What does every use to pull there otter sleds with by hand?

[FirstIce]

What does everyone put on there otter sleds when you pull them by hand? I've seen guys with rope and some with wider straps? What's most comfortable? Is having a longer rope better?

[highlife4me]

I just use a rope handle but attach a cheap shoulder harness on it also. Works great.

[hawgchaser]

My wife?!? Sorry. I go light and just use a clevis attached to the hitch.

[amateurfishing]

i just use rope that came with it but did get a deer stand tree safety harness just in case i get tired and can put my legs/arms in for maximum efficiency

[HOBBSTER]

My brother-in-law knew I deer hunted so he bought me one of those orange drag harnesses... Well, I prefer the short rope and stick method better for deer. So turns out it works great for dragging a portable fish house. I tow a fish trap voyager (2-3man) by myself with ease. You can use the shoulder harnesses or just pull it with your hands but it does feel a little better pulling it with the extra length.

[tunrevir]

Smart bass answer would be my hands and the power of my legs. I hooked up a shoulder strap to the tow rope and things go much better that way. I like to put on a couple of ice cleats on my boots when it is glare ice to add in traction as well as keep me from slipping and pulling the sled over me as I fall.

Tunrevir~

[pulsar_nx]

Long rope around my waist. If I were to do it again I might make it longer, maybe up to 12ft.

[no bait nate]

I loop the rope through the sled so it comes out both sides with a free end. Then I tied a 8" piece of pipe inside a loop at each end, same concept as a water skiing rope, and then have two separate handles so it's easier for two people to pull the sled. Really helps out as the rope can't pinch down around your hand, and pipe doesn't soak up water either. Also helps for each person to have their own handle and not hang onto the same loop of rope, eliminates pulling against the other person also. I also hook up the deer harness when I'm dragging the shack solo, which is a must with the Otter Lodge....

[schweady]

Long rope around my waist. If I were to do it again I might make it longer, maybe up to 12ft.

The rope on my Otter Cabin is 16 ft. Around my waist or two of us pulling, either way works great.

[picksbigwagon]

My brother-in-law knew I deer hunted so he bought me one of those orange drag harnesses... Well, I prefer the short rope and stick method better for deer. So turns out it works great for dragging a portable fish house. I tow a fish trap voyager (2-3man) by myself with ease. You can use the shoulder harnesses or just pull it with your hands but it does feel a little better pulling it with the extra length.

exactly what I do, just lean forward a touch and start walking. don't stop on glare ice, the sled will take you out. My son still laughs about that one

[Sifty]

My brother-in-law knew I deer hunted so he bought me one of those orange drag harnesses... Well, I prefer the short rope and stick method better for deer. So turns out it works great for dragging a portable fish house. I tow a fish trap voyager (2-3man) by myself with ease. You can use the shoulder harnesses or just pull it with your hands but it does feel a little better pulling it with the extra length.

+1 I even got mine on clerance at wally world for $1.99

Sifty

[websdown]

Last summer i bought a used waterski tow rope for a buck they work great and already have a padded handle on them. Just shorten it up to the length you want.

[wayne123]

Very informative - Thank you all. I have a fish trap moyager and have always meant to rig something up better than the standard rope.

[HOBBSTER]

Sweet, I have yet to see someone else on the ice with the orange drag harness, glad I'm not the only one, was starting to wonder... haha. And yes, don't stop on glare ice, you'll hope no one saw it. I use a quick link to connect the harness to the sled rope. Comes in handy to hitch up should you find your buddy was crazy enough to drive his full size truck on the ice (and you're crazy enough to ride with).

[otterman91105]

I just use a rope that i put around my waist. The bigger sleds are hard to pull no matter what.

[Fred_Bear]

The longer the rope the better simply so the force gets tranfered laterally rather than vertically. At least long enough so you can put it aroud your waist and free your arms.

The biggest problem with pulling sleds is when you get into deep or slushy snow. When thats the case i ditch the portable and go for the little kids sled which rides on top of the snow. You wouldn't belive the HUUUGGEE difference it makes.

[IamZombie]

On my nanook thermal, I found a cheap tow(recovery) strap, the kind without the metal hooks on it. The strap is nice and wide so it distributes the load and isn't uncomfortable.

I cut all the stitching on one end and left the loop on the other.

Then loop that to the rope that came with the shelter.

I just wrap some of the excess over my hand, and then pull the strap over my shoulder.