auger rack for snowmobile

[welfedted]

Saw one at R's in Walker. Does anyone have experience with this type of rack? Its from a place called "For Your Shore". Any input, good or bad would be appreciated. HAPPY NEW YEAR! WFT

[welfedted]

The racks are called DIGGER ANCHOR WRENCH & RIDE

[Eastwind]

WFT,

I just purchased one on Friday from the new store just South of Mille Lacs. They only had the basic rack in stock but I want the set up ( Narrow trail bracket) that allows you to carry the auger in line with the sled rather than at a 90 degree angle. I was worried about troubles getting through narrow portages such as the trail over Turtle point on the way up to WFB. I also purchased that but they need to ship it to me.

The holder is designed pretty slick. The rack that your auger sits in has cradles of softer material to set the auger shaft in to that should prevent scarring up the shaft. There is a pretty good lever clamp that holds the shaft down securely right under the power head. They supply a bungee that wraps around the throttle end of the handle on your power head. It should keep the gas tank up and prevent the head from swinging. The only thing that I would have done different would have been to add another clamp to go over the auger shaft at the other resting point. I clamped it in and, once adjusted, got no movement where it clamps down but just a little at the other resting point. I will just bungee that down tight for extra holding power. Now I have to hope that the blade end of the auger does not hit the fish house I'll be towing when I am going over humps.

I'll post again after I get it set up and let you know what I think then. There was a post in the "Ice Fishing" section of this forum from early December. Every single person that claimed to own one, either new or from previous years, had only good things to say. It's about time someone designed a good auger toter for use on snowmobiles.

[welfedted]

THANKS EW

[benelli_dude2002]

i was thinking about getting one. looks like a slick and simple setup. maybe next season i will.

[Eastwind]

Well, here is my first impression of the Digger Auger Carrier. I bought the carrier and the narrow tail bracket a couple weeks ago. The narrow trail bracket had to be shipped to me so I just started to get a look at the whole set as to how it would mount early last week. The rack and NTB are mostly welded and powder coated pieces of aluminum square tubing with one flat piece that is welded to the top of the NTB where the carrier bolts to the NTB. The components appear to be of good quality. However, The carrier came with only two long bolts, a flat piece of aluminum that goes under your rear lift bar to enable you to "Sandwich" the lift bar on your sled between the carrier this flat aluminum. It also came with a fairly useless sheet of paper with minimal verbal instructions and a couple of pictures that did not bring much to the party. The NTB arrived with absolutely zero instructions and no additional hardware.

How to install your carrier will be the biggest challenge. In fairness to Digger, most sleds have different lift bars, liftbar/tow hitch combos, etc. There is no way that they could supply mounting materials that would work on every sled. I took a week just looking at the back of the sled and the carrier/NTB daily as I was working through how to mount it on "My" sled. Luckily a friend stopped by on Saturday who has worked in metal shops his whole life. Between us we came up with a concept to mount the carrier/NTB the best way. Lucky for me that he has the "know how", raw materials and equipment to build a couple of mounting adapters.

I got long winded on this but just want to let those that are thinking about the purchase of a Digger Auger Carrier to be aware of this this. You will need to have some amount of mechanical and design sense (or just be a farmer) or just plan on hiring someone to mount it to your sled. It seems to be a great product but I could see a lot of potential problems out on the lake if you don't take the time and spend the $, if neccessary, to mount it solidly to your sled. I don't like problems when I'm on the water or ice. With luck, mine will be on the back of my sled for my LOW trip next weekend and I'll report on it after I get back.

[Dock Boy]

I met the guys who make these at a sport show in St Cloud. I purchased one and mounted it to the brush guard on my Bear Cat. I have driven many many miles with my auger on the front of my Bear Cat and have never has a problem. The two bolts used to sandwich the holder to the brush guard have never moved. I have had it for two years and would recommend it to any one. I'm not involved in any way with the product only a user.

[Eastwind]

Great to hear of another user that is happy with the carrier itself. As far as the quality and workmanship of the carrier, I agree from what I've seen so far. I just wanted forum members to know that it seems like each different snowmobile will present a different challenge to mount the carrier along with the narrow trail bracket.

[Eastwind]

WFT,

My Digger Auger carrier, with the NTB is installed on my sled. The shims and adapters made for me by my friend made instalation go pretty easy. It gets tested on LOW these coming weekend. I'll post a auger carrier and fishing report when I get home next week.

[Eastwind]

Used the Digger Auger Carrier for the first time this weekend. Had some issues with the narrow trail bracket. Spoke with Don, one of the priniples of Digger, while driving home. Very customer service oriented. He is working with me to resolve the issues. I'm hopeful but need to wait a little longer before I can give my final "Thumbs up".

[welfedted]

EW could you expand on the issues you had. I have mine mounted but will not use it till early next month. thanks, WFT

[Eastwind]

WFT

I need to be fair to Digger Anchor and also give a fair rating of this product to you and the other members of FM. First, the actual auger rack appears to be almost "Bullet proof". It is designed well, built well and performed accordingly.So far, Digger seems to be a "Stand up" company. My "Issue" involved the riser or Narrow Trail Bracket". I really cannot get in to more detail for a couple weeks yet, as I need to give Digger some time to follow through on their agreed to resolution. I should have my hands on the "Resolution" in two weeks and will gladly post more facts at that time.

Meanwhile, if I were you, I would carry my auger in my tub sled for this one more trip, that is if you go before I know more. Another option would be to just mount the actual carrier and carry your auger crosswise for this trip. If you're going to WFB, I wouldn't not exercise the later option. The portage in to Turle Lake and then WFB would be tough with the auger mounted crosswise.

[walleye 4 me]

So if you mount it perpendicular to the snowmobile there should be no problems??? From reading your post, I think you are trying to mount it parallel to the snowmobile to not be so wide and that uses a different mounting system???

[LightningBG]

So if you mount it perpendicular to the snowmobile there should be no problems??? From reading your post, I think you are trying to mount it parallel to the snowmobile to not be so wide and that uses a different mounting system???

There is an adapter type thing to mount the digger rack parallel to the sled.

[Eastwind]

W.F.T.,

Email me at [email protected]

E.W.

[Ice_Fishin07]

I used Diggeer Auger Carrier, great product and outstanding customer service. During My last trip to the Big Pond, my friend backed his ATV into auger while loading ATV on the trailer and broke a piece on the rack. I called Don at Digger. He send me the part free of charge. The part was on my door steps next day. It does not get any better than that!!!

[Eastwind]

Don has been great to work with, in my experience, so far.

[Jim Hudson]

Don at Digger is great to work with!! And as a huge plus, they make great products, and are willing to work with all of us to make them even better..

This is how we roll on Lake Superior.. I THANK DIGGER everyday for their auger rack.. And its a great thing to have Bearcats that you can add a 2 inch receiver to the front of, as well..

[Eric_Kruger]

Man those bearcats are SMOOTH! I dont personally own one but I know a few people that do, and Ive never heard anything bad about them.