cheap towbar for a frabill?

[fish with teeth]

does anyone have any good ideas for a cheap towbar for a frabill flip over type porty. just bought a snowmobile and need one but dont want to pay 50 bucks for the frabill one. one of you handy folks out there has to have a good system rigged up. thanks in advance for any help or ideas.

[BoxMN]

I have a Two Otter sleds and a tow bar, and just got a Clam Voyager. So I wanted to be able to get another Otter tow bar ($35) and be able to use it for all three. Here is how I made it work for the Clam...

4 eye bolts and big washers.

Line up the Otter bar on front of Clam sled.

Drill holes on each side of the bar/ both sides.

Bolt an eye bolt in each hole, using big washers on front and back of plastic.

Line the Otter bar up and stick pin (with wire lock) through the eyelets and Otter bar, and viola, all works perfect, and comes off and goes on easy.

It did cost about $40 all said and done, so about the same as you getting the Frabil one, but works for me cause I have three sleds that work with same bar.

I also have used PVC and made tow-bar, but not nearly as solid and good tracking as a real rigid tow bar. Good luck!

edit - you could probably do the same as I mentioned, but put the eyelets right next to each other with only like 1/4 inch between then, and then use conduit, pounded down on the ends and a hole drilled, to act like the Otter tow bar. Same on the front, pund the two pieces together and also bolt them together, and then drill a hole to connect to the snowmobile hitch with clevis. Add a piece of conduit to support the two pieces near the rear (where it attaches to shack) and it would be more solid. That would be pretty cheap, and I think pretty solid.

[cold one sd]

I bought a "universal" tow bar a couple of years ago for about $35 and it works fine for my Frabill.

[HaRdWaTeR jUnKy]

what are the laws, do you need a solid tow bar or will a rope cut it, ive just been using rope...?

[hambone842005]

Not sure if there are any laws goverening it but a solid tow bar makes for more stable towing on hills and such. If you are going to be doing any longer tows over larger lakes than I would spend the money on the tow bar or make something that works as it could save you lots of headaches.

[rcatcherman]

All I know is that I bought one from cabela's. It was a Generic One I believe. It did have 2 eyelets that you fastened to the sled by drilling 2 holes and I put larger fender washers to take up more area of sled. Then it had 2 swivel ends that went onto those eyelets which the other end went to the hitch to be hooked up with a inclded hitch pin. Been using it for 4 years with no problems whats so ever... I did see them there a week ago still. There like only 19.95

[tweeder]

I have also used the universal one with my frabill predator with no issues. I pull it a lot on big lakes and used to use ropes and it is worth some extra money.

It will save you money in the long run as i don't have to replace heaters, lanterns (now LED Lights) etc that broke because the sled would snap around and twist around etc with a rope.

[THEDOGG]

Rope works great as long as the lake is at the top of the hill and not the bottom, the fact is your sled is worth the investment of a hitch and hyfax wear bars for the bottom. You wouldn't think about towing your boat around with a rope would you? If you have access to a vise, bolts, conduit, I-bolt and maybe a little flat steel you should be able cobble something together. I would stay away from pvc it's too brittle in the cold.

[Northlander]

Otter makes a very good tow bar and it can be attached to any portable with their new universal mounting kit. www.otter.com

[Brad B]

what are the laws, do you need a solid tow bar or will a rope cut it, ive just been using rope...?

Minnesota to my knowledge does not have any laws in regards to this but I do know that in canada it has to be solid and not a rope. The problem with a rope behind a atv or snowmobile is that when you put the brakes on the machine it will stop but your sled will keep coming and hit the back of the machine either damaging the sled or machine.

[hamms-scooter]

Just take one end of your rope off the sled and slide a piece of pex tubing on then make a small loop then slide another piece of pex tube on and tie it back to your sled. will be light enough to pull by hand and stiff enough that it wont slide and hit your wheeler when going down a hill slow.Ithought of this as i just got done installing the frabil tow bar i got for 40 bucks on my guide. I hate pulling it by hand now and i will probably take it off and do just that idea.

[shnelson]

If you're feeling ambitious you can pick up some cheap aluminum stock from menards and fabricate one with some bolts and sheet metal. Probably able to keep the cost to around $25 or less that way, but I wouldn't recommend high speeds or a pulling a heavy sled with it.

i've seen a few universal tow bars go for under $30 in cabelas bargain cave too.

[mozy]

I just built one tonight. All materials cost me ~$13 and I'll say that it is built just as well or better than the $50 options. Total build time was around 2 hrs. It can be detached from the sled in seconds using two pins. I'm hoping to test it out tomorrow to see how well it works. I can email you pics if you want.

[walleyeaddict]

I customized a support bar for a ladder stand....works awesome....hundreds of miles on that bad dog already!!!

[Neighbor_guy]

I have a universal tow bar for my Frabil.

Cost me all of $12. I liked it so much, I bought a spare.

[hydro]

Actually there is a law regarding the use of rope and I think it was penned by Isaac Newton. It has to do with conservation of momentum and ingnoring it will bite you in the rear, literally.

[HaRdWaTeR jUnKy]

hey mozy send me some pics, kinda interested! thanks [email protected]

[BoxMN]

Hehe, Hydro, you got it

Actually the law is that you cannot tow a sled/tub without a rigid hitch and bar IF you have people in it.

No people, no law stating you need a rigid hitch. You do need reflectors on the tub is you tow at night, I believe. I looked it up when I got one a few years ago.

[trapperdirk]

Just a couple of siderails from a bed frame that is in the dump will work . Drill holes for the pins and one through both pieces to tie them together at the point of the triangle and hitch on your machine . Voila and your good to go . Less than a buck for bolt ,nut and washer .

TD

[justinlkgb]

Hey Box, can you send me some pics too?

[email protected]

[Iambjm]

I have a universal tow bar for my Frabil.

Cost me all of $12. I liked it so much, I bought a spare.

Cheapest I have seen them is $49 bucks, where did you buy yours?

[BoxMN]

Here is the pic of my eyebolts. It could be done with the bed rail pieces very easily, maybe put eyebolts on top and bottom instead of left and right...

edit oh yeah, I always put red or blaze duct tape on my pins, to help find them when you drop them in the snow

Also, I actually had an alum flat piece going the full width of the front of the sled, for better backing than just small washers. Then put a U bolt in the rear of the tub and you can hook up tandem shacks

[fish with teeth]

thanks guys i knew someone would have some ideas

[chris63]

I know of a person getting cut up (25to30)stitches in the neck&head area from towing a sled/house behind a wheeler with just a rope.He had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident.(Ironic,eh?)imho, I would either make a tow bar or buy one.Considering your investment so far a tow bar would be cheap piece of mind.Be careful,good luck and don't fall in.c63