My invention: metal runners for a porty

[ilovehardwater]

So a few years ago I had the idea to put retractable metal runners on my Otter Medium sled, after looking around for a month I came up with a somewhat crude setup that thought would work and here's what I came up with. I purchaced 3 used clam pro poles(the ones for the top,back and front) on a popular online auction site. They are all the same width and are shaped in a big C. I cut 2 of them and used these for the runners. I then mounted them on the outside of the sled with another slightly bigger tube of metal(it might be brass). I cut a hole through the end of the runner about 1" from the end(the part that slides in the brass). and 2 holes in the brass one through the top and one through the bottom. I then purchaced 4 easy clamping hitch pins to lock the runners in place when in use and holds them up when not in use. It lifts the sled 5-6 inches. I think the whole setup cost me around 30-40$. It works wonders with freshly fallen snow and thick slush but not so good with snow with a crust on it. Your better off keeping the runners up and go over crusted snow than trying to cut through it. They are fairly strong but I would recommend using a different alloy than brass like I did. This setup is intended for pulling by hand and probably would not work behind a 4 wheeler or sled. I have had as much as 200+ pounds of weight on the runners and have had no problems pulling through 5 inches of snow. So for the very little amount of weight these have I just keep them on all the time and never had taken them off. I do not have a digital camera but Ill try to post some pics from my Blackberry. Please help with pics someone!!

[rcatcherman]

I saw a house awhile back that had 1 inch exhaust pipe bent with a tobaggen look on a portable. ( 3pieces) And he said he had 3 inch ( 4 pieces ) 0n his perm the same way to pull front or backwards. Looked like a great idea.