Sled Decks

[Burtonbreck]

Let the search begin. With my new place Im not going to have a trailer yard so Im looking for a sled deck for next winter. Any opinions, ideas, suggestions, rants etc feel free to let me know whats up. Id rather buy used and aluminum but could be persuaded im sure. I have a Toyota Tundra Xtra cab with a 6.5 foot bed. Thanks for your time.

 

[jrizman]

http://www.toyupindustries.com
keep it simple.
I can load and unload mine all alone and it's for an 8ft bed. Light and sturdy, and reasonable price

 

[adamg]

You are aware that your vehicle will be over its legal load with a deck and two sleds?

 

[tdorval]

Lots of guys running the tundra with a deck. Don't know of anyone having an issue but its technically probably over weight. I've been running a mission in my F-250 for the last 4 years, its aluminum and I will have to visit a welder this summer. Would probably go steel if I were to do it again but it was a reasonable priced aluminum. Collapsible sides are really nice, splurge and get the super clamps right off the bat, and add under deck lights to make life easier...

 

[Burtonbreck]

Thanks for the info. Ive heard if you head north to Canada the weight can be an issue but haven't heard about it being a problem here although it would be over the limit. I have some time so I want to make the right choice. Thanks again.

 

[Coldfinger]

Toyup makes a convincing case for using steel vs aluminum. I must have missed their explanation regarding the use of what looks like aluminum ramps.

 

[tdorval]

My Aluminum ramps need the most attention of my entire setup. Lots of cracked welds...

 

[AKtoad]

If you can swing it get the truck boss setup. My silver lake deck was pretty poor quality. When I went to replace the plywood I discovered incomplete welds or spots that they just missed a weld. Needless to say I spent a few hours removing welds and tig welding the deck. My point is my silver lake deck will be for sale this summer and I will be getting the truck boss setup. I really like the idea of having the bed sealed from road spay. Here in Alaska the roads get pretty gnarly and everything under my current deck is covered in road spray.

 

[AZ800]

I bought a WELL USED Marathon deck last year, aluminum. I thought the quality was pretty good. there were a couple cracked welds in non structural areas that I repaired with a few self tapper screws, could have probably left them alone with no real issues.
I thought it worked as well as a deck could, but never had one or used one before. Ramp was still sturdy, no issues even driving my heavy wheeler up it.

Personally I wouldn't even consider a steel deck, assuming they weigh about double a comparable AL deck. At least I could load mine in the truck with 2 guys. Imagine a steel deck would take a piece of equipment or way more beer to get enough buddies over to install or remove it!

 

[SRXSRULE]

I bought a new TruckBoss at the beginning of the season. Ive hauled my sled on it about 40 times this winter. That works out to about 160 loading or unloading. It has worked flawless all winter, slide outs can be operated with 1 hand, the ramp has worked perfectly smooth which is also 1 hand operation sliding it in/out. Truck box has remained dry all winter long. I also have the winch option which is great for loading my sled out of the garage or if your in a icy parking lot.

What ever you do, try and look at them in person. Touch, feel, see how they work. I know I was surprised at how poorly some of the 2500-3500 decks operate. Eric

 

[joel97mustang]

Sled Deck

No contest. Full Lotus

http://www.flrecdecks.com/long-sled-deck/

I did all the research and settled on this one. Looks great and is very functional. I like the composite decking material. It takes a beating.

With the cheaper CDN dollar you get a bit of a break.

 

[GreenState]

What ever you do, try and look at them in person. Touch, feel, see how they work. I know I was surprised at how poorly some of the 2500-3500 decks operate. Eric

Yup, a bunch of them are JUNK.

I'm currently using the previous generation Marathon deck. Aluminum with expanding sides. It's pretty sturdy and I'm happy with it.

The new Truckboss decks are nice. Spendy, but nice.

After seeing the Full Lotus in person this season I wasn't quite as impressed with it as I thought I was going to be.

I'd really like to get a closer looks at the M Line Decks. I think this is what I'd go for if I get another deck:

• M-Line decks are professional grade, designed and built to last even in the toughest and roughest of applications. From Forestry to the Oilpatch, and look good doing it.
• 3 Year structural warranty
• New C-MAX Adjustable height legs - Means larger foot print, greater ridgidity, and easier changes between trucks
• New Custom extruded T6 Aluminium side rails with water jetted tie down diamonds - Means greater strength and no temper loss.
• Standard external powder coat
• Sides Expandable to 100 inches standard
• More, Larger, And thicker support spars
• Best T6061 Grade aluminum
• 100% Welded construction, No screws to loosen and round out
• Sealable to box rails, No more wet gear
• Outward style legs give unobstructed front to back storage
• Full L.E.D. lighting, Including 15 inch tubular, Tilting cargo light
• 14 Guage, Arctic flex wire rated to -65C
• Standard 10 foot pin together ramps with Superglide and Edge Rail Trim, Will stand up to years of use and abuse

 

[bootz1981]

I have a toyup deck, worked great, it was all steel including the ramp. never had a prob with cracking at all. deff get under the deck lights, I did not get clearance lights on the outside, never seen a need but would of looked cool. super clamps are the way to go by far. most people I know used turn buckles to hold it in the box, I thought that sucked crawling in and out all the time, I couldn't leave my deck in cause I needed the box, so I put boatbuckles on, by myself I could load it and tie it down in one minute with out crawling in, just reach threw and hook up the boatbuckle and ratchet it tight, way easy. my deck is 7 years old now and works and looks as good as day one. decks are deff the way to go if only hauling one or two

the only oops I had, when I got the deck I did not have a spray in bed liner, fit nice and slid in easy, then I got a spray bed liner and it wouldn't slide in worth a damn and the extra thickness of the liner made the deck fit tight between the wheel wells, prob not the case with most but for me it was pin in the rear

I think it was a marathon aluminum deck that a buddy had, the only down side was the foot of the deck was so big that it would fit between the wheel wells so you had to have two people to pick it up and over, on he toyup the feet are "runner" that are as long as the box

 

[jhubs]

Decks

Unless you re made of money wouldn't even consider an m line. They start at double pretty much anything else out there. They do have some nice features, I ll give em that. I ve run a mission expandable for the last two years and have been nothing but happy with it. I would just recommend to anyone that is considering a deck to look into a slide out storage "shelf". It would save your back and help eliminate crawling under the deck. That will be my next investment!

 

[pinko]

I've had a Marathon, Cross Trax, X deck, and now currently running an M Line. The others aren't in the same league as the M Line. By far the strongest and best functioning deck I've used. Not to mention best looking. They're not cheap but when it comes to decks you get what you pay for.

 

[SRXSRULE]

Unless you re made of money wouldn't even consider an m line. They start at double pretty much anything else out there. They do have some nice features, I ll give em that. I ve run a mission expandable for the last two years and have been nothing but happy with it. I would just recommend to anyone that is considering a deck to look into a slide out storage "shelf". It would save your back and help eliminate crawling under the deck. That will be my next investment!

Full Lotus, M-line, TruckBoss..... all will end up in the 5000-6000+ range once you add in options. Yes, you can buy a deck for under 2 grand and many guys do but you get what ya pay for. Same reason you can buy 30,000 and 60,000 new trucks. Eric

 

[bootz1981]

5-6000 are you guys nutz, my $2000 toyup gets my sled there the same way a $6000 deck does. i cant imagine paying 6000 for a deck

 

[Qreiff]

Me and my pocket book love my TOY UP as well. Solid construction and works flawlessly!

 

[boondocker97]

Toyup makes a convincing case for using steel vs aluminum. I must have missed their explanation regarding the use of what looks like aluminum ramps.

Not ragging on Toyup, and I agree that aluminum is weaker than steel. However, I think they forgot something when discussing their stiffness theory. If you design a steel and aluminum piece to carry the same load, often times the aluminum piece will end up stiffer. The increased cross section of the thicker aluminum part increases the moment of inertia so it will be stiffer, regardless of what material it is made of.

For example look at steel frame dirt bikes vs aluminum framed ones. The steel frames are less rigid than the aluminum ones and carry approximately the same loads. I don't think a sled chassis can be made with mid-grade steel to be as ridged as the current aluminum ones we ride and still be relatively the same weight. Like they said, you can get a higher grade of steel that will outperform the aluminum, but I doubt they are making sled decks out of something like chromoly tubing for $2k.

As for why would someone pay $5-6,000 for a sled deck? Why does anyone put $20k into a snowmobile, $60k in a truck, $25K+ in a Chris Burandt enclosed trailer? Because this is America, it's fun, and we can is the best answer I can com up with haha. I did get to see Tony Jenkins' Truck Boss setup this year. Only one of those I have ever got to see in person. I'm sure it had all the extras on it and the slide out tray underneath. If I didn't have a flatbed on the truck that fit two sleds side by side, that is what I would be saving my money for. One of my buddy's home-made $1500 steel decks and another that has a Mission aluminum deck do work to get to the hill. When ramps bend, slide outs are frozen, and you have to crawl in a dirty pickup box to get the stuff that slid to the front, you can appreciate the features of a high end deck.

 

[SRXSRULE]

5-6000 are you guys nutz, my $2000 toyup gets my sled there the same way a $6000 deck does. i cant imagine paying 6000 for a deck

Have you ever seen a Truckboss deck? No steel to rust, No welds to crack, No plywood to replace, Everything is extruded and anodized aluminum that always looks like new. Plus your not stuck with an 8ft x 8ft platform on your truck all winter.
Then to top it off, try and find a used Truckboss deck for sale. IF, you find one it will be in the 3500-5000 range and sell very quickly. You cant hardly give away a used steel deck after only a couple years of use. Eric