What's the best way to load/unload a snow bike when using a sled deck?
Loading a snow bike onto a sled deck
- Thread starter GreenState
- Start date
Ok, did you do do something to bridge the gaps between the rungs on your ramp? The wheels would get stuck in mine as is.
How is unloading with the wheels?
How is unloading with the wheels?
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portgrinder
Well-known member
For those of you outside of canada (no free healthcare) i would suggest a wireless winch. if you got wheels, hook it to your ski spindle somewhere. if winching up with no wheels put it around your footpeg.
Put another row of superglides in the center of your ramp. space it so each wheel rides up a superglide and you have the 3rd strip to stand on.
coming off isnt too bad. they can come fast sometimes. not a big deal as long as there isnt anything behind you.
Put another row of superglides in the center of your ramp. space it so each wheel rides up a superglide and you have the 3rd strip to stand on.
coming off isnt too bad. they can come fast sometimes. not a big deal as long as there isnt anything behind you.
It depends on the ramp, only found one deck that i couldnt ride up due to rung spacing(Old Marathon). But as portgrinder said add some superglides in the middle of the ramp.
You dont have to sit on and ride up but can walk up beside it on the original sled superglides. Either way you do it you need some sort of wheels under it. Timbersled wheels work if you are walking it up but yeti type wheels are alot better for riding it up.
You dont have to sit on and ride up but can walk up beside it on the original sled superglides. Either way you do it you need some sort of wheels under it. Timbersled wheels work if you are walking it up but yeti type wheels are alot better for riding it up.
Ha, I do have a older marathon deck, but putting some extra glides in the middle is a good idea.
I'm getting a Yeti so it seems like I have that in my favor.
I'm getting a Yeti so it seems like I have that in my favor.
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AKdragon700
Well-known member
Crane Loading
I decided to make my Sled Deck multipurpose by turning it into a Mini Boom Truck. I can load two bikes in 10 minutes and pick up to 1000 pounds with a 30 pound crane. With the electric spitzlift model mounted in the correct location with a remote control and a nice harness it would be even easier and more convenient. The best part that I find is that I can use the crane as a third hand. As I undo my straps I use the crane to hold the bike in place while I move around. Also right when I ride up to my truck, I can connect the crane to it and use it to hold it upright while I take my helmet off, etc.
It definitely needs some refining but I love it so far.
I decided to make my Sled Deck multipurpose by turning it into a Mini Boom Truck. I can load two bikes in 10 minutes and pick up to 1000 pounds with a 30 pound crane. With the electric spitzlift model mounted in the correct location with a remote control and a nice harness it would be even easier and more convenient. The best part that I find is that I can use the crane as a third hand. As I undo my straps I use the crane to hold the bike in place while I move around. Also right when I ride up to my truck, I can connect the crane to it and use it to hold it upright while I take my helmet off, etc.
It definitely needs some refining but I love it so far.
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paulharris
Well-known member
riding a snowbike up a sled deck ramp is suicide. you ride it up one side and put your foot down on the outside edge and theres nothing there.....then you tip over and fall 6-8 feet and break your neck. sounds fun.
as for standing next to the bike and walking it up with engine running was not a successful option either. ramp is just too damn steep.
I found the wireless ATV winch to be my method of choice. mount it on the front rack of your deck and winch it up as you hold the bike upright. you will need to have a sliding surface such as bedliner for the ski. or wheels. works great. the Crane is probably the best but that might be a bit too much to build for many folks.
as for standing next to the bike and walking it up with engine running was not a successful option either. ramp is just too damn steep.
I found the wireless ATV winch to be my method of choice. mount it on the front rack of your deck and winch it up as you hold the bike upright. you will need to have a sliding surface such as bedliner for the ski. or wheels. works great. the Crane is probably the best but that might be a bit too much to build for many folks.
There has been other threads on this same topic on here and I also agree.....a winch on the headache rack is the only way to go. I bought a cheap one from Princess Auto and works slick. It is still a PITA. In fact I hate taking it down off the deck worse than putting it on as it comes down fast!
I ended up buying an enclosed for when the snowline is down low but still use the deck when I have to.
Why would you put it on a sled deck when the truck came with a bed that can fit two bikes great? Assuming its just two bikes your trying to haul of course.
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If the ramp is setup right it is far from "suicide"
And even hauling 2 bikes is better on a deck as you have room for all your gear and fuel. Not to mention we never know how many guys are going and in what vehicle configuration. 4 bikes fit great on a deck and 4 guys fit great in a truck, don't get much better then that.
And even hauling 2 bikes is better on a deck as you have room for all your gear and fuel. Not to mention we never know how many guys are going and in what vehicle configuration. 4 bikes fit great on a deck and 4 guys fit great in a truck, don't get much better then that.
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reflextruckliners
New member
Winch & Aluminum Ladder
I have a Marathon Deck and will be getting my Timbersled Snow Bike soon. I watched a video from a Sled Deck MFG and they used a winch and an aluminum frame to put the Timbersled on and pulled it up the ramp with a winch. I was thinking on using an old aluminum with plastic runners on the bottom of the ladder. I will tie my bike to the ladder of course. I was going to using a cordless Warn Winch. If it works out I will post some pics.
I have a Marathon Deck and will be getting my Timbersled Snow Bike soon. I watched a video from a Sled Deck MFG and they used a winch and an aluminum frame to put the Timbersled on and pulled it up the ramp with a winch. I was thinking on using an old aluminum with plastic runners on the bottom of the ladder. I will tie my bike to the ladder of course. I was going to using a cordless Warn Winch. If it works out I will post some pics.
Planning on two sleds and one bike.
FYI, Canada doesn't have free healthcare, you just pay for it differently. There is no such thing as free.
I have seen a guy using a spine ramp on a sled deck. I haven't used one on a deck, but it works great in the truck bed.
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barefooter
Well-known member
This is what I ended up doing on my trifold for getting bikes into the truck bed, just to give a better angle going up. Even with the 10 foot ramp on the sled deck - I was way too uncomfortable. Maybe you could do the same thing for an extention.
I fabbed it so that when the ski hits the steep part of the ramp, the track is catching on Superglides
I fabbed it so that when the ski hits the steep part of the ramp, the track is catching on Superglides
