Loaner sleds and liability - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

ac bigbore · 01-22-2008, 10:57 AM

I have a hard time finding other sledders to ride with, especially during the week. My only options are to stay home,
ride alone, or loan an extra sled to a possibly inexperienced
rider. Any lawyers out there know the extent of liability I
am exposing myself to by lending a sled (no charge- I offer to pay for gas)? What about liability release forms?

eriksat1 · 01-22-2008, 11:09 AM

Sounds like you need to join a snowmobile club and meet some new people.

tamacat · 01-22-2008, 11:15 AM

Ain't no way I'm payin for gas in the sled my buddies loaning. NO WAY.

ac bigbore · 01-22-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriksat1

Sounds like you need to join a snowmobile club and meet some new people.

I'm a city sledder. Don't live near any trails that I ride-
nearest decent trails are 70 miles away, usually drive 200 plus
miles to the trails. So joining local club is not an option.

eriksat1 · 01-22-2008, 11:28 AM

But if you join a club near where you ride you could meet some locals that you could meet up with and ride with. Just a thought. I understand where you are coming from, I live right off the trails and still have trouble sometimes finding someone to ride with. Talk one of your good friends into buying a sled if you look and ask around you can find a decent one for under $1000 all the ones I ride listed in my signature I paid less that $800 for and they are good reliable sleds.

ac bigbore · 01-22-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamacat

Ain't no way I'm payin for gas in the sled my buddies loaning. NO WAY.

I always offer to pay for gas, since I am playing host. No one has ever taken me up on the free gas offer. I am a boater and I never ask my guests on the boat to pay for gas, so I don't ask my snowmobile guests either. I did take an unemployed friend out once, and he paid what he had in his pocket, basically all he had to his name, and I picked up the rest.

eriksat1 · 01-22-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac bigbore

I have a hard time finding other sledders to ride with, especially during the week.

Ya that 4 letter word puts a damper on finding people to ride with it is called w-o-r-k

ac bigbore · 01-22-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriksat1

Ya that 4 letter word puts a damper on finding people to ride with it is called w-o-r-k

I work in retail. Have to W-O-R-K weekend rotation. W-O-R-K-ing
this weekend. Have Wednesday and Thursday off.

edit: Hope I'm not coming across too defensive- just get
annoyed by people thinking I don't work just because I'm on a swing shift and work when most people are off, and am off when most people are working.

IndianRvrShiver · 01-22-2008, 01:26 PM

So where do you live??

Me & jus4plamichigan have been mid-week riding in the past (we're both retired, but not TOO old!) in Northern MI. We may go tomorrow!!
It really helps when members complete their profiles, since it can/will generate interest from others in their area.

ac bigbore · 01-22-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndianRvrShiver

So where do you live??

Me & jus4plamichigan have been mid-week riding in the past (we're both retired, but not TOO old!) in Northern MI. We may go tomorrow!!
It really helps when members complete their profiles, since it can/will generate interest from others in their area.

I just now put the basics on my profile-will complete the update
after work today. Sled in Door County Wisconsin when there is snow, but mostly the last 7 years been riding the Keweenaw peninsula, UP. Have stayed in Calumet, Houghton, and Copper Harbor.

**RJ Gleason** · 01-22-2008, 02:26 PM

If they can't bring their own sled, they're paying for the gas to use mine.

eriksat1 · 01-22-2008, 05:25 PM

I wasn't implying it is a bad thing not to work during the week, hell right now I am laid off until April, I can sled whenever I want, just that because of most people w-o-r-k mon thru friday it is a lot harder to find people to ride with during the week.

ac bigbore · 01-22-2008, 11:35 PM

Thanks for all the responses, but back to the first question- what kind of liability does one have in lending a sled at no cost to a friend or acquaintance? I think the
not charging a rental fee may have some legal consequence- who pays for the gas probably does not.

kccats · 01-23-2008, 07:26 AM

Hey Big Bore I have the same problem! I have told my friends and realitives that if they break it they fix it or buy it! I have had 6 sleds on the trail at the same time! Other than the liability insurance I do carry medical! But I don't think a judge would let someone sue you for letting someone ride your sled for free as long as you had it insured? And your home owners policy might come into play there?
Hey I tried to ride last weekend at my brothers (He has no sleds either) in Tohmah (basically straight west of you) lots of snow but -20!! I hope to be going to St Germain this weekend for the Radar run, want to go?

**smallengineguy** · 01-23-2008, 07:30 AM

Are your sleds insured? If so, you shouldn't have a problem. You need to check the laws in your state, though.

eriksat1 · 01-23-2008, 09:07 AM

You could get a rental agreement from a place that does rent sleds and make a copy of it put your name in where theres is and have the person riding your sled sign it. But I still think you need some sort of insurance on the sled. I guess I would only go that far if it wasn't a good friend, and you have a lot to lose asset's in a law suit, you have to keep in mind that if for some freak reason the guy gets killed on your sled his relatives will try to sue you.

tamacat · 01-23-2008, 09:13 AM

You must have insurance on you sled to ride on designated trails in PA.

JDS · 01-23-2008, 09:54 AM

If the sleds are insured and the person driving is over the age of 25 and has a legal driving license, he will be insured to the limits of your insurance. If he's younger, I don't believe he would be covered.

ac bigbore · 01-23-2008, 11:12 AM

Have to work this weekend or I would be there. Would like to
run my Mod Wildcat there and see what it would do. I broke in the replated cylinders and new Wiseco bigbore pistons last weekend. It would keep up to my improved stock ZRT800 up to about 55mph, then the ZRT would pull away. A little re-jetting and clutch tweaking and the old Wildcat will be pretty quick.
Its still jetted rich and clutched conservatively for break in.

kccats · 01-23-2008, 10:50 PM

Just did that this last weekend on my ZR to get it ready for the run! Do you work Friday! They will be set up for a practice!
Hey are you going in Feb to the Mi run? I've never riden in lower Mi, ran the bikes off road! Sounds like good times!