Trailering Snowcats & Other Unatural Acts

[paulhenry]

Awhile ago I hunted all over the net and this forum for info/advice/suggestions of how people trailer their cats - if they trailer.

I looked at all the trailer sites, contemplated building, and tried to narrow down flatbed with ramps or tilt beds - if only the snowcat was only 7' wide I could get a car carrier at a reasonable price.

I finally found, and bit the bullet on a Maxey tiltbed trailer formerly owned by a defunct cellular company. Late model (1995), good condition at what I hoped was a fair-good price.

My decision/thought process went like this:

1. With the price of steel - I could not even begin to build anything for the price of a good used - Let alone that I would get the geometry right and not create some morphite trailer.

2. Being more seasoned than citizen, I didn't think tossing around steel ramps in the cold was an attractive proposition.

3. Flatbeds with wood decks would be very slippery in winter conditions

4. Nice flat loading areas are not always easily had everywhere I might go.

5. A tilt bed would always present relatively flat ingress and egress.

6. 1/4" expanded steel decks present a great grip for steel grousers.

So I settled on a 16' dual axle, tilt bed, Maxey trailer - GVW 12000lb -(my cat 6500lbs plus plow, compactor and/or 1000lb snowblower) came in right in the comfort zone with room for an even heavier cat if the future held such.

Photos attached.

Cost: $2495.00

I hope that this may someday be of value to someone wrestling with the same questions I had. No guarantees that my decision was the right one, but there's no going back now.

 

[bczoom]

Looks perfect to me (although I don't own a snowtrac).

My question is the capabilities of the towing vehicle. With 12K in tow, is the Expedition up for the task?

 

[Snowcat Operations]

WOW thats a steal! Who is the company? And No a Ford Expedition is not up to the task. 3/4 ton would be the absolute minimum! A 1 ton Dually 4x4 would be about perfect. My 3/4 ton Dodge is OK for a 6,000 lbs on snowy icey roads. I will be getting a 1 Ton dually 4x4 diesel next.

 

[paulhenry]

Looks perfect to me (although I don't own a snowtrac).

My question is the capabilities of the towing vehicle. With 12K in tow, is the Expedition up for the task?

Only downhill in a breeze! But the Dodge 1 ton dually works fine. I had just made a 500+ mile run to pick up the trailer when I took those photos - I had gas economy in mind when I used the Expedition.

The Expedition has the factory trailering package and rates 9600lb - but it is questionable as to who's pushin' and who's pulllin'

 

[paulhenry]

Re: Trailering Snowcats & Other Un-natural Acts

WOW thats a steal! Who is the company? .

Peterson Equipment in Logan Utah. They also had a new 18' for just under 5000.00 but the 16' seemed a better fit for my Skidozer (and wallet)

 

[Melensdad]

I looked at all the trailer sites, contemplated building, and tried to narrow down flatbed with ramps or tilt beds - if only the snowcat was only 7' wide I could get a car carrier at a reasonable price.

When I was looking for a snowcat, one of the considerations that I had was the easy ability to tow the vehicle. That means that the snowcat had to be less than 102" wide with the tracks on since 102" is the maximum towing width without special flags, permits, etc.

I also already had a car carrier with a bed of about 6.25' wide so it would have been ideal to have a snowcat that would fit onto that trailer. I ending up breaking that trailer while unloading some cast concrete planters with a tractor, so I ended up having a new trailer built. This one was built at 100" wide with the bed between the wheels. That left me with a maximum snowcat width of about 7' wide. The Snow Trac is only a shade over 6' wide so I've got plenty of room on the trailer bed for wiggle room. I went with steel ramps made of angle iron but a wood deck. The wood decks works out well for hauling tractors, implments, landscape supplies, etc. So mine is obviously used as a multi-use trailer.

 

[paulhenry]

Very nice rig.

Of course you thought things through BEFORE you bought your snocat.

Mine just followed me home!

Do you trailer often? How far would you be willing to travel?

 

[Melensdad]

Most of my trailering (be it with the Snow Trac, old car, tractor, etc) is pretty short distance hauling. Often under 20 miles one way. My longest one day haul was probably around 250 miles, that was to pick up a '67 Jeepster DeLuxe Convertible that I'm working on.

This is a really nice little trailer. It weighs just under 2000# empty so for its size it is very heavy, with a GVW of 7000# that leaves me with a 5000# load capacity (the Snow Trac is only about 2600#). After breaking (twice) my prior trailer, I designed this one with a friend of mine who built it for me. It uses rectangular heavy wall box steel tube for the frame, the wood deck is reinforced every 12" with angle iron, to keep the bed as low as possible we used torsion axles instead of leaf springs. The low trailer bed was planned on purpose because it allows me to back a tractor up to the trailer and lift pallets off the trailer using a set of pallet forks connected to the 3pt hitch.

I had hoped to pull the Snow Trac up to northern lower Michigan this winter for a long weekend to meet up with another member here (Teeoster) at his cabin but this winter season was hectic and I could not find the time to get up to John's cabin to play in the snow.

 

[Mainer]

Awesome timing. I'm selecting a trailer to fit my kit: Suburban and Thiokol 601.
I'm right mid-purchase after weeks of arguing with myself!
I went every which way but loose...some weeks:

-Car-carrier: Don't be lazy, take the tracks off every time!
-Deckover with mid-point tandem wheels: Hmmm...a bit more risk during loading.
-Deckover with tandem wheels at loading end: Yea, sounds good but some are nearly 5,000 lbs empty!
-Car-carrier with built up wood planks to bring deck over wheels to simulate a deckover: Scares me for 2000+ mile hauls (possible!) I could be paranoid as one of the guys on the forums has one but not sure if the haul is long for him.
-Flatbed truck: Yea, right $$$$$

So... I'm going for the deckover with the wheels closer to the loading end BUT I've found a couple that are relatively light. The first ones I found were around the 5,000 lb mark empty but granted those were about 14,000 GVW. I found a 10,000 GVW (16' bed) that is only ~2,100 lb and 102" wide but that is $4,100. BUT, I just found a 16' bed, 10,000GVW, 2,600 lb (empty) and 100.75" for $2,600 new. Only thing I still need to check out is that they say it's 96" but when I called they said "Yea, the bed is 96" but with the D-rings its 100.75" so I'm not exactly sure what they mean by that. Will have to find out. It's got the wood deck...hadn't thought about the slipper factor. Any feedback folks?

Now, after looking at the deckover car-carrier first listed on this post... I nearly fell in love! That's pretty darn sweet. I haven't see one like that in all the add's I've looked at. They just ALWAYS seem to be low-boy car-carriers. ANNOYING. The alternatives are out there but scarce.

My Suburban is rated about about 8,500 so the 601 is 5,400 plus the 2,600 trailer so I'm right there.

It's quite the process to find just the right thing...and just when I thought I would be happy this post pops up and now I need to look around for a similar trailer just to see what I can find.

Fun-fun!

 

[Mainer]

ps... a quick search shows you got practically STOLE that Maxey trailer for $2,500! Very nice find!

 

[Bobcat]

Anyone know of a trailer to be had for my Kristi anywhere in NM, or very near the border? I need it next week, so no time to get a custom built. I've found a couple of monster over-wheel tilts in the area for $3500 that are better suited to heavy equipment than my little KT-3. I will have to buy one of these if I can't find something more appropriate soon. Sheesh, trailer is going to cost almost twice what I paid for the Kristi!

 

[Melensdad]

Just a note on the wooden decks. It all I've ever owned. My friend/neighbor who built my trailer has a diamond-plate decked trailer for his race car. THAT IS A SLIPPERY SURFACE when wet.

What I like about the wood deck is that you can nail things into it as needed. For example, I sold an antique farm tractor and in addition to chain we screwed in the wheel chocks using heavy duty deck screws, when it came time to unload, we reversed the process. That trailer did not have side rails, it was a deck over wheels flatbed.

Similarly, to prevent a snowcat from sliding laterally, you can simply screw down a couple 4x boards that run lengthwise on your trailer. If you have 36" of space between your tracks, you could run 2 pieces of 4x lumber about 30" apart and parallel to your center line. That would be some insurance on a lateral slide.

If you use the trailer for other purposes you can simply add or remove the scrap lumber as needed for your use. Of course if the trailer is a single purpose trailer, specifically for the task of hauling one piece of equipment, then I might think differently.

Anyone know of a trailer to be had for my Kristi anywhere in NM, or very near the border? I need it next week, so no time to get a custom built. I've found a couple of monster over-wheel tilts in the area for $3500 that are better suited to heavy equipment than my little KT-3. I will have to buy one of these if I can't find something more appropriate soon. Sheesh, trailer is going to cost almost twice what I paid for the Kristi!

I would rent a trailer to get the Kristi, then I would look for a bargian or build one that will be better suited to your needs. There was a Kristi KT3 trailer, it was very nice lightweight tilt bed unit, and it would not be too expensive to have re-created.

Here is a link to a thread with photos: http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=7140&highlight=kristi+trailer

My Suburban is rated about about 8,500 so the 601 is 5,400 plus the 2,600 trailer so I'm right there.!

Don't forget the weight of fuel, supplies, equipement, etc. If I was you, I'd be aiming for a lighter weight trailer because you will be running right at your limit, or perhaps over your limit. That might be OK under good conditions with a new truck, but towing snowcats often means they are towed on snowcovered roads, in hilly/mountain regions, etc. Give yourself some safety room in your capacity. JMO

 

[paulhenry]

Mainer,

I feel your pain. This is why I decided to make this post. You are going through the same thing I did.

Now, my tilt bed Maxey (built in Ft. Collins, Colorado) is a snowcat specific trailer not a car hauler. The original price was $3000 but I wore them down crying poor and promised to pay in cash - any further accounting would be between them and their maker. Did get a clean title though. That unit came from Voice Stream Cellular. A good place to look is public, municipal and utility auctions. I found only one or two on the Internet and they were usually very pricey. I am in a small town of only 20,000 but there are about 12 Maxey trailers in town – at the gas company yard, the electric company yard and at the telephone company yard. After hunting down the appropriate folks, I found that they would auction/sell the equipment at different times of the year, it just never met with my timeframe – being impatient and all.

FYI - You will find the older Maxeys are painted yellow and the newer ones are orange. Some are fitted with d-rings and others with the 10,000lb nylon strap hand winches. Still others have a 4” steel guide welded along the inside track for guides.

I flirted with this trailer for a while:

http://econolinetrailers.com/TrailerSpecSheet.asp?TrailerID=1

The things I liked about the Maxey:

1/4” expanded steel bed for good grip and ease of cleaning with/without cat loaded

No ramps – flat approach even if the ground was not particularly level

Ramped units usually had 18” ramps and my tracks were 30” concern some misalignment would bend bogie guides and/or grousers.

A friend had already told me how he rolled his Thiokol off a set of icy ramps – (tears still in his eyes)

Interchangeable ball or pintle hook-ups

Quality construction, I have photos of Maxeys 20+ years old still going strong.

Hope this helps - not give you brain freeze!

 

[Snowcat Operations]

I have a Thiokol single axle tilt deck trailer for sale for $2500. Its what I picked up my Kristi on and I couldnt even tell she was behind me for the 700 mile trip home. Its a tilt bed. Looks just like the "MAXEY" Paulhenry bought but with single wheels.

The farthest I have towed a snowcat was from BC Canada back to Nevada. I believe it was 1700 miles one way. Need to check my trip notes to verify.

 

[paulhenry]

Some wise input from B_Skurka above.

I could have used some of that info. Yes indeed watch your weight.

My cat 6500lbs dry, 50 gal fuel @ about 400lbs, blade or blower @ 1000lb, assorted stuff probably another 500lbs = 8400lbs!

Trailer @ 2500lbs = GVW 10900lbs

I often seem to have no friends when it comes time to move my unit, or I like to go in the wee hours to avoid traffic so I usually end up doing everything myself.

Skidplate? you bet its slippery!

 

[Melensdad]

I have a Thiokol single axle tilt deck trailer for sale for $2500. Its what I picked up my Kristi on and I couldnt even tell she was behind me for the 700 mile trip home. Its a tilt bed. Looks just like the "MAXEY" Paulhenry bought but with single wheels.

Mike, any photos of that trailer?

 

[paulhenry]

Just remembered....

Had read that if you are only transporting once, like a purchase - be sure to measure you cat less tracks - if it fits a car carrier and the weight is good you can get by pretty cheap.

 

[Snowcat Operations]

Bob I am trying to find some old pictures but believe everything is still on that damn hard drive of my old computer. My wife said she took a photo once of the Kristi and the trailer when I had it hooked up. But I cant find "that" particular album. Of course my wife has boxes upon boxes of old photos! Anyway I will post some pics Saturday.

 

[snotrans]

Bill Guthrie has several used Maxey,Thiokol and,many other snow cat trailers for sale, all located in Weiser Idaho. They are all inspected trailers by DOT and part of his rental fleet that he will sell .Contact him at snotrans@msn.com or see on his web site at snotrans.com

 

[GYPSY]

What you need is a Tucker 222 Sno Kitten. Look at the picture of the Kitten loaded in a truck.

 

[Melensdad]

I'd have never thought a Kitten would fit into the back of a pick-up truck!

That certainly eliminates the whole need for towing.

 

[DaveNay]

I'd have never thought a Kitten would fit into the back of a pick-up truck!

I bet I could fit several hundred kittens in the back of my pickup truck. Would you like me to stop by and drop some off for you?

 

[Bobcat]

Unless it is Candy-Apple-Red with a British-Racing-Green interior, I'm afraid it will clash with my '62 F100.

 

[Melensdad]

I bet I could fit several hundred kittens in the back of my pickup truck. Would you like me to stop by and drop some off for you?

Only if you bring receipes for how to cook them! :stroke:

Unless it is Candy-Apple-Red with a British-Racing-Green interior, I'm afraid it will clash with my '62 F100.

 

[Snowcat Operations]

I was surprised to see how small Tucker Kittens are. If all goes well I will be building a tow rack for the back of a Ford Super Duty 1 ton dually 4x4 (if I decide to get it) to tow my snowcat piggy back style. I was very impressed with Lyndons set up for his Trac Master which was carried in this fassion and of course where I got the idea.

 

[Snowcat Operations]

Here is a link to the pictures of Lyndons set-up.

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=4049

 

[Snowcat Operations]

The real nice thing about the Kristi is there light weight. So they are easy to tow. When I towed mine I couldnt even tell it was behind me. Tilt decks are really nice since you dont have to bend over and pull out cold mudy and or snowy ramps which sometimes get frozen in there holders and need a swift whack from a small sledge hammer to free up. The worse case was when it was completely encased in a slurrie of sand and ice and I had to break the block off ice off first to get to the ramps. No the best way to trailer a snowcat is with a tilt deck. The absolute best wat to transport a snowcat is pggy back style in my opinion. Also on the tilt decks make sure your foot or hand is completely off the accelorator when the trailer starts to go down. This way when it stops you dont move forward hitting the accelorator and drive your cat onto the back of the truck! Seen it happen. Also when the tilt deck is being loaded make sure NO one is anywhere near the deck. There have been alot of people killed when they got crushed between the deck and frame or ground. Not a good way to die.

 

[GYPSY]

If you thought getting ramps out was a job wait until you have the whole frame of the tilt bed trailer to "deice" to get it to tilt or latch. I'll take the ramps.

 

[paulhenry]

Re: Trailering Snowcats & Other Un-natural Acts

Here is a brochure on the Maxey tracked vehicle trailer

 

[paulhenry]

If you thought getting ramps out was a job wait until you have the whole frame of the tilt bed trailer to "deice" to get it to tilt or latch. I'll take the ramps.

Gypsy, been there. If you are on the bed backing up will break the seal. If you are loading I have just put my blade on the trailer and broke seal with the hydraulics. But, I also carry a propane tourch in my winter set up for the truck box for the safety latches (2) and the screw crank. Oh, and a persuader is good too - I use a rubber mallet.

But you are right - every rig has it's quirks - and hopefully the newbie reads all this and avoids the heads-cratchers we have faced!