Loading my own sled was an unpleasant task that I had always left to my husband—but even he wasn’t keen on it.
We carry our sleds on a truck deck and the ramp for it is eight feet long and barely wide enough for a sled. Even though I tried, I just didn’t have the guts to hit the ramp fast enough to get my machine onto the deck—and our truck isn’t even lifted. Imagine dragging a dead sled by hand up the ramp. Believe me, it’s not fun.
That was before we installed X Glides on our ramp. These glides were easy to install and came with all the necessary screws and spacing grommets. One kit includes eight 29½-inch-long pieces, and this was more than enough to cover both sides of our eight-foot ramp. On plywood, the pieces simply screw on; if you have a metal ramp or deck, you will need to pre-drill the holes.
Once the X Glides were installed, I was amazed at how much easier it was to load my own sled. And my other nemesis, unloading, was simpler as well. As soon as the skis hit the ramp, the carbides catch in the grooves and stay put while I’m riding on and off the deck. And the skis slide better in the grooves so I don’t have to take a big run at the ramp.
The X Glides will come in handy for loading and unloading ATVs onto our deck as well. Teeth on the glides give tires some traction, so there should be no spinning out while we’re halfway up the ramp.
X Glides have been out for about three years now, and while they’re not a new concept, X Glides are more affordable than other popular glides that are currently on the market.
