Hauling Your Snowmobile Safely With Custom Made Enclosed Trailers

All types and ages of people enjoy snowmobiling, thanks in part to over 3,000 clubs across North America’s Snowbelt that bring together like-minded people for rides and social activities. Snowmobiling is for anyone who embraces the beautiful northern winter by getting outdoors, and participation is increasing as more people discover what fun it can be for families.

Because not everyone is lucky enough to live near a trail where it is possible to ride, half of all snowmobilers use a trailer to bring their sleds to suitable riding areas. Thus, anyone interested in taking up the sport must also consider how to manage transportation. Everyone has seen a snowmobile in the back of a pickup truck, but this is an unsafe practice not recommended by most experienced riders. Carrying a snowmobile like this could cause an accident if the machine were to come loose. Additionally, you can be fined if the snowmobile hangs over the edge of the truck bed or if it is not tied down correctly. Using a trailer is the best choice for personal safety and for protecting your valuable property against damage.

Choosing a Trailer

Since towing your sled is such an integral part of the snowmobiling experience, it is important to purchase a trailer you trust and will be happy with in the long term. Factors to consider include:

• Number of sleds and distance to transport them
• Whether to use steel or aluminum build
• Desired deck height and width
• An open or closed trailer
• Off-season storage

Open Trailers

Open trailers are popular for their economical price and ease of use. They can be used safely if they are designed specifically for snowmobiles, but using a hauler built for a different purpose can be risky. For example, accidents can occur when loading onto an open trailer if the driver goes forward or stops too quickly, potentially dislodging the sled itself.  It is also possible that salt and road debris thrown up by the truck’s tires will land on the snowmobile and possibly damage it.

Closed Trailers

There are many reasons that some people prefer a closed trailer:

• Avoiding potential injuries associated with loading open trailers
• No need to worry about the snowmobile coming loose and falling off the trailer while driving
• Harder to steal: According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 1,592 snowmobiles were stolen between 2015 and 2017, with only 57% of machines ever returned to their owners.
• Closed trailers make a nice impromptu shed should you need to change a spark plug or do other repairs in the field.
• Closed hauling can also serve as a semi-permanent storage space to store your snowmobile during warm weather.

Custom Made Enclosed Trailers

Whichever style you choose, you can haul your snowmobile safely by making sure that your trailer was intended to do the specific job you want it to do. McFarlane Trailer Sales and Service understands that your snowmobile is an investment, and we are happy to help you choose among the wide variety of manufacturers we carry in stock.

We can also explain how to select a number of special features, such as rear or side doors, an aerodynamic shape, whether the trailer rests between or atop the truck’s wheels, type of off-ramps, seating, lights, and much more. Join the thousands of Canadian snowmobilers who will make tracks through fresh snow this year by calling or stopping by McFarlane’s today.