Safety First! A few helpful tips to prepare for a safe sledding trip in Canada

Ahh the Great Canadian Sledding Trip. If only more people got to experience the thrill of tearing through some fresh mountain powder or some deep, untouched snow off the beaten path elsewhere in the Great White North, the world would be a better place.

Given that it’s likely time for you and your family to pack up your sleds and head off for that big weekend trip, we came up with a few things to think about before you head out.

1. Pre-trip trailer inspection

• Check your tires for visible signs of wear or cracks
• After hooking up the trailer, test the coupler/tongue and hitch to make certain the trailer is securely fastened, safety chains are attached and the power connector is plugged in
• Make sure brake and signal lights are in good working order
• Check that tire pressure matches manufacturer’s recommendations
• Inspect your spare tire to be sure it’s ready for action if needed

2. Don't forget the jacks!

We’ve heard stories of our customers forgetting to put ramp jacks in place before they’ve climbed into or attempted to load their trailer. So here is a simple yet important reminder to always do a walkaround of your trailer prior to loading or you could be in for a nasty little surprise.

3. Positioning your sleds

Properly positioning your sleds is crucial for safe towing. Always remember to position the weight of your load more towards the front of the trailer than the back. Here are a few visuals on how to properly load your trailer:

3-Place Inline Enclosed Sled Trailer:

4-Place Lowboy Car & Toy Hauler:

4-Place Highboy Enclosed Sled Trailer (Deckover):

4. Securing your load

We talked about it recently, but properly securing your sleds is critical to the safety of you and your cargo. Flaman carries a variety of sled trailer accessories to help with that. We carry everything you need to secure your load, like e-tracks, d-rings, ski tie downs, and ratchet straps. To protect your trailer flooring and for added stability, we also carry super glides and grip glides as well. Contact your local Flaman Trailer store for more info.

5. Load your truck deck on level ground

Although this one only applies to truck decks, it serves a fair warning for those loading their sleds to always take precautions. A key point to remember when loading your deck is to make sure it’s on level ground, and a good word of advice is to wear a helmet when doing so, or you could risk injury

6. Emergency Preparedness Kit

• Non-perishable, nutrient-dense foods such as protein bars
• Water in a plastic bottle that won’t crack/break when frozen
• Emergency blanket
• First aid kit (bandages, gauze, seatbelt cutter, etc.)
• Small shovel
• Headlamp or wind-up flashlight
• Whistle
• Candles & waterproof matches
• Tow rope & booster cables
• Fire extinguisher

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If you are interested in purchasing a snowmobile trailer or other enclosed trailer, give us a call or talk to one of our Trailer specialists at your nearest Flaman location.