Sled Deck on top of Pickup Bed

[frosty]

I was thinking about building one, but not sure to build with the hydralic option or just a drive up with ramps. Here is where I'm not sure about it, how stable are they on the truck? Do you get alot of lateral movement when its windy? Has it caused roll overs because of the vechiles higher center of gravity? Would've of you not invested the money if you only knew or is it the best thing since the Cat Crossfire came out? Looking for opinions and/or fact from folks that have had one or has used one.

 

[powder_poacher]

frosty, I have a sled deck on my f150. I had to put air bags on, about $500. It isn't top heavy. I have the drive on style, much,much less expensive and heavy than lift style. I can still pull my trailer behind also. I live in northern Idaho and sled decks are great for getting into riding areas. On the mountain sides there aren't many areas to turn around. I have a 6 1/2' bed and deck hangs out back 2' but its not a problem. Good luck.

 

[ezra]

if building one why start from scratch I have seen and talked with the guys who built them 2 around my house that used old alloy trailers as a starting point.cracked frame 10 footers can be had for far less than the cost of the alloy to get to that point.then you sell the ramp and tires you may only have 200 or less in to it

 

[frosty]

if building one why start from scratch I have seen and talked with the guys who built them 2 around my house that used old alloy trailers as a starting point.cracked frame 10 footers can be had for far less than the cost of the alloy to get to that point.then you sell the ramp and tires you may only have 200 or less in to it

Where do you live? I've starting searching weeks ago for parts and pieces like you've mentioned Ezra. I can't find any or people who wanting to part with them reasonably. Its aluminum not gold!

 

[cuzzinolaf]

Where do you live? I've starting searching weeks ago for parts and pieces like you've mentioned Ezra. I can't find any or people who wanting to part with them reasonably. Its aluminum not gold!

Talk to Blutooth on here. He built one from an aluminum two place trailer. I bet if you search his posts you'll find info too. I remember reading about it and know he loves it now that it is done.

 

[frosty]

frosty, I have a sled deck on my f150. I had to put air bags on, about $500. It isn't top heavy. I have the drive on style, much,much less expensive and heavy than lift style. I can still pull my trailer behind also. I live in northern Idaho and sled decks are great for getting into riding areas. On the mountain sides there aren't many areas to turn around. I have a 6 1/2' bed and deck hangs out back 2' but its not a problem. Good luck.

This is good stuff! Thank you for the feedback, but was wondering, is it a little scary backing them off? How long is your ramp? Do you have a beaver tail? How long and how wide is your deck?

It starting to looks like I'm going to be building from scratch unless I wait till the end of the season, if I can find some parts then?!

 

[frosty]

Talk to Blutooth on here. He built one from an aluminum two place trailer. I bet if you search his posts you'll find info too. I remember reading about it and know he loves it now that it is done.

Build it and throw it on your Chevy!

 

[ezra]

have you posted busted sled trailer on craigs ect ect.alot of guys wont bother posting for sale just figure it is junk and plan on scrapping some day.also call the dealers who take trades and fix them they may have a line

 

[frosty]

have you posted busted sled trailer on craigs ect ect.alot of guys wont bother posting for sale just figure it is junk and plan on scrapping some day.also call the dealers who take trades and fix them they may have a line

Now I know why these guys look up to you, Ezra! Thats a heck of an idea! Craigslist, here I come.

 

[ezra]

I think tolerate is more the word you are looking for

 

[frosty]

I think tolerate is more the word you are looking for

I'll agree to avoid an argument!

 

[ezra]

think I would drop my number at your local welding guys shops also

 

[powder_poacher]

This is good stuff! Thank you for the feedback, but was wondering, is it a little scary backing them off? How long is your ramp? Do you have a beaver tail? How long and how wide is your deck?

It starting to looks like I'm going to be building from scratch unless I wait till the end of the season, if I can find some parts then?!

The ramp is approx.8' long and 4' wide. The deck is 8'. Backing off and riding on is no problem. I have rev xp summit with 163" track. When I back off I have to be careful not to run tunnel into ground (they can bend easily). I have loaded my renegades and have no problem what so ever. Beaver tail shouldn't be a problem. I'll take measurements and post them tomorrow.

 

[frosty]

think I would drop my number at your local welding guys shops also

I am the local welding guys shop!

 

[frosty]

The ramp is approx.8' long and 4' wide. The deck is 8'. Backing off and riding on is no problem. I have rev xp summit with 163" track. When I back off I have to be careful not to run tunnel into ground (they can bend easily). I have loaded my renegades and have no problem what so ever. Beaver tail shouldn't be a problem. I'll take measurements and post them tomorrow.

Thanks for the dimensions! This gives a pretty good idea on what I'm going to need as far as material. Putting the beaver tail is going to be the trial and error thing though. It's always trying to find that just right angle. Much appreciative Powder Poacher on the info.

 

[powder_poacher]

frosty, i took some measurements for you..... width is 8'. length is 10' overall with last 2' dovetailed down. the ramp is 4' x 8'. the dove tail reduces the angle of ride on.

 

[blutooth]

Sled deck

Sorry I missed this post previously. I decided to build one when a buddy had one sitting in his back yard with a broken axle. It is an older trailer so it is only 92" wide by 8' long. 92" wide means you need at least one narrow stance mountain sled on it to carry 2 sleds. New trailers are usually 101"

My ramp is 10'. I didn't want it to be too straight up and down when using (and most actual sled deck anufacturers use a 10' ramp - I'm not saying a 8' ramp wouldn't work, but the longer the more comfortable you feel/less speed needed to get up/less chance of going over the front).

If you can find an old trailer it works well, but it does tend to be a little heavier than building one from scratch (because trailers are made to handle a lot more bouncing and stresses from road travel). Here is what I have in to mine for costs:

Old Trailer: $100
Aluminum stock: $600
Welding work: $500 (obviously if you can weld yourself you can save a ton of money).
Old truck bed liner for ski guides: $25 on craigslist
New lights and wiring: $125
Plywood and fasteners: $75
TOTAL invested: $1,425 (This was about $400 more than I had hoped)

The ramp was by far the most expensive and time consuming part. Having the tiedowns from the truck camper already on the truck helped. You cannot tie to the brackets inside the bed. They are not rated for any serious weight...

A couple things to consider:

If you build from scratch, build it from steel. You will save money on both the metal and probably the welding. Plus it will end up weighing close to the same since you need some pretty heavy duty aluminum to support everything.

As far as load limits go, on a 1/2 ton, you will be over capacity. My truck is a 3500 so 2 sleds, 4 guys, 3 place trailer and all of our gear only moved the suspension about an inch. In the summer though I put a truck camper on the pickup. When loaded the truck camper weighs around 4,000 lbs (3,300 lbs dry). When that is on you do get quite a bit of high weight sway, but once you are used to it it is no problem. I am equating that feeling to a sled deck on a 1500 because you are at the same weight limits. On a 1500 I would recommend airbags to help balance the load and keep yourself from ever bottoming out (I use airbags when the camper is on the truck).

Truck camper:

 

[frosty]

Blutooth, that is an awesome post. Thank you for the effort! I'm thinking about building from scratch out of steel and have it powder coated. How hard is it to put on and take off? With the tiedowns, do you think using the bed pockets with bolts holding be strong enough? I use the bed pockets for my ladder racks and have no problem, but I also don' throw a couple thousand pounds of weight up there either. Do you know if you have to have running lights on it or that was because they were already there? Thanks again for all the great info!

 

[blutooth]

I'm thinking about building from scratch out of steel and have it powder coated.

Good idea. Powder coating might get expensive though. For the underside at least where no one can see it, you might jusdt consider a couple cans of cold galvinzing paint. No one can see it and it is really pretty protected from the elements.

How hard is it to put on and take off?

With 2 guys it can be done but it is a bit of work. With 3 it is a piece of cake. This summer I might work on rigging up some legs that I can use to lift it up by myself and drive out from under it (just like the camper). My problem was to save costs, the ramp hangs from the main supports and since the ramp is 50" wide, the legs are wider than the wheel wells so it doesn just slide out.

With the tiedowns, do you think using the bed pockets with bolts holding be strong enough? I use the bed pockets for my ladder racks and have no problem, but I also don' throw a couple thousand pounds of weight up there either.

I called Dodge to ask about the load limits on the ties on the inside of the box. You should call your manufacturer to double check. I know most sled deck manufacturers recommend drilling through the bed, but I really wasn't in to that option. THere is one manufacturer out there now that uses the rails of the bed to attach (no legs in the actual bed). Maybe do a search for them and see how they attach and see if you can copy it.

Do you know if you have to have running lights on it or that was because they were already there?

I think it depends on width of the vehicle. I am pretty sure the brake lights are not necessary (because they are like 6" from the actual brake lights and they are not obstructed) but the side clearance lights are nice. I am always surprised how close people get to you when there are no sleds on the deck. I kept them on because it looked cool, took about 45 minutes to install (and $100), and already have a plug in the bed of the truck for the camper so it was easy to figure out all the wiring. If I hadn't had the plug in the truck, I might have been more hesitant to mess with the lights.

Be sure to keep us posted!

 

[frosty]

I'm thinking this going to be a spring/summer project. My buddy owns a powder coating shop, that's why I think I'm going steel over aluminum. I also nearly have all the metal sitting in my shop. I think it's going to painted sublime green like my snopro ltd. I will post being built pics.

I will be checking with GMC on the bed pockets on how much weight can be attatched.

Thanks again for all the input and tips along with the great pictures you posted along with the info.