Sled deck safety

[moyiesledhead]

Had a couple of buddies this year fall off their decks and get hurt bad enough to miss the rest of the season. First one was backing his sled off when the ramp became detached and the whole works went to the ground upside down on top of him tearing his bicep muscle off the bone. Second was starting his sled. The rope broke and off the back of the deck he went getting his arm tangled up in the ramp on the way down.

Be careful guys. Falling from heights is dangerous, and doesn't just happen at work. I've been using a short step ladder to get on and off mine for a few years now rather than walk the ramp, and this year I took a lesson from Ferniesnow....removed my box and put the deck down where it belongs.

 

[bobsledder]

Yikes just like at work we need to do hazardous task analysis, check the safety equipment before starting a job. In the electrical industry we try for safety by design so that second incident is good reason to have an electric start.

 

[FernieHawk]

Good reminder.

Our group has had at least 3 incidents that I can remember. Luckily only minor injuries.

 

[Sledtillded]

Both of those scenarios sound pretty rough. I know for me I always stop well before my ramp and think about what I need to do. With uneven ground, ramps not sitting properly to hitting the ramp at an angle correcting and hitting the gas at the wrong time any one thing can end in disaster. The one that worries me the most is getting to the crest with not enough steam and having to hit the gas....... had some close calls

Thanks for sharing

 

[tex78]

Yup best thing I ever did was this Grampa deck

For anything and everything

 

[JMCX]

I've had a ramp come unhooked on one side on the way up. Me and the sled came down on our side. Nothing hurt luckily. With the Alpha you don't want to be lingering at the teeter point.

 

[teamdirt]

Tex- that deck running on a PTO?

Heard of a guy having his nose cut off from a bad unload, they had to get him to the hospital where they sewed it back on. Yikes...

 

[tex78]

Tex- that deck running on a PTO?

Heard of a guy having his nose cut off from a bad unload, they had to get him to the hospital where they sewed it back on. Yikes...

Electronic over hydronic

2 battery's wired in to it and plugged into trailer plug to charge them up

I've used it for moving hot tubs, Frick you name it

2500 lb ram, picks up a rzr and 2 bikes on either side

Only screws up the center of the box where ram is, storage the rest

Put the deck down, Un pin it and slide the mount body outa the box and onto headache rack, lift the back end up and slide it back In with one guy

Mind you I haven't taken it out for 2 years now, just the deck off if need be

 

[tex78]

My first ride after I broke my ankle, I was just out on the air cast, I went to unload and going down ramp the flap stuck and stopped the sled dead, I went over azz over tea kettle and smashed my foot over the back of the tunnel ( summersalt).... The hole day I was shaking and every load unload same

So that spring I bought this instead of a new deck with 12 foot ramp, best 2 g I ever spent

 

[DeNytroguy]

Yep seen a guy send it over the truck... I kid you not he cleared the whole truck, hood and everything! True story. Wish I had it on video lol. He was coming up the ramp and lugs were spinning about 3/4 up... then they grabbed and he cleared his truck.

 

[papajake]

went over the side of the deck at hunters range parking lot stayed with it laid it on its side bent bars bad didn't get hurt but pissed off got home and redid my ramp

 

[Jorgy]

I was loading my sled coming down from riding, one of the rollers on my primary clutch seized so it stayed engaged even with no throttle applied. I hit the ramp pretty good cause I didn't want the sled to stall but I hit it too hard and just about ended up on my roof. Reminder that sometimes it's better to take a second run at it

 

[Ballzdeep]

https://www.facebook.com/ThatllBuffOut/videos/1699530066819723/

 

[Rene G]

I loaded a friends sled, having never rode it before, got up to the tipping point, gave her a shot of throttle to engage the clutches and did she ever engage! I grabbed the brake and stopped with ski tips on the headache rack, it was a close call!

 

[ferniesnow]

............. and this year I took a lesson from Ferniesnow....removed my box and put the deck down where it belongs.

Yes, a flat deck works pretty sweet! When I get really old, I would do the hydraulic lift like Tex78 has and that way I would even let my wife load. There isn't much room for error going up the ramps and particularly the steep short ramps. Two feet (plus) of difference makes a world of difference in the loading process. I have noticed on the newer sleds the lugs are stiffer and there is more torque so when the throttle gets a little too much grab....................look out!

 

[moyiesledhead]

When I get really old, I would do the hydraulic lift

Ha, ha! When I get "really old" I'll just stick to this. Come to think of it....I've used it more than my sled this year already.

 

[JungleJim]

Great thread Moyie! Just last trip I parked a little too much down hill causing back of deck to be too high, therefor a peak at top of ramp. Went to back down and ski hooked on top of ramp flipping me off side of ramp. Fortunately I jumped off quick as I remember seeing a guy break his leg in similar situation. I stuck the landing like a Romanian gymnast! Unfortunately I could not hold sled and it came down and bent handle bars and steering post while ski caught me on the shoulder and a-arm small cut on my cheek.... pissed me right off at the time! Upon reflection it was scary to think what could of happened as I was all alone waiting for buddies who showed up later than planned. A co-worker of mine said her friend actually died years ago when his sled landed on him... going forward I’ll have a spotter and will where a helmet plus take it slow and park level or slightly uphill.

 

[moyiesledhead]

going forward I’ll have a spotter and will where a helmet plus take it slow and park level or slightly uphill.

Another good point. Can't count how many times I've seen guys come into the parking lot after riding all day with a helmet, then take it off before they do the most dangerous thing they've done all day loading their sled on a deck. I bet I can count on one hand how many guys I've seen put their helmet on to UNLOAD, and I'm horribly guilty of this one.

 

[Bnorth]

Seen a lot more crashes in the parking lots than on the mountain. Remember to always wear your helmet when loading or unloading your sled. A couple years ago a guy I was riding with fell off his deck and smoked his head on the edge of the deck on the truck next to him. Had some pretty good concussion symptoms and was lucky to get away with only that.

 

[JungleJim]

Seen a lot more crashes in the parking lots than on the mountain. Remember to always wear your helmet when loading or unloading your sled. A couple years ago a guy I was riding with fell off his deck and smoked his head on the edge of the deck on the truck next to him. Had some pretty good concussion symptoms and was lucky to get away with only that.

I know I never have worn a helmet loading or unloading before... but that’s going to change and I’ll be the dorky guy but also the guy NOT driving a wheelchair with a straw!