do you tie down your sleds in an enclosed trailer?

[tdblakes]

we don't tie them down. brakes are always all set, trailer is usually packed pretty tight and we stuff our gear bags in between the sleds. We did have 1 gouged hood after 1 trip... oops. If the trailer is fairly empty or the floor is iced over, its not a bad idea to throw on a strap.

 

[SRXSRULE]

Put me down in the NEVER colum.

We pull 650+ miles every time, just set the brake and they are fine.

This is in trailers with a wood or rubber floor. NO ski guids or runners. If you have a slick floor of guids you might need to tie them down. Eric

 

[zal]

I tie my sleds down. Not only is it a fine in AB and BC but I like knowing its all safely secured.

 

[94fordguy]

That does bring up a good point... how many of the people who have said no, only have the plain plywood floor? I have had glides on everything I own and it doesn't take much to move them at all just from the bumps and hills.

 

[Quinlan]

We've never tied ours down. The last few years we traveled with a 7x29 enclosed with simply a wood floor. The sleds moved some, but not too much. The guy with said trailer upgraded this year. This one has some sort of rubber/composite floor that grips even better than the wood. Should see no problems with not tying down in this trailer either.

 

[tdblakes]

That does bring up a good point... how many of the people who have said no, only have the plain plywood floor? I have had glides on everything I own and it doesn't take much to move them at all just from the bumps and hills.

I said no, we have the plain plywood floor.

 

[XFIRE800]

We don't and travel at least 500 miles one way per trip. Usually on a rhino lined floor. Had some sleds rub a time or two but just some paint scuffs on the bumpers. How do you guys use the superclamps in the enclosed? We never know where the sleds are going to end up in the trailer due to different track lengths, sleds, and amounts of sleds and such.

 

[POLZIN]

Everytime. We were in a head on that would have ended with a pile of sleds in the nose had they not been tied down. All four tiedowns were toast as well as the trailer hitch. All sleds were unharmed

 

[skooter]

Am I missing something here why is a enclosed any different then a open trailer . Always tie sleds down on open why not enclosed?

 

[vdog0531]

Am I missing something here why is a enclosed any different then a open trailer . Always tie sleds down on open why not enclosed?

oh, just in case you were wondering, the difference between an open trailer and an enclosed trailer are the doors, walls and roof. So i guess what you're missing is that an open trailer, if the sled moves, it will slide off and then be bouncing down the road where as in an enclosed trailer, if it slides, it's still inside the trailer. hope that helps.

 

[Trax 2 Treadz]

Most enclosed trailers can be ordered with C type channels in the floor so using Superclamps is not a problem. I think someone on the forum also came up with a bracket they built so they could use with Superclamps and E-track.

 

[skidooboy]

as I posted on a previous post like this awhile ago...

in the end, you protect yourself and others. if you have an accident and the sleds are unsecured, and cause damage to other people, property or vehicles, you will be held responsible for all damages that they produce. ei, fall out on the roadway, another auto hits them ect....

and if you think you have coverage for your trailer or it's contents just because it is hooked to your truck or other tow vehicle, wait till you try to turn that claim in. and if your load was not secured and you have insurance, they could deny coverage based soley on your negligence for not securing your load, causing more damage than what could have happend if the load was secured. not to mention what the police will be writing for tickets in the aftermath.

heaven forbid that the truck stops suddenly at the end of the accident (hits an immovable object), or stops fast when you hit the ditch, and you have 2 (or more) 600+ pound projectiles following the laws of enertia, heading at you and your occupants.... you could be in for a rude awakening.

i work in the auto collision insurance industry. been working in the collision industry (body shops, dealerships, insurance) for almost 25 years.... i see it EVERYDAY. i have great job security due to auto accidents because, THEY HAPPEN! dont say it cant or wont happen to you. there is a study that EVERY DRIVER will be involved in (at least) one major accident in their lifetime. if you havent had yours yet, it "could" be comming. why gamble?

it only takes a few minutes to bar the skis, and strap the rears down. i know some people think they are great drivers and they can avoid most accidents but.... that is why they are called accidents. THEY HAPPEN.... everyday.

personally, my sleds and bikes are tied front and rear everytime they leave the driveway. IF I EVER have an accident, and the trailer rolls over... i want to be able to open the trailer and see the units hanging from what will now be the ceiling. if they are damaged so be it but, i know i did everything in my power to avoid them being thrown around and creating more damage or harm to others including myself.

as said above... in the end, you protect yourself, and your investments. you are responsible for your actions.

ski

 

[vdog0531]

as I posted on a previous post like this awhile ago...

in the end, you protect yourself and others. if you have an accident and the sleds are unsecured, and cause damage to other people, property or vehicles, you will be held responsible for all damages that they produce. ei, fall out on the roadway, another auto hits them ect....

and if you think you have coverage for your trailer or it's contents just because it is hooked to your truck or other tow vehicle, wait till you try to turn that claim in. and if your load was not secured and you have insurance, they could deny coverage based soley on your negligence for not securing your load, causing more damage than what could have happend if the load was secured. not to mention what the police will be writing for tickets in the aftermath.

heaven forbid that the truck stops suddenly at the end of the accident (hits an immovable object), or stops fast when you hit the ditch, and you have 2 (or more) 600+ pound projectiles following the laws of enertia, heading at you and your occupants.... you could be in for a rude awakening.

i work in the auto collision insurance industry. been working in the collision industry (body shops, dealerships, insurance) for almost 25 years.... i see it EVERYDAY. i have great job security due to auto accidents because, THEY HAPPEN! dont say it cant or wont happen to you. there is a study that EVERY DRIVER will be involved in (at least) one major accident in their lifetime. if you havent had yours yet, it "could" be comming. why gamble?

it only takes a few minutes to bar the skis, and strap the rears down. i know some people think they are great drivers and they can avoid most accidents but.... that is why they are called accidents. THEY HAPPEN.... everyday.

personally, my sleds and bikes are tied front and rear everytime they leave the driveway. IF I EVER have an accident, and the trailer rolls over... i want to be able to open the trailer and see the units hanging from what will now be the ceiling. if they are damaged so be it but, i know i did everything in my power to avoid them being thrown around and creating more damage or harm to others including myself.

as said above... in the end, you protect yourself, and your investments. you are responsible for your actions.

ski

you make very good points. great post. def made me second guess my decision to not tie them down.

 

[skooter]

oh, just in case you were wondering, the difference between an open trailer and an enclosed trailer are the doors, walls and roof. So i guess what you're missing is that an open trailer, if the sled moves, it will slide off and then be bouncing down the road where as in an enclosed trailer, if it slides, it's still inside the trailer. hope that helps.

Ya thats what I want my $12000 sled sliding into my $15000 trailer walls .