Sled stuck removal techniques

Teth-Air · Mar 16, 2021

I have been working on several handy techniques over the years that aid the removal of sleds from nasty stucks. I would like to share some and also learn more. There are many that work well and as the sport progresses new ones pop up. Techniques such as "pin and wiggle" "basic ski pulls", the "wedge maneuver" "rolling out" etc.

So the first I will talk about is tree wells or nosing down in holes where going forward is not an option.

I have been know to visit a few tree wells now and again. The last one took 5 guys to pull the sled uphill backwards. I have a locking pulley that I hooked to a tree to keep tensioning the rope up as we managed to move the sled back a couple inches at a time. I suggested to my buddies that we hook the rope to the track and throw it in reverse so the motor could do the work. The idea was not accepted very well but I think it would work well. Just want to make sure that I didn't rip the track window. Any feedback is appreciated as I am always looking for new techniques to have in my arsenal.

fnDan · Mar 16, 2021

What kind of rope are you using? A lot of the rope I see in stores is rated 90 to 100 lbs.

rhody605 · Mar 16, 2021

One of most interesting things I saw on video this winter was dead sled removal on a steep slope. They used a really long rope with a pulley. The pulley was mounted to the back of a sled anchored on top of slope. Then a sled went down hill with said rope pulling dead sled up the hill. I thought was very clever. Could use a tree as anchor instead of sled if available.

FernieHawk · Mar 16, 2021

That looks like a good one...LOL

I use rope loops all the time...best thing since sliced bread. Started with a 3' loop of 1/2" rope, then a 5' loop...now I mainly use a 12' loop. If you use a longer loop of rope you can double it to make a 1/2 length loop or triple it to make a quarter length loop. It gives you a great mechanical advantage when rolling sleds over and spinning sleds around on their side panels. The loops keep you a distance away so your body is not always in the way.

Try this out...put your sled on its side panel, double up a 10-12' loop of rope and slide it around the base of your steering post, stand on top of the front side of your track...lean back and voila...your sled is on its skis, pull on one end of the loop and your done.

I keep my loops in the small pocket at the back of my seat...takes 3 seconds to pull out and 5 seconds to put back in.

When rolling a sled over on a steep slope the loops can also be used to prevent the sled from rolling over and out of control...rolling over and over and over and over and over...LOL

Lund · Mar 16, 2021

Teth-Air said:
I have been working on several handy techniques over the years that aid the removal of sleds from nasty stucks. I would like to share some and also learn more. There are many that work well and as the sport progresses new ones pop up. Techniques such as "pin and wiggle" "basic ski pulls", the "wedge maneuver" "rolling out" etc.

So the first I will talk about is tree wells or nosing down in holes where going forward is not an option.

I have been know to visit a few tree wells now and again. The last one took 5 guys to pull the sled uphill backwards. I have a locking pulley that I hooked to a tree to keep tensioning the rope up as we managed to move the sled back a couple inches at a time. I suggested to my buddies that we hook the rope to the track and throw it in reverse so the motor could do the work. The idea was not accepted very well but I think it would work well. Just want to make sure that I didn't rip the track window. Any feedback is appreciated as I am always looking for new techniques to have in my arsenal.

I don't really know of any tricks in getting that sled out other then a lot of man power. LOL
Looks like you had that.

SnowJunkie82 · Mar 16, 2021

As one of the said buddies that helped pull you back. My feedback is make the side hill! Joking aside it really wasn’t that bad to get it out. If there had been less horsepower to pull it back your suggestion of hooking into a track window may have worked. You would need to tie a quick release into the rope so once you had it back you could easily untension the rope.

Teth-Air · Mar 16, 2021

fnDan said:
What kind of rope are you using? A lot of the rope I see in stores is rated 90 to 100 lbs.

3/8" similar to a climbing rope. I think it was 1200# break rating but working is about 2.5 times lower.

Teth-Air · Mar 16, 2021

rhody605 said:
One of most interesting things I saw on video this winter was dead sled removal on a steep slope. They used a really long rope with a pulley. The pulley was mounted to the back of a sled anchored on top of slope. Then a sled went down hill with said rope pulling dead sled up the hill. I thought was very clever. Could use a tree as anchor instead of sled if available.

Only problem I guess is we limit our ropes to about 50' as they are bulky to carry. But good idea.

SnowJunkie82 · Mar 16, 2021

If there are any mine rescue guys on here maybe they can chime in. A large portion of the underground mine rescue course is rope recoveries.

Teth-Air · Mar 16, 2021

SnowJunkie82 said:
As one of the said buddies that helped pull you back. My feedback is make the side hill! Joking aside it really wasn’t that bad to get it out. If there had been less horsepower to pull it back your suggestion of hooking into a track window may have worked. You would need to tie a quick release into the rope so once you had it back you could easily untension the rope.

I don't always have so many good strong backs available to help out so will need to test out this technique. If the rope had a loop tied in it at about 10 ft. from the sled, a tiedown could be hooked from that loop to the back bumper once the sled climbed the rope. Then let the brake go to transfer the load to the loop on the rope so the it could be easily released from the track window.

ferniesnow · Mar 16, 2021

Good topic Chris. In my many years of sledding, I have seen a lot of stucks. The machines of today are much better at climbing out of holes and what-not. IMHO, ski pulls (and a strap is best whether it be a nylon one or an old discarded "fan belt") and a shovel are essential when the going gets tough.

Sure one can stomp the snow with boots and in a lot of cases that will work but............so it took 5 guys to extract that sled from around a tree.

My wife and I ran into a similar situation with her going into the tree well and the skis straddling the tree which was as wide as the ski stance. The two of us had to be creative; we shovelled the back end out (yes, it was hard, icy tree well snow) so that the sled was level and we were able to pull it backward enough to free the skis. The next step was to shovel the front to be able to ride the sled out of the hole. Simple stucks are such a pleasure; clearing the running boards and the front of the sled just to be able to hit the throttle and jump out of the hole.

Lund · Mar 16, 2021

I don't really have too many tricks in my tool box but i do carry one of these. Snow bungies have been around for ever but i tell you they are a life saver once you find ways to using it effectively. I pack this one every where.
I would say 75-80% of the time i get stuck i'm solo, either unreachable or punching a new path, so the bungy is like my solo buddy.
You first learn to ride smart, you also learn to know when your done, game over and don't dig your self to china. Bailing off is also a work saving technique, a sled generally will pop back on top with a blip of the throttle.
When you are stuck a mistake i see all the time is trying to get out ASAP by riders. My advice is slow down and asses, my ride is on average 100lbs heavier then yours and i seldom if ever break out in sweat or hurt my self because of straining. BTW, if your lifting a sled, your working too hard, that's unnecessary, i never lift sleds.

Now there are situations like Teth-air picture that require unusual power to extract a sled, generally these situations are avoided by not exceeding your riding skill or have an escape route. And even then shet happens, having a few friends is the only trick in the book in that case.

Teth-Air · Mar 16, 2021

I have been looking for an alternative to ropes to save space. Only 2 options I can think of is strapping like on a tie-down or one of those thin high strength synthetic winch cables. The first does fold down small but there is nothing workable on the market for pulleys and the ratchets for them can only pull a foot or so before you need to release and start again. It would be nice if a ratchet pulley was available for strapping. I have a picture of a similar ratchet pulley I use for rope.
The synthetic winch cable are pretty light weight but strong so I expect it would be thinner than climbing rope and stronger. Only problem is it is expensive.

Darrell D · Mar 16, 2021

We always end up having at least two snow bungees in the riding groups. They get used in more and more situations from the traditional ski pull to pullling on the rear suspensions lifting the sled up and forward,
pulling the sleds around on their sides etc. Of course this always depends on having your buds around to help out.

Lund · Mar 16, 2021

I do carry 3/8 paracord with one pulley in my tunnel but really never use it. I do also carry a nylon strap in my right hand pocket of my riding jacket, it gets the most use in helping others get out, i hate reaching and pulling on ski loops..LOL

Teth-Air · Mar 16, 2021

Darrell D said:
We always end up having at least two snow bungees in the riding groups. They get used in more and more situations from the traditional ski pull to pullling on the rear suspensions lifting the sled up and forward,
pulling the sleds around on their sides etc. Of course this always depends on having your buds around to help out.

When snobungies were a thing, a few in our group carried them but due to their size and weight they went bye-bye. The strap in the pocket now is a staple.

ferniesnow · Mar 16, 2021

I used to use a SnowBunjie..............storage is a problem. Bottom line, they are big and bulky and don't really work any better than a strap. This is an old "fan belt" and as you can see it stores effortlessly. Ferniehawk mentioned something like this with loops etc.. Zac's Traks has a similar idea and they pass out nylon straps at their avy courses and the guys just put them in there pockets and they also work great. At one point, I cut a 1/4" strip of this belt and used that for years until it finally gave up. I had a 275# dude puling on the thin belt with everything he had and the belt did not break! I use it for ski pulls (really saves on the back), lifting the back end, roll overs, and more. They are great and I wouldn't be without it!!

Lund · Mar 16, 2021

I don't know about that, must be different snowbungies then i use.
Mine packs very well on top of my SMALL tunnel bag and if you want i can weigh it but will bet ya weighs less then 1lb.
Question, how many tools do you pack?
And how do you plan to execute a repair with out parts or even know how on the issue.
Willing to bet that there are more people packing heavy tools which are essentially useless other then if you also pack parts.
Tools should only consist of doing a patch to get you out. Point is the the snowbungy being too heavy, bulky is unfounded.
JMO though

rhody605 · Mar 16, 2021

Here is a ratcheting pully I used till I lost it somewhere...

https://prosense.ca/consumer-products/quickie-tie-downs/

ferniesnow · Mar 16, 2021

Lund said:
................ Point is the the snowbungy being too heavy, bulky is unfounded. JMO though

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That's just it..............your opinion and you aren't the only one that can have one.

Sled stuck removal techniques

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