Keep My Trailer or Buy a Sled deck?

[white6]

I have the same dilemma right now! Keep an enclosed trailer or pick up a sled deck.. the bf has an open trailer now so if anyone ever came along we could just haul that for their sled.. but big downfall is the lack of clean sleds.. the no tarping.. the heat.. the gear space.. with the trailer you drop the door, drive in, close the door, and drive away haha convenient for sure.. not sure the budget sits to keep them both : (

 

[Beels]

Thanks alot guys for all the responces. It sure sounds like sled deck is the way to go. So does anyone have a 'Full Lotus' deck? Any opinions on them? Pictures?

I bought a Full Lotus last year. I'm happy with it so far. The best part of is the composite decking, LED lights, Superclamps and Superglides that come standard. It appears to be well built, but I haven't really had it up any real rough trails loaded yet.

 

[Elenor84]

So I did it!

I bought a sled deck last night! I ended up going with a STF Deck. I got a really good deal on it. It does need to probably have the decking redone and definetly polish up the aluminum.

I'll try to snap some pictures tonight or tomorrow.

So I guess my new project is the decking. What do you guys recommend? I was thinking new plywood and then staining or painting it. Has anyone found a good source for a plastic composite?

 

[flabbajabba]

So I did it!

I bought a sled deck last night! I ended up going with a STF Deck. I got a really good deal on it. It does need to probably have the decking redone and definetly polish up the aluminum.

I'll try to snap some pictures tonight or tomorrow.

So I guess my new project is the decking. What do you guys recommend? I was thinking new plywood and then staining or painting it. Has anyone found a good source for a plastic composite?

I just did pressure treated plywood used it for a year and than I'm going to stain it. I put two packs of superglides on it, so it doesn't get beat up and has great traction. If you put superglides on it in the single and double positions you'll find its mostly covered anyway.

 

[shoppingcart111]

I just did pressure treated plywood used it for a year and than I'm going to stain it. I put two packs of superglides on it, so it doesn't get beat up and has great traction. If you put superglides on it in the single and double positions you'll find its mostly covered anyway.

HOw long have you ran the pressure treated wood, one year? DId it warp or bow? I was thinking of using the same thing but worried if its going to do the same thing as the crap wood on a marathon, my sides are all warped up.

 

[flabbajabba]

I got a season on it now and the sides have a very very small wave from time to time. It stays on the truck all year. Nothing to even worth mention but its not "perfect". I will get a pic on here I pulled the super glides off and I want to stain it now that the green of the pressure treat is faded. (I was told to wait a year and the stain will go on and hold up better) I plan on doing it within the next three days (probably tomorrow). I'll get a before and after, let me know what you think when its done.

 

[S.W.A.T.]

Good work man, deck is by far the way to go. Lets see the pics when you get her all polished up. I use mothers aluminum polish for mine, looks good and slows down pitting.

 

[DaveB]

I'll play Devil's Advocate here and just say that I've had 3 trucks in the past with sled decks....and yes, they're great for manoevering and decent traction, but a pain trying to get tarps on the sleds (and keep them on a hiways speeds...torn up covers) and a pain letting rookies load. I went to a LIGHT enclosed trailer. No heat, no insulation, nothing fancy...just LIGHT. Weighs 900lbs empty....can be hand-bombed by one guy easy. Two of my regular riding buddies (DRD and Pecos) both have decks....and just about every ride I went with them the last two or three years we used my trailer and put nothing on the decks. You just can't beat the convenience of plopping the door down, driving in, throwing all your crap inside...and just leaving. Sleds stay clean, outta sight, outta mind, and easy to work on them later on. (that never happens does it? LOL)

 

[Elenor84]

Alright so here's a couple pictures of the deck. I actually put another coat of paint on the main part of the deck tonight, so now its all the same shade. I have also replaced the lights. And I think I need to contact Boydo about polishing it up.

Now my goal for tomorrow is to get the lights working. Can anyone help me out and let me know how I should wire these in? Most things I've heard just wire to the tail lights. If this is the best, does anyone know which wire is which on a ford? There is three wires running to the tail light bulb.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Elenor84]

Good work man, deck is by far the way to go. Lets see the pics when you get her all polished up. I use mothers aluminum polish for mine, looks good and slows down pitting.

I tryed that mothers polish as well. It took me forever just to get one little spot polished. Seems like a tonne of work, I might just give Boydo a call and see how much he charges.

Do you have any special techniques when you applied yours? Or did you just do it by hand?

 

[flabbajabba]

I think he was $250 for a deck last year? I'm thinking of taking him mine too. It will look like chrome when you get it back from him. It will take you forever to get the shine he does.