Riding off-trail, sled broke, how to get out???

[ddhanna]

There is a 99% chance the groomer will NOT pull you out as the insurance does not allow for it. My club hauled a disabled sled to an intersection once on the back of our drag and we were told very clearly to never do that again.... Same goes for stucks (sled, car, truck whatever) we cannot use the groomer as an extraction vehicle. It sucks, but that's the way it is.

We have no such limitations on our groomer insurance and routinely use them for extractions. They all carry very beefy straps. Usually we are extracting another groomer but we have yanked out almost everything you can get stuck on the trail. And we would be very happy to accept a donation in return...

 

[tnehlsen]

I sunk partially into a bog 2 weeks ago outside of Munising. We muscled it out and had to dry out the clutch before the belt would engage. We wondered too what we would have done. It was stuck good. Later on that day ran into a group that sunk the *** end of a sled in a swamp in Kingston plaines. They were paying a guy in shingleton that has a 2 track machine with a crane to fish it out. Wish I knew his number in case we get stuck again.

 

[Snirtdawg]

I used a combo setup this weekend to pull a buddy out of the bush after he introduced himself to a large rock taking out his A arm and cracking his bulkhead.
1) Snobunje tow strap (every sledder should own) that straps the leading sled bumper to the two skis of the trailing sled which keeps the ski tips up a few inches off the ground.
2) Added our old method of strapping the two sleds together at the bumpers with a spare room towel and heavy wire ties.
This combo allows no slack for smashing into each other and once on the trail, you can ride at a good clip.

 

[polarisrider1]

I was hoping Carter would of chimed in by now. I've gone on recoveries with him. I'm just to tired to type. But every mtn. Recovery we have towed them out. The whole time I'm in disbelief.

 

[heckler56]

I sunk partially into a bog 2 weeks ago outside of Munising. We muscled it out and had to dry out the clutch before the belt would engage. We wondered too what we would have done. It was stuck good. Later on that day ran into a group that sunk the *** end of a sled in a swamp in Kingston plaines. They were paying a guy in shingleton that has a 2 track machine with a crane to fish it out. Wish I knew his number in case we get stuck again.

We were playing in the Plains when that guy got extracted, cost him $700. It is a old Sno Cat based out of Shingleton (used to have gas station now just a repair garage).

 

[cooksend]

Sometimes you just have to battle it out. We have pulled down sleds out of plenty of deep valleys over the years. I now have a block and tackle, along with hundreds of feet of rope that I keep in my truck. Beyond that, we have literally pulled sleds foot by foot by hand for hours to get them out to a tow-able location. Just part of what you should be ready to deal with if you are riding in areas without poor access. In the U.P. you have two two options, Fix it, or pull it. You would be amazed what you can make happen with 3 guys, time and patience. A good block and tackle, with hundreds of feet of rope, and you are virtually unstoppable.

Ah yes, Block and Tackle. I do believe that I have that on video.

 

[chords]

I too have given some thought about about getting into a "situation" nowhere near a road and no trailer esp now in my later years, but been into a lot of remote areas with just a spark plug , nuts n bolts and coat hanger wire before cell

 

[blkhwkbob]

Sounds like a nightmare to me. I'll stick to the trails.

 

[Skylar]

Sometimes you just have to battle it out. We have pulled down sleds out of plenty of deep valleys over the years. I now have a block and tackle, along with hundreds of feet of rope that I keep in my truck. Beyond that, we have literally pulled sleds foot by foot by hand for hours to get them out to a tow-able location. Just part of what you should be ready to deal with if you are riding in areas without poor access. In the U.P. you have two two options, Fix it, or pull it. You would be amazed what you can make happen with 3 guys, time and patience. A good block and tackle, with hundreds of feet of rope, and you are virtually unstoppable.

Yep, that will do it. I've got a come along at the shack, plenty of rope too. Block and tackle is the better the route though!

 

[polarisrider1]

Yep, that will do it. I've got a come along at the shack, plenty of rope too. Block and tackle is the better the route though!

I carry the Snobunje block and tackle with a snobunje, really comes in handy. Even with 8 guys and 100 foot of rope I could of used another 50' of rope.

 

[groomerdriver]

Sounds like a nightmare to me. I'll stick to the trails.

I'm with you!

 

[polarisrider1]

I'm with you!

It is an entirely different program.

 

[ezra]

Sounds like a nightmare to me. I'll stick to the trails.

if some one told me I would never do another powder turn I would sell all my stuff tomorrow no question

 

[chords]

A breakdown is a nitemare anywhere. Throw the dice its worth it

 

[yamadooed]

Best way to tow is to lash one ski loop as tight as you can get it to the rear bumper and tow away...Optional plastic roll up sled zip tied to the track or in a pinch cut the track off you'd be suprized how much friction it frees up...

 

[1flatlander2]

i think you would be surprised what you can ride out of the bush. I've ripped the entire right side of the sled off and drove it out. I've sunken a sled and had to pull the thing apart to get it to run but rode that one out too. we've cut half a track off and rode that out. half sunk a sled in a 3 foot deep swamp in -15 cold but still rode it out. if not the snow bungie works great.

 

[Tracker]

hey another good one I forgot to tall ya about is we have had to find a log about 4inches round and maybe 5 feet long or saw it to that length and stick it between ski loops and hoist log onto and over bumper and drag it out that way. the older sleds we put the log under the ski area that forms a pocket and sit that on the seat or bumper