How to Haul a Sled With Your Car

So we just got slammed with a blizzard, but at least we have a sled.

Sleds are very popular items for many different types of people. Usually used to travel and glide across snow and ice, sleds ride on steel runners which allow them to traverse such terrain easily.

And while sleds can traverse the wintery terrain with ease, sometimes you have to get creative on how you’re going to haul it along on your journey, especially if you’re taking your new Buick or GMC vehicle to your favorite hill.

Ease of Use

One of the best ways is to use what’s called a sled hauler. This can be either an open or enclosed housing unit that attaches to the back of a car’s trailer hitch and the sled itself is mounted on the sled hauler. It’s quite easy to drive them if the driver simply becomes aware of the aspects of handling a car with a sled attached to it as explained below since these haulers are short and nothing like the large tractor trailers seen on the highways. Some top manufacturers of these haulers are ATC, Aluma and Nash. Sleds can also easily be mounted on the roofs of cars if the car has a long roof rack. Another easy way to haul a sled is with a short flatbed trailer, a highboy or a narrow lowboy.

Safety

Safety is of paramount importance when using any of the aforementioned methods to haul a sled. Since, if a sled falls off the car or the hauler itself, it can land in the road and cause accidents and injury to other motorists, car drivers have to make sure to securely mount and fasten the sleds. Moreover, if the sled is roof-mounted and it slides down forwards across the car’s windshield, it will block the driver’s vision or the sharp runners can even crack the glass itself. So be careful.

Cost Factor

The least expensive way to haul a sled is if the sled is small enough and the car is large enough for the sled to fit into a hatchback-style vehicle. The second cheapest way is to buy a roof rack and then mount it to the rack. As far as the open or enclosed sled haulers, they can get rather expensive since they’re not all made to haul only small to moderate size sleds. Some can haul snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, and even medium-sized farm animals such as sheep, goats or hogs. Some of the enclosed sled haulers start at about $2,400 but depending upon their size and the materials and brand that’s bought, prices can surpass $6,000. The choice depends on the sled owner’s budget.

Driving Tips

Whatever method is used to haul a sled, car drivers need to be aware that they have excess weight and bulk attached to their vehicle. This can dramatically affect the driving characteristics of the car and directly influence such aspects as steering, braking, accelerating, going in reverse, and even parking. Drivers hauling sleds should always travel at the lowest speeds legally allowable on the roads and they should be prepared to have to brake earlier and heavier when necessary than if they weren’t hauling a sled to ensure the most comfortable sled-hauling travel experience.