Sled Deck

[blutooth]

Ok so I'm officially building one. I have an old scrap trailer, and am ready to order the aluminum to build the frame and ramp.

Anyone else on here built one or has one? After reviewing a lot of the other forums, everyone says that starting with an existing trailer makes for an overly heavy deck, but since I am outsourcing the welding, I thought this would be the cheapest way to go.

My frame is going to look something like this:

And the ramp like this - I am a little concerned that the ramp is a little undersized, and will break after a year, but now sure how heavy (or how much I want to spend on aluminum):
(basically 2"x1/4" walls sq sides with 1"x1/8" walls sq cross braces)

http://video.snowandmud.com/video/251/homade-ramp

Any ideas on where I should look for the aluminum close to Milwaukee? I have already priced out Speedy Metals and Midwest Metals Warehouse. for my current parts list, Midwest is about 5% cheaper...

 

[skeedoo]

Blutooth, Can't help you on the alumimun but I snapped a few pics of a homemade sled deck I saw out in Colorado last year that may not help much with your project but I did think the long dovetail on the back of the deck made pretty good sense, basically you could have a shorter loading ramp with that setup. Only thing with it being longer is it harder to get big items in/out of the truck bed. I also took a more detailed video with my helmet cam that shows his design a bit better, if you want to see that let me know and I'll dump it to youtube so you can view it. The last 2 pics are of a manufactured sled deck by Marathon - looked pretty basic. Good luck with your project, I'll be curious of how you did it and how it works for you. I'm still debating on which deck to get or whether to build my own.

 

[skeedoo]

Forgot to mention that the marathon is a bit more complicated than just a basic one because it has the pull out sides. Also I really want that dually!!

 

[maddogg]

Maybe give Pal Steel a call - in Palmyra 262-495-4453.

 

[Bradzoo]

Blutooth try

Alro Metals 3000 N 114th St.
Wauwatosa Wi.
414-453-1700
800-365-4140

 

[skeedoo]

This video shows alot of good design shots of the Full-Lotus sled decks. They are definetely one of the nicest, best designed I have found. They retail at $3495.00 with a sweet 11' telescoping ramp so make sure you don't have to much into yours or I would go new or search for a good used one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFQA8W04D_0

 

[blutooth]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will let you know how the pricing on metals is tomorrow.

Skeedoo-
Thanks for all of the info. I considered a beavertail, but that is a lot of extra welding - I can always add it later. I am guessing that with everything all in (including hiring a guy to do the welding) I will be around $900 - I'll let you know totals when I get them.

I could never justify to my wife buying a $3000 sled deck, but.... a couple hundred bucks here or there to give an old trailer new life, that is a different story

 

[Hoosier]

Keep everybody updated....what size bed are you putting this in?

 

[scott_b]

Interested to see the final product and hear how it handles in the truck. What type of truck are you putting it in? Good luck on the build.

 

[favoritos]

Sounds like a great idea to reuse the old trailer. I know you are concerned about weight, but the first picture shows half a bed of sandbags under the sled deck. It can not all be there for ballast.

 

[blutooth]

Keep everybody updated....what size bed are you putting this in?

That is the perfect question. i am putting it in a SRW 1 ton long box - a pretty big truck, but I am planning on building it to fit short boxes as well so I have flexibility in the future. So, anyone who has a 3/4 ton or larger of all brands, what is the clear distance from front of box to inside of tailgate? If I went 5'-8" does that cover all 3/4 ton?

I know a lot of 1/2 tons have a 5'-6" box, but they really need airbags and other work to legally handle the load so I'm not as concerned about them, but any info will be taken into account.

I haul a 3500 lb camper in this truck so I am guessing this deck is going to be nothing compared to what I am used to. The weight issue is more for taking in and out fo the truck - but I have some ideas on that too...

 

[Bradzoo]

If I'm figuring correctly and I'm being generous to the heavy side figure 2 long track sleds wet 600lbs each and 800-1000 for the deck and ramp 2200-2500 lbs is that about what you are figuring? I can give you a measument on a 3/4 Chevy shortbox when I get home today

 

[cuzzinolaf]

My Ram 2500 Quad Cab short box is roughly 6 1/4' inside the bed.

 

[zimmbob]

I haul a 3500 lb camper in this truck so I am guessing this deck is going to be nothing compared to what I am used to. The weight issue is more for taking in and out fo the truck - but I have some ideas on that too...

Keep in mind a camper might be 3500lbs, but the toungue weight is not the same as you'll be putting on top of the truck bed. Not saying it can't handle it, but just keep in mind it's totally different. Even though it's a 3/4 ton, you may still need to make suspension adjustments to stack 2,500 lbs or more on top of the box and think about all that weight being above the box, center of gravity is now very high. Not sure if that impacts suspension needs either.

 

[cuzzinolaf]

Keep in mind a camper might be 3500lbs, but the toungue weight is not the same as you'll be putting on top of the truck bed. Not saying it can't handle it, but just keep in mind it's totally different. Even though it's a 3/4 ton, you may still need to make suspension adjustments to stack 2,500 lbs or more on top of the box and think about all that weight being above the box, center of gravity is now very high. Not sure if that impacts suspension needs either.

He has one of those campers that sit in the bed and over the cab.

 

[skeedoo]

Blutooth's camper is in the truck box - thats a pic of it on this thread. (I remember when you posted that pic from a snowy's trip last year)

Damn cuz beat me to the punchline why don't ya!!

 

[Bradzoo]

With the weight of the camper and the weight of that 4 place trailer and 4 sleds, this won't be a problem for his 1 ton even though it will carry the weight higher, I don't think it will be any different than the camper in a cross wind.

 

[blutooth]

If I'm figuring correctly and I'm being generous to the heavy side figure 2 long track sleds wet 600lbs each and 800-1000 for the deck and ramp 2200-2500 lbs is that about what you are figuring? I can give you a measument on a 3/4 Chevy shortbox when I get home today

Yes this is exactly what I am figuring. And I am thinking I will not have the same wind issues as with the camper. When the camper is on the truck, the clearance height is 12'-6" - that is a lot of windo to move. The sleds will be relatively open in comparison.

This truck is really set up for it, but more than likely the next truck I would get will be a short box 3/4 ton so I want the deck to be flexible. I can currently fill air bags on the rear suspension to level and keep everything even.

With what Cuzz stated, it looks like I shouldn't have a problem with 5'8" for the frame to sit inside a short box dodge. Chevy and Ford would be good (I'm not brand loyal - I'm a truck indenpendant).

Ordering metal shortly here...

 

[gigakessler]

blutooth - In the picture you posted above it looks like they have safety chains that connect the sled deck to the bed. Its probably a PIA to craw in there in the winter. Could you secure the sled deck with the same outside mounts you use for the camper?

 

[tilltheend]

Hey blutooth your right sled decks are the ticket. But your right it's going to be way over built with a recycled trailer. I'm sure you could build a collapsable side unit for less than $1k in parts complete buying alum at retail, sell the trailer and start fresh, there's plans on sno west. I did a collapsable sides layout last that I'm going to be starting on a pair this fall. One thing is you only need a 7' deck for a mountain sled and that can save alot of weight. Also you can buy direct from the yard if you buy in 20' sticks you can save a bunch off buying cut pieces. Just a thought...