Sled

[eyedr]

I just wanted to start out by saying I really appreciate the feedback I have been getting on other topics. I know I have posted quite a few questions but it is nice to get information from people who have experience. That being said, I picked up a clam bigfoot 4000t. I am now in the process of looking for a sled to haul it with. I have a truck so size really isnt an issue. I have a chance at the extra large otter sled. It's the sled that is meant for the otter resort I believe. They have small, medium, magnum, large, and this one is extra large. It is 93 inches long, 44 inches wide, and 18 inches deep. Any way, I talked to the store owner and he had ordered it for a guy that ended up leaving him hanging a couple years ago and wants it gone, so he is going to sell it to me for $150 brand new. I know its way more sled than I need, but it would be nice for hauling decoys and other things beside ice fishing gear. I am so up in the air if I want the convenience of a smaller one, or to have one large enough for my new clam, an auger, and all the rest of my gear to fit all inside. I was just looking for opinions and checking what you guys thought. Any input would be great.

[Mike Stark]

I think the extra large is even bigger than the sled that the resort sits on. That sled is going to be HUGE. You have an 8ft bed? I think you would be able to get away with buying a smaller sled.

Do they have hyfax for the xl sled?

That is a very good deal tho.

[eyedr]

Ya we tried it in the store and it fits in my truck so thats not an issue. They don't make a hyfax specifically for it, but they do have a universal one that we could use. But that is another concern we want to hash out before we buy it. It is a beast thats for sure. The only reason I am considering it is because the next size down is $199 in the store, and then size below that is $149.

[MNCPRGUY]

Check out the Otter Sport medium sled combo for $199. Sled, runners, tow hitch, and cover. That is what I am going with for my 4000T this year.

The sled should be on my doorstep tomorrow, and I'll be shopping for the shelter at the ice show so I cannot tell you first hand how the fit is, but I did a lot of looking and this makes the most sense to me.

Part of my reasoning for buying a 4000T is that I needed a lighter weight approach to some of the local reservoirs that are walk-in only (and hills to boot). At ~150lbs, I love my modded Jason Mitchel Thermal X, but when it comes to lugging gear or taking the whole family, I'll be going with my Bigfoot and Otter sled at <70lbs.

[eyedr]

Ok, Ill have to give that a look. My only concern with the smaller ones was fitting my house, auger, minnow bucket (which is usually in a 5 gallon pale, and all my other things as well such as vexilars, chairs, tackle box. Will you have room for all that stuff in the medium?

[MNCPRGUY]

Like I said, I won't know until I try it, but if I reach a point that I can't fit it all in, I'm probably also at a point where I won't be mobile either.

[Mike Stark]

the xl sled weights 75lbs alone. fill it will gear and that is a heavy load. might be tough loading and unloading by yourself. the magnum pro sled is 30lbs lighter. you can fit a lot of gear in a magnum sled.

i have a small pro. i can fit a power auger,quickfish 3, vex, buddy heater, and other random gear in there. its full and needs to be strapped down good but it works.

[Iambjm]

What would be wrong with the clam large sled at $109?

[silverbulletguy]

I'd think a sled that big would be tough to pull by hand after its filled with gear. If you have an ATV or snow-mobile I'd go for it for that price.

[DTro]

one of the main reasons I decided to go with the 4000 was to reduce weight. I'm going to be looking at some smaller sleds for sure.

The Pelican mega utility glider looks like a decent option.

[Random guy]

I know its way more sled than I need, but it would be nice for hauling decoys and other things beside ice fishing gear.

I use mine for:

Decoys

Bear

Deer

Camping gear

Ladder Stands

Livestock Feed

Seed for Habitat

Firewood

Welding equipment

Traps and Trapping Equipment

TV cameras and Filming Gear

Extra fishing gear on ice

Used it to float across small creeks while hunting

Flipped over for a wind break

It has been borrowed to:

Haul sick calves

Haul hay bails

Haul fencing supplies

Haul silage

Black dirt

Gravel

Deer carcasses/Beef trimmings

For a $150 why would you not have it?

[Northlander]

If you can get it in the truck, haul it on the ice with a sled or wheeler than bigger is better in my opinion. You will love that Otter sled they are the best built in the bussiness.

[leech~~]

If you may haul it with a sled or wheeler and it just fits in the truck bed now, make sure if you put a tow hitch on it that the truck gate will still close. Ran into that with my Voyager and had to pull the hitch off each time!

[BartmanMN]

Leech, Otter made a new hitch last year the folds up without compromising space so you do not need to take it off everytime. May be worth a look.

[eyedr]

Do you have a hyfax system on that? We are running into problems figuring out a system for it if we buy it because the runners are rounded on the bottom.

[picksbigwagon]

I would think if you had the medium sized sled, put a couple of 2x2's across the top of it you could put all of your gear underneath it, bungee cord the 4000T and auger on top of the 2x2's, you would have all the storage space you would ever need. my 6x8 Summit fits into my small sled, but I have a house attached to the small sled so I can't/won't do the cross members.....

It won't make the sled top heavy if you centered the load either

[laportian]

I'd buy it if you have a wheeler or sled to tug it with. These are handy units to have. Once you get going it'd be easy to have $300 into it so getting the biggest sled at a real good discount is nice. Hyfax, hitch, cover will run up to $150 real fast. Don't horse around and not put the hyfax kit on it immediatly.

I bought the medium and am very pleased with it. My auger and gear all fit into it nicely. I'm looking to add a hub this winter and figure it has room for a smaller hub in there with all my gear. The new hitch pivot deal looks pretty slick as it allows you not to have to remove the hitch to place it in a truck or trailer, it just allows the hitch to be flipped into the sled. It's like $35 and I might get it this winter. As far as pulling it by hand I think that I would hand pull mine if I had to but going to the magnum and larger for this is maybe too much.

[landscaper]

I have an Otter sled.....I think its the "small" model but probably not the "sport" series...but just the plan "SMALL" I use it for the Brainerd Jaycees Tournament to haul my gear out on the bus so thats why i have the "small" sled.

With that being said I am really looking at getting the CLAM BIGFOOT 4000XLT this year and if i have to i will pull it with that other wise i will haul with my gator. I would say that the small sled is too small for pulling this but like said above bigger is better.

With the bigfoot 4000 whats everyone using for a heater in it??

Thanks Guys!

[MNCPRGUY]

I finally got around to putting the hyfax on my medium Otter Wild sled. The Bigfoot 4000T just fits (diagonal). I added two Clam chairs and a table along with a Big Buddy heater and there is still plenty of room under the cover for smaller items. Not sure I would get my auger in there also, but I would have no problem laying it on top if I was pulling it by hand. It's a pretty nice set up! I'm pumped for some hard water!!!

[landscaper]

what size clam table you get? (i take it it is a clam)

Round or Square....

[MNCPRGUY]

Round. Really like it but admittedly haven't put it through the paces yet.

[DTro]

Well it took a little bit of searching and running around, but I found a pretty good deal at Fleet Farm for the Team Wild Combo package that included a med sled, hitch, runners, and cover. $130