Sled Deck Loading/Unloading

[SLED2SHRED]

Finally got that sledeck I've been wanting. Looked at several and liked the tracpac beavertail with about a 9' ramp + 1' tail. I had no problem loading after my 2nd attemt. It seems as if I'm landing on a carrier trying to grap a tailhook. But after my first ride with a couple inches of powder on the deck and a wheelie halfway up with a slight pull to the right, I feel that someday there could be a Kodak moment. Unloading don't seem bad. Does anyone have any horror stories? Do tell.

 

[hopper146]

deck stories

ohhh....where to start....lol...last time in Golden...loaded up, then my riding bud flew up...landed on the deck with a huge BANG.....the people next to us said...wow...really have to know what you're doing to land it right on that deck....Friend said oh yeahhh...then limped up to me outta sight...said...I think i;m bleeding...lol....had my eyes closed...wasn't sure if i was gonna land on the deck...or truck roof...or the hood...lol....luckily just a bruised knee.....i think I better build a longer ramp!.....

 

[One]

Went great until I messed up a carbide and it caught on the bottom of the ramp all the time, now I'm always nervous when loading and sometimes need a few runs.

 

[Tackbtch]

Just because your back at the truck...don't take off that helmet till the sleds on the deck. I have fallen off the side of the ramp flipped over the bars. Seen this fella slip off the deck and face plant the ground, knocked him out and he lost a tooth. Worst for me was getting home after a great day of fun, stopped at the pub for a burger and beer, drove home, something didn't look quite right when I stepped outta the truck, turned on the cargo light ...NO SLED...pictures flashing thru my mind of my sled sitting on the hwy and a chiptruck smucking it at 70. But when I drove down the county road about a mile there it was, parked right side up in the middle of the road, not a scratch on it. The Simmons had some how wiggled there way under the clamp. Now I tie the back down with a strap. Dino

 

[snojunkee]

ramp it

it can get tricky.what i've learned is get a run and coast up the ramp.you don't want to be on the gas and hit the ramp,it will wheelie.especially tricky on the ice.never had a problem unloading yet.the worst time loading was when the sled broke down,now i carry a come a long to winch the dead ones up.

 

[bcboy]

Finally got that sledeck I've been wanting. I had no problem loading after my 2nd attemt. But after my first ride with a couple inches of powder on the deck and a wheelie halfway up with a slight pull to the right, I feel that someday there could be a Kodak moment. Unloading don't seem bad. Does anyone have any horror stories? Do tell.

How long is your ramp? Mine was less than 8 feet, not fun to load on a 1 ton.
Had Full Lotus sled decks make slide on extensions that are 3 feet. Have no trouble now.

 

[blurredelevens]

Loading my sled deck is always sketchy....however, today was really smooth. I just took my time, didn't gun it up the ramp. It's a finesse thing with BRAKE and throttle. USE BOTH. Good luck.

 

[proworkz]

I picked up my sled deck last year. The very first time was the worst. But now I can load even if I only have a 8 foot run at it. But, never had any rear trouble until I tried to load my friends 2003.5 MXZ Rev. His skis are SUPER wide. It felt like the only thing touching the ramp was the belling pan.... LOL I could have swore the skis where not even on the ramp..... We ended up having to push the sled up the ramp. I can now load it with no problems. But my friend still won't load his own sled...... ha ha....

 

[spring snow hero]

I have a 3/4ton dodge and a 8 1/2' ramp.....not too long at all. I know that the absolute key is to pack enough speed to get the track to endup on the ramp and not get hung up bridgeing the gap, much more speed is just asking for ramp trouble. my guess is 5-7mph. having your truck level is key. if your truck is off camber and the deck is icy it does not take much track spin to get the arse end to start sliding down hill. I do what I can to point my truck down hill just a little bit helps a lot.

never ever ever forget to tie the rear of your sled down. I have done it and every single guy I know has done it......it i scary. I personally run my strap through the windows of the track on the top of the skid and cause the strap to pull forward on it. if the brake fails the strap is still both pulling and propeling the sled forward.

the helmet tip is a very good one. one of our crew who is a vet pro moto-x guy and an extremely expierienced sled hed and dec guy took a bad fall.....it can happen to anyone.

 

[duallymanca]

Have to say I've seen some carnage over the years when it comes to loading decks. My only incident was sled sliding sideways off the ramp 1\2 way up. Truck wasn't level and ramp tilted when ski was going over the top. Ski end up off the deck and over it went. Ended up with a torn groin sticking my foot out trying to stop it.
A friend ended up with a busted collar bone and some cracked ribs when he fell off a deck covered in frost. He's a trailer guy now. Watched another guy park his sled on the roof of his new truck. I'm guessing a little to much throttle at the bottom of the ramp.
I took an old boxliner and cut it up then used it for tracks up the ramp and on top of the deck. Now the sleds act like they are on rails once you're on the ramp. They key is having the right speed when you hit the ramp. Just takes practice. Unloading is a piece of cake with reverse! Hard on the back without.

 

[rdr99]

I have done the same as duallymanca, my ramp has puck board on it, and the deck has bedliner. I also cut up an old track and put about 14" of track on the back of the deck.

 

[Scott]

When it's below zero and the ramp is really frosty I spin out on my ramp...almost guaranteed.

Doesn't happen when the alum is more sticky and warmer.

 

[stumpy2000]

i have seen some real doozies-guys on the roof(expensive cold trip home w/out some windows)skis through back windows(home -built no headache rack)slide across the ramp and into beaver tail of deck(sudden stop coupled with a slow motion fall to the ground -cost parts and short hospital stay)and last but not least...slide across the deck and off to wedge between the two fairly new trucks in a tight parking area. to this day i don't know how he got clear before going down between)some really scary stuff over last 15 years.the best thing to do is park the truck and ramp close to level and focus on the task at hand- not rushing to get packed up first.approach the ramp and carry enough momentum to just coast over the top.try not to spin the track on the ramp or it could get ugly.if you do get stopped on the ramp sometimes it helps to get someone to pull on the skis to keep em down and pointed where you want to go. a six foot fall with 500 pounds of hardware makes for a crappy end to any trip even with your helmet on.sorry if this is long winded but i really think that some guys see the truck and lose their minds.

 

[bud_1080]

Had a deck on a 07 f-350 with a ramp that was just over six feet long.... made for some hard loading. had screws in the back side of the ramp for my quad, would usually be leaning over the bars and still carry the front tires in the air to the top... got tired of it and would just load with the ramp off of a snow bank or in a ditch.

 

[Lucias]

I almost lost it off the deck one time.. always make sure you are on flat ground and not a slope.. loaded the sled up and the front end came up and slid down hill.. luckly the ski caught the edge and i was ok..

 

[RGM]

Here is the deal to make it so easy your wife could do it. As mentioned the cut up bed liners work good and even the chunk of old track on the deck work good. Parking level side to side is important But the the most important thing so you barely need any speed or momentum to get up the ramp is get a longer chunk of track and have it hang on the beaver tail. As soon as you track touchs it you can walk your sled up as slow as you like.

 

[Climbit]

Another thing I make sure is that whoever I am with is clear and aware of what I am doing, Including keeping the doors on the truck closed. Oh ya and e-brake on the truck always engaged.

Happy Loading !

 

[Modmxz]

Decks

I've got a Silver Lake Mfg. deck with 2 ft. beaver tail and an 8 ft ramp with 2.5 ft extension for mine truck. Load onto an F350 with 8' lift. First time was scary, but over time you get used to it. I only load my own sled and don't let my buddy's load. For sleds other than my own I wired in a 2k lb winch so that I can just pull up other people's sleds. Makes for much less headache and worry. I also use a cut up bed liner for the ramp and the deck. I also put pieces of the plastic liner over the aluminum on the beaver tail so the carbides never touch the aluminum. Helps keep from chewing up the deck not catching a skag and having an instant brake.

 

[Cyle]

People make it seem a lot worse then it is. Everytime I go to load everyones like "Your crazy" or "How the hell does it get up that steep of ramp". 8ft ramp 1ft beavertail, 6" lift and 35" tires on my 1 ton. It's pretty steep but it doesn't take much. About 4ft run at it with very little throttle the whole way will do it easy. Also a big thing that helps me is my deck is 8.5' long, so you have lots of room. This weekend was probably the scariest, it went up fine but I guess when I put my sled on it's side the hood came undone and flew up as I was loading, scared the sh!t out of me, but it was still fine.

 

[Soccerd6]

3 years loading - never had any probs until this year - new sled I guess - the day after Christmas, great ride, get to snopark and just head on up the ramp.... well, guess I was a little complacent - ended up with a ski off the deck, sled getting ready to take a dive off the side - I'm like "oh CHIT!!" jump over my sled and off the deck - had enough time to think "plenty of new snow - landing won't hurt - oh, crap - sno park just got plowed..." landed on both feet, sled still running but stayed on the deck.... hubby standing behind the truck witnessing the whole thing... I hop back onto the deck, hit the kill switch and muscle the sled into position.... no harm - no foul - 'cept now I can't laugh at steve-o and his loading.... which has provided much entertainment for many over the years....