At the end of last winter, I was lucky enough to test the Marlon Xplore Pro II platform. For those who do not know what a platform is, it is a platform that fits into the body of a truck and allows recreational vehicles to be transported at the height of the body.
Now, you have to understand that Marlon products are very high-end, and they have many accessories included when you buy them. In this article, I will explain the simplicity of the installation and describe its features.
Description
Where to start? There are so many things that make the XPLORE PRO II the ultimate platform.
First, for the choice of materials, we have the platform is 100% aluminum, as is the ramp for mounting vehicles. It is a big advantage for the longevity of the product because it does not rust but also reduces its weight. Only the glass protection grid is made of steel to increase strength.
A big advantage is that this platform is extensible in width. It makes it possible to have a platform the width of the truck, but it expands to 8 feet wide, and so we can put 2 vehicles on the truck at a time.
There is also an extension that is added to increase the length by 22 inches. However, I don’t have it yet, as it is not available. It should be in September for the next snowmobile season. I personally chose the 7-foot platform because it allows me to have it on my truck all year round and I can still have a towing trailer or a caravan, unlike the 8-foot platform, which does not always allow it. However, with the extension of nearly 2 feet, it is 9 feet, so for a mountain snowmobile like mine, it is ideal not to have too big a portion in the void.
In terms of accessories, there are many. Marlon does business with Superclamp and equips its products with it.
First, there are 2 complete Superclamp sets. It is the easiest and fastest snowmobile fastening system on the market.
The platform comes with 3D-shaped fasteners for the Superclamp ski fasteners at the front. At the rear, there are Supertracs with removable D-tags to adjust it to the best position on the snowmobile’s rail. This makes it possible to attach one or two snowmobiles securely, and it is incredibly easy.
There are Superglide IIs everywhere up to the ramp, which makes it easy to ride your snowmobile and offers bite for quads and side-by-side riding. Also, the Superglides are fixed using the aluminum Edge fasteners provided for this purpose to ensure strength and to protect the corners.
There are Supertrac fasteners on the sides of the platform with 4 anchor points. It is very easy to adjust, and it allows you to have the fixing in the perfect place.
Another factor that makes the Marlon platform stand out is the addition of lights to the platform.
There are LED lights on the protection grid. This makes it possible to attach vehicles even in the evening with ease and to be able to reverse in the dark with better visibility. There are some under the platform to see what’s in the box with a switch to control them.
Marlon also thought about safety; they put a brake light on the platform. The light above the box is often hidden. There are also some lights on the sides to allow other drivers to see the platform better because once the extensions are open, it is wider than the truck.
To be able to mount the vehicles on the platform, there is an extensible ramp that is 10 feet long when extended, so that the slope is not too steep. There is also a lock to prevent it from getting out of the fixing bar when mounting vehicles. There is a space under the platform to store the ramp when not in use.
Installation
There are different ways to install the platform, either with a forklift truck, but for me, with 4 people at the 4 corners, we easily placed the platform in the right place in my truck.
There are supports to put the platform in the bottom of the box to have a good support of the platform legs. There are also height adjustments with the plastic plates that allow the perfect arrangement to prevent snow or water from entering the box and provide a more beautiful finish.
Once adjusted there are 2 options, either to put bolts through the box for ultimate strength, but you must make holes in the bodywork. Otherwise, there are anchoring points that allow the platform to be fixed with chains, as I did. It’s fast and efficient.
Finally, there is a trailer connection that allows all the lights on the platform to operate.
I really appreciate Marlon’s product, and it is practical for all situations and not only for vehicle transport, even if it is its primary purpose. It is simply extremely versatile. I look forward to sharing my next article with you for my more detailed review of the product. I would like to thank Pierre Savoie, representative of Marlon products for making this test possible.
