Sleddecks vs. Open Trailers.

[IdaWinterWarrior]

I am in the market for a sleddeck or a trailer. Just wanting some opinions from some users/owners out there of both. Would also like your opinions on who makes the best sledeck and 3 place open trailers. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sledgreg]

Well I have a open trailer that tilts, and my buddy has a deck, when just him and I go, we always take his truck and deck.

when there are more then 3 sleds we take his truck and deck, and haul my trailer behind, with the extra sleds on it.

My trailer came without a snow gaurd on the front so I built one out of aluminum checker plate for 180 bucks... (looks awesome)

in the future I am wating to buy a pickup and get a sled deck for it as, it can sometimes be a pain in the *** to haul a trailer around, while going to get groceries for a trip, or fuel ect.

The sled deck puts the sleds right up out of the path of flying rocks and debris.

however if you have a snowgaurd on your trailer, that does a pretty good job of protecting the front of the sleds.

both modes of transport I recomend covering your sleds, as salt and other crap can damage your sleds.

the only down side I see of a sled deck is the steepness of the ramp to load/unload your sleds.

My wife refuses to load or unload her sled if it is on the deck.....

You do however get use to it after you do it a couple of times.

The nice thing about the trailer is my wife can unload and load both sleds she is so confident.

Both work well... When I get my truck and sled deck, I will keep the trailer, as extra sleds will always be needed to be transported.

 

[Rprecision]

I have never used a deck, but after hauling trailers around, its easy to see the advantage.

I think it really amounts to the type of areas you ride, the access they have and what other needs you have.

Another thought, you dont have to register a deck !

 

[MORSNO]

Knowing what it takes to put on covers and clamp the sleds down on my open trailer, I always wonder how much harder it must be 5' up in the air and not much space to move around on a deck? Gotta be some great stories out there? However I do see an advantage in driving around without a trailer in tow, especially in parking lots.

 

[Gold5th]

I've always used trailers.. mind you as long as I've had sleds, I haven't had a truck. I towed 2 behind my car, it was fine, but being 8.5' wide and right at windshield hieght, I found that other people kept almost hitting the deck.

I use a car hauler now... much better.

My only issue I can see with a truck deck is all that wieght up that high.. don't want to make any sudden movements...

 

[Goinboardin]

Deck if 3/4 ton or better.

I built a deck for my truck this fall (first year owning a sled), the deck is nice as far as mobility, but being that I have a half ton, 2 sleds is definitely on the heavy side for the truck. Thinking I might take the deck down, extend it a little more and throw an axle underneath it to save the trucks axle/springs. And yes, sudden movements can be scary. Great traction though! I would imagine a 3/4 ton would work great, if I had that I'd be all about the deck.

 

[IdaWinterWarrior]

Thanks for the info and thoughts. Kinda hard deciding to pull the trigger on either the deck or trailer first, knowing in the long run I'll be running both. Cheers to all.

 

[smokinskidoo]

I have used both. I only have a deck now, after you have one you wont go back. The weight is not bad( i have a 1 ton with air bags) even on corners body role is not bad. You get much better traction with the wieght over the rear tires. Can head up any road and not worry about being able to turn around. Buy a deck you will be happy.

 

[Cyle]

I've had decks, actually just sold mine. If there is 2 people going they can't be beat. But for 3 or 4 there isn't that big of advantage. I liked it I just couldn't justify the extra expensive for how often I need it. It is handy though to have the sled loaded and still park anywhere. But I will say this, leaving the deck in all the time is a pain, for a while it's not bad driving around but it gets old as hauling many things in the box are a lot more difficult.

 

[rdr99]

We have a 27' enclosed, deck and a 2 place. The enclosed gets used most of the time, I use the deck in the spring and for exploring out of the way areas. I have used the 2 place 4-5 times in the last 8 years, guess I should get rid of it. I do really like the deck, because you can always tow a trailer too. The disadvantages of the deck are; on the truck all the time(though they are really not that hard to remove), need a 3/4 ton or larger truck, sled might be stored on the deck all time. Some of the advantages; turn around where ever, can still tow a trailer, or pull someone out of the ditch, in some cases better fuel mileage, don't have to register or insure a deck, when staying at a hotel if you back in it makes it harder to steal your sled and there is lockable storage under the deck.

 

[troweller]

I have a sled deck and I like it.
I really like not having to deal with chain control.
I don't like everyone looking at my truck all the time, though.
I wish I had a retractable side model.
Storing trailers is a pain if you live in a snow and have a bad driveway.

 

[matofsrud]

i have a mega cab half ton but was told its actually heavier than just the regular half tons is that true and if so would it be enough to handle two sleds on a deck.

 

[rdr99]

i have a mega cab half ton but was told its actually heavier than just the regular half tons is that true and if so would it be enough to handle two sleds on a deck.

Would it handle the weight and would it be safe are two different things. 2 sleds full of fuel plus a deck are going to be in the 1500lbs plus region. Just look at you GVWR on the door sticker.

 

[Gold5th]

With the megacab being heavier you need to check the specs in the door, because like a 4x4 vs a 2wd in the same model the extra wieght of the truck itself can reduce your hauling/towing limits.. The suspension is only designed to hold so much wieght and it doesn't care if that wieght is truck or sled.

 

[matofsrud]

alright thanks not to steal your guys's thread but has anyone used a hemi to pull 24 ft v front enclosed with four sleds, just wondering what kind of mileage a guy is lookin at .

 

[Gold5th]

I think it would be areodynamics more than anything.. I haul more weight (cars/trucks total trailer weight minimum of 5300lbs) than that quite often, but on an open trailer and I see about a 3mpg hit... I haven't towed an enclosed at all behind it yet...

I've towed enclosed behind my old 318.. and WOW milage sucked... but it had tall gears 2.2.. so yeah... no where near my power band at highway speeds... barely above idle

 

[j_e_summit]

I am told that you get better mileage with a deck, but I can not comment on that as I rarly pull trailers.

The only time I pull a trailer is if we are going a long ways and want more then 2 sleds. As it is, I live 20min to an hour from some of the best riding out there, so that doesn't happen too often.

However, some of the places we go into are almost impossible to get into with a trailer (on some days) because the roads are only plowed twice a year. These same places have tiny parking areas too.

For short drives, we don't even put the deck on because almost no spray travels up that far.

The deck helps alot for traction, even when you have no sleds on the deck; and provides a dry spot to haul gear around.

Just my 2cents

JE

 

[Gold5th]

Deck vs trailer.... I could see a Deck having less effect on milage, a deck wieghs less than a trailer, you're not spinning extra axle(s), the only real aerodynamic drag is the sleds, and most sleds are pretty darn aerodynamic...

I've seen some truck get better milage with some wieght in the bed vs empty.

I drive a large SUV so I don't really have a choice, I have to use a trailer.. but then again I rarely load up my sleds, I ride out from my back yard, down my drive, down the road, around 2 corners, and I'm out onto the paths/trails I'm allowed to ride on

 

[AndrettiDog]

I too am considering a sled deck and I'm glad someone started this thread. I will have to sell my Aluma 12' drive on/off trailer to offset the cost of the deck. It's a great trailer so I'm nervous to do this.

I'm curious if you can drive as quickly as you can with a trailer. I like to drive 75 and I'm concerned that I might get too much body roll. I'll slow down and that's not a big deal, but I thought I would ask.

Also, is it a pain in the arse to get on the deck when it's icy or dark or cold or all the above? Not to be a pansy, but I've taken some good chin hits on trailers and other truck setups.

 

[spooner187]

my set up

i prefer a deck to a trailer for all the above reasons. I went to a tilting sled deck and this year i am puting a winch on the front so no more scary loading and when I want to unload they slide ride off. Mine is steel and I built it but there are some very nice aluminum versions out there. typically they dont telescope down to the width of the truck. oh and only a 6 ft. ramp to mess with and the load angle isn't bad. the fixed style decks are a bit of a hassle unless you have reverse. by the way when i unload my sleds are clean and whatever is on the trailer behind me is caked with mag chloride, sand and slush.