Towing A Dead Sled

06 Dragon · Apr 16, 2021

How folks are towing a dead sled out of the back country. Techniques, what works or does not or did not work? Experiences and so on? Pictures and videos.
I know at one time folks used to turn the skis around on the broke down machine, remove the belt an tie the tunnel on top of the rear of the machine doing the towing, but now with the lightweight sleds you are lucky to be able to carry a gas caddy without bending the tunnel.

rknight111 · Apr 16, 2021

With a sled that still moves that doesn't have power on its own. After doing it with a professional (Rod Welpton from McBride) he ties the ski hoops to the back bumper about 2' behind, no operator on that sled. Then we tie one sled in front of him about 8 - 10' in front. Prior to the ride out in the alpine we made a trail up the easiest possible way, then went for a rip for about an hour for that to settle. Then pulled it out. Going down technical hills I had to hop on to do the side hill thing or the odd jump off when we were hitting a large bump. Worked great, lots of skill, he pulled it all the way in from the lake north of mount Renshaw, down into blackwater, down the creek and trail. Rod and Barry are champs. This was BrianH's sled. And Rod towed this down the trail from 27 at about 60 km hr, no issues what so ever.

RXN · Apr 16, 2021

Usually we just pull the belt.
Most new sleds have weaker thinner tunnels. I carry one of those straps that do skis to a tunnel, we flip that around and go off the boards with thr ski strap. Then either an a arm or the front bumper of the dead sled.

Sometimes we have to put a tug sled infront of the toe sled just to help out.

Once when the 2018 Doo piled the chain case we tossed the track on the back tunnel of an 04 king cat, the doo rider stood on the skis and laid on the good to steer.

That poor cat couldn't corner. So we tied my machine to the front of the cat to help tug it around the corners.

Lol. Gong show towing.

FernieHawk · Apr 16, 2021

If it’s a Polaris that breaks down, we just leave it.

bobsledder · Apr 16, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_o7kTjej4c

Modman · Apr 16, 2021

rknight111 said:
With a sled that still moves that doesn't have power on its own. After doing it with a professional (Rod Welpton from McBride) he ties the ski hoops to the back bumper about 2' behind, no operator on that sled. Then we tie one sled in front of him about 8 - 10' in front. Prior to the ride out in the alpine we made a trail up the easiest possible way, then went for a rip for about an hour for that to settle. Then pulled it out. Going down technical hills I had to hop on to do the side hill thing or the odd jump off when we were hitting a large bump. Worked great, lots of skill, he pulled it all the way in from the lake north of mount Renshaw, down into blackwater, down the creek and trail. Rod and Barry are champs. This was BrianH's sled. And Rod towed this down the trail from 27 at about 60 km hr, no issues what so ever.

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Tying it close behind is called "the short tie" good for going up hills and tight trees, a lot easier to pull without 200+ lbs of rider and gear on the dead sled. Long tie (20+ feet) is good for downhills with a rider aboard since it gives the back sled a chance to brake. Anytime you are on the trail, use the short tie, even if there is a rider on it. The 2nd rider will not get snowblasted as bad from the rooster tail on the first sled. If you gotta tow alone, you can short tie it and then lash a small tree or branch between the running board of the tow sled and the ski tip of the sled being towed. This will keep the back sled from smashing into you when you get on the brakes. Don't lash it too tight as the branch needs to move up and down with the terrain. Please note, you will get scratches on your running board / tunnel unless you have something you can wrap the branch with (rag etc).

You can also use a small piece of crazy carpet under the track, or a kids toboggan.

I wouldn't dream of turning the skis around and trying the bumper trick with todays sleds, that worked great back in the day with steel tunnels and thicker materials. Everyone I have seen try it in the last decade has resulted in some kind of breakage - either tunnel or suspension.

Can also daisy chain 2 or more sleds together if you got a long steep pull, that usually works pretty good. gets hard on the middle sled a bit but not bad for a short distance. If you have to tow uphill or a long ways, consider siphoning the fuel from the dead sled into other sleds if you can, 8 lbs a gallon of dead weight makes a big difference.

Have also done the side by side tow but it gets hard to stay in unison. Also, if you bust an a-arm or a spindle, usually you can make due by putting branches across the skis from the good side, at least to hold it in place to get it down. put 1 or 2 in front and behind the spindle and tie-wire it up, usually will hold if you take it easy and at least 1 of the a-arm mounts is still intact.

If you break a steering post but its still driveable, tie the ski tips to the handlebars on the opposite sides (make an X over the hood) so you are pulling on the opposing ski. I've driven a long way in some tight trees like this. If you snap the post off, wittle a tree branch to fit into the bottom and top and jam it in there. Then tie the ski tips in previously mentioned fashion.

All kinda depends on each situation and if the sled is running or driveable, or not, how gnarly is the terrain, etc etc.

FernieHawk · Apr 16, 2021

Modman said:
Tying it close behind is called "the short tie" good for going up hills and tight trees, a lot easier to pull without 200+ lbs of rider and gear on the dead sled. Long tie (20+ feet) is good for downhills with a rider aboard since it gives the back sled a chance to brake. Anytime you are on the trail, use the short tie, even if there is a rider on it. The 2nd rider will not get snowblasted as bad from the rooster tail on the first sled. If you gotta tow alone, you can short tie it and then lash a small tree or branch between the running board of the tow sled and the ski tip of the sled being towed. This will keep the back sled from smashing into you when you get on the brakes. Don't lash it too tight as the branch needs to move up and down with the terrain. Please note, you will get scratches on your running board / tunnel unless you have something you can wrap the branch with (rag etc).

You can also use a small piece of crazy carpet under the track, or a kids toboggan.

I wouldn't dream of turning the skis around and trying the bumper trick with todays sleds, that worked great back in the day with steel tunnels and thicker materials. Everyone I have seen try it in the last decade has resulted in some kind of breakage - either tunnel or suspension.

Can also daisy chain 2 or more sleds together if you got a long steep pull, that usually works pretty good. gets hard on the middle sled a bit but not bad for a short distance. If you have to tow uphill or a long ways, consider siphoning the fuel from the dead sled into other sleds if you can, 8 lbs a gallon of dead weight makes a big difference.

Have also done the side by side tow but it gets hard to stay in unison. Also, if you bust an a-arm or a spindle, usually you can make due by putting branches across the skis from the good side, at least to hold it in place to get it down. put 1 or 2 in front and behind the spindle and tie-wire it up, usually will hold if you take it easy and at least 1 of the a-arm mounts is still intact.

If you break a steering post but its still driveable, tie the ski tips to the handlebars on the opposite sides (make an X over the hood) so you are pulling on the opposing ski. I've driven a long way in some tight trees like this. If you snap the post off, wittle a tree branch to fit into the bottom and top and jam it in there. Then tie the ski tips in previously mentioned fashion.

All kinda depends on each situation and if the sled is running or driveable, or not, how gnarly is the terrain, etc etc.

The wives love these type of stories when we get home. Not.

My wife shakes her head on many occasions...she can’t figure out why we keep sledding after some of the misadventures. What fun is a predictable life. Lol.

Lightningmike · Apr 16, 2021

In the past I've tied ski loop to rear bumper tight tight. Always follows and steers good. Someone else worries about rider

Lightningmike · Apr 16, 2021

Did this out of clemina with a turbo do in 2013

Lightningmike · Apr 16, 2021

Worked good. Everyone asked me when back at truck how it went.... I said there was alot of turbo lag.... lmfao

snoflake · Apr 17, 2021

We have used this method a bunch. We found tying the right ski hoop tight to the left side of the rear bumper or vice versa seem to work better than any tow device or log through the skis. Need to mention, the broken sled was towed without anyone on it. Also found, it seems to tow better on hard pack without the crazy carpet, and with crazy carpet in deeper snow.

hope it helps.

Another method we used this winter to tow a sled out of Margie Lake in 4' of powder that would not set up. Find 12 - 14 people, grab a bunch of ropes, snatch blocks, spare shovels, 1/2 dozen crazy carpets, spare radio batteries, spare helmet light batteries, and lots of liquids.

Have 12 - 14 guys make hi-way 2 through the trees. Then when you realize 2-4 sleds daisy chained cannot pull up the hills cause the stupid snow would not set up, you manually pull the sled up the hill by hand.

Lightningmike said:
In the past I've tied ski loop to rear bumper tight tight. Always follows and steers good. Someone else worries about rider

snopro · Apr 17, 2021

snoflake said:
We have used this method a bunch. We found tying the right ski hoop tight to the left side of the rear bumper or vice versa seem to work better than any tow device or log through the skis. Need to mention, the broken sled was towed without anyone on it. Also found, it seems to tow better on hard pack without the crazy carpet, and with crazy carpet in deeper snow.

hope it helps.

Another method we used this winter to tow a sled out of Margie Lake in 4' of powder that would not set up. Find 12 - 14 people, grab a bunch of ropes, snatch blocks, spare shovels, 1/2 dozen crazy carpets, spare radio batteries, spare helmet light batteries, and lots of liquids.

Have 12 - 14 guys make hi-way 2 through the trees. Then when you realize 2-4 sleds daisy chained cannot pull up the hills cause the stupid snow would not set up, you manually pull the sled up the hill by hand.

Or call a chopper and save everyones backs lol

1200 · Apr 17, 2021

I just quit riding cat and the problem solved it self. 2 or 3 in a train towing a dead sled works pretty good off trail. Towing with a 4 stroke helps. Pulling a 4 stroke sucks.

bobsledder · Apr 17, 2021

snopro said:
Or call a chopper and save everyones backs lol

Ya but don't ya have to get sled out to a clear spot for chopper to land? I haven't had to do it yet or seen it done so don't know.

snopro · Apr 17, 2021

bobsledder said:
Ya but don't ya have to get sled out to a clear spot for chopper to land? I haven't had to do it yet or seen it done so don't know.

They don't need a lot of room Bert. As long as no trees they are pretty happy. Seen a few extractions over the years and 2 were mine. Had to walk Boulder out after getting into a spot we couldn't get out of back in 89. We did it before Ozone made it cool. Then hit a hidden rock climbing a hill in Keystone and tore my left trailing arm off. He dropped my sled on my deck and landed on the trailhead

snopro · Apr 17, 2021

Best ride out of Keystone I ever had. Sure beats riding it out. Lol

kovs · Apr 17, 2021

bobsledder said:
Ya but don't ya have to get sled out to a clear spot for chopper to land? I haven't had to do it yet or seen it done so don't know.

Long line. Flys up hovers overhead you grab straps off line. Hook up he comes back clip in and she gone Denver heli made it look easy this winter

Modman · Apr 21, 2021

snopro said:
They don't need a lot of room Bert. As long as no trees they are pretty happy. Seen a few extractions over the years and 2 were mine. Had to walk Boulder out after getting into a spot we couldn't get out of back in 89. We did it before Ozone made it cool. Then hit a hidden rock climbing a hill in Keystone and tore my left trailing arm off. He dropped my sled on my deck and landed on the trailhead

HAHA yep, some of them pilots are fun to watch. Buddy tossed his 1200 over a cliff up the Norns back in 1998? ish, they dropped us a cargo net and we packaged up the parts we could find and the next day they flew it right down and dropped it right on his front lawn in Robson. It was awesome. The nieghbour on 1 side had horses so that was a bottle of rum to mend their relationship, he didn't think the chopper delivery was as funny as we did. LOL

Lund · Apr 22, 2021

I simply do not tow any sled, not even my own. I might only if i'm on a trail, preferably a groomed one and not far, otherwise nope. Todays sleds are way too weak chassis wise to tow without risking damage so i wont ask for a tow or expect to be towed.
There is a very simple solution and that's called a chopper, also there are guys that have rigged up work sleds to do recovery and if you research your area there might even be one.
I know Sicamous has a guy doing that, its a very good option.
Here is what i do when it comes to backcountry riding with a regular contingent. We all pitch in to a rescue pot(credit card) before the riding starts at the beginning of the season and it is held in trust. Anyone of us could end up using it if something happened, either way the peace of mind knowing is worth it even if you don't use it.
At the end of the season the money is given back.
As a group effort, it doesn't hurt so much and everyone has each others back making a season of sledding far more enjoyable for everyone. Who wants to waste a great day towing anyhow....i don't.

Teth-Air · Apr 22, 2021

I towed my sons RMK after his driveshaft sheared off due to a seized bearing. The track could not turn due to this so the options were limited. We reversed the skis and put short straps from my bumper under the back of his track and up through the track windows to the rails. When pulling the track on the dead sled would lift off the ground and I could pull it. When going down hill the sled would speed up and loosen the lines so it would drop to the snow and dig in for braking. Worked good and my Polaris tunnel must be very strong as no damage to it. My son stood on the front of the skis for the ride down the mountain. I also carry a thick 6' x 4' tarp for pulling sleds with tracks that don't spin but the snow was too deep this time.

Towing A Dead Sled

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