Snowmobiling is a fun sport, but carrying/transporting a snowmobile is not much fun. Carrying a snowmobile in a trailer is simple, but expensive. Especially if you only want to take one (or maybe two snowmobiles). So is it possible to fit and transport a snowmobile in a truck?
Yes, most snowmobiles can easily fit into a truck bed. You have to make sure it is strapped securely with ropes or ratchet straps. Most of the weight of a snowmobile is front or center-oriented, so the chances of it falling out are very thin. For larger snowmobiles, you can use truck bed extenders.
An average snowmobile weighs between 476 pounds to 650 pounds. Any Class 1 truck can tow 6,000 pounds, so carrying a 650-pound snowmobile should not be an issue at all. The only thing that you should focus on is the length and width of your snowmobile. A typical snowmobile is less than 50 inches wide, which is almost 4 feet (48 inches). I have never seen a snowmobile wider than 4.1 feet (or 50 inches). On the other hand, the length of snowmobiles varies between 7.5 feet (90 inches) and 14.6 feet (176 inches).
To know exactly if your snowmobile will fit inside your truck bed, you have to measure your snowmobile to (exactly) know these two things:
- Size of your truck bed
- Size of your snowmobile
How to measure the exact size of your truck bed?
Finding the size of your truck bed is simple and easy. All you need is a tape measure that is at least 15 feet long.
First, you will need to measure the exact width of the inside of your truck bed. One thing to look here is to measure the width between the wheel wells instead of the walls of your truck bed. This way, you will have the exact size of the flat area of your truck bed. To measure it, you can put the tape measure on one side of the wheel well and measure it to the other side (of the wheel well) to find the width of your truck. Note this measurement down on a piece of paper or your phone.
Now you will need to measure the length of your truck bed. You must open your tailgate to get an exact measurement for carrying a snowmobile. Place your measuring tape at the inside of the bulkhead of your truck bed. Measure along the bed rail including the tailgate in your measurement. We are counting the tailgate because our tailgate will be open and supporting our snowmobile when we are going to carry it. This diagram shows how to take the measurement of your truck bed.
Also, note this measurement down on the piece of paper or your phone.
How to measure the exact size of your snowmobile?
Measuring the width of your snowmobile is very easy. You can use the same tape measure that you used to measure the size of your truck bed.
When it comes to finding the width of your snowmobile, you need to measure the widest part that will sit inside your truck bed. The widest part of your snowmobile (that is going to be sitting inside the truck) is the skies. To measure the width, place one end of the tape at the outer edge of one ski and measure it to the outer edge of the other ski.
To find the length of your snowmobile, you will need to measure the length with skies and the track on your snowmobile. Put one end of the tape measure at the skies and measure along where the track ends. Some snowmobiles have small tracks. If that is your case, then you have to measure it from the skies to the tail of the snowmobile. I have included a diagram bellow which will help you better understand the measurements of your snowmobile.
Note down these measurements along with the measurements of your truck bed. Now you have the exact measurements (length and width) of your snowmobile.
Calculating the difference
Now we will need to calculate the difference to find out (exactly) if the snowmobile will fit in your truck bed, or do you need any extenders to extend the bed length for your snowmobile.
Width
When it comes to the width of your snowmobile, most will probably fit in truck beds very easily. Usually, snowmobiles are 32 to 48 inches wide. Some models of snowmobiles are even 50 inches wide. First, you will need to find the difference between the width of your truck and snowmobile. If your truck bed is wider, even an inch, then you can easily fit your snowmobile in your truck bed.
Unfortunately, you can not do much about the width of your snowmobile. If your snowmobile is wider than the bed of your truck, it is not going to fit. Skis are the widest part of your snowmobile. So, the only way to fit a wider snowmobile in a narrow truck bed is to remove the skis.
Length
Usually, the length of the snowmobile varies from 90 to 175 inches or 7.5 to 14.5 feet. This length can change depending upon the skis and tracks that you have installed on your snowmobile. Now we need to find the difference between the length of your truck bed and snowmobile. To calculate this difference, use the formula I have given below:
Length of your truck bed – Length of your snowmobile = (difference calculated)
Now your answer will depend on the length of your truck and snowmobile. Most probably, it will be a negative number. This number will tell you how much of your snowmobile will hang out from the bed of your truck and whether you will need to add extenders or not. Below, I have made an illustration that will explain things better.
Difference is under 48 inches or 4 feet.
If the difference in length is under 4 feet (48 inches), then the snowmobile will fit in your truck without a problem. You will only need to secure it to your truck with ratchet straps or ropes. You can also use chains, but I do not recommend them because they can damage the paint on your truck and snowmobile.
Difference is between 48 to 96 inches or 4 to 8 feet.
If the difference in length is between 48 and 96 inches or 4 and 8 feet, then you will need to use truck bed extenders to support the overhanging snowmobile. Truck bed extenders are metal bars welded together to make a sturdy frame that can bear a lot of weight. They attach to the hitch of your truck, and some woodworkers use them to carry large plywood sheets and lumber. There are truck bed extender kits specially made for snowmobiles and ATVs. Here’s an affordable truck bed extender that works for a variety of things.
A plywood sheet combined with a truck bed extender works great for hauling a snowmobile. I have used this method for carrying my snowmobile, and it has worked well for years. Here is a picture of how you can use a plywood sheet and truck bed extenders to support your snowmobile. You will also need lift supports for the tailgate to support the extra weight of your snowmobile. Putting a lot of weight on your tailgate might bend it back, causing it to not close properly.
I have seen a lot of other people do the same trick to carry their snowmobiles. It does not look pretty, but it does work, and if you secure it properly then it’s safe too.
Difference is more than 96 inches or 8 feet
In simple words: you can not carry a snowmobile that hangs more than 8 feet off your truck. It’s not safe, and I do not recommend you to do it.
Now is a good time to invest in a trailer to haul your snowmobile behind your truck. And you can use the trailer for hauling other things like extra tracks or skis, maintenance tools, or other camping gear with you when going for snowmobiling.
Truck bed sizes of most popular trucks for carrying snowmobiles
Here I have researched and written about popular trucks and what length snowmobiles can you fit inside them. I have also mentioned if you need extenders or tail-gate lift support to support the weight of your snowmobile.
Will my snowmobile fit in Ford F150 – All variants
Ford F-150 comes in 3 variants with 5.5 ft, 6.5ft, and 8 ft (66 inches, 78 inches and 96 inches) of bed length.
8 feet long variant: The longest bed with 8 feet length can fit in snowmobiles up to 8 to 10 feet without any extra bed extenders. For a 12 to 14 feet long snowmobile, you will need truck bed extenders.
6.5 feet long variant: The 6.5 feet long bed can fit in snowmobiles up to 8 feet long without any bed extenders. For a 9 to 12 feet long snowmobile, you will need bed extenders to support the overhang of your snowmobile. Do not carry snowmobiles that are longer than 12 feet.
5.5 feet long variant: The 5.5 feet long bed is good for snowmobiles that are up to 8 feet long. For a 9 to 11 feet long snowmobile, you will need bed extenders. It is not safe to carry snowmobiles that are longer than 11 feet, in a 5.5 feet long truck bed.
All variants of Ford F150 does not have a sturdy tailgate so you will definitely need to use tailgate lift supports. I have damaged my tailgate once and it is a very expensive repair.
Will my snowmobile fit in Ford F250/F350 – All variants
Trust me when I say that these diesels have one of the strongest tailgates I have seen. These trucks also have tailgate lift supports built-in and are designed to tow heavyweights. These trucks come in two different bed lengths, 6.8 feet and 8.1 feet (81.9 inches and 98.1 inches).
6.8 feet long variant: The smaller variant can fit in snowmobiles up to 11 feet long snowmobiles without any extenders. For longer snowmobiles, an extender is required to support the overhang of the snowmobile.
8.1 feet long variant: The 8.1 feet long bed is good enough for 13 feet long snowmobiles. For a snowmobile longer than 13 feet, you will need extender bars. And unlike Ford F150, you do not need any tailgate lift supports.
Will my snowmobile fit in Ford F250/F350 – All variantsFord Ranger – All variants
Ford Ranger is a medium-sized truck that comes in 6 feet and 5 feet (72.8 inches and 61 inches) long beds. The width of the truck bed is 3.7 feet (44.8 inches), which is not suitable for all snowmobiles. ONLY if your snowmobile is less than 3.6 feet (44 inches wide), carefully drive your snowmobile in your truck bed.
6 feet long variant: With the tailgate down, you will get 7.7 feet (92.8 inches) on the 6 feet long bed. You can carry 12 feet long snowmobiles in it with a bed extender. Without Bed extenders, you should only carry snowmobiles that are 10 feet in length or shorter.
5 feet long variant: The variant with 5 feet long bed can fit in 9 feet long snowmobiles with ropes and ratchet straps. For longer snowmobiles, you will need lift supports.
Ford Rangers are not a heavy-duty line of trucks, so you should always use tailgate lift supports to add some extra strength to support the weight of the snowmobile.
Will my snowmobile fit in GMC Sierra – All variants
GMC Sierra is available in three bed sizes, 5.8 feet, 6.6 feet, and 8.1 feet (69.9 inches, 79.4 inches, and 98.2 inches).
8.1 feet long variant: The longest one can fit in any snowmobile available. For snowmobiles up to 10 to 11 feet long you will not need any extenders. Ropes and ratchet straps are enough to secure your snowmobile in the truck’s bed. For snowmobiles that are 12 to 14 feet long, you will need extenders, to securely fit a snowmobile in your truck bed.
6.6 feet long variant: The 6.6 feet long bed is good for snowmobiles that are 8-9 feet long. For snowmobiles that are 9 to 12.5 feet long, you must attach an extender to the truck bed to support the extra weight. Snowmobiles longer than 12.5 feet are safe to carry in a 6.6 feet long bed.
5.8 feet long variant: The 5.8 feet bed variant can fit in a snowmobile up to 8 feet without any bed extenders. With a bed extender, you can carry a 12 feet long snowmobile. Snowmobiles that are longer than 12 feet are not going to fit in this truck bed.
Like Ford F-150 and Ford Ranger, you will also need lift support cables for your tailgate to prevent it from getting damaged by your snowmobile.
Will my snowmobile fit in Chevy Silverado 1500 (2020)
This truck is very identical to the GMC Sierra 1500. It also comes in three bed sizes of 5.8 feet, 6.6 feet, and 8.1 feet (69.9 inches, 79.4 inches, and 98.1 inches). The bed is almost 6 feet (71.4 inches) wide, and between the wheel wells, it is more than 4.1 feet (50 inches) wide. So there is enough room for other snowmobiling or camping gears alongside your snowmobile itself.
5.8 feet variant: The shortest bed length is 5.8 feet. It can fit in up to 10 feet long snowmobiles with only ratchet straps and ropes. For longer snowmobiles, you will need the support of bed extenders.
6.6 feet variant: The medium bed length is 6.6 feet. You can carry an 11 feet long snowmobile without the support of bed extenders. If you have a snowmobile that is longer than 11 feet, then you will need the bed extender.
8 feet variant: The longest bed is 8 feet long. It can fit in a 13 feet long snowmobile. If you add a bed extender at the back, you can carry 14 feet or longer snowmobiles.
Will my snowmobile fit in Chevy Colorado 2017
This truck comes in two variants, one with a 5.1 feet (62 inches) long bed and one with a 6.1 feet (74 inches) long bed. It is a medium-sized truck with a 4.8 feet (57.8 inches) wide truck bed, and between the wheel wells, the width is 3.7 feet (44.4 inches). If your snowmobile is a bit wider than 3.6 feet (44.4 inches), then the skies can rest on the wheel wells.
5.1 feet long variant: The long bed is good for carrying 8 to 9 feet long snowmobiles. It will require a bed extender to carry a snowmobile that is 10 feet or longer. But carrying a snowmobile that is longer than 13 feet is not what you should do with the 5.1 feet bed length.
6.1 feet long variant: The 6.1 feet long bed can fit in a 9 to 10 feet long snowmobile. With bed extenders attached, you can carry up to 14 feet long snowmobiles.
You will need to add lift support cables for the tailgate because the tailgate is not built to carry heavy weights on it.
Will my snowmobile fit in Dodge RAM
There are three standard bed lengths of this truck, 5.6 feet (67.4 inches), 6.3 feet (76.3 inches), and 8 feet (96.3 inches) long. The width is 5.5 feet (66.4 inches), which is enough for almost any snowmobile. Even between the wheel wells, it is 4.2 feet (51 inches) wide.
5.6 feet long variant: In a 5.6 feet long bed, you can carry a 9.5 feet long snowmobile without any extenders. For snowmobiles that are 10 to 14 feet long, you will need extenders to support your snowmobile.
6.3 feet long variant: The 6.3 feet long bed can fit in 10.5 feet long snowmobiles. If you add a bed extender at the back, then you can carry snowmobiles that are 11 to 14 feet long.
8 Feet long variant: The longest one is 8 feet long. Any snowmobile that is 12 feet long can fit in without any extenders. But for longer snowmobiles, you will need extenders.
Will my snowmobile fit in Nissan Titan 2015
Nissan offers three bed lengths in this truck, 5.6 feet, 6.5 feet, and 97.6 feet (67.2 inches, 78.7 inches, and 97.6 inches). The width is the same in all of these trucks, which is 5.3 feet (63.8 inches), and 4.1 feet (50 inches) between the wheel wells.
5.6 feet long variant: The 5.6 feet long bed is sturdy, and it can carry up to 9.5 feet long snowmobile with just ratchet straps and ropes. You will need a bed extender if your snowmobile is longer than 10 feet. For snowmobiles that are longer than 14 feet, it is not safe to carry them in a 5.6 feet long truck bed.
6.5 feet long variant: The medium one is with a 6.5 feet long bed, which is about 1 foot longer than the small bed. With this one, you can carry 10.5 feet long snowmobiles without any bed extender bar. For an 11 to 14 feet long snowmobile, you will need the bed extender bars.
8 feet long variant: In the 8 feet long variant of this truck, you can easily carry a 12 feet long snowmobile without using bed extenders. That’s a lot of snowmobile in a truck bed. For snowmobiles that are longer than 12 feet, you will need bed extenders to support the extra weight.
Will my snowmobile fit in Toyota Tundra 2020
Toyota has three different bed lengths for this truck, 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, and 8.1 feet (66.7 inches, 78.7 inches, and 97.6 inches). All of them are 5.5 feet (66.4 inches) wide. Between the wheel wells, it is 4.1 feet (50 inches) wide. The tailgate is sturdy, but for heavy snowmobiles, you must add lift supports.
5.5 feet long variant: Without any bed extenders, you can fit a 9.5 feet long snowmobile in the 5.5 feet long bed. The snowmobiles that are 10 to 12 feet long will need a bed extender bar. For snowmobiles that are 13 feet long or more than 13 feet, it is not safe to carry even with bed extenders.
6.5 feet long variant: The 6.5 feet long bed can carry snowmobiles up to 14 feet with a bed extender bar. If your snowmobile is 10 feet long or less than 10 feet, then you do not need any bed extenders.
8 feet long variant: The longest one with an 8 feet long bed can carry 12 feet long snowmobiles without any support of extender bars. For snowmobiles that are longer than 12 feet, you will need bed extenders to help support the extra weight.
Will my snowmobile fit in Toyota Tacoma
Unlike the Tundra, Toyota offers two bed sizes in this truck, 5 feet and 6.1 feet (60.5 inches and 73.7 inches) long. The bed width is the same in both lengths, which is 4.7 feet (56.7 inches). Wheel wells shrink this width to 3.4 feet (41.5 inches). Both of these bed lengths are not for full-sized snowmobiles because the tailgate is not as strong and built to bear heavy loads.
5 feet long variant: In this bed size, you can fit in up to 9 feet long snowmobiles without extenders and 10 to 12 feet long snowmobiles with extenders. The snowmobiles longer than 12 feet are not safe and easy to carry.
6 feet long variant: This long bed can fit in 1 foot longer snowmobiles than the 5 feet long bed. You can carry 10 feet long snowmobiles without extenders and 11 to 13 feet long snowmobiles with an extender. Both of them are not heavy-duty trucks, so you should lift supports.
Will my snowmobile fit in Honda Ridgeline 2019
In 2019 Honda increased the length of this truck’s bed. Now it is 5.3 feet (64 inches) long. It is the only bed size that Honda offers. The width is 5 feet (60 inches), that is good. The wheel wells are not big, but they limit the width to 4.1 feet (50 inches).
You can carry a snowmobile that is about 9.5 feet long without any extender bars. For 10 to 12 feet long snowmobiles, you will need the bed extender. The snowmobiles longer than 12 feet are not safe and easy to carry in it. The tailgate is not sturdy as well, so you must add lift supports.
A quick note:
The dimensions of a truck vary after a year or two. For example, a Ford F-150 2012 has different dimensions/proportions than Ford F-150 2019. If you do not have the exact model, then measure it yourself according to the method I have explained before.
If you want to maneuver your snowmobile, snowmobile dollies are the best option. If you are planning to buy snowmobile dollies, then read my article on Best Snowmobile Dollies. I have reviewed them thoroughly and it will help you choosing the best.
Caution: If the track of your snowmobile is studded, they might get damaged while loading the snowmobile in the truck’s bed. Either remove the studs or use a snowmobile ramp.
In the end
When it comes to carrying a snowmobile in your truck bed, the size of your snowmobile and the size of your truck bed matters most. There is no standard size for truck beds or snowmobiles. For snowmobiles, you can remove the tracks or skis to make them fit inside a truck bed, but that is not an easy thing to do. I did this to carry my Polaris Rush until I finally got a truck bed extender. I hope that after reading my blog post, you have been able to figure out if your snowmobile is going to fit inside the truck bed.
You will also need to find a way to secure the snowmobile to your truck bed, so it won’t fall out when you drive over potholes. The methods I have mentioned to secure a snowmobile in a truck bed are tested by myself and my friends. I have also seen other people use these methods. If there is any question or I missed something, feel free to ask in the comments.
Sources:
How to fit a long track snowmobile in a short bed Tacoma