Will someone please talk me out of a sled deck!!
- Thread starter OLD GOAT
- Start date
LOL, that reminds me of the plans i had to install a pole in my barracks room. Good thinking..with a sled deck there is no place to mount the stripper pole
if you get one get expandable sides for sure. so nice when its the width of the bed and when you only have one sled on you can climb up the side, really easy, place foot on tire, grab a arm or trailing arm and pull yourself up
S
Sled169
Member
with a sled deck there is no place to mount the stripper pole
We actually offer the stripper pole as an option. But you have to supply your own strippers. Or if you bring the strippers we will supply the pole.
Bill you will not regret the deck. See you Saturday.
Jay
Only way to go. Lots of room to lockup gear and gas underneath the deck. Easier to lock the sleds down vs a open trailer. If going two weekends in a row, can leave the sleds on all week and not be a problem. I don't think a steep ramp is as bad as people claim. I was really worried my deck is 5'10 off the ground, 8ft ramp 1ft beavertail and loading was a breeze even though it was my first time loading on a deck. You have more room for gear then if you had just one in the box.
Only downside I can see is pending what else you haul with your truck, the deck could be a pain to have it, but it's also better for many things. Gassing up sleds will be a pain i'm sure, as it is annoying to climb on the deck by stepping on your rear tire. The tailgate isn't a option for many short boxes because the deck is to long. But i'm also betting if you've got a tall guy, he could gas up the sleds from the ground, pending how high your truck is.
Only downside I can see is pending what else you haul with your truck, the deck could be a pain to have it, but it's also better for many things. Gassing up sleds will be a pain i'm sure, as it is annoying to climb on the deck by stepping on your rear tire. The tailgate isn't a option for many short boxes because the deck is to long. But i'm also betting if you've got a tall guy, he could gas up the sleds from the ground, pending how high your truck is.
I hate decks! Too scary loading sleds. Too hard for an old guy to climb up there to gas up. Too heavy loading and unloading it off the truck spring and fall. Too hard to get at stuff in the box.
I hate trailers! A pain in the a$$ to turn around most places I go. Take up a ton of space in the yard. I'm always working on the @*@# lights. Yet another license and insurance to try to remember to buy every year. More tires and bearings to maintain.
My solution this year is going to be to throw away the rusted out box on my truck and build a deck right on the frame down low enough so you don't have to be a kamikaze rocket pilot to load on it.
Sure glad I can ride from the house half the season!
I hate trailers! A pain in the a$$ to turn around most places I go. Take up a ton of space in the yard. I'm always working on the @*@# lights. Yet another license and insurance to try to remember to buy every year. More tires and bearings to maintain.
My solution this year is going to be to throw away the rusted out box on my truck and build a deck right on the frame down low enough so you don't have to be a kamikaze rocket pilot to load on it.
Sure glad I can ride from the house half the season!
I took the box off my truck and built a hydraulically tilting deck....No more ramps,more aerodynamic and the truck handles better.....When I get to the staging area,the passenger pulls the superclamps off,I push a button,sleds slide to the ground and I park....Put on the helmet and RIDE!!!!
S
sledhead699
Member
I hate decks! Too scary loading sleds. Too hard for an old guy to climb up there to gas up. Too heavy loading and unloading it off the truck spring and fall. Too hard to get at stuff in the box.
I hate trailers! A pain in the a$$ to turn around most places I go. Take up a ton of space in the yard. I'm always working on the @*@# lights. Yet another license and insurance to try to remember to buy every year. More tires and bearings to maintain.
My solution this year is going to be to throw away the rusted out box on my truck and build a deck right on the frame down low enough so you don't have to be a kamikaze rocket pilot to load on it.
Sure glad I can ride from the house half the season!
i think what you are looking for is a flatbeb on the truck. my buddie has one on his truck a it works very well still get two sled on it and it is lower to the ground.
I burn 4 tanks of fuel in the pickup each trip, with 4 sleds in the trailer I pay for one, with 5 sleds in the trailer i pay for less than one or none seeing it's my truck and trailers wear and tear.
A sled deck I buy two tanks each trip,
That is half the cost for me on diesel in a sled season with the enclosed. which means 12 trips not 5 or 6
Having the sleds inside warrants the trailer alone for me. Used decks from 1988 till 2004, don't miss them. Turning around can be a pain sometimes, but enjoy the challenge
Fuel economy varies with trucks, my truck burns virtually 15-20 litres more each tank than buddy following me with his deck. Savings is like safety, it is in numbers
A sled deck I buy two tanks each trip,
That is half the cost for me on diesel in a sled season with the enclosed. which means 12 trips not 5 or 6
Having the sleds inside warrants the trailer alone for me. Used decks from 1988 till 2004, don't miss them. Turning around can be a pain sometimes, but enjoy the challenge
Fuel economy varies with trucks, my truck burns virtually 15-20 litres more each tank than buddy following me with his deck. Savings is like safety, it is in numbers
How does the mileage compare for sled deck vs 2 place open trailer?
Like everyones been saying, pro's and con's to everything.
I've been recovering from a herniated disc in the back for a while so crawling up the deck isn't an option for me right now. The easy way I get up top is open up the back door of the quad cab, step on the tube bar (truck is lifted so I need this), step on the floor then the edge of the seat and then another step onto the front corner of the deck while I use the headache rack to hold on to,,, it's almost like walking up stairs. Same way back down.
Slide out sides are a must.
Cant be beat for spring sledding for access to places. Couple places I ride in the spring, you would be backing a trailer down for miles. The most muck that gets on my sled is the front of the outside ski from having 12.5" wide tires that spray up in spring, no big deal though.
I've been recovering from a herniated disc in the back for a while so crawling up the deck isn't an option for me right now. The easy way I get up top is open up the back door of the quad cab, step on the tube bar (truck is lifted so I need this), step on the floor then the edge of the seat and then another step onto the front corner of the deck while I use the headache rack to hold on to,,, it's almost like walking up stairs. Same way back down.
Slide out sides are a must.
Cant be beat for spring sledding for access to places. Couple places I ride in the spring, you would be backing a trailer down for miles. The most muck that gets on my sled is the front of the outside ski from having 12.5" wide tires that spray up in spring, no big deal though.
I have owned heavy trailers, light trailers, 2 place trailers, 4 place trailers, enclosed trailers, open trailers, sled decks and flatbeds. I have towed them with half tons, threequarter tons, one tons, standard cabs, extended cabs and crew cabs.
I have gone thru more trailers and trucks over the past 20 years that the wife doesn't even ask when something new shows up in the driveway. When something is missing she doesn't call the sheriff to report it stolen either. We don't even discuss it anymore. The answer to your question is there is no perfect answer. It's all trade off's. Right now I own 6 trucks.
My current opinion is if you only have 2 sleds buy a light 12' to 14' enclosed aluminum trailer. Something around 1200lbs empty. If you have 4 sleds add a sled deck but only on a 3/4 ton long box or bigger. If you don't have a truck big enough to handle 1500#-1800# 2' in the air then get one. I do like a flatbed better then a deck but that changes the entire function of your truck. my.02
I have gone thru more trailers and trucks over the past 20 years that the wife doesn't even ask when something new shows up in the driveway. When something is missing she doesn't call the sheriff to report it stolen either. We don't even discuss it anymore. The answer to your question is there is no perfect answer. It's all trade off's. Right now I own 6 trucks.
My current opinion is if you only have 2 sleds buy a light 12' to 14' enclosed aluminum trailer. Something around 1200lbs empty. If you have 4 sleds add a sled deck but only on a 3/4 ton long box or bigger. If you don't have a truck big enough to handle 1500#-1800# 2' in the air then get one. I do like a flatbed better then a deck but that changes the entire function of your truck. my.02
IIRC I towed your bone stock dragon back last year...i like the idea of the flat bed. except you still wont have a heated place to get dressed.
as far as using a the bed of the truck, it already has a toneau on it and we have a 1500 to use still too.
How much you want for you're enclosed trailer?
We have both. Its nice to have the enclosed trailer with the camper on the back of the truck for those over night weekend trips. A guy can ride all day & come back without having to drive back home. Then again if we are just going up for the day, then the sled deck is nice.
Never priced one out. How much do they go for? I couldn't get my truck in the garage anymore.
S
sled-fiend
Well-known member
Grab a rear bumper in each hand and jump up
It's easy! Just grab on the side of the deck and pull yourself up, if your old step on the tire first
As far as slideouts, i've had my non expandable deck in my truck for the last 2 months, and my 162" hanging out the back of it for the last 2 weeks, it doesn't affect driving at all, I can still get threw any drive thru!
Sled Deck vs. Trailer?
Sled deck is nice for driving, turning around, ect. Storage can be a problem as I only have a std. cab truck. But I manage. The biggest complaint is not having any cover to change your clothes, when the weather is bad. I am going to figure out a small awning for the side on mine. Other than that I love the sled deck!-00's
Sled deck is nice for driving, turning around, ect. Storage can be a problem as I only have a std. cab truck. But I manage. The biggest complaint is not having any cover to change your clothes, when the weather is bad. I am going to figure out a small awning for the side on mine. Other than that I love the sled deck!-00's
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