow back wards you would have to strap the handle bars back to the foot pegs? or would the ski just follow? like it does on a sled?

thejean · Feb 27, 2014

Hide it well. Go back the next weekend with the tools and parts needed and fix it and drive it out.

powderzone · Feb 27, 2014

I've had more experience with this than I care to remember. In descending order of cost and increasing order of PITA:

1. helicopter. Usually $2,000 to $2,400 per hour but most airlifts will end up costing you $1000 since the bird isn't in the air very long to reach most locations. If you're deep in the backcountry this is the way to go. or you'll end up spending almost as much on beers to keep your riding buddies happy.

2. Sled with toboggan. if the toboggan is big enough you can usually get away with removing the ski and throwing the bike in on its side. Filling the toboggan with snow first helps lower the centre of gravity so the contraption doesn't barrel roll as you tow it out. Don't ask how I know this.

3. If you MUST tow out with another bike, run the tow strap to the foot pegs. towing from the ski or bars doesn't work very well since it's almost impossible to steer and the defunct bike and rider will fall over repeatedly causing your riding buddies to start muttering at you under their breath.

Hawkster · Feb 27, 2014

Loosely rap a loop around the lower forks and pull it at a good pace if possible . Don't take your feet off of the pegs either since that's the only way to steer .

teal_210 · Feb 28, 2014

We've done lots of towing of bikes, with other bikes. Tow from the frame of the bike to the bumper on the MH kit. This works really good, we've towed across some steep sidehills, tight trees, roads, etc.

If you're in powder, have your buddies ride in-front of you to pack a trail down. If you're on a road, faster is better - click it into 5th and hold it open!

thnewell · Feb 28, 2014

use a y type strap hook on to foot pegs. I have towed out at 30+ mph on some nutty ground.

Frostbite · Feb 28, 2014

Wow, there are some great ideas here! This should almost be a sticky because it will eventually happen to all of us.

Tride · Mar 4, 2014

Had too much experience with this a couple weeks ago. Tried: 1) towing with a sled to the footpegs (this was in somewhat tough terrain, but nothing too bad). My buddy couldn't make it 5' without falling over without the centrifugal force of the engine and track to keep it upright. 2) padded the tunnel of my Pro and strapped the bike on upright like you would in a pickup. Saw a picture of that on here somewhere. Made it 3' before it levered the sled and me on our side. An incredible amount of leverage up that high, and it put a little crease in the tunnel with the ski. 3) Put tie down hooks on a piece of 3/4" ply, tied the bike down, and tried to tow it out. This had promise, and would probably work if you took the ski off and secured the axle to the ply. As it was, the ski would twist after a bump or a depression and the bike would tip over. 4) Threw the bike on the ply, tied it down on its left side, and got the hell out of there. It worked, but was a PITA and very very hard on the sled. And bits of the bike don't fit on the ply--the snow was soft, so no big deal, but hard snow would mess things up.

My next idea (cause this will happen again) is to take some old skis and mount a 5' 2 x 10 on them, 2 skis as outriggers and one right under where you'll tie the bike down. Make an axle clamp in the center of the 2x. Take the ski off and tie it down to tie down anchors at the end of the 2x. I think it will work.

Just a note--riding on the back of the tunnel will get you out to get the sled. I held on to the gas can with one hand and deflected the exhaust from my face with the other. It was about a 3 mile ride. Not great, but beat walking. Riding 2 up on the seat was not happening and this gets your weight way lower.

Frostbite · Mar 4, 2014

Tride, good comments.

I sure wish I could picture what you are talking about. I will read it a couple more times and maybe i will get a picture in my head?

"My next idea (cause this will happen again) is to take some old skis and mount a 5' 2 x 10 on them, 2 skis as outriggers and one right under where you'll tie the bike down. Make an axle clamp in the center of the 2x. Take the ski off and tie it down to tie down anchors at the end of the 2x. I think it will work".

Tride · Mar 5, 2014

I'll try to mock it up and take a pic. Maybe collectively we can get this dialed. It was a long, stressful 2 days to get it out.

Hawkster · Mar 5, 2014

Like a tricycle ? Wonder if it would matter where it's attached ? along side the front or back ? Sounds like a darn good idea , could ghost ride it than .

Maybe this would work for some , rope a freight sled for attaching cargo , throw the ski in it and tie it down like it's in the back of a pickup ? I've got this one set up to pull behind the Hawk the hitch is extended past the track length and than pivots so I'm allowed to lean without dumping me or the load . It's used for hauling fuel on those 80 plus mile days , no lodges or gas stations out there

Frostbite · Mar 5, 2014

Would something like this work?

Uncle si · Mar 5, 2014

Frostbite said:
Would something like this work?

I used that exact sled and it works. It was tippy and a longer tounge would help if towing over bumps.

snowbikekits.com · Mar 16, 2014

I am working with BuddyTow on a kit designed specifically for snowbikes. Check out their website for the general idea. I hope to have more info soon.

http://www.buddytow.com/

Mike at snowbikekits.com

sodahucker · May 8, 2014

Any word on the buddy tow system?

snowrydr · Nov 12, 2017

BuddyTow for snowbikes

I have recently purchased the BuddyTow business and plan on making snowbike kits available for all sizes of snowbikes. Since new sizes of tracks are appearing frequently, it would be best to contact us with your required size. Check out our website. http://www.buddytow.com/

heliwrench · Nov 12, 2017

I made a similar thing to the buddy tow out of a crazy carpet. Cut it down to width and put brass grommets across both ends and roll it up really tight with a bunch of thin rope. It fits inside the subframe longitudinally pretty nicely. The string used to roll it up and secure to the subframe is enough to tie it onto the track. Haven't had to use it yet fortunately.

Sheetmetalfab · Nov 12, 2017

Just towed out a bike yesterday.

Straps to the pegs and pull with a sled. Downhill or trails its easy.

Similar to pulling out a broken down sled. (Except the bike needs a rider)

How Do You Tow Out a Broken Down Snowbike?

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