Haulin a Snowmachine (snowmobile)

Sorry if this is a repeat. I read through the "haulin an atv" thread but didn't see one for snowmachines (oops sorry, that's snowmobile for you continental US'ers ).

My machine is roughly 9 feet long so I would have a lot of overhang...I keep hearing about the tailgate possibly bending. Has anybody tried hauling there sled in one of these Taco's? I already know I'm gonna hear the trailor bit, but haulin a trailor is a PITA and I'd like to avoid that if possible.

 

Modern sleds ski stance usually 48 inches. Our wheelwells are 43-44 inches. Manage to fit everything else in my short 5ft bed, but have to trailer the sled.
A 6fter you could... in reverse, if you have a short/no windshield or build a platform above the wheel wells for a wide flat load up. Just dont goose her thru the back window.

 

A sled deck, but never seen one on a tacoma, mostly domestic trucks. As demoncleaner mentioned probably a custom deck. Not sure how the composite would like it.

 

Demoncleaner; You mentioned modern sleds...heck, mine is 12 yrs old (time for an upgrade). Yeah...I did a little measuring and I'd definetly have to rig something up to clear the wheel wells, or load the sled tiped up on one side..but I don't like that idea much.

xedge; I've been seeing more and more of those sled decks' around, but like you said only on the domestics. All that weight up high would make me a little nervous in the slippery stuff.

I have the 6' bed and with the tailgate down it's just under 8'...do you guys think my 9' sled will cause any problems to the tailgate? My anitial thoughts are that it should hold with no problem, but I keep reading about the bent tailgate stuff.

 

Do they have TSBs in Canada?

 

Alaska is not in Canada, it's next door. If you put the sled in backwards most of the weight would not be on the tailgate, but loading it could cause it to give way. I have heard of people bending their tailgates with motorcycles, I think a snow machine is heavier, and I would say a trailer sounds safer.

 

You can drop the tailgate entirely when loading/unloading. Since the skid is the lighest part & its wider say than a motorcycle tire being more than likely a 15" track the weight will be distributed better but to load & unload I would drop the tailgate unless your coming off a snowbank. Loading the opposite way I would worry about the windshield & the weight of the engine too far back. Your front would be pointing at the sky.

Heres a couple of pics I had on my laptop for some ideas

 

I don't know how the post TSB tailgates hold up, but with the older ones, your track will bend out your tailgate a lot. Especially on long, bumpy trips. I bent mine in and out so many times the metal cracked at the top of the tailgate. My 02 Summit 800 skis fit perfectly between the wheel wells, and I find just a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood cut the length of the box+tailgate keeps things from bending (you can spend more time and fit it in front and behind wheel wells to keep it there longer). My girlfriend's 08 FX Nytro doesn't fit between the wells so for a ghetto fix, I joined 2 pallets together with a bit of space between them to extend it to the end of the gate, but it's not ideal. If you don't strap them together, you easily spit the back pallet out the back when loading. I've seen some sweet, home-made, false floors built to the top of the wheel wells, with slide out ramps underneath. I usually just use a snowbank to load or lift it on with a buddy. Don't load your sled backwards, the engine is the heavy part and it will be too far back. Plus, it looks really stupid.

 

My SR5 (waiting for TSB suspension) bottoms on EVERY bump with my sled in the back. May have shot the rear susp last winter driving up to the sled zone with a 600 in the box and 2 800's on the trailer though. My buddy's TRD handles my 800 like nothing. Can't wait for the new suspension!

 

Great now I need a roof rack.... Man, those are some crazy bastards.

TSB's in Canada? LMAO. Actually according to this map Alaska is a huge island off the coast of California. Funny though, I would have thought it'd be more tropical They even make it look smaller than Texas...LOL


LId; Mine is a TRD and I beleive it has the suspension TSB done...I need to crawl under and take a look.
I'm really liking the false floor idea...did they use metal or wood on that?
3/4 plywood...why in the hell didn't I think of that. That would definetely shore up a potentialy whimpy tailgate and distribute the weight.

Hey guys, thanks (so far) for the ideas.

 

I wouldnt haul a sled backwards ,had a buddy try that and his front end got ripped off from the wind.

 

Wow I feel stupid.


I didn't confuse Alaska and Canada. Snow and Canada popped into my head so I just asked.

 

The false floors were made of wood using 3/4 plywood and 2x8's I think. They look solid and if you fit them in front of the wheel wells they won't be going anywhere. I didn't make one yet due to the mushy suspension with just the sled in the back. My idea also involved some pull out ramps with a raised outside edge to keep the skis heading into the box and some hooks at the front of the ramps to hook onto a metal coping at the back

 

it will handle it no problem, drive it right in and fudge the skis in kitty -wompuss

Been there done that...and its snowmoible for us mainlanders

Life's too short to ride slow sleds, ride Cat
Arctic Cat rules!!

 

I never attempted to put one in the bed. Trailer (Sled bed) always seemed like the way to go. Plus its always a good idea to ride with a buddy up in AK.

 

Most of the time I've got the trailer when there's snow to the parking lot. But the trailer can suck on rutted out old logging roads, especially when you have to turn around or when you're pulling with my old 99 cherokee sport.

 

True, especially with an enclosed when you can't see sheet even with extended mirrors.

 

new ride, sitting on pallets since the skis are too wide and the pre-TSB tailgate is pretty much cracked in half. TSB suspension and tailgate tomorrow
LID

 

LID So you had no problem getting the TSB for the tailgate done in Calgary? I don't need it at this point ( hope i never do), but when I got my truck from the dealership he had never heard of that happening in Canada, and said to not expect the get it replaced in Canada under warranty.

 

My SR5 bottomed on any little bump with my sled in the back, and even some with my dirt bike. I complained last year, before the TSB, about my suspension and bent tailgate. TSB's came out later and when I found out, I was over 80,000k due to working in Ft.Mac at the time and driving back and forth to Calgary. I'm getting parts free but paying for labour since I'm well over my warranty on that. Other than that, no problems.