Hood Disasters on ST4's.

Just a word of caution to the wise. St4's have a habit of the hoods popping open when being towed. This distroys the hood, and severly damages the front hood support area just below the windshield. After having this happen twice, I recomend that one always dilligently tie down the hood. A bungy from head light to headlight works well, I preferred a small strap. Joe Smolar used a pair of bungies in a big "V" from each head light to the bumper hooks. Also when towing any great distance on a conventional flatbed trailer it is wise to protect the windshield on lots of makes and models of snow cats. Tucker's were tall enough not to usually have a problem, but ST4's, and smaller machines like Bombi's were prone to getting their windshields knocked out. In one case having a windshield knocked out led to pressurizing the cab enough to blow off the top hatch. By the time I got to Whitehorse the machine looked like it was in the 'Bonney & Clyde' shoot-out. Both head lights, one wind shield and the 'Pop-top' were gone, as well as one rear trailer light. My brand new one ton daully also suffered a cracked winshield, and loss of one headlight. The Alcan's a killer! If your driving down the Alcan and you find a pop top and a wing window for a Snow Master, there mine!(and were a real*%#!! to replace)

Lyndon, thanks for the tip. I've towed my about a dozen times without doing this, and so far without incident. But a little bit of precaution may save a whole lot of grief someday!

On any snow cat you may want to bungee, duct tape and strap it together to prevent parts departing while in transit. Especially with a Kristi or Snotrac as you do not want to be cited for littering along a public highway....

Here is example of a well tied down, duct taped together and bunged door snow cat in transit. They only need to start coming apart once on you in heavy traffic going down the four lane at 70mph to learn your lesson. I had doors swinging open, hoods trying to open and other debris coming loose. Hell of a sight to look in your mirror and see it all coming apart behind you and you are in the inside lane with lots of traffic...

mtntopper said:

On any snow cat you may want to bungee, duct tape and strap it together to prevent parts departing while in transit. Especially with a Kristi or Snotrac as you do not want to be cited for littering along a public highway....

Here is example of a well tied down, duct taped together and bunged door snow cat in transit. They only need to start coming apart once on you in heavy traffic going down the four lane at 70mph to learn your lesson. I had doors swinging open, hoods trying to open and other debris coming loose. Hell of a sight to look in your mirror and see it all coming apart behind you and you are in the inside lane with lots of traffic...

View attachment 19178

Click to expand...

Bill, you have to be the master of Un disaster. you are the most diligent taper we know, The little white thingy is coming this way next week

Believe me Mt. Topper and Boogie are right on target. something about an ounce of prevention and a pound of cure? In the Snow cat business the loss of an ounce of "UNOBTAINIUM" will often elicit a loss of a Pound of flesh and a pound of gold!

Especially with the suicide doors on many models.

Easiest way of transporting a snowtrac without things blowing or falling off....plus you have your living accommodation too!

I have two bungies right now on my doors. One end hooked onto the door latch and the other end hooks to my grill. On the door hook I took an old motorcycle inner tube and cut a square piece about 6"X6". I then cut out two super rubber bands as well. Cut a small hole in the center of the square piece. Thread the hook through. Now wrap the rest over the metal base and band it with one of those rubber bands. Now you have an end that wont scratch your nice paint. I will have BOBP get a picture of it since I dont have a camera with me yet. This keeps the Suicide doors from coming open at 75MPH!

Ice Queen said:

Easiest way of transporting a snowtrac without things blowing or falling off....plus you have your living accommodation too!

Click to expand...

Oh, but that is cheating... can a widetrack Imp fit in there???

Cheating who? If you mean 'sod's law' then yes. What is the width of a wide track imp? There is a little room to spare with the snowtrac in, but very little! Next time I open the back door I will take photos of the fit!

So do you haul Horses in it too at the same time? Is it all wheel drive? Previously driven by Sir Alec Guinness in: "The Lavender Hill Mob" ?

Ice Queen said:

Cheating who? If you mean 'sod's law' then yes. What is the width of a wide track imp? There is a little room to spare with the snowtrac in, but very little! Next time I open the back door I will take photos of the fit!

Click to expand...

"Cheating" in that your aren't putting the bunggee cords or duct tape on everything and going though all the hassel that the other guys are being put up to... Not to mention that you aren't spending hours trying to remove all the gunk that the duct tape leaves if there is any paint left when you pull it back off....

You just drive it in and lock it down and go... Takes all the fun out of it...

If you think it is fun, you want to try driving it in, it is not fun, it is bloody scary. I bought a winch to do the job, but it won't pull it more than half way up the ramp and the snowtrac bounces about with very little room, it is not a job for the faint hearted. No, I do not carry horses in it, it was a horsebox, and it is painted up with the lettering 'horses' on the front, but this is because it is painted in the Royal Horse Artillery, Kings Troup colours, so that it has no problem with going to military rallies and people saying "that is not a military vehicle"! I will now get off my soapbox.