tie down snowmobile

I picked up a different trailer, a tilt bed flat snowmobile trailer, do most of you use the bars to hold down the sled, only the bar or a aux. ratchet also?

I use to use the 1" small sling tie downs. My buddy said lets use his 4" straps. On our way home fron Eagle River his Suburban towing a car trailer with three sleds did a crazy 300* plus spin into the ditch. The straps held the sleds down. How they did not end up down the road in a million pieces I don't know. So yes I use straps. BIG straps.

Catchin, the nut plate should be bolted to the underside of the trailer deck, with the nut "up". Figure out where you need it to be, then drill a hole through the deck just big enough for the nut to fit UP through the plywood. Then bolt the plate in place. With the plate on the bottom, it gives that much more support to tighten the hold down bar against....provided the nut is welded to the plate good. Use some good bolts so they don't rust off in a couple years.

thanks CPR i called kirk, they said on the older sleds the dip in the bar goes down..,,they said the nut plate goes under the trailer bed not on top,???i i gotta find one to look at..

Go to DennisKirk.com search: tie down bar. Yes, the bar goes up/down...screws down, snugs to ski. No, don't put bar thru ski's. The bar should rest just above the ski mount, after screwing it down, screwing it in place, grab the end of the bar and give it a yank, if it moves, tighten in down again. You'll still want to use straps, etc. Don't forget to 'lock' the track. A friend had his sled 'all secured' w/tie bar, etc. Once he started fish tailing on the free-way, his sled ended up in the median, the tie bar can turn, it's not fool-proof. Happy trailoring!

sorry bout this have a part two question to the other one, sounds stupid but that tie down bar the center section go down or up? and lay on the skis or through those handholds ? can anyone post a pic of the proper way? thanks

how difficlt is it to line up for those bars everytime you load? ?

I have had the back of sleds move of course, do what makes you comfortable

I have hauled 2 sleds for yrs 5 hrs north for many yrs with just the bars and never lost one yet

I use the bars and tied the back down. I don't like any part of a load loose.

...to add, 10 miles down the road, pull over, tighten up straps, etc.

I run a strap from the back bumper to the trailer. I found if I'm going around a corner or a longer trip and it's bumpy (what road isn't) the back likes to slide over. Not the end of the world but I have my sled/shanty in the next spot and don't want it to bump into it. If it's a short trip with nothing next to it, I don't.

It wouldn't hurt to run a single strap from the back bar (on the snowmobile) to the back of the trailer. Dave

I use the bars only and apply the parking brake. Haven't lost a sled yet.