Keeping your sled clean on an open trailer

[Blk88GT]

Being that we trailer our sleds at least 1000-1400 miles one way to ride, there is plenty of time to get a sled covered in road crap. I have never used a cover but I'm tired of removing the engine and exhaust every year to clean it off.

I have a set of flaps that cover the entire bottom of the truck at the hitch, and my trailer has fold up ramps/salt shield.

I finally ordered a good cover for the sled last week (Thanks Michelle!) but is there anything else I'm missing? I'd mainly like to keep the junk out from under the hood of the sled and off the exhaust. Will I need to do anything other than use the cover I ordered? I was thinking of trimming a poly tarp to fit under the hood of the sled, just in case anything soaks through the cover.

What are you guys with open trailers doing to keep the junk off your sled?

 

[MORSNO]

My set-up is similar to yours. Open trailer, salt shields and poly cover (factory) on sled. I've heard some guys also lay a towel over their hoods before putting the covers on to help keep grime off and prevent as much cover rub. I want to make a hitch flap to keep most of the road grime off the trailer, does yours work well?

 

[Blk88GT]

Yeah, it works quite well. It didn't cost much either, I made it myself because the stuff I found in the stores seemed really flimsy and over priced.

 

[Coldfinger]

Covers do an amazing job of keeping the sled clean.

Using a trimmed poly tarp over engine is a good idea for rain or moisture protection but is not a worry if temps are freezing outside because the cover freezes real quick. Also must let engine/exhaust cool down or else will melt the poly.

I too made homemade mud flaps. Attaches to the hitch tube. It is 3 piece, one piece goes over hitch stinger and has a 90 degree 6" long piece of 1 1/2" square tube welded on top that parallels bumper, then each flap is bolted to 1" square tube and that tube slides into the center section.

To hold the flap tubes in place, and for easy removal, I drilled a hole in each flap tube, just outside the center section, and bungee cord the two flap tubes together.

 

[Rotors]

With regards to the extra flaps, make sure they dont hang down and touch the ground, if they do drag they will toss up more snow and junk than running no flaps at all.

 

[JesseJames]

I put saran wrap on the front of the sled under the cover on longer trips. Keeps the sleds really clean, and prevents the cover from chaffing the sled. (The trees do enough). Jesse.

 

[Joks79]

Here is what my friends use. They have two 144's under the front two covers and classic shorter trackers in the back.

 

[Markhp]

I use a soft undercover that covers the whole front end then I put the tarp on. Important to wash the undercover after those wet sloppy trips so the next time you use it the dirt and grim are gone and less chances of scratches.

 

[vdo1948]

^^ X2. Soft cover comes from Arctic Cat and yes wash it after every trip.

 

[Xrider]

This:

http://www.toesters.com/twoplacephotos.asp

 

[Sumac Motorsports]

SnoCap

http://www.canvasworksincmn.com/snocaps.html I love mine!

 

[94fordguy]

I don't do anything too elaborate when on an open trailer, but I do always use the factory cover and I also put some plexi-glass on the upper section of the front ramps to further help reduce the grime factor.

Example from a few years back, You can see how much grime the plexi kept off the sleds.

 

[Blk88GT]

Good idea on the plexi! Sled is nice and clean with the deck now!

 

[TheBreeze]

I use a skinz cover, and that does most of the work. I have started putting a garbage bag around the clutches to make sure those stay perfectly clean.

 

[Mtn-Track]

Most sledders actually unload first, then ride! Then again, I can see where this would save tons of fuel, oil, hy-fax wear, and losing a buddy in a white-out would be rare! Heck, the whole group can hit the same hi-mark at the same time and bragging rights can be had by all (provided the tow rig don't get stuck...)







Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[Dekk]

I put a old bed sheep over my engine than tuck it around the clutches and exhaust than latch the hood shut. Works awesome and is practically free.

 

[Mtn-Track]

.... old bed sheep ......

You guys are making it really difficult to keep this thread on track.
Must be an Iowa thing....?!?!?!?!







.

 

[94fordguy]

Most sledders actually unload first, then ride! Then again, I can see where this would save tons of fuel, oil, hy-fax wear, and losing a buddy in a white-out would be rare! Heck, the whole group can hit the same hi-mark at the same time and bragging rights can be had by all (provided the tow rig don't get stuck...)







Sorry, couldn't resist!

LMAO! That's pretty good

The story behind this - it was a big group trip up in Canada with about 20 people and about 6 or 7 tow rigs... 4 of them 4-place enclosed trailers. There was not enough room to get large rigs parked or turned around up high so we all parked down low except for 2 rigs with sled decks on... the rest of us rode our sleds on the ice and dirt for 2 miles on the morning ride up (not realizing how bad the road was). For the afternoon ride down I caught a ride down to my rig with one of the sled deck rigs and I drove my rig up to shuttle everyone down on. Being I had the only large open trailer, it worked out good in 3 round trips.

I'm Sure glad we didn't try to take an enclosed up there, we had to unhook my 4-place open and turn it around by hand inside its own length, it was even tight turning the expedition around and it turned on a dime!

 

[oldsledsrule]

Most important aspect of this is the cover. My covers are waterproof, Skidoo used to make a cover called the "supercover", if you can find one on ebay (the older ones were purple and black) buy it they will fit almost anything and they will keep your sled dry no matter what . When you get where you are going simply powerwash the slime right off the cover and the sled is still dry. The other brand of cover that I swear by is SnoSkinz, just as good as the supercover, I also use a soft underliner that covers the hood and windshield to prevent scratches, I'm sure all of the manufacturers sell these.