ben
12-25-09, 01:19 PM
I have been using snowmobile dollies for a few years now. I use them to roll a sled around the garage, to and from the trailer, etc. They make a sled more maneuverable and mobile, while protecting your driveway and garage surface from carbides that can easily cause damage. In my experience conventional dollies suffer from 6 main issues.
1) They come off the skis easily, leaving you stranded or requiring you to keep putting them back on.
2) Performance over cracks and rough surfaces leaves a lot to be desired, often leading to issue number one.
3) Due to ramp lips and such you have to take them off to actually load the sled and put them on after the sled has been unloaded, leaving one surface or another marred.
4) Often, pushing the sled around by hand is the only option that really works well, sometimes requiring a helping hand on steep driveways and such.
5) Dollies and wheels are often under-engineered or made of plastic that can crack and break.
6) Wheels that swivel on all three points (skis and track) can actually be difficult to deal with in some situations (poor tracking, etc.)
Some dollies have addressed one or more of these issues, using bigger wheels, straps or alternative materials. However, I have not seen a single package that addresses these concerns all at once.
From time to time I had seen the video for the Sure Grip dollies, with people ripping around the yard or driving a sled right up into a trailer. Quite honestly I was intrigued, but a bit skeptical. After moving to a new location with a longer driveway, one that would get completely torn up by carbides, I was concerned with how I was going to get the sled in and out for periodic maintenance and such. I thought I would give the Sure Grips a try.
The product showed up promptly in a deceivingly small box. After opening it and looking at the parts I was VERY impressed. Admittedly, I am one of the most picky and critical people when it comes to looking for quality in a product. The parts were made well, seemed over-engineered (in a good way), and had an excellent fit and finish. The dollies require some basic assembly, but it is a simple 10-minute procedure with a minimum number of parts. Basically a few hits with a hammer and installing a couple of nuts and bolts. I actually enjoyed putting them together.
The dollies consist of two adjustable width ski dollies with four fixed (non-swivel) 5” rubber wheels, and one track dolly with a swiveling rubber wheel. The ski dollies make use of a dual cable system that keeps them from slipping off or moving around. The standard size (reviewed) fits skis up to 7.25” wide. A wide version is available that fits skis up to 10” wide.
My first use was in late August when I went to move my sled out of my trailer to start getting it ready for winter. My sled was parked nose-in, where I left it last April. I slid the ski dollies under the skis and tensioned the fixed cable around the ski spindles, accomplished by sliding the dollies forward under pivoted skis. I then passed the second (removable) cable around the other side of the spindles and fastened them into place by pushing them through a notch in the side of the dollies. The whole operation takes no more than a minute or two and can easily be done by one person.
Once the dollies were under the skis I fired up the motor and prepared to back out. I tentatively gave it some gas and backed down the ramp. It backed over the gaps and cracks with ease. In fact, it actually backed out easier and more smoothly than it does without the dollies. The thing I noticed right away was that I was able to actually steer the sled with precision while backing out.
After unloading I had fun driving the sled around the driveway. The ski dollies never slipped or moved and gave me full steering capability. Once parked in the garage I put the track dolly under the track and was able to rotate the sled around as desired. Loading the sled back in the trailer was as easy and fun as unloading. The 5” rubber wheels drive right over loading ramp transitions and gaps with ease.
I have used these dollies several times, taking my sled to the shop, getting it in and out of the trailer for maintenance, etc. They have always worked perfectly and without fail. They have improved upon the basic snowmobile dolly by addressing the 6 points above, and then some.
Sometimes you come across a product that you really like and are pleased with. Less frequently you find one that you love and wish you had come across years ago. Sure Grips are one of these products. They make the chore of loading, unloading and moving a sled around almost effortless, saving time and your back. They are extremely well built, very functional and worth every penny.
Sure Grips can be purchased from Recreational Necessities at: http://www.suregripdollies.com.
1) They come off the skis easily, leaving you stranded or requiring you to keep putting them back on.
2) Performance over cracks and rough surfaces leaves a lot to be desired, often leading to issue number one.
3) Due to ramp lips and such you have to take them off to actually load the sled and put them on after the sled has been unloaded, leaving one surface or another marred.
4) Often, pushing the sled around by hand is the only option that really works well, sometimes requiring a helping hand on steep driveways and such.
5) Dollies and wheels are often under-engineered or made of plastic that can crack and break.
6) Wheels that swivel on all three points (skis and track) can actually be difficult to deal with in some situations (poor tracking, etc.)
Some dollies have addressed one or more of these issues, using bigger wheels, straps or alternative materials. However, I have not seen a single package that addresses these concerns all at once.
From time to time I had seen the video for the Sure Grip dollies, with people ripping around the yard or driving a sled right up into a trailer. Quite honestly I was intrigued, but a bit skeptical. After moving to a new location with a longer driveway, one that would get completely torn up by carbides, I was concerned with how I was going to get the sled in and out for periodic maintenance and such. I thought I would give the Sure Grips a try.
The product showed up promptly in a deceivingly small box. After opening it and looking at the parts I was VERY impressed. Admittedly, I am one of the most picky and critical people when it comes to looking for quality in a product. The parts were made well, seemed over-engineered (in a good way), and had an excellent fit and finish. The dollies require some basic assembly, but it is a simple 10-minute procedure with a minimum number of parts. Basically a few hits with a hammer and installing a couple of nuts and bolts. I actually enjoyed putting them together.
The dollies consist of two adjustable width ski dollies with four fixed (non-swivel) 5” rubber wheels, and one track dolly with a swiveling rubber wheel. The ski dollies make use of a dual cable system that keeps them from slipping off or moving around. The standard size (reviewed) fits skis up to 7.25” wide. A wide version is available that fits skis up to 10” wide.
My first use was in late August when I went to move my sled out of my trailer to start getting it ready for winter. My sled was parked nose-in, where I left it last April. I slid the ski dollies under the skis and tensioned the fixed cable around the ski spindles, accomplished by sliding the dollies forward under pivoted skis. I then passed the second (removable) cable around the other side of the spindles and fastened them into place by pushing them through a notch in the side of the dollies. The whole operation takes no more than a minute or two and can easily be done by one person.
Once the dollies were under the skis I fired up the motor and prepared to back out. I tentatively gave it some gas and backed down the ramp. It backed over the gaps and cracks with ease. In fact, it actually backed out easier and more smoothly than it does without the dollies. The thing I noticed right away was that I was able to actually steer the sled with precision while backing out.
After unloading I had fun driving the sled around the driveway. The ski dollies never slipped or moved and gave me full steering capability. Once parked in the garage I put the track dolly under the track and was able to rotate the sled around as desired. Loading the sled back in the trailer was as easy and fun as unloading. The 5” rubber wheels drive right over loading ramp transitions and gaps with ease.
I have used these dollies several times, taking my sled to the shop, getting it in and out of the trailer for maintenance, etc. They have always worked perfectly and without fail. They have improved upon the basic snowmobile dolly by addressing the 6 points above, and then some.
Sometimes you come across a product that you really like and are pleased with. Less frequently you find one that you love and wish you had come across years ago. Sure Grips are one of these products. They make the chore of loading, unloading and moving a sled around almost effortless, saving time and your back. They are extremely well built, very functional and worth every penny.
Sure Grips can be purchased from Recreational Necessities at: http://www.suregripdollies.com.