Well? I like using my deck to haul my sleds. have a small enclosed 2 place trailer but only use it when we have more than 2 sleds going with one truck. Thought I would see how many guys use their decks to haul the bikes? I have not yet transitioned fully from sleds, still have two and not sure my wife will totally commit to a bike. I would like to be able to haul 2 sleds and a bike or 2 bikes and a sled on my truck, does anyone do this? I know it is simple to load the bikes into the back of my truck (another question, ramp of choice?) and then haul the sleds in the trailer but wondering if anyone has the deck thing figured out. Maybe the Tuff lift hydraulic deck or????
Hauling bikes on sled deck???
- Thread starter hughesfoundation
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I use 12v winch mounted to the sled deck with wireless remote, just walk it up while engaging winch.
Like this?
I have a yeti wheel kit and use my deck mounted winch to pull the bike up. I have a Y harness which clips to the foot pegs. You don't even need to hold the bike just watch it come up. Its a little slow but its solid and totally controllable. Unloading is a breeze, just push it back and use the bike brake as you walk beside it. I made a plywood insert for the wheels to ride on, it just sits on the ramps cross braces, lift it off to load a sled. Buy a good winch don't cheap out like I did. The other thing I am going to do is switch the winch cable for a rope.
M5
M5
Thanks, keep the ideas coming. Now just ned to find a deck in my area as the one I have is the HiLite tilt deck and each side is separate. Any nice decks out there in the NW?
I tried once to get mine onto my marlon sled deck and it was a no-go..super sketchy. I have to use my little enclosed trailer if i want to bring the snowbike.
I think the only way safely is with a winch.
Like those truck boss decks have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5cISoKitPk
I think the only way safely is with a winch.
Like those truck boss decks have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5cISoKitPk
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Snowbike and Sled Decks
I purchased a cable operated swivel boom from Northern Tool Company and replaced the hand crank winch with a 12 volt one. I mounted it just left of center of where the nose of my sled would be on the left half of the deck. The boom extends an additional 2 feet. I can pull up to the left side of the pickup and winch the snowbike up and swing it onto the deck. I had to reinforce the deck where I mounted the base of the boom to it, but it seems to work fairly well. Sorry, but I can't find any pictures. If I do I will post them.
I got the idea from a set up that had this same type of swivel boom mounted to the 2" receiver of the pickup. The problem I saw was that if you wanted to use the ramp to load or unload a sled you would have to remove the boom from the receiver.
An electric winch at the front of the deck with a wheel kit might be an idea. I'm just concerned about loosing my footing while walking the snowbike down the ramp when unloading. Could be quite a tumble.
I purchased a cable operated swivel boom from Northern Tool Company and replaced the hand crank winch with a 12 volt one. I mounted it just left of center of where the nose of my sled would be on the left half of the deck. The boom extends an additional 2 feet. I can pull up to the left side of the pickup and winch the snowbike up and swing it onto the deck. I had to reinforce the deck where I mounted the base of the boom to it, but it seems to work fairly well. Sorry, but I can't find any pictures. If I do I will post them.
I got the idea from a set up that had this same type of swivel boom mounted to the 2" receiver of the pickup. The problem I saw was that if you wanted to use the ramp to load or unload a sled you would have to remove the boom from the receiver.
An electric winch at the front of the deck with a wheel kit might be an idea. I'm just concerned about loosing my footing while walking the snowbike down the ramp when unloading. Could be quite a tumble.
I forgot to mention I also put two tie down straps from the foot pegs to the bars to keep the bars from moving around.
M5
M5
I'm planning on doing superglides up the right side of my sled deck ramp and walking up the center with it running to load it(rekluse will help). I'm sure I'll get tired of walking it and end up riding it like I do with my dirt bike.
With two people you can load on a really steep Sled Deck ramp with the normal ladder cross bars you just have to have one person on the deck with a strap hook to your ski to pull up on the front of the ski so it doesn't catch then you just walk it up slowly with good clutch control
Good luck, I tried that and the ski gets hungup and then it comes to a dead stop...and will not budge. Need a second person minumum to pull on the ski.
I have the triple carbide Scagg on my timber sled ski and it goes right up. I don't use a sled deck, just a ramp up to the back of my pick up so it might not be as steep. Occasionally it will catch on the very bottom of the ramp, but once I get past that it's fine.
I have ridden up it a few times successfully… But have also been unsuccessful?
Pickup bed is way easier than sled deck.
decks are stacked
we hauled with snowdecks, then tried the bikes on them.
then we just put together something better for little money, We often put three bikes on, middle one backwards...........work ok with three guys lifting. for two bikes, one man load operation.
we started with the older wooden ramps in 2012 then when we had a good setup, dan folded up sets in aluminum, nice and light .
in my truck I spaced the rails so I could drive my M8 I often use for work right on, picture of sled suspension and extra cross supports.
in wood its a $50 deal, folded in aluminum its $300 or so.
we hauled with snowdecks, then tried the bikes on them.
then we just put together something better for little money, We often put three bikes on, middle one backwards...........work ok with three guys lifting. for two bikes, one man load operation.
we started with the older wooden ramps in 2012 then when we had a good setup, dan folded up sets in aluminum, nice and light .
in my truck I spaced the rails so I could drive my M8 I often use for work right on, picture of sled suspension and extra cross supports.
in wood its a $50 deal, folded in aluminum its $300 or so.
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I'm pretty happy with the winch and wheels setup. Loading and unloading is a one person operation with no drama and you can still carry sleds if need be. I have the wheels on for going in and out of the shop anyways so I just leave them on when travelling as well and you are ready for unloading. I use the plywood ramp insert for loading dirt bikes in the summer. I used to pull my deck off for summer but this year I left it on and have carried lots of building materials on it as well as atvs.
M5
M5
Snow bike on a sled deck
I use a Truck Boss buggy platform to load mine. Works awesome tie down to the buggy then winch on to the deck.
I use a Truck Boss buggy platform to load mine. Works awesome tie down to the buggy then winch on to the deck.
