Sled deck???

[powder junkie]

they all have their good points and bad points. Marathon is a big name and has a rep to protect and im sure they will do anythn to please a customer. my buddy bought a titan deck....now there is a 99% rip off or Marathon except cheaper $2100 new with expandable sides. but plywood lasted a year, welds are average, sum peices are a hair crooked lol. and isnt coss-traxx built in alberta too? i think now-a-days just being an alberta dealer isnt enuff to sell a deck. if there is a better product and price sumwhere else, ppl will go. i understand marathons frustration but if they are rippn off ur design then obiviously ur doin sumthn right.

[shoppingcart111]

Marathon Lite with custom powder coat on a half ton

[sledbunnyracing]

Originally Posted by shoppingcart111

Marathon Lite with custom powder coat on a half ton

Very Nice...I likey....

[takethebounce]

Wow someone pulled an older thread out of the dumper...but I did take the time to read it. I wanted to mention some obvious false info that I was told that could made sense to me...A Marathon (either current or past) employee was the one who sent the Marathon deck to China to have it reproduced and brought a container of them back here to sell??? Now could it make sense in tough economic times that if you aren't sellin your $3500 decks you have a cheap reproduction that sells for $1800 and are still making the same profit them? Just nonsense right?

Personally, I think the Chinese decks are cheap. The quality of aluminum seems less than perfect compared to the AB built Marathon. The bolts are cheap and I wouldn't trust the bolts to last. The welds are not bad, the fit and finish is okay, not Marathon though. The LED's and ramp quality, well, its Chinese built. But for a guy who might need a deck lets say 4-5 times a year, is almost $2000 savings a nice option?

I think the Marathon decks are likely the best option for sledders. The STF decks look super nice as well. I don't know anything about the STF mounting system. In my opinion is 4 bolts with mounting plates through your bed of the truck ever enough to secure sleds. Thats basically body metal. And I don't think 4 camper tie downs enough either.

Now if someone would make a deck with not only retractable sides, but retractable beaver tails. The back end of the deck doesn't need to be a full slide out for sleds as you are only supporting the track, so it could be 6' wide. So guys with their 6' and 6.5' box don't have to have 2' sticking out the back of their daily driver and you don't have to stoop down to get into the box.

Come on Marathon, you can do it! (maybe they have, and I haven't seen it)

[Zig Zag]

I have an 08 Marathon deck forsale if your interested has telescopic ramps

[0neoldfart]

I've owned three decks - AlumaTech (U.S.), one I can't remember the name of, and a Marathon - which I recently sold to Dobir. The Marathon was far and away the best deck I've owned - I never had a crack develop, the ramp is awesome, and the telescopic sides worked well. Marathon has built riverboats for years - they know how to build strong products. When my finaces allow it, I will own another one - they may even have a winch option by then - if not, I'll fabricate another for loading a dead sled.

[rembrn3]

Cross Trax decks are a good deck, excellent customer service. If you want a deck with expandable sides, some of the other decks don't expand to 8'6". STF is not making decks anymore and the marathon decks are over priced.
The Cross Trax is made in lacombe, you can purchase from the builder, the weld quality is the far best I have seen. All the corners on the welds are wrapped and finished so there are no craters and the weld hasn't been attacked with a grinder to pretty them up. The ramps are longer as well, you can also get track extensions for the shorter decks. Don't get talked into a marathon the quality isn't there as much as they say it is!!

[snochuk]

I have an LPI deck that was built in Spruce Grove, this will be the 9th winter for the deck and no cracks yet. Was on my Ford and now on my Dodge and on both trucks I kept it ALWAYS secure in all four corners with turnbuckles and also have a 2"x4"x1/4" box tube with a 3/4" threaded crank that goes through the box tubing and bolts into a 2" long nut welded to the truck frame cross member. There is no deck flexing or movement which causes the cracking in aluminum. Properly secure what ever deck you have and you will probably eliminate the cracks.This is a non sliding deck but LPI now makes sliders. They have also built custom sized aluminum trailes for my brother. Mind you that was two years ago and haven't talked to them since. Sliders are nice but I'm keeping the solid old style deck-suits an old guy like me.

[four4all]

I've got the Crosstrax deck.
I'll agree with the welds - they are by far the best I've ever seen. (and like the above note said - no grinding)
I compared it to the welding on a STF deck around the time I was buying (few years ago) - and the STF deck welds were absolutely brutal. Alum welding is tough - but don't give it to a summer student to do.

One other option I really like on the Crosstrax, is that I can unload the deck myself. The front of the deck slides back and thru truck the wheel wells. And with only 4 chains to undo, (vs bolt on versions) it's very easy to remove off my truck by myself.

Couple other things - I got a heavier duty 10' ramp when I bought mine. I didn't like the option of the lighter thickness. Still - the price was way cheaper than the Marathon deck.

For my needs as a quadder and sledder - Crosstrax has worked out very well.

Gordo

[powder junkie]

cant believe all the marathon hate

[Beaver]

For Sale 2005 marathon Bobtail with superclamps,Slide in sides and long ramp to fit a shortbox ,has been rienforced. $2500 OBO call Dean @ 1-780-850-6604 The Deck is located in Spruce Grove.

[Hudson_M1000]

Check out Summit decks