Securing sled deck

[ZIG]

What is the legal way to anchor a sled deck?

 

[Bnorth]

weld er up

 

[09 arctic cat m8]

I use turnbuckles and chains works good

 

[ZIG]

Is that legal?

 

[Tchetek]

Turn buckles are good to help with sway, but it's also good to bolt through box.

Then Your insurance company will cover it as part of the vehicle if your in a wreck!

So do both!

 

[ZIG]

Does the law state you need to do both?

 

[52weekbreak]

Not sure of any insurer will count your sled or cargo as part of the vehicle if properly tied down but in Alberta, the answer is none.

Looking for a trucker to confirm what I use as a guide which is
a minimum number of tie down points using chain or straps of suitable strength. If you are using tie downs for a 600 sled, there would be four attach points (one at each end of the strap) and each strap should have a minimum 1200 pound capacity.

Those using Super Clamp or similar. They attach at one point to the deck but at two points on the sled.

 

[007sevens]

I use turn buckles. just check the rating for you tie downs in you truck. The turn buckles themselves are not the issue. The issue is the point you use in your truck. I have never had an issue. If your looking to keep your cargo on your truck while it flips down the ditch after you spun out going up hill at mach chicken, I question your line of thinking. As far as the sleds are concerned I use a strap on the back for both sleds and Super clamps up front.

 

[Beels]

Turn buckles are good to help with sway, but it's also good to bolt through box.

Then Your insurance company will cover it as part of the vehicle if your in a wreck!

So do both!

I have confirmation from SGI in Saskatchewan that the deck is considered part of the vehicle if bolted in, like you said, and will be covered in event of an accident.

 

[Tchetek]

Does the law state you need to do both?

Probably not. Law probably says your load needs to be secure.

Some guys just bolt them, but as stated before the turnbuckles eliminate some of the sway and shifting. I would bolt regardless for insurance purposes.

 

[Ronaha]

I've heard "they" want metal tie downs as opposed to Fiber straps....but yeah way more sturdy on corners with turnbuckles then just bolts

 

[takethebounce]

The last BC DOT guy I talked to which was more than 5 years ago said they treated sled decks like campers. Campers weigh more than more decks. As long as the deck is secured in the same manner they are happy.

But the cargo (sleds) must be secured in the way they describe in the regs. Superclamps have often run on the grey area of the Black and white regs. They are two points of contact on the skis but one on the deck. I don't believe anyone running a front super clamp has ever had a problem though. Rear must be secure as well.

I use tiedowns to the turn buckles and bolt through the box with backer plates.

I have stretched out turnbuckles in the past and also stretched ****ty box sheet metal. It's not about making it the most secure by doing both but spreading out the load points to reduce possible damage if needed.

Someday when I am old a nice flat deck setup would be great.

 

[Cdnfireman]

According to the calgary police truck unit, the deck must be secured to the truck by bolting through the box floor using backing plates. He couldn't remember exactly how big the plates had to be but he thought 20 square inches per plate (times 4 plates). According to him using the factory tie down points isn't legal because they are not rated high enough weight wise. also he stated that the vehicle loaded (ATV/sled) has to be tied down in all 4 corners using straps that have a minimum SWL of 1/2 the GVW of the vehicle. FWIW.

 

[007sevens]

According to the calgary police truck unit, the deck must be secured to the truck by bolting through the box floor using backing plates. He couldn't remember exactly how big the plates had to be but he thought 20 square inches per plate (times 4 plates). According to him using the factory tie down points isn't legal because they are not rated high enough weight wise. also he stated that the vehicle loaded (ATV/sled) has to be tied down in all 4 corners using straps that have a minimum SWL of 1/2 the GVW of the vehicle. FWIW.

Sounds over kill to me. I truck camper isn't installed that well. I bet he's gonna tell you to tie down the dishes in the camper.

 

[Cdnfireman]

Sounds over kill to me. I truck camper isn't installed that well. I bet he's gonna tell you to tie down the dishes in the camper.

I don't agree. Most campers are secured using engineered bracket systems that are bolted to the frame. I seriously doubt anyone would secure their camper using just the tie down points inside the box of the truck.

 

[007sevens]

I don't agree. Most campers are secured using engineered bracket systems that are bolted to the frame. I seriously doubt anyone would secure their camper using just the tie down points inside the box of the truck.

Engineered is a big word. A 1"1/4 square tube made of light metal bolted to the frame will flex as well. I'm not saying your wrong some camper tie downs have incredible strength. I built mine back in the day and you could really clamp the camper down with it, but really what do you think the chain is bolted into on the camper. The old campers had a eye bolt through a 2x2. maybe the new ones have a better set up but I seriously doubt that it has a big plate like you would like to see guys use to clamp a 800lb deck down with. yes yes I get that we strap 1100lbs on top of the deck. But legally we can only haul roughly 2000lbs in the box in total. deck and sled tied to four anchors in the box of each holding 500lbs from moving in mind is fine. Each to there own but I think the anchor points in my truck will hold 500lbs each. Maybe other trucks are not as good, can't argue this point.

 

[Cdnfireman]

Engineered is a big word. A 1"1/4 square tube made of light metal bolted to the frame will flex as well. I'm not saying your wrong some camper tie downs have incredible strength. I built mine back in the day and you could really clamp the camper down with it, but really what do you think the chain is bolted into on the camper. The old campers had a eye bolt through a 2x2. maybe the new ones have a better set up but I seriously doubt that it has a big plate like you would like to see guys use to clamp a 800lb deck down with. yes yes I get that we strap 1100lbs on top of the deck. But legally we can only haul roughly 2000lbs in the box in total. deck and sled tied to four anchors in the box of each holding 500lbs from moving in mind is fine. Each to there own but I think the anchor points in my truck will hold 500lbs each. Maybe other trucks are not as good, can't argue this point.

I agree, each to their own. And let's face it, unless they want to be dicks, most cops or DOT guys aren't even gonna look at how the decks are secured. I've never seen a pickup manufacturer rate the strength of their box tie down points, so for all of us it's a crap shoot as to whether or not they'll hold the load. For me, besides the insurance/liability issues, when there's 20k+ of my toys sitting up there, I'm gonna do what I can to make everything bomb proof.

 

[c_nelson99]

I use turnbuckles and chain, Best thing you can do is slap a little blue loctite on the threads so they don't back off. Mine always used to come loose after a trip till I used loctite now it hasn't come loose in 2 yrs.

 

[tex78]

I use turnbuckles and chain, Best thing you can do is slap a little blue loctite on the threads so they don't back off. Mine always used to come loose after a trip till I used loctite now it hasn't come loose in 2 yrs.

Or a round of mechanics wire between the buckle ends works great too, anything to keep from backing of

 

[takethebounce]

Or a round of mechanics wire between the buckle ends works great too, anything to keep from backing of

Why not just double nut them