CALLING ALL SLED RESCUE EXPERIENCE! NEED HELP!

[sammywoolf]

Unfortunately there isnt ever enough to cover up everything thats out there. A nice fist size diameter dead tree managed to find its way up into my track and skid on the way out. Snapped the track, bent some skid pieces. This was about 330pm. Tried to do all that we knew / had tools for (strapped a snowboard to the bottom, started on a flat packed out track, bumper to bumper tow), and managed to move the pigglet 5 feet. We tried again, without me to lighten her up, to no avail. 2 hrs later and we figured we outta get movin.

Ive towed out before, but on a packed trail in Logan. Sled is currently sitting about 5 miles back in Gaurdsmans, with a few hill climbs and a not so bad, but not groomed trail to get her out

Definitely now in over my head, and need some advice.

How do I tow a sled with no track out? My buddy has a Summit 800 151, and we couldnt budge it with that. We had it rigged up bumper to bumper, and his sled was instantly trenching.

Put it on a plastic sled? Wrap it in a tarp? I know this isnt the first thread about this, but any and all advice is much appreciated. Whats the best way to attach? Bumper to bumper? skis to bumper? should we use a long line for hill climbs and not packed out trails?

Thanks in advance, for the help.

 

[MM800]

sled

In the past, we've strapped the rear end on top of the pulling sleds tunnel, right up to the seat. Its hard on everything! Minnimum, your gonna owe your buddy a belt. The alternative is changing the track out there, helicopter or gas and a match. Also deppending on snow conditions, go in when its the coldest, usually morning. Loose snow or wet is only going to complicate things.
Good Luck
Been There

 

[sammywoolf]

gas and a match.

tempting! truly is!

 

[4digger]

I havn't drug one out quit like yours but have pulled them out with destroyed rear suspensions and broken jackshafts. Best way we found was to use an ice fishing sled, we have used used the roll up plastic game drags basicly you need a large surface area with a smooth surface. secure the rear of your sled to your drag sled. We hook from the rear bumper of the tow sled to each of the front ski's of the sled being towed using tiedowns. we usually have enough in our group that we can double up the guy with the dead sled behind someone else and tow out the sled without anyone on it. Try and hook up the dead sled close to the tow sled so you don't get slack in the tiedowns especialy if you do hit groomed trails. We have towed out many sleds this way over the years both on the trail and from way out in the boonies. We pulled out a sled from about 20 miles out in 3 feet of powder last year and had no problems. If you can recruit a couple more sleds to pack down a trail for you it works a lot better then you can follow in their tracks and the tow sled doesn' have to work as hard. keep a close eye on the temp don't want to burn down the other sled.

 

[sammywoolf]

Ice fishing sled? interesting. Thanks for the advice. This helps. Now to round up some buddies for the mission....

 

[4digger]

If you know some one with a 4stroke sled beg them to help they may be heavy but they are by far the best to use. We had a bad year a couple years ago and my buddy was the official tow sled with his vector he towed almost everyone out that year from Island Park to Caribou Mtn. We threatened to paint it John Deer green. You could also find someone with a snow cat they work great but its hard to find someone with one.

 

[duffman]

If it is a difficult tow out it will be easier to fix it where it is.

 

[GBCB]

Bad bumper

Unforunately you have the flimsiest bumper ever put on a snowmobile. Your gonna have to find a way to attach to the spindles or there's a good chance you'll be ripping that bumper right off. Maybe a higher quality banana split tobbogan and cram it up between the jackshaft and the belly pan. Then tie it off in the rear.

 

[Polar Express]

It's a long shot, but do you know anyone with a rescue "Sked"? That might do a nice number under your track to let it slide easier.

I've never pulled out a sled with a track that wouldn't move, but I've sure helped pull out a couple of piggy sleds, from several climbs over. For the worst one, (the track would still roll fine, it was an engine melt) we rigged up a yolk out of pieces of tubular webbing, the stout stuff. Two sleds pulled the broken one, and the riders of those sleds better be in 'tune' with one another. Carefully discuss the route plan before each hill you have to get up and over.

We worked pretty hard a few times on that trip out, but hey, it was all in good fun with someone we all know and care about. And, they'd return the favor if the roles were reversed.

With the webbing tie-off on the pulling sleds, we did NOT go to the bumper. Too flimsy, we went to the side board supports.

Good luck!
PE

 

[4GR8X]

Greetings,

If you choose to pull your wounded sled backwards by placing your rear suspension on the seat of your tow sled, unbolt your ski's on your wounded sled turn them 180 degrees and re-bolt. We have enjoyed success with this approach. We have also used this approach and added a lead sled to the camel sled pulling your wounded sled, somewhat like a train with multiple locomotives.

You shared your track tore and some suspension damage...could you band aid your suspension issues and splice together your track for the journey out? Band-Aid type strips of rubber belting bring a dc drill and bolts. Back off your track tension adjusters. A small hand winch/come-along can provide the needed tension while you splice your track back together for the journey out. Be aware the bolts sticking towards the suspension will rotate with the track but must not come in contact with suspension components/drivers.

You have a tuff job ahead of you, good luck.

Craig.

 

[mtn_extreme]

Just did this myself. We got a tow buddy sled and took a big pully with a long rope. On the steep uphills we would attach the pulley to a sled that we buried ( or a tree) and used another sled going downhill to tow the dead one uphill, Worked awsome.

 

[Rockstock]

Did you get out yet? If not I could maybe help out. I'm in Idaho Falls. I'd say use an old plastic truck bedliner to slide on. I saw one on a farm near here a few days ago with "free" spray painted on it.

 

[deepdiver]

First you have to get to a towable area.

1. Get something under the skid..I have used the large black snow tobagans you can get at grocery stores/sporting goods stores. The idea someone had about a bed liner would work also..just cut it down to about 20in wide and leave the 90 deg. piece in the front to help out..

2. Get it up the hill....You can used caribiners and good rope...I use heavy straps and snatch blocks...you can then have a few people muscle it up or I would use a chain saw winch. A come along will work but may take a long arse time. I have used the snatch block and a sled going down hill to pull the broke one up.

3. Tow out: IF the plastic kids tobagan is under it...lash the ski loop to the bumper of the tow sled. Pull the ski loop up high as you can on the tow sled...dont use a tow rope. With the ski loop lashed to the bumper you can tow it out fast with no one on the damaged sled..once you try this way you will laugh if you see a tow out with a tow rope.
3b. If you cant get anything to stay under the skid...put the rear of the broke sled up over the rear of the tunnel of the tow sled like mentioned by others...I have done that with someone sitting on the hood of the broke sled and then steering the broke sled.

4th option..call a helicopter company and have them evac it....even then you have to get to a clearing.

Good luck..you can get it out..it isnt that hard just takes time..have plenty of extra rope and straps, food and plenty of Gatoraid..sometimes some of the ropes may get cut or broke on the way out.

 

[Team Pigeon]

Reverse the skis, mount on tunnel is a pretty awesome method but doesn't always cut the mustard when you got a long pull.


I've gotten away with the following method when my buddies blew up in Chocolate Bowl behind Brandywine. Huge terrain to cover, super long pulls where just one sled wouldn't be enough.


So here you're gonna need two strong working sleds.

Tie one sled with a short sling through the ski loop and then to the frame/a-arm.

Tie the other pulling sled with a longer sling through the other ski loop to the frame/a-arm work. This sling should be a lot longer- like 10 feet ahead of your bumper and then to a snobunje. This I guess you could call parallel towing.
You don't need anybody sitting on the dead sled either.

The first sled is the workhorse and is gonna pin it the whole way. He don't have to look back much.

The second sled gives help, looks back and can check on the dead sled.

If you were to tie the two pulling sleds together in series (one after the other to the dead sled), the middle sled would feels like you were walking on a tightrope. And eating roost the whole time.

With the sleds staggered a bit, you can steer wherever, avoiding roost, trenches rocks and trees etc... all to a certain degree.
The bunjee keeps constant tension and helps ease on the hard pulling hits. It'll also give the guy on the second pulling sled a better idea of how the front guy is doing even though he's 15 feet away.

I'd give it a practice up an easy slope first though. Snafu's ain't for the meek.

 

[drmiller100]

bumper to bumper NEVER WORKS.

you need some slack,and you need to be pulling down on the bumper of the tow sled.

Easiest way is to tie one ski loop tight to the bumper of the tow sled. The rider of the tow sled needs to be a big fat dude not afraid of the loud peddle, and not afraid to kiss his hood to keep the nose down.

You will also find speed is your friend, and I always liked a rabbit sled in front of me - a good rider who knows the area who can stay 40 feet in front of me who I followed.