How to haul sled

KVF 700

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I know it's kinda a dumb question but should I haul my sled with the tail gate down or close the tail gate and rest the track on it. Sled is an 02 summit 144 and truck is an extended cab regular box gmc. Also is it worth polishing the sled or will it get sprayed from the dirty roads quite a bit because I don't have a cover.
 

Bogger

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play it safe-tailgate down. u can still polish it, it would just be more up keep.

If you do load it then close the tailgate be sure to shut the fuel off before raising the track and closing the tailgate. when I first bought my 99 summit I left loaded it like this and leaked a tonn of fuel into my box.
 

JoHNI_T

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open is fine, close it if ya have a trailer or need the space.

once you polish the tunnel, it requires some touch ups every few rides and yes the tail will get some spray from road grime,, but spring is here so now its mud or nothing, salt is almost gone.:beer:
 

TheLonelyIsland

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open is fine, close it if ya have a trailer or need the space.

once you polish the tunnel, it requires some touch ups every few rides and yes the tail will get some spray from road grime,, but spring is here so now its mud or nothing, salt is almost gone.:beer:

not here in ontario! spring is here , roads are bare , everytime you see a plow its throwin down tons of salt! no wonder our vehicles are so rusty!!!!:mad:
 

imdoo'n

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with the tailgate down, your track must rest on the tailgate, or you may lose the tailgate. also you will acquire a few rock chips on your tailgate.
with the tailgate up you may smash the top of the tailgate from bouncing down the road, also you may flood your engine. you may also find your sled sliding around on the tailgate as there is not much holding it in.

maybe take the tailgate off and build a sled loader and loading platform which will makes loading easy and cheap. search the sled site for some pics of what others have done.
 

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with the tailgate down, your track must rest on the tailgate, or you may lose the tailgate. also you will acquire a few rock chips on your tailgate.
with the tailgate up you may smash the top of the tailgate from bouncing down the road, also you may flood your engine. you may also find your sled sliding around on the tailgate as there is not much holding it in.

maybe take the tailgate off and build a sled loader and loading platform which will makes loading easy and cheap. search the sled site for some pics of what others have done.

Yep what he said^^^^

I've hauled my sled lots with the tailgate down, just make sure you have long mudflaps in the rear to keep the gate from getting all chipped up and that there is some wieght on the tailgate to keep it from bouncing around. IMO its safer with the tailgate down, less chance that the sled is going to land on the roof/hood of the truck if you hit something or land on the road from moving around or falling out the back.
 

jono.2

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I feel better with my tailgate up. No rock chips, and doesn't bounce or move with a couple of tie downs.
 

KVF 700

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ya decided to keep it down because even though its only a 144 it looked like it would be scary putting it on top of tailgate. also i loaded it by myself and wasnt strong enough to lift it over my head and slam the tail gate lol. thanks everyone
 

kenvb

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if your worried about theTailgate getting rock chips, remove it and buy a sheet of 1 in plywood for the bottom of the box, then no worries, and a traveling tarp for the sled.
 

Cyle

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ya decided to keep it down because even though its only a 144 it looked like it would be scary putting it on top of tailgate. also i loaded it by myself and wasnt strong enough to lift it over my head and slam the tail gate lol. thanks everyone

Better go to the gym or get to digging more then :p I can lift my RT1000 162" up and close the tailgate on my dodge no problem myself.

I have hauled both ways, if the roads are bare I leave it down, if they are bad it goes up. Ya a 162" looks funny on a short box either way but no issues.
 

KVF 700

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Better go to the gym or get to digging more then :p I can lift my RT1000 162" up and close the tailgate on my dodge no problem myself.

I have hauled both ways, if the roads are bare I leave it down, if they are bad it goes up. Ya a 162" looks funny on a short box either way but no issues.

lol o dunno i think ya might get more leverage on a longer sled and different chassis. i bet i could lift the back of my dads xp and slam the tailgate, much lighter ha!:eek:
 
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