SLED HAULING 101: BC STYLE
We've all seen it; That “BC Born and Bred” vibe coasting down the highway with more money sitting on the deck than what's bolted to its frame. It's a BC thing; Sled trucks from this neck of the woods tend to be a little rustier, more practical and a whole lot craftier!
There is much more to Sled hauling in BC than loading your snowmobile and heading to the mountain. Around here, you have to be “Backwoods Legit” - Equipped with the proper necessities to get you up the hill and back down safely!
CHOOSING A PICKUP
There are plenty of options when it comes to selecting the perfect truck to haul your snowmobile with, but whether you decide on Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota doesn’t matter, as long as it’s somewhat reliable and the 4x4 works! Typically that “Classic BC Sled Truck” costs anywhere from five hundred bucks to a few grand. You wouldn’t think reliability could start from so little, but surprisingly it can! When you choose this price range, you aren’t opting for glamour; you’re buying it for one purpose: to get you and your sled the furthest up the mountain!
THE SETUP
When you ask riders what a true-to-form BC Sled Truck looks like, there's no doubt that a majority of responses come back stating it's flat decked. However, some will answer that the truck has an old homemade sled deck strapped in the box. Either option can mark it as a classic, but how you choose one or the other is influenced by your needs! A flat deck is easier for loading and unloading due to its low to the ground nature. In contrast, a deck in the box can be pretty intimidating depending on the ride height of the truck and the length of the ramp it's equipped with...but you can take a deck out of the box whenever you want, making the box usable for other needs! The other thing riders note about a BC Sled Hauler, aside from the amount of fuel it guzzles and the percentage of rust it bares, is its tires! It's not rare to find the rubbers costing more than the pickup itself; after all, they are what's going to keep you on the road! In these stomping grounds, a good set of studded treads is best! Nonetheless, these aren't your only options. Many BC guys don't use a deck; they roll solo simply utilizing the box of their truck and can usually be spotted from the bent tailgate!
EQUIPMENT
Now that you have your pickup and deck type selected and a good set of tires beneath you, let's go back to the phrase “Backwoods Legit,” this is the heart and soul of a “Classic” BC Sled Truck. If you're not equipped to tread the back roads in their worst conditions, you might not make it to the hill to ride, or hey, you may not make it back. Many trucks, sleds, decks, and all, have been swallowed up by our embankments, ditches, and icy roads. With that said, here are some items to consider to make the rig “Backwoods Legit”:
A VHF RADIO SET UP WITH RR CHANNELS - There is nothing as gripping as meeting a fully loaded logging truck or low bed bumper to bumper on the back mountain roads of BC. Be prepared and share the road!
GOOD TOW STRAP - We've all been there, either stuck going the furthest, sucked into a ditch or needing to tow another out.
SHOVEL - Sometimes we go a little too far, a little too deep, or we cheaped out on tires.
CHAINS - Always nice to have
FLASHLIGHT - You never know where you're going to end up
TOOLS - Specifically an adjustable wrench, pliers, vice grips, and a roll of haywire (the mountain man tool kit)
THE DRIVER
One thing riders always forget to mention is the driver. The driver may be one of the most crucial pieces to a BC Sled Truck. We've all seen him... 4 Low, foot to the floor, tires grabbing and going places. This guy (or gal) has an aura that screams local. They lead the crew up the mountain and take up the rear on the way down. They are prepared, rarely white-knuckled and the most valuable in any situation. This driver has more than the checklist, and in fact, this particular driver is the checklist, equipped with the right skills and all of the essentials to get everyone home safe.
If you're from BC, moving to BC or just visiting, keep a lookout for that older sled hauler unloading in the club parking lot, chewing up backroads or choochin down the highway! Toss it a wave, a rock on or the thumbs up because that old sled truck will probably get you out of a ditch one day or, even better, give you some ideas on how to build your own.
Savanna Rennie is a rider and writer from Enderby BC. She was introduced to snowmobiling 10 years ago and has been deeply passionate about it since!
MORE SLED HAULIN’ INFORMATION & RESOURCES
TRAVELLING ON BC’S FOREST SERVICE RESOURCE ROADS
In the winter, local snowmobile groups transform BC’s remote industrial forest service roads into groomed recreation sites, ushering riders on smooth trails or into alpine freeride zones. At times, roads may remain plowed for industrial traffic. By law, you must not operate a snowmobile in BC on a forest service road if it appears the road has been snow-plowed or the road is otherwise fit for travel by motor vehicles other than snowmobiles. Please observe posted radio call up/down procedures to avoid collisions when traveling by motor vehicle and do not block access.
