Flatbed trailer for ATV

[capi75rs]

Not a trailer, but for moving deer out of the woods we use those cheap plastic long sleds you can buy most anywhere in the fall. No matter how big the deer one man can roll it on the sled. Loop the rope around the leg on each side to lessen the strain on the plastic so the rope doesn't pull out, attach to ATV. Even on rocky ground they usually last a couple seasons.

Lurch, how do the sleds pull over branches and such. I'd never thought of using a sled. My only consern would be going down a hill and having the sled ram the wheeler or even passing me.
I have 3 or 4 of these sleds for my boys and I think they just may need to get some new ones so dad can experiment with a deer drag with the old ones. Any upgrades that you recommend? I'm thinking that maybe I should drill holes about 8" apart all around the sled and run the rope through them to help avoid too much pull on the front of the sleds. Maybe some type of a tonge to keep it from ramming the wheeler during decend on the hills. Do you use just one sled or put two together? This may be just what I was wanting.
Thanks everyone for the info, I still think I'm going to build or modify my current 4x4 cart with some of the great ideas I've read.
Rod

 

[dsb5610]

I recommend the Polar trailer too. I have the HD 1500 and it takes a beating. With it tilted you can drag the deer into it. I bought mine from Blains Farm & Fleet. Believe it was $399.

dsb

 

[Lurch]

In the terrain I've used it in there's usualy enough friction between the sled and ground it won't catch you on a down hill. I suppose in the snow it could though. The front of the sleds slope so branches, rocks, bumps/holes aren't really an issue. The extra holes would work but 1 wrap around a leg on each side then the rope is pulling most of the weight of the deer. Also keeps it from wanting to roll off if the sled tips at all.. These sleds are 3+ ft long so only need 1.

I was pretty skeptical about the idea at first. Hunted with some OLD farts for a few years, worked real slick and they could move their own deer this way.

 

[awl51]

Capi, I'm in the same boat. My arms and legs can make promises that my back can't keep.
If it were me, I'd try the combination of an inexpensive, small tilt-bed trailer and hand winch, combined with a poly sled and a cheap poly tarp. Roll the load into the sled; put the tarp down on the sled bed; pull the sled into the bed. Since using one of those Loadhandler thingies, I'm a big fan of the low friction produced by ploy-on-poly. You may even be able to get away with just a pulley instead of a winch.

One side benefit to the arrangement is that dry-testing this with a hunting buddy playing the part of the deer is likely to be a hoot.

 

[capi75rs]

Thanks all for the replies. My neighbor came down the other day and low & behold he had a poly sled that several were talking about. On his he ran a 1x2 board across the front where the rope comes in the sled and ran the rope through a washer, then tied a knot. He said it worhs great dragging deer out. To load into his truck he has a bar, roll style, attached accross the bed up by the cab that he runs a rope over then back to his atv. With the atv behind the sled, he puts down his atv ramps and backs up the atv and pulls the deer and sled up the ramps into the back of his pickup. His sled is a lot thicker and deeper than the snow sleds I have. He said it came from the local farm supply store. I'll have to see about getting one.

 

[rdbrumfield]

I built a trailer for my quad last winter. It has a dual purpose as it can be used as a flatbed and also as an arch for pulling atv size logs.
The winch for pulling logs also doubles as it will dump the trailer easily, or pull something into the trailer with the bed on.
At the base of the winch tower I have a chain that is adjustable so I can lean the tower somewhat as needed.
Will try to put some pics up. I am building some for folks in the area.