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Just the parking brake when trailering question.

In NY on an open trailer its declared "unsecured load" and is a min 250 fine. An enclosed trailer is considered to be a "restraint" and while not smart will not yield you a ticket. Don't mock me but I just bought a pair of those old Snoclamps (not Superclamps) and I plan to run one on each side of the trailer and then add 2 recessed d-rings in the middle to strap from the outer rail, thru the rear bumper or the skid to the middle d-rings.
 

I have pulled my sleds in my enclosed without tiedowns for short distances and yes they move. Maybe my roads around here that are so rough caused it but they moved sideways into each other. No damage done but even for short distances I tie them down with ratchet straps now.

How we got into name calling and plywood mounted buckles I don't know. If your in an accident all bets are off but for day to day crap you deal with on the road tying your sleds down is a good idea. They stay put and don't rub the shiny spots off. If I pile into another vehicle or go off road and roll my truck I'll just be happy to be alive. At that point banged up sleds are the least of my worry's.
 
The other problem is I have left them in the trailer from one week to the next and the metallic pads rusted fast to the rotor. Last season my Pro R 800 SB was so bad I had to use a breaker bar to get it free and burnt a belt trying with engine first. If you ride where there is salt in use it can happen.
 
Sorry, I'm only heated because I have see the results of untied sleds first hand. Lived in the UP for several years and have traveled from Detroit to upper Michigan my entire life for sledding and other hobbies. Ive seen numerous accidents and two pileups involving sled trailers. I hope people are responsible enough to do the right thing since my family is on the road with them. If you are in an accident, the sleds are probably trashed. I don't care about the sleds, I care about the people. Its about absorbing energy to reduce the chances of them becoming a 500LB bullet headed towards people. And the physics points are relevant since the question was should we tie down ours sleds. Physics and common sense answers the question, YES!
 
I agree it goes without saying that it's a MUST to tie sleds down some how some way on an open trailer. The debate is when trailering them in an enclosed.
 
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I have pulled my sleds in my enclosed without tiedowns for short distances and yes they move. Maybe my roads around here that are so rough caused it but they moved sideways into each other. No damage done but even for short distances I tie them down with ratchet straps now.

How we got into name calling and plywood mounted buckles I don't know. If your in an accident all bets are off but for day to day crap you deal with on the road tying your sleds down is a good idea. They stay put and don't rub the shiny spots off. If I pile into another vehicle or go off road and roll my truck I'll just be happy to be alive. At that point banged up sleds are the least of my worry's.


Well OK if Charlie says they move they move...........LOL I have got t0 get to this!!!
 
Anyone who even thinks just leaving the sled in park and not strapped down should not leave their own backyard traveling that way. Tie everything down properly!
 
I take the time to strap. I found some sweet tie down straps at Menards. They self tighten and then you only need to ratchet a couple of times. Very quick. Of course I had to replace the green mesh straping with Yamaha blue strap. Green strapping just clashed way tooo much! Only hassle I had was getting the D rings to stand up to put the hooks in with my gloves on. I put a ziptie through the D ring and made a loop that is easy to grab with gloves on. Necessity is the mother of invention. Being lazy and hassle free also helps. ;)!
 
Well I finally got 'to it' and have the D rings installed. Of course after a warm dry summer and fall I picked a day were I had to lay in slush around and leaves under the trailer......but hey, why make anything easy. I will be of the 'strapped' crew now but can say on my past experience - smooth freeway and asphalt roads that I never had them move.

But I understand if I had an accident they would be 6-700 pounds bodies in motion not stopping until they hit something. I have blue straps hope I can find them............arg
 
My Ameralite trailer came with nine tie downs and they are now installed. I'm glad they weren't pre installed so I could put them where I think I'll need them.
 
Always strap your sled down. I saw a sled come off the back of a trailer and the guy never knew it but the people behind him sure did. I'm way over board when it comes to safety. I have enough straps on my sled even if the trailer were to roll a bunch of times I don't think they would come off.
 


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