can an eskimo house be switched to an otter sled?

[TC123]

I have the older green quick flip 2 that took some beating last year on LOTW. I have small holes and cracks in several spots of the eskimo sled (even with the hyfax on it). The new eskimo sled will fit the old houses, they are only $68. Not bad to replace, however the depth of the sled is something that I've always been disappointed with. Would the house fit on an otter sled? anybody do this before? thanks.

[tsande00]

Have you checked out the quality of the newer Eskimo sleds? I thought they beefed them up significantly from the older versions.

[MJBaldwin]

I would agree with TSANDE00 they have "beefed" the new eskimo sleds up from the odler green version I have one from last year which is nice. But these sled still have no comparrison to the Otter Sleds. I really liked the Eskimo and the price this is my first house and will say I wish the sled was more rigid and deeper!

[TC123]

I haven't actually looked at the new ones in the stores - the rep told me they were slightly thicker material but not significantly thicker/stronger. I was thinking about the depth too though, it would be nice to sit this on top of an otter sled if I have to buy a new sled anyway.

[MJBaldwin]

Yea I dont know if anyone has done it. Let me know if you do try it and let me know what your results are pictures always help too. You could always buy the otter see if it will fit and if not return it... Are the dimensions close?

[robert aldrich]

eskimo •Sled Size: 60 in x 31 in x 7 in for quick flip 2

now for the otter

Medium Sled:.......64" L x 32" D x 15" H

Small Ultra-Wide Sled:.......54" L x 32" D x 13.5" H

Otter Small Sled:.......54" L x 26" D x 13" H

haveing done some reserch you would have to get a new eskimo sled.

[dairyman]

Unless-------------your willing to use some sort of spacer between the sled and your flip over--------------say a piece of plywood. Just thinking!!!!!!!

[tsande00]

Do you know how exactly you damaged your sled on LOTW last year? I ask because I've traveled all over Red and Mille Lacs with my older Eskimo QF3 and haven't had any issues despite it clearly not being the same quality as an Otter. I bet it's traveled around 100 miles behind my snowmobile the last two seasons. I'm not sure if it was because I was careful, lucky, or both but no damage yet. Judging by the thickness of these sleds it's not hard to imagine somebody damaging it, I'm just curious what happened with you...if you hit something or what the deal was. How fast were you towing?

I had an Otter sled and sold it last year because I had no use for it (won it in a fishing contest). I thought about upgrading the sled on my Eskimo but decided the added weight and complications of retrofitting wasn't worth the hassle.

[TC123]

I've had this sled for 5 years. Don't know how many miles, but I put 80 miles on it in 1 weekend last year on LOTW. I was clearly going too fast, ice ridges must have put cracks in it. I know it had a few small ones before the trip, but wow it took some damage on that trip last year. I was on the snowmobile trail from the wigwam to the reef they fish at. Anyway, thanks for the dimensions, don't know why I didn't think to look that up. Just figured it would be close, but those dimensions don't look close enough to try it.

[chad austin]

but those dimensions don't look close enough to try it.

My neighbors uncle did exactly what you are inquiring about. I think he had to put plywood across the front or back of the sled to form a shelf for the brackets to bolt up to and also had to add extra material to the skirting for it to reach the ice as the bottom pole did not touch the ice. He really liked the beefed up sled as he rides his snowmobile from his house to the lake 3-5 days a week, 25-30 miles round trip. So in short it can absolutely be done with a little ingenuity.

[magicstix]

Yes that should be no problem. like someone said just make a spacer out of plywood. I've did it the other way, widening it out, and it worked.

You probably want your wood to mount on both sides of the corner, couple large fender washers for support underneath tub lip, some 1/4" bolts/locknuts and you should be good to go.