Do you ever use reverse on steep critical downhills?

[lilduke]

I have a 2010 Cat with a Diamond drive so no worry about a chain case. I really don’t think there is any additional strain on my sled compared to using reverse to go backwards as compared to spinning the track lightly while going forward. Agree that using this technique while someone is in close proximity behind you could be bad for your body and/or sled.

I’ve also used this to stop downhill to help someone out of a pickle.

I don't really know much about diamond drive, but on a Doo sounds like a good way to grenade your case.

If its working for you that is good. I can't think of a situation where id ever do it though.


Should have made this thread a poll.

 

[FernieHawk]

He'll no.

Would you do it on your quad or in your pick up?

Seems like a good way to wreck something

Actually we used this technique on a fiends 2 wheel drive Toyota pickup years ago. We were Up in Swan hills somewhere, camping on a beautiful August long weekend A high pressure was forecast for a week so we drove way back to this hidden lake in the 2WD using chains...climbed some serious hills on the way in. Long story short...it took 12 hours to get out after it started raining hard the last night.

At the worst hill we pushed his standard transmission truck over the edge while it was in reverse...the driver reved it to redline and dumped the clutch...he spun the chained up tires all the way to the bottom and came to a shuddering halt about a foot from the trees at the bottom. There was **** flying everywhere. One of the craziest things I’ve seen but was the only way to get down without wrecking the truck.

Drive train did not explode...but we thought it might.

 

[Mach1]

I have a 2010 Cat with a Diamond drive so no worry about a chain case. I really don’t think there is any additional strain on my sled compared to using reverse to go backwards as compared to spinning the track lightly while going forward. Agree that using this technique while someone is in close proximity behind you could be bad for your body and/or sled.

I’ve also used this to stop downhill to help someone out of a pickle.

I agree, yes you don't want to be on throttle then hit reverse. But I think it is fine, done it and never seen issue go bad. Each there own.

 

[skegpro]

Just a couple question before I start doing this on every downhill slope.

What if #1
Your track starts spinning forward while in reverse?

What if #2
You need to get moving forward in a major hurry?

What if #3
You get bucked off and the sled ghost rides?

What if #4
You blow up your clutches and the dealer denys your warrenty?

 

[ferniesnow]

Haters are gonna hate.......................if it isn't for you it is alright. Move along.

 

[snochuk]

What if #1
Your track starts spinning forward while in reverse?

What if #2
You need to get moving forward in a major hurry?

What if #3
You get bucked off and the sled ghost rides?

What if #4
You blow up your clutching and the dealer denys your warrenty?

#1 No big deal if clutches not engaged
#2 You're screwed big time. This is why I quit doing it
#3 No different than any other ghost ride when clutches not engaged. If clutches engaged it should slow sled down till clutches release.
#4 You keep quiet on public forum and lie your azz off!!!!

 

[skegpro]

#1 No big deal if clutches not engaged
#2 You're screwed big time. This is why I quit doing it
#3 No different than any other ghost ride when clutches not engaged. If clutches engaged it should slow sled down till clutches release.
#4 You keep quiet on public forum and lie your azz off!!!!

Ok one more question before I give this a shot.

Can I achieve the same results if I try backing down a steep hill and then run the sled in forward?

 

[Mach1]

That's funny, don't even want to try and answer.

 

[snochuk]

Ok one more question before I give this a shot.

Can I achieve the same results if I try backing down a steep hill and then run the sled in forward?

Have someone hold your beer and use multiple go pros.
When the back of that ski digs in its gonna be good.

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

I used to do it all time when I rode a Doo and thought I knew what I was doing. I am better now and use the reverse to back off the deck and maybe the odd time on the hill but never to slow a decent now that I know how to ride better.

 

[kanedog]

I use reverse on a downhill, haul two 174's on a deck on my shortbox 1/2ton and I ride with no snow flap. My best trick is to haul my 28' 4 place early season up a forest service road.

 

[FernieHawk]

This might end up as good as the 1/2 ton sled deck thread...

 

[Merc63]

Get Chris Brown in here!!

 

[fredw]

As stated in the other thread, I personally seen a 2013xm where operator used reverse on a down hill decent, and all hell blew up, damage to primary and secondary, maybe even a chain.. Now it could of been from punching it while track moving forward, but there was damage..

always thought the helix in secondary would be first to blow up with all stress on the little arms.. Sure would be nice to know the proper way to do this if one ever had to do it thou.. That is if there was a proper way

 

[Dragonalain]

I’ve done this several times before mostly if the slope is steep and to hard to lay the sled over to stop and help a buddy out. Hold break slap that unit into reverse give a shot of gas and release the breaks. No worse than jamming the gas up hill in fwd.

 

[FernieHawk]

Ok one more question before I give this a shot.

Can I achieve the same results if I try backing down a steep hill and then run the sled in forward?

If you like digging...

 

[Rbrduk]

I never knew it was an option

 

[niner]

Not to get all preachy but if the slope is steep enough that you can’t stop, leave your buddy there on his own. Your job is to be at the bottom of the steep hill waiting to save your buddy if it slides not ride up higher and try to stop on the way down . Anyway so maybe think of that next time you want to slam your sled into reverse on a steep hill to “help” your friend.

 

[imdoo'n]

i have done it a few times, definitely have to brake hard and stop the track, hold brake on and put into reverse, ease the throttle on, no full throttle. or kaboom(maybe).

burnt brake off on a rather cool vertical climb way back into gorman, had to negotiate a few downhills not able to slow down, drove sled to bottom at Mach chicken. one particularly nasty decent, eased up to crest, put sled in reverse and pushed over the edge, eased the gas on and low n behold i got to the bottom nice n easy, large boulders size of a truck at the bottom, had nothing to lose anyway, worked . all was good. recommend trying it out on an easy slope a few times before you ever have to try it for real?
i also tried it once before going over a cliff, stalled motor, went over cliff anyway, and made it through the friggin trees at the bottom also. sat there a long time and emptied a few beer cans.

up to you if you try it or not, to each his own,

 

[FernieHawk]

Not to get all preachy but if the slope is steep enough that you can’t stop, leave your buddy there on his own. Your job is to be at the bottom of the steep hill waiting to save your buddy if it slides not ride up higher and try to stop on the way down . Anyway so maybe think of that next time you want to slam your sled into reverse on a steep hill to “help” your friend.

That is good advice for larger slopes.

I only do it on smaller slopes in the trees that have a very low to zero chance of sliding.