Preferred Towing Procedure?

[Nice Rumble]

Not that it is likely, but what if (God forbid) your machine quits or breaks, no gas, etc. and you need to be towed to the nearest road. What are the preferred attachment points on the front of the Apex to put a tow strap? I had heard both spindles but what about the lower control arm next to where it connects with the chassis? Also, should you remove the drive belt before towing? I am carrying jumpers and a tow rope. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[apex yooper]

tow

I've always put a rope to one ski loop, and pulled the sled with no rider. It has to follow you.

 

[rock]

I have an Arctic Cat tow strap. I think it comes standard with them. They hook up to the handles of the skis and it simply follows you. Do take off the drive belt. I don't know how well a Yamaha can be towed as I've always been the "tower" not the "towee".

 

[redrx1rkt]

Arctic Cats come standard w/ a tow strap...LOL...that tells me all I need to know, even though I already knew it!

 

[yamadoo]

I have a buddy with a frustrating intermittent electrical problem (POLARIS) and therefore have towed many miles. If you simply remove the belt and have the rider stay on the towed sled, brakes and steering still work fine. On one 28 mile tow, ( my sled after stud thru the cooler) we hit 65 mph and had some fun in the trails also. They dont tow hard on hard pack. We tried tying to a ski or spindle but it jerks the sled all around and no fun to ride. Plus if no rider on second sled stops and downhill grades are a little scary, gonna get rear ended and wreck two sleds

If alone I have seen direct tie of front bumper to rear bumper no slack seemed to work well.

My 2 cents
Yamadoo

 

[Grimm]

I think it's best to stick with attaching the tow rope to the spindles and yes, remove the drive belt to allow the track to spin easier.

 

[MyOutdoors]

Rmove belt and attach to spindles. Attaching to ski loops could misalign front end, not a big deal but unneccessary.
Not to hijack the post, but while I was grooming up at a local mountain last winter, 1 of the groomers was ripping up some of the trails with his mxz 700. He blew his chaincase and instead of being towed he thought he could just ride it to the bottom....ooops! He probably had the fastest downhill time of the year, no chainy no brakey! He had to hit the bathroom!

 

[yamadoo]

I agree BOTH spindles if you have a 'Y' or enough rope to make one.

Yamadoo

 

[apex yooper]

What happens if the sled is tied by the spindles, and ski is diverted by a chunk of ice, or it gets in a rut, like a tire track. I tie to 1 ski, and you don't affect ski alignment. Remember, there is no caster on a ski, to make it go straight.

I was riding my sled a couple years ago, and one ski went in a Deer hunters tire track. It sent me through some pine trees. Luckily, no damage.