trailer shopping tips

As we head out of summer into the pre-sled season of dreaming of snow and prepping our current ride, it may be a good time to check out the condition of our sled carriers. In some cases we may want to chuck the old, rusty carrier and look for a new trailer. One that hasn't been rewired a dozen times - usually on a slushy, freezing night on the way home from a great weekend of riding. Maybe it's time for a new trailer that doesn't have corroded hubs waiting for the right spot to blow out at 60 plus miles per hour. Yeah, maybe now is the time to think about replacing that old trailer and upgrading to something that can beat winter. (That'll make all our dream lists!) But we can offer some suggestions as to what you might want to consider when replacing the old carrier for a new one.

First of all, generally speaking, we prefer aluminum. They tend to be lighter for towing and they stand up to salt better than a painted steel trailer.

We also like the torsion axle option which has pretty much replaced the leafsprung axle in recent years. Some trailer makers offer independent torsion axle systems that hit highway bumps much like your sled's independent front suspension takes moguls. This makes the trailer easier and more predictable when towing and means it is less apt to "bounce" around over road hazards or frost heaves.

An easy lube hub system is a solid choice as it requires less maintenance on your part. You can grease the hub bearings without tearing the hub assembly apart and slapping grease on the innards. This is a nice feature and available either as standard fare or one that can be added later.

Floe International, a Minnesota-based snowmobile trailer manufacturer, features carriers designed specifically for snowmobiling by actual real-world snowmobilers who have suffered all the towing indignities encountered by most of us. One area that Floe trailers address is the lighting system. As far as we're concerned, this is the weakest link in sled trailers bar none. We've all suffered from flickering or non-working trailer lights. Frequently the cause is corroded wiring, broken wire or just loose grounds, which can be a nightmare to find.

Floe manufactures its trailers so that the trailer lights are grounded through a molded wiring harness to the tow vehicle, eliminating grounds from the system to the trailer. The harness is protected by concealing it within the trailer frame. This protects the wiring from slush, road salt, protruding obstacles and such. This is also one of the few trailers offering such an elaborate system.

Another point to consider is deck construction. If the deck is wooden, how thick is it and what is the expected life of the deck material? Are there built in guides to seat the sled properly on the deck? How about the sled tie-downs? Are they screw-in or slide types which allow you to move your sled for better balance when towing?

Are the rear taillights recessed and protected from damage if you back into a hardened snow bank? Are the exposed metal parts of the carrier finished so you won't rip or snag your snowmobile suit or jacket when loading your sled?

Here are some other things to try while the trailer is in the dealer's lot. How easy does the tilt mechanism work on a tilt-trailer? If it's a ramp-style trailer how heavy are the ramps; do they require two people to place into position?

Are the safety chains adequate for an emergency? Does the trailer come with a jack or can one be added as an option?

These are just features we think you should consider if you go looking at new sled carriers this season. We think these are important because we've been on the side of the road with broken down lighting and locked up hubs ourselves. If you look at a trailer on a sunny, blue sky day of 80 degrees, stop and ask yourself what would this trailer be like on a -40 degree night, caked in road salt and slopped with slush? Make your decisions with that image in mind! And good shopping.