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Trailering Snowcats & Other Unatural Acts

groomerguyNWO said:
"allot of pressure is put on the windshield and they've seen many of them when I asked them why, they said it's because there's a full windsheild on the front of the cab and loading it forwards means that when you're travelling down the highway break under the pressure."
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This is a very valid point. I had the following BAD experience: Just bought a new 94' 1 Ton, Dually, Diesel 4X4 and was pulling a dual axel car trailer down the ALCAN (Alaska/Canadian Highway) from Fairbanks, 2300 miles to the Seattle Area. I had an Ambulance Snow Trac, Ex-Alyeska Machine facing forward on the trailer. Buy the time I got home to Seattle/Tacoma Both headlights on the Snow Trac, one Windshield, and the "Pop Top" roof hatch were GONE! The brand new truck that started the trip with 0 miles on it also had a broken headlight and a cracked windshield. From then on I put pieces of plywood over the windshields to protect them on my snow trac's and on my Bombi. An associate with a Snow Trac had a similar experience. Turing it around sounds like a good idea.
 
Even with the machine loaded backwards on the trailer, we still cover the back window with a peice of plywood and fold the mirrors in so they survive the trip.
 
Trailering backwards - had not given that a thought but I can see the logic on some units - imagine buying a new window on a Pisten Bully with that total arched span they have on the newer ones. Thats gotta hurt!

I would definitely consider even on my Skidozer for a highway trip - probably wouldn't bother when I move mountain to mountain - I barely make it to 45 mph
 
bobpierce said:
I will get a better picture this weekend, but try this for now...
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The better picture...
 

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My 1500 mile trip from Canada back home resulted in a broken sky light wich came off the front mount and swung up and back and smashed the rare domed sky light. The rear rivets holding the back mounts on were broke and only two remained in tacked out of 6. Broken windshield on my truck as well. In Canada I found out they dont use sand like we do here. They use pebbles and rocks! Big rocks at that. Anyway I now transport my Snow Master with a bungie cord from the steering wheel to the front skylight bracket. Other than that I dont do anything else. My other choice was to mount large mud flaps but have not done so yet since I plan on towing it in a diffrent fashion.
 
bobpierce said:
The better picture...
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Thanks for the photo - I like the lever lock system - pretty straight forward and fairly easy to fabricate. I would like to replace my two spring loaded safety latches with your beefier lock system. Still thinking about leaving the center screw crank.

Thanks for the post
 
Snowcat Operations said:
Paul,
I was wrong when I said our tilt decks for the phone company didnt have a screw type lock. I was looking at some old pictures and sure enough there it was. I must be getting OLD! I must have unscrewed that screw a few hundred times and then re-screwed it back. My other tilt deck was a lever style. Sorry.
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If I had buck for every time I was wrong I could retire again......
 
groomerguyNWO said:
I don't have as much time hauling snowcats as you guys. Here's an idea/suggestion that I'll throw out for any opinions. Whenever we have had one of our groomers hauled/trailered, it is usually done by one of the dealers we deal with.(one is lamtrac and the other is the shop industrial) what they always tell us is that it is always best to load the machine on backwards on the trailer. When I asked them why, they said it's because there's a full windsheild on the front of the cab and loading it forwards means that when you're travelling down the highway, allot of pressure is put on the windshield and they've seen many of them break under the pressure.
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I have been thinking about your suggestion (I really need a life) and was going to adopt that method but I have a tilt bed trailer and am not sure the weight distribution would work. If there was an excessive amount of deck available - one could positon to get proper tongue weight and get over-center to drop the deck. If your deck is a little more custom in length then I can see the trailer not loading properly.....

Any thoughts?
 
On the expanded metal decks of the Maxey trailers. THEY are as good as it gets. NO slipping ever of any of the cats I have loaded and unloaded. The grousers grab the expanded metal like an Ex-wife grabs ahold of your money.
 
Snowcat Operations said:
On the expanded metal decks of the Maxey trailers. THEY are as good as it gets. NO slipping ever of any of the cats I have loaded and unloaded. The grousers grab the expanded metal like an Ex-wife grabs ahold of your money.
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That's why I had to buy a used Maxey!
 
Snowcat Operations said:
:yum: LMAO! It only took me 15 years before I fanally found some justice in the Court system.:alc: :coolshade :beer: Well at least you have a Maxey!
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Cause I live in Utah, everyone wants to know how many wives I have:

Three - just not all at the same time!
 
I was finally was able to find the beavertail of my Featherlite goose neck today under the snow. It started snowing again this morning. :snow2_smi: I used treated 2X6's with 2x4 spaces between for the beavertail portion of the trailer. There is no slipping or sliding when loading any of my cats on the beavertail and ramps now. I have not had any problems on the solid wood deck. I like mtncrawler's idea of the 4X4 down the center but it screws up loading other items that need to fit flat across the deck. If my trailer was dedicated to the snow cats only I would add the 4x4's down the center.
Beavertail Ramp 2X6's.JPG
 
Cold here but the snow is about gone at my level of 7,000 feet or so. Wind is damn cold though. Looks like storm clouds on the horizon. Forcast is supposed to be warm and fuzzy all week. HHHMMmm
 
This the setup I want on a Ford f350 4x4 diesel dually (but for one Snow Master) or a Ford f450 4x4 diesel. I am also looking at the GMC c4500 4x4 crew cab.
 
SO,

Like this (not mine)?

This is an home built 8x10 bed of a local jeeper. You would of course need a couple extra feet length. What about just picking up a cab-chassis truck?

Are you going to do ramps or a tilt bed?

Vance
 

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Okay,

I guess I agree with ya. I've always figured that if you did a lot of hauling that a wrecker style rollback like that would be the best way to haul. Looks like you can get an older running truck/rollback in the 10k range. Still won't work for ME 'cause I don't need it that often. Can't justify the dedicated truck. Guess I need more snowcats!!!

BTW, I did notice that some of the rollbacks don't have the typical side rails that might limit the wider cats like the Snow Master.

Vance
 

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That would be about perfect. (above) Just test drove the new Ford Super Duty 4x4 diesel crew cab. That thing has balls. 350 hp with 650 FT Lbs. I drove the Dodge Diesel 1 ton 4x4 with a stick and it was not as impressive. Also the ride on the Dodge 1 ton was not nearly as nice as the Ford. This coming from a Dodge fan. Ford did there home work for sure. I,m not even going to drive the GMC C4500. I know that they beat you to death. The paylod for the Ford is 5,800 lbs. That is more than perfect for my Snowmaster or Thiokol Swamp Spryte.
 
OK, additional topic but still good in this thread:

Weight distribution systems for towing heavy loads.

What are people's experiences with these? I'm looking at an 8,000 lb total weight (trailer + cat) with a hitch and a ball. Ideally I'd have a 5th wheel hitch etc but that'll come later with a different tow vehicle. For, a hitch & Ball (or Pintel).

Experiences? Great thing? Waste of cash?

Thanks!
 
Mainer said:
OK, additional topic but still good in this thread:

Weight distribution systems for towing heavy loads.

What are people's experiences with these?
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I have no experience with these, however, before investing in a W.D. hitch system you should check to make sure your tow vehicle's manufacturer will allow a W.D. hitch for your tow vehicle.

Some tow vehicles specifically recommend against W.D. hitch systems.

Most allow it.

But it is worth checking into.
 
I had a 30 ' travel trailer that came with a WD type hitch. The fellow I bought it from showed me how to hook it up. My tow vehicle was a ford 1 ton dually diesel. I was amazed at the difference. Other than slowing me down a bit going up long grades I nearly forgot I was towing anything. My father thought they were great, but this was my first experience with one. I have hauled some really large loads in the past, and wished they had all had that now that I tried it once. Byron Miller
 
My nieghbor had one and man what a diffrence! I used his 28'(?) travel trailer for one weekend up at his cabin. I towed it since his tow rig was at the cabin with his wife. I hooked everything up like I usually do with any trailer and took off. Met him in Boise and he was shocked I didnt hood up the entire system. OK whatever go ahead. MAN what a diffrence that made! Night and day. Especially in high winds. The trailer just tracks so much better. If I ever get a trailer that heavy or big I will use a WD set-up for sure!
 
Well it looks like I will be waiting a bit longer for my Piggy back set-up to come to life. Guess I am back in the market for a Maxey tilt deck with tandum wheels. Does anyone know off hand if I can fit a pfull set of 17" one ton Dodge rimes on the axles? I have a matching set of rims to my Power Wagon I thought that would look pretty damn good.
 
Snowcat Operations said:
Does anyone know off hand if I can fit a pfull set of 17" one ton Dodge rimes on the axles?
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Couldn't you just switch the hubs on any brand of trailer so that the bolt pattern matches the pattern of the Dodge? That would make them interchangeable (provided your wheels are able to fit under the deck without rubbing).
 
The Maxey trailers should be an eight lug pattern for the size trailer I want. I was just wondering if they would fit. If not then your option is about all I can do. Just curious.
 
Snowcat Operations said:
The Maxey trailers should be an eight lug pattern for the size trailer I want. I was just wondering if they would fit. If not then your option is about all I can do. Just curious.
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Check post #29 this thread - it is the spec sheet for the Maxey trailers I posted - it has demensions on it if that will help.
 
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