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Introduction
Hauling a snowmobile in the bed of a truck can be an affordable and convenient way to get your snowmobile to its destination. By hauling the snowmobile in your truck, you eliminate the need to rent a trailer or purchase one outright. You also free up space for cargo that wouldn’t otherwise fit inside your vehicle—allowing you to go on longer trips with more supplies. Popular models that are suitable for hauling in truck beds include Polaris Indy trails, Ski Doe MXZs, Arctic Cat Attack 8000s, and Yamaha RS Venture GT Rush Pros. All of these trucks have low decks for easy loading and unloading, plus plenty of power for large hills and terrain obstacles. Their tight turning radius is ideal for navigating mountain trails and groomed slopes. The lightweight construction ensures extra stability when transporting over rough roads or heavy crosswinds. With proper safety precautions employed, hauling your snowmobile in the back of a truck is a great option for getting out on the trail and experiencing winter adventures with your friends.
Choosing the Right Truck Bed
Hauling a snowmobile in a truck bed requires careful consideration when it comes to choosing the right truck bed. Some examples of specific truck beds that are suitable for hauling a snowmobile include: pickup truck beds or flatbeds, extended cab pickup trucks, open and enclosed trailer beds, utility trailers, pickup trucks with camper shells and tonneau covers.
Pickup Truck Bed: A traditional pickup truck bed is a popular choice for hauling a single or multiple snowmobiles. The height and width of the space depends on the make and model of the vehicle. Generally speaking, 8 ft long beds are sufficient for most small to medium size snowmobiles. For longer models you should opt for an extended cab pickup with a larger truck bed space.
Flatbeds: Flatbeds provide a large, open area that fits two or more snowmobiles side-by-side. Due to their wide load capacity they are convenient when transporting multiple sleds at once. Keeping the snowmobile firmly secured is critical as sudden stops or sharp turns can cause displacement. Using chocks between the sleds can help keep them secure in transit*.
Enclosed Trailer Beds: An enclosed trailer provides optimal security and protection from outside elements such as wind, water and debris while transporting your cargo safely on highways and off-road paths alike**. Make sure to check its hauling capacity as some models may be limited in size due to weight restrictions.
Utility Trailers: A utility trailer offers additional storage space on top of its regular hauling capacity which makes it perfect for those times when you need to carry extra supplies such as camping gear***or transportation equipment. Utility trailers come with adjustable loading ramps for easier access when loading/unloading your cargo easily into/out from your vehicle’s bed**** .
*Consider using especially made tie-downs tailored specifically for securing motorized vehicles before engaging any chocks between them
**You will also need an appropriate vehicle to tow the trailer
***Make sure details regarding this information can be provided by the manufacturer before making a purchase
**** Depending on types of Heavy-Duty (HD) vehicles used to tow this kind of trailler another set restraints may be needed too
Hauling Tips
1. Ensure truck bed is large enough to accommodate the snowmobile.
2. Attach tie down straps to the underside or tailgate of your truck and place a few planks of wood in the bed to act as ramps for accessing your truck without damaging the snowmobile track.
3. Carefully place the snowmobile onto the ramps and secure it with tie down straps fixed to each side of your truck bed as close to the machine’s center as possible.
4. Use soft ratchets and bungee cords around each side, from nose to back (one across seating area, one connecting ski tips) to secure the machine closer and prevent shifting during transport.
5. Check all safety cables and additional tiedowns for tightness for additional security!
Picture Illustration:
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| <--Begin Placing Snowmobile on RAMPS HERE--> | ———————– | ^ \—————– Cables attached Here \ \ \ \——->Cables attached here | |———————————————|
After Hauling Necessities
It is important to clean the truck bed after hauling and storing a snowmobile. To do this, first wipe away any moisture or debris that has built up in the truck bed. This can be done with a cloth or vacuum cleaner. Once you have wiped away the moisture, use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the inside of the truck bed in order to remove any dirt, grime and other build up. Similarly, use a brush to scrub away more stubborn dirt from any grooves or crevices in between parts of the truck bed. Afterward, allow the cleaning solution to sit for some time before wiping down with a fresh cloth or damp towel.
Once the cleaning is complete, it’s important to thoroughly dry off the truck bed using a chamois cloth or another absorbent material. Moisture damage can occur if this step is skipped, so patting and blotting may be necessary until there are no wet patches left behind. Finally, apply a waterproof sealant on top of the truck bed; this will help protect it against future dirt buildup and keep your snowmobile in top condition while stored!
Maintenance
Winterizing the Snowmobile:
1. Change the oil and spark plugs: New oil and spark plugs are essential to make sure that your snowmobile runs as efficiently as possible during transport. Changing the plug and oil will also help extend the lifespan of your engine.
2. Make sure all connections are tight and secure: Prior to hauling, double check all nuts and bolts on the snowmobile to make sure they are properly secured in place. This will make sure that any components do not become loose while trucking your sled.
3. Fill up the fuel tank: Make sure to fill up your gasoline tank prior to hauling in order to reduce any risk of fuel leakage during transport. If you’re planning on experiencing long-term storage, consider topping off with some fuel stabilizer in order to keep your gasoline from degrading causing clogs or damage to fuel components.
4. Clean dirt and debris off your sled: Remove any excess dirt or debris from the surfaces of your snowmobile so that it doesn’t cause damage or clog upon transportation in a truck bed. Additionally, you can use wax on exposed surfaces for added protection against dirt buildup and damage due to road conditions or wind resistance when trucking at high speeds across highways resulting in higher drag on seized parts
5. Securely attach ski guides onto bike racks: Ski guides will help stabilize the sled while transporting it, reducing any risks of vigorous movement that could damage components like axles and emergency brakes by providing an anchor point for haulers who may be using ramps while boarding it onto a designated truck bed area or using tie-down straps to secure it horizontally along the sides or back of pick-up trucks
Conclusion
Hauling a snowmobile in a truck bed carries its own set of associated risks, most of which are related to the instability and movement of the vehicle while it is being transported. Without proper straps or chains in place, the snowmobile can move uncontrollably in the open bed, potentially causing damage to both itself and the vehicle. Furthermore, collisions can occur if the snowmobile shifts suddenly while traveling down a road or highway. To reduce these risks and make sure that your snowmobile is securely fastened in place before hauling it, ensure that you have properly secured straps and tie-down chains or ratchets in place on each side of the vehicle. You should also inspect all straps before taking off to make sure there are no tears or slack. Lastly, never overload your truck with too much weight and be sure to check that your tires are correctly inflated according to your manufacturer’s specifications. By following these steps you’ll be able to keep yourself as well as those around you safe when hauling your snowmobile.
